264: Fitness Journey over 50 - with Mareya Ibrahim-Jones BIOptimizers - Awesome Health Podcast

As Mareya Ibrahim-Jones approaches her 55th year, she prepares for her second bikini competition, reflecting on her long commitment to fitness, health, and wellness. 
Ibrahim's journey showcases the resilience and adaptability needed to thrive later in life, particularly for women. She offers valuable insights into physiological changes after 50, emphasizing the importance of nutrition for muscle growth, fat management, and metabolic enhancement through exercise.
Embracing Change and Overcoming Struggles
Mareya´s path to health has been challenging, starting with an eating disorder in her late teens and leading to various health issues over the years. The perimenopausal phase introduced new challenges, intensified by the pandemic's stress. These experiences motivated her to deeply understand her body and aim to feel as good—or better—than in her youth.
Mareya emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach—encompassing food, mindset, physical activity, and supplementation—for her healing process. She advises women to be proactive about their health, not solely relying on doctors. Also, she discusses the early use of birth control and hormone replacement therapy, stressing the need to evaluate one’s lifestyle, diet, exercise, supplementation, and stress management thoroughly.
Understanding Hormonal Shifts
Women's hormonal changes before, during, and after menopause can cause symptoms like brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, weight gain, and night sweats. Ibrahim shares her experiences with these symptoms, highlighting the importance of understanding and managing these changes for overall well-being.
Strength training becomes crucial for women over 50 to maintain muscle mass, boost metabolism, and improve overall health. Ibrahim underscores the need for adequate protein to support muscle growth and recovery. As dietary needs evolve post-menopause, adjusting nutrition is essential.
Ibrahim’s vegan diet and its impact on her health demonstrate that dietary needs can change over time. Changes in her tolerance for alcohol and late nights have prompted a healthier lifestyle. She promotes a positive aging outlook, encouraging new ways to find joy and fulfillment.
Building a Supportive Community
Having a strong support system is essential. Ibrahim values community building and connecting with friends who share similar experiences. She observes positive transformations in women who prioritize their emotional and psychological health along with physical changes. 
In addition, she criticizes quick-fix solutions, advocating for natural body regulation through strength training, proper nutrition, and understanding the gut-brain axis.
Mareya Ibrahim-Jones highlights the importance of self-discovery, personal power, and setting individual goals. Comparing oneself to others is unproductive; consistency is key to achieving long-term health goals. Her preparation for a bikini competition exemplifies the closure and confidence attainable through dedication.
She also emphasizes the need to educate about the long-term impacts of poor lifestyle choices on cognitive health and calls for a broader health discussion beyond aesthetics, focusing on metabolic and cognitive well-being. 
Her program, "Fit and Fab over 40," is a 21-day challenge designed to optimize women's health in body, mind, and spirit, offering diet, exercise, and lifestyle guidance, supported by an accountability group.
As she prepares for her second bikini competition at 55, Mareya Ibrahim continues to inspire with her commitment to health and fitness. Her story is a powerful reminder that significant achievements are possible at any age, emphasizing the importance of personal power, goal setting, and a positive outlook for a fulfilling life.
In this podcast, you will learn about: 
Mareya Ibrahim-Jones personal journey through perimenopause and how she overcame health challenges.
The importance of strength training, protein intake, and healthy l