Women Over 40 Project:
Celebrating women whose power, beauty, strength, grace, and spirit do not diminish with age.
I would like you to meet the UNSTOPPABLE
MAUREEN BRINTNELL
Maureen is a fitness coach and was confident about her personal fitness. She had an opportunity to be photographed by a well known fitness photographer in Toronto and although the images were beautiful, she never truly connected with the person that was showing in those photos. We had a heart to heart in the consultation and it was apparent that the fierce version that was showing up in those old photos, was just alienating potential clients. Yes, she is a strong and confident woman, but she is also fun, warm and empathetic. We decided that her future clients needed to see THAT side of her as well.
Anita Watkins
Maureen Brintnell’s Portrait taken at Anita Watkins’ Studio in London, Ontario.
I have photographed, profiled and celebrated women over the age of 40.
WHY Women OVER 40?
I have been witness to the strength and resilience of all kinds of women in my life but the stories that get to my heart the most often, are the ones of women that society used to label as “past their prime”.
What gives me hope for the future is that I have met woman after woman that have said HELL YES! Women that refuse to be labelled or diminished, are now stepping into their own power. Personally, I feel like I am only beginning to hit my stride. Now I feel called to give a platform to 40 of these women. I want them to be seen, celebrated and have a platform to use their voice to call out to us. I want women all over to hear their stories and be inspired. Will you join me on this journey?
What is the one piece of advice you would give your 20 something self?
You are enough!
I wasted too much time and gave up on too many opportunities because I put too much weight into what other people thought. I had risks I wanted to take but let the fears of rejection, of what other people might think, of failure stop me. I would tell my 20 something self to just go for it.
(I would also tell her to get off the scale and start lifting heavy now!)
You are enough!
I sometimes am just in awe that I get to do this every day.
What gets you up in the morning?
Usually my 5 am clients! |
When in your life, so far, have you felt most confident and why?
Right now, in my 50s. As soon as I stopped letting fear dictate my next move and started letting my passion get a word in. Midlife and perimenopause can bring many challenges but it can also be a time of really stepping into who you were created to be. In my 40s, I got a serious wakeup call that I needed to start attending to my own health. Being weak and tired made it hard to get started. But doing the hard thing, and realizing I could do the hard thing, that I was stronger than I thought, just inspired confidence. In the beginning, my only goal was weight loss and I thought that achieving that would bring me confidence but it was in the journey of showing up for myself, pushing myself, maintaining consistency and keeping promises to myself that my confidence was born. |
Doing the hard thing, and realizing I could do the hard thing, that I was stronger than I thought, just inspired confidence.
"Attractive" has come to mean more about an inner confidence, kindness and beauty.
Have Your Perceptions Of What Being ‘Attractive’ Means Changed Over Time?
My perception of “attractive” has definitely changed over time. Attractive used to be measured by the judgment and perception of others. Now “attractive” has come to mean more about an inner confidence, kindness and beauty that comes through through someone’s eyes, facial expressions and body language.
What Do You Define As Attractive Now?
I don’t really think about being attractive anymore, in terms of eliciting that response from strangers. I want to be attractive to my family. I want to be attractive to my clients so they continue to trust me to walk with them on their wellness journey.
I want to be attractive to my family.
All the work that has gone into healing has given me a strong sense of self.
When have you felt the most attractive?
If we are talking about attractive from that physical sense I would also say now. The confidence that comes from strength training, the grace I have learned to treat my body with after 9 pregnancies, the peace with food, all the work that has gone into healing has given me a strong sense of self. Combine that with not putting so much stock in what others think has allowed me to rediscover my own personal sense of style. No longer do I worry about what is “appropriate” to wear over 50. If I like it and I feel good in it, I wear it and feel attractive.
Are there any myths you would like to bust about being a woman over 40? If so, can you tell us about them?
It’s not too late and you are not too old. Aging is going to happen, but we don’t need to accept a corresponding decline of our health into weakness and frailty as we age. Women can rock serious health and wellness, make strength gains, achieve impressive body composition goals, in midlife and even beyond. We don’t need to accept aches and pains as “just aging” and we don’t need to tolerate fatigue and things like urinary incontinence as “just part of being a woman”. It’s not too late and you are not too old to start a new career, rock a new look, begin a new hobby. |
You are not too old to start a new career, rock a new look, begin a new hobby.
Is there anything you would like to share with people in your life?
I work with women over the age of 40 every day and see them conquer big goals. They are learning to prioritize their health and wellness, make time for workouts, become mindful about their nutrition. These are busy women with careers, entrepreneurs, mothers, and grandmothers. At the same time, I have the joy of being able to watch my grandson one day a week and am also in my 25th year of homeschooling. It is busy and sometimes hard and it can feel selfish to take time away from all of that to go for my walk and get my own workout in, but it is as much for my people as it is for me. I want to continue to be able to show up for them for as long as possible. |
Do you want to learn more?
