HEALTHY LIVING 2008 -- 30s: Staying healthy in your 30s

The difference between my health from my 20s to 30s is balance.

In my 20s I could eat poorly or not work out for a few weeks and still feel fine. I’ve noticed as time goes by that if I don’t take care of myself, exercise and keep my eating habits consistent, I’m not happy.

I decided at the beginning of last year I would create balance in my life. I had my priorities all wrong. At that time I was allowing my career to be the most important thing in my life. The effort was fruitful. I was successful and could afford nice things but I realized it didn’t matter because I didn’t feel good about me. I had to decide I’m the most important thing in my life and, if I take care of myself, everything else will be better.

At first, making this switch was hard. I was used to dropping exercise and good eating habits the minute a tight deadline came up, but I noticed if I worked out first thing in the morning, it was harder to make excuses. I joined the gym and, to keep myself honest, I met a neighbor a few times a week.

This worked at first, but eventually my commitment faded. I was still determined to create balance so I didn’t give up. I thought maybe I hadn’t found the right exercise routine.

Before I chose another workout I made a list of what I like to do when I work out: I enjoy being outside, I like doing different activities all the time and I feel most comfortable when working out with other women. So I Googled “Ahwatukee boot camp” and the first result was an all-women’s boot camp held outside that was less than a mile from my house.

“Perfect!” I thought. I signed up and have consistently participated in the five-day-a-week program since September of last year. I now coordinate meetings around my workouts and manage to make good food choices even when I’m working on a stressful project.

And I was right: when I’m feeling good everything else seems better.

There is a framed quote I love in the office of my massage therapist, it reads: “If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?”

Lisa Marie Sipe, 32, is the owner/creative director of a graphic design and Web development studio. She stays healthy by participating in Ahwatukee Adventure Boot Camp each morning.