Life is funny, isn’t it?
You live day to day, week to week, year to year—until one day, you look up and realize you’ve landed in a life that doesn’t quite feel like your own. Maybe it’s not where you thought you’d be. Maybe you feel stuck, lost, or like you’re simply getting by instead of fully living.
That was me, just three years ago.
Today, I’m sharing my personal midlife reinvention journey. From my past struggles to the changes I made, and now to the exciting future I’m building, this is my story. But it’s not just about me—it’s about what’s possible for you, too.
Because midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a rebirth.
And if you’re a woman over 40 wondering if it’s too late to reinvent yourself, trust me when I say this: Midlife is your time to shine.
Let’s dive in.
If you had asked me in 2022 how I was doing, I would have given you the standard answer: “I’m fine.” But I wasn’t fine.
Not even close.
I was 47 years old, a single mom working in the mortgage industry as an underwriter. My son was away at college, and I was incredibly proud of him. But while he was thriving, I was barely surviving.
I was working 50 to 60 hours a week just to stay afloat—paying bills, keeping the lights on, and making sure he had what he needed. I was living paycheck to paycheck. Stressed. Overwhelmed.
And physically?
At my heaviest, I weighed 390 pounds. My body hurt. I was exhausted all the time. I had no energy, no motivation, and honestly, I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore.
Friendships were few and far between. My social circle had shrunk. I wasn’t making time for hobbies or joy. My personal style was nonexistent, and I had no beauty routine to speak of. Self-care? Forget it. Life had worn me down.
I was stuck.
But here’s the thing about hitting rock bottom—it gives you a chance to build something new.
And that’s exactly what I decided to do.
In 2022, when the mortgage industry took a nosedive, my company laid off over 300 employees. I was one of them. After years of dedication, I was suddenly unemployed.
Yes, they gave me a generous severance package—but it didn’t make me feel any safer.
I didn’t waste time. The very next day, I was job hunting, sending out resumes, and trying to stay strong for my son.
But inside, I was falling apart. I was terrified. I realized that day that something had to change. Not just my job—but me.
Within a month of being laid off, I made a decision. I was no longer going to be a passive participant in my life. I wasn’t going to settle for survival mode. It was time to reinvent myself—mind, body, and soul.
Here’s how I did it—and how you can, too.
1. Prioritizing My Health and Wellness
I knew my health had to come first. At 390 pounds, I was putting tremendous strain on my body. I was on multiple medications for blood pressure and other issues. I was prediabetic. I wasn’t moving my body or nourishing it in ways that fueled me. So I started small.
I began walking my neighborhood every morning before work. Ten minutes at first. Then twenty. I put in my earbuds and listened to personal development audiobooks and uplifting podcasts. (Mel Robbins became my morning walking buddy!)
I learned that small habits add up to big changes.
I worked with my doctor and started weight loss medication for about five months. It gave me a boost, but it was the habits I was building—meal prepping, exercising, and focusing on whole foods—that made the biggest difference.
I stopped using food as entertainment or comfort and started viewing it as fuel. I learned to eat to nourish my body, not numb my feelings.
2. Paying Off Debt and Gaining Financial Freedom
As a single mom, money stress was a huge part of my life. I was drowning in high-interest credit card debt, an auto loan, and a parent college loan.
I made a plan to take control of my finances.
I got a second job and threw every extra dollar toward my debt—one card at a time. I became laser-focused on budgeting, tracking my expenses, and living within my means.
By the summer of 2024, I was debt-free (except for my car and a small student loan).
The freedom that came with that? Incredible.
No more paycheck-to-paycheck living. No more sleepless nights over money.
3. Building Confidence Through Style and Beauty
As I lost weight and gained energy, I realized something important: I deserved to show up for myself.
No matter my size, no matter my age, I wanted to feel beautiful and confident.
I started exploring plus-size fashion for women over 40. I gave myself permission to play with style again—dressing in ways that made me feel powerful, pretty, and put-together.
I also created a simple beauty routine that made me feel radiant.
Not because I needed to look a certain way for anyone else, but because I deserved to feel good in my own skin.
4. Expanding My Social Circle and Finding Community
For too long, I’d kept to myself. My social circle was tiny, and I was lonely.
But as I grew, I realized how much I craved connection.
I made an effort to reconnect with old friends and meet new people. I said yes to invitations. I joined online communities and groups where women like me were sharing their journeys.
And now? I’m building my own online community—Awaken and Bloom in Midlife—to help women over 40 connect, grow, and thrive together.
5. Embracing Personal Growth and Rediscovery
I devoured personal development books and podcasts. I journaled. I asked myself tough questions.
Who am I now?
What do I want next?
I found the world of life coaching, and it changed everything.
I hired a coach who helped me see my blind spots and build a life I loved.
And then?
I decided to become a life coach myself.
I’m currently on my way to becoming certified through The Life Coach School—because I want to help other midlife women awaken, reinvent, and rediscover themselves just like I did.
By late summer of 2024, everything was different.
