When she was younger, Katie Bingham-Smith had a terrible relationship with exercise: “I’d feel anxious until I got it out of the way, and if I skipped too many days, I’d beat myself up about it. I measured my self worth by how hard I worked out, and I stopped enjoying all the benefits it gave me. It became a chore. And I slogged through it just to mark it off my list. It was miserable, and consequently, I was inconsistent with it all through college, my 20s, and my 30s.”

And then, around the time she turned 40, something changed. It’s a really encouraging piece — and one you might even relate to.

Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor

Halloween just passed, so of course we’re making like Mariah Carey and got our sights set on the holidays. Turns out, Elizabeth Narins does, too, and she’s preparing herself now for all those tricky family get togethers. She writes, “You’re lining up for a group holiday photo with your extended family when the peanut gallery pipes up: ‘Suck in, Frank!’ your mom spews at your dad, as your cousin contorts her arm to look leaner. Your aunt bemoans how old she looks, your sister insists everyone stand up ‘so we don’t look fat,’ and your kids sit there like little sponges, absorbing it all as you simultaneously fume and cringe.” Sound familiar? Luckily, she’s come up with a game plan to help you navigate it all.