Maxxing - why am I seeing this word everywhere??

Maxxing - why am I seeing this word everywhere??

If dictionary.com makes "maxxing" their word of the year, I will literally scream.   In this episode, I’m unpacking the rise of “looksmaxxing”, an online trend gaining traction among young men that promises a better life through extreme physical transformation. From rigid diets (starvemaxxing *rolls eyes*) and intense workouts to more disturbing practices, this version of self-improvement raises bigger questions about worth, identity, and what we’re really chasing. But this isn’t just about them. As a woman, I've been through this in a personal capacity - maybe I didn't smash my jaw with a hammer, but I sure thought I had to look a certain way to be successful.  In this episode, we explore: *  What “looksmaxxing” actually is and where it comes from  *  The connection between self-improvement and self-worth  *  Why this trend is more concerning than it first appears  *  The subtle ways we may be participating in similar thinking  *  How to rethink self-improvement from a healthier place  A conversation about: identity, worthiness, beauty standards, and the fine line between evolving yourself and losing yourself. 💬 Let’s connect: What are your thoughts on “maxxing”? Where do you think the line is between self-improvement and self-erasure? 📲 Instagram: @middleagedwoman.pod 🎙️ New episodes: Bi-monthly on the 2nd and 4th Monday (let's hope) ☕BUY ME A COFFEE [https://buymeacoffee.com/middleagedwoman]

Episode Two: Do the damn thing

Even if it means coming up with a list.  In this episode, I share my “50 before 50” list; what inspired it, why I created it, and how it became more about how I want to show up in my life. I talk about health habits and daily routines, plus business growth, visibility, personal style, and travel. This list is a mixed bag of big dreams and everyday shifts. I  If you’ve ever felt like you’re putting your life on pause until you feel “ready,” this one is for you. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE *  Why I created a 50 before 50 list (even if I started “late”)  *  The mindset shift from waiting → doing  *  Health, routines, and daily habits that ground me  *  Building confidence in my business and visibility  *  Style, travel, and personal reinvention  *  Relationships, connection, and showing up fully in life  *  The “controlled spontaneous” problem 😅  *  A listener challenge to create your own list  * 🎧 CALL TO ACTION Create your own version of a “before X” list. Start with 10 things. Pick 3 to begin this month. Then share your list or one item with me on Instagram: 👉 @middleagedwoman.pod [https://www.instagram.com/middleagedwoman.pod/] 📲 CONNECT WITH ME Have ideas for future episodes?  Send me a DM @middleagedwoman.pod [https://www.instagram.com/middleagedwoman.pod/] ☕BUY ME A COFFEE [https://buymeacoffee.com/middleagedwoman]

Episode One: Why Now?

I’ve been thinking about this podcast for over five years… and I’m finally hitting the record button at 49. In this first episode, I talk about what took me so long, how I turned what should have been a simple idea into something overwhelming, imposter syndrome, and why talking about doing something can feel easier than actually doing it. Find out what shifted everything for me and the realization that I didn’t want to wake up a year from now still saying, “I’m going to start.” I don’t fully know what this podcast is yet. But I do know it's no longer just living in my head.