• I was down 120 pounds (and still going!)
• I was debt-free
• My son had graduated college, and we celebrated with a dream vacation to Charleston, SC
• I was dressing with confidence, showing up in my life intentionally
• I was building friendships, learning, and finally, loving the woman I was becoming
• And perhaps most importantly? I was happy
But I knew I wasn’t done yet.
There’s still so much more I’m excited to create and experience.
Today, I’ve lost 135 pounds in total and am still working toward my healthiest self. I’m planning for certification as a life coach, growing my brand Jax Stys, and building a platform that empowers midlife women to live with purpose, style, and joy.
Looking ahead, I’m dreaming BIG. I see myself in a beautiful condo near Cleveland, OH, running Jax Stys LLC, and hosting transformational midlife retreats in Charleston, SC. I’ll be coaching women who are ready to rewrite their stories and live lives they are wildly in love with. I’ll be writing books, creating digital planners, and developing courses for women 40+ who want to thrive in midlife. And I’ll be living debt-free, healthy, and fully aligned with my purpose.
Why I’m Sharing My Midlife Reinvention Journey
I’m sharing all of this because I want you to know:
If I can do this, you can too.
You don’t need to settle.
You don’t need to stay stuck.
You don’t need to believe the lie that it’s too late to change.
You are worthy of reinvention.
You are worthy of health, happiness, and fulfillment.
And midlife? It’s not the end—it’s just the beginning.
Join Me on This Journey of Awakening and Reinvention
My blog and social media may look a little different these days. That’s because I’m committed to showing what’s possible when you awaken, reclaim your power, and live with intention.
At WWW.jaxstys.com, and @jaxstys you’ll find:
• Wellness tips for midlife health
• Personal growth tools and life coaching advice
• Plus-size fashion inspiration for women over 40
• Beauty routines to help you glow from the inside out
• Financial wellness strategies to create freedom and security
• Encouragement, community, and support for your midlife reinvention
You can also follow my journey on social media @jaxstys, where I share daily inspiration, try-on hauls, wellness tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at my life.
If you take nothing else from my story, take this:
We only get one life. Let’s live a life we’d want to live twice. Let’s stop waiting for permission, the perfect time, or someone to save us.
Midlife is your invitation to awaken, reinvent, and become the woman you were always meant to be. I believe in you. And I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
With love and purpose,
Jax Stys
If this blog post resontaed with you comment or share on social media.
My two glow-ups ✨
One is and a little “woo woo”…
The other is visible, practical, and proven…
The real magic? When you do both at the same time. That’s when everything starts to change.
Save this as your reminder and tell me, which glow-up are you working on right now?
#MidlifeGlowUp #GlowGetter #WomenOver40
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Let me reintroduce myself. I`m Jax — 48, Cleveland mama, loan officer by day, glow-up coach by choice. Down 180 lbs since 2022 with 90 more to go. This account is for every woman 40+ ready to SHOW UP for herself. 💪
Comment YOUR Day 1 below 👇 Let`s go together.
#midlifeglowup #weightlossover40 #womenover40 #over40 #midlifewomen weight loss journey, glow up
My healing was not just about food. It was about waking up.
Midlife made me honest. Honest about my habits. Honest about my pain. Honest about the life I wanted next.
This was bigger than weight loss. This was a full life shift..
.
If midlife has been waking you up too, drop a ✨ in the comments..
.
#MidlifeWomen #MidlifeTransformation #EmotionalHealing
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Day 54 of my Walking for Wellness Challenge 💪✨�Down 180 lbs… 90 lbs to go.
This morning started with stretching, then a walk, and core work to finish. Simple. Consistent. Repeatable.
But here’s what made today different…�I fed my mind too.
Listened to The Best One Yet podcast and it had me thinking about money, habits, and how the world around us is constantly influencing our choices—even how we spend.
That’s when it clicked…
This journey isn’t just weight loss.�It’s awareness.�It’s discipline.�It’s taking back control of your body, your habits, and your life.
If you’re on your own glow-up journey… keep going. One walk at a time.
Follow for daily midlife glow-up, weight loss, wellness, and money mindset 💫
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Walking for Wellness Challenge
Day 53
Down 180 lbs. since May 2022
90 lbs to go till goal weight
48 years old, natural weight loss
Stretched for 10 minutes
Walked 40 minutes - 30 seconds springts every 4 minutes (HIIT)
#walkingchallenge
#womenover40
#glowupover40
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AM Thoughts 💭
Midlife is not where your story fades. It is where your truth gets louder.
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My Sunday Reset is basically a full-time job… but it makes Monday feel easy.
4AM wake-up, workout, meal prep, garage clean up, everything shower, family dinner, a full weekly planning reset and early bed routine.
This is how I stay consistent, grounded, ready for a strong week and become 1% better everyday.
Save this Sunday Reset checklist and comment “RESET” if you too do this on Sundays.
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2 Piece Outfit linked in BIO - Amazon Shop
Or DM and I will send you the link.
