My 40s turned out better than I could have imagined

Personal trainer Edwina Jenner is on a mission to equip fellow midlife women with the confidence to add strength training to their fitness routine.

Turning 49 next month, Edwina is quick to acknowledge that she is of the generation that believed cardio was the only route to fitness, telling HELLO!: “In my twenties and thirties I was very much into cardio, running on the treadmill, attending spin classes and doing bootcamp style sessions.”

It was only in her forties that Edwina switched to weight training when she noticed another woman in the gym with seriously sculpted arms. “She told me she toned them through weight training, and after that, I never looked back.

Edwina found weight training to be life-changing

“Weight training is foreign to my generation, but it was a revelation that rather than trying to shrink myself, I was taking up space and getting stronger. It felt like an epiphany, and now with 50 just around the corner, I’ve been feeling stronger and healthier than ever before,” Edwina shares. “The fitness landscape has completely changed for me, and I want other women to follow the same path.

“There’s absolutely space for doing cardio a couple of times a week, but I certainly don’t run,” Edwina says of her regime. “I enjoy zone 2 training where I get my heart rate to a point where it’s just uncomfortable enough to hold a conversation.”

Midlife journey

While she’s feeling her best, Edwina notes that midlife hasn’t been plain sailing. Her forties have seen her go through a divorce, pivot her career from in-gym coaching to online personal training, as well as care for her daughter during ill health.

“It’s been tumultuous, but exercise has been my anchor,” Edwina says. “It grounded me in a very difficult time of my life.”

Now single, Edwina notes that fitness has helped her remain independent. “I can lift suitcases and boxes up and down stairs. I don’t need to ask for help. I’m a strong independent woman, and I feel physically strong and independent as well which helps me stay confident.”

ADVICE: What midlife women want you to know about exercise

Midlife demands

Edwina encourages her clients to consider exercise as self-care to ensure it doesn’t slide down their priorities list due to family demands – a barrier women often face when it comes to working out in midlife.

“I recommend my clients block out their exercise time for the week on a Sunday, so their families know it’s important to them and a boundary is in place.”

woman doing Russian twists on the floor — Edwina says working out keeps her mentally strong

In a time of life when things can be stressful, Edwina notes that weight training has a meditative quality.

“There’s nothing particularly sexy about it, but there’s magic in the mundane. It’s a lot of repetitive movements. I like the consistency of it and the fact that there is a guarantee that your body’s also giving something back.”

INSPIRATION: I feel better at 49 than I did in my 30s thanks to these small changes

Find what works for you

With countless barriers in the way when it comes to working out in midlife, Edwina encourages her clients to find a fitness routine that works for them and that they look forward to.

“If we hate something there’s no way we’ll stick to it,” she laments. “Keep trying different things, from walking to yoga, until you find the one you want to do.”

Looking ahead to her fiftieth birthday next year, Edwina tells me: “50 is definitely the new 40. I don’t measure myself against anyone else. I’m divorced after 20 years while all of my friends are still married, but it’s my journey and it’s all worked out better than I could ever have imagined.”

Find out more about working with Edwina Jenner.

Love midlife? Join Second Act today!

blonde woman in a pink jumper holding her head — Say HELLO! to your Second Act

HELLO! originally launched its Second Act hub to reframe midlife and beyond as a celebratory, exciting new chapter full of endless possibilities. From inspirational tales of women who refuse to fade into the background, to valuable advice on navigating relationships, finances and health issues – we’ve featured them all. And such has been the overwhelmingly positive response from readers, we are now turning the hub into a FULL and FREE community where women like you can come together to shape something truly inspiring.

The cornerstones of the community will be two brand new newsletters. One monthly and one weekly. We are really excited about the monthly newsletter which will be themed and written by one of our roster of leading Second Act voices, including our editor at large, Rosie Green. The content will be reserved exclusively for Second Act subscribers.

We are also launching a monthly mentoring series, in the form of a five-minute video sent directly to your inbox featuring financial professionals, hormone specialists, life coaches and more. Again, it will be reserved exclusively for subscribers.

Below we have listed the inaugural benefits, and more will be added as we grow and shape the community. If you wish to help us shape our community, please take part in our one-slide survey here.