Are you feeling restless in midlife? Like something inside you is shifting… and you know you want more for your life?
Save this for later. Share it with a friend who is ready to awaken in midlife. Like this if you’re ready for your next chapter.
Follow for more Midlife Awakening, GlowGetter Mindset, Wellness, Money, Beauty & Style Inspiration and Motivation.
Love,
Jax
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A lot of women think emotional eating is about willpower. For me, it was about pain, stress, and survival.
Food was not the real issue. It was the outlet.
When I started looking at the emotions under the habit, I finally began to heal.
Comment “root cause” if you know your eating is about more than food.
#StressEating #MidlifeAwakening #HealingJourney
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My Weekend To Do’s.
Every Friday night or Saturday early morning I plan my to do’s for the weekend.
First I make notes in my notes app on my phone on Friday at work. I brainstorm and thought download all the things I want to accomplish this weekend.
Then by Saturday morning I transfer it to my To Do Notebook. I keep track of everything that weekend and check off what I complete.
It keeps me organized and productive.
So I thought I’d share with you my process so incase you were looking for some inspiration.
Have a great weekend! Get all your things done so you too can be productive and successful in this season.
Love Jax
xoxoxo
Midlife Glow Up
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For a long time, my emotional eating happened in private. Late nights. Heavy stress. Heavy shame. Heavy emotions.
This was one of the hardest parts of my story to admit, but it was also the start of my healing.
I was not weak. I was overwhelmed. And once I understood that, everything began to change.
Have you ever used food to cope with stress at night? Tell me “me too” in the comments.
#EmotionalEatingRecovery #MidlifeGlowUp #WomenOver40
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Become obsessed becoming 1% better everyday.
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Walking Challenge Day 52
Down 179 lbs since 2022
91 lbs to go till goal weight
Age 48 year old
Stretched for 10 min. first thing this morning
Walk/Sprint 20 min. this early morning at 4:45AM
Raspberry Chia Protein Yopgurt for breakfast
Love the Bend App. for early morning stretching!
#walkingchallenge
#womenover40
#glowupover40
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Comment or hit that ♥️ if you would be intereted buying a Wellness & Weight Loss Guide with matching podcast series. Cost $37-$47 one time.
I wrote a guide, 9 chapters. Everything that has worked for me in order to shed 180 lbs naturally in the last 3.5 years and I am 48 years old, in Perimenopause, with PCOS, on Anti-Depressents/Anxiety Medication.
If you would have interest please let me know in this post. I still have another 90 lbs to go. Not sure if I should release the guide now or when I hit my goal weight.
Thank you for reading my reel.
Jax
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Midlife is not where your story fades. It is where your truth gets louder
Comment “AWAKENING” and I will DM you my FREE Awaking Guide!
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DAY 51
Naturally Down 179 lbs., 91 lbs. to go - since May 2022
Age 48
Stretched for 8 min. (Love the BEND App.)
Walked 35 min.
#walkingchallenge
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This one hit me deep because it is true.
Sometimes the people we love most are sitting right in front of us… and still feeling far away.
Today’s challenge:
Give someone you love 10 full minutes of your undivided attention.
No phone.
No multitasking.
No rushing.
Just presence.
Look them in the eyes and ask, “How are you really?”
Then listen with your whole heart.
That is how connection grows.
That is how love feels safe.
That is how relationships get stronger.
Save this for later.
Share it with someone you love.
Like and follow for more everyday life lessons, midlife inspiration, and motivation for women over 40.
#womenover40 #lifelessons #relationshipsdvice
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👟 Walking Challenge Day 50 (on camera)
Down 179 lbs., 92 lbs. to go.
Mostly natural, 30 lbs, was when I was on Zepbound for 3 months back in 2024.
On a dedicated weight loss and wellness journey since May 2022.
I am 48 years old.
I walk, stretch, body weight exercies, kettle ball exercises & diastasis recti exercises. Was part of a gym for 1.5 years. Now doing at-home workouts.
Meal prep every Sunday. Have certain high protein, high fiber meal on rotation. Drink a ton of water. Cut out sugar & white flour.
Meat, Veggies, Fruit, Dairy, Fish, Whole Grain - Whole foods. Very little processed foods.
Today…
Stretched for 15 min. (Love the BEND App.)
Walked 45 min.
#walkingchallenge
#womenover40
#glowupover40
Daily Movement
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“Awakening is the shift from role-based living to soul-based living.”
Share & Save
Like and Follow for more Midlife Awakening, Inspritation & Motivation to living 1% better everyday.
Love,
Jax
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Early 4:30AM stretch
8-10 minutes of stretching and bending.
Really wakes me up and gets my blood flowing.
I learned these on the bend app or you can try youtube.
Then I do kettle ball exercises, body weight exercises, diastasis recti exercises adn walking on my walking pad
About a 75 minutes and then breakfast and shower.
Get moving ladies, your future self will thank you.
Love,
Jax
#womenover40
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#wellnessjourney
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Working on my fitness
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Movement in the mornsing
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Stretching
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