Life begins at 40

They say life begins at 40. Well, for these five brave ladies, it really did. Read on to see how they made their dreams came true as they celebrated their 40th birthdays, as featured in Take a Break and Woman magazine.

Life begins at 40

How many of us dread our next birthday? Here, five Take a Break readers explain why the big 4-0 gave them the courage to chase their dreams.

Words by Punteha van Terheyden

I lost 8.5 stone

I held a picture in my hands and stared at the happy girl in it. She was young, thin and gorgeous. Then I looked in the mirror and sighed. Now that same girl was 39, weighed 18st, wore a size 26 and was unrecognisable.

I told my boyfriend Matthew: ‘I can’t turn 40 living like this.’

He put his arms around me, gave me a squeeze and said: ‘I think you’re beautiful, just the way you are.’

But I knew what I had to do.

I joined my local Slimming World group in Cwmdare, South Wales and my consultant Lauren helped me plan my new diet.

I cleared out the fridge, threw away the takeaway menus and deleted the kebab shop’s number from my phone.

In the first week, I lost 3.5lb. Months passed the number on the scales continued to move in the right direction.

I went to group every week and at home, Matthew followed the plan with me to help me avoid temptation.

One evening, I stepped on the scales and gasped. I had lost 8.5 stone and was just a few pounds off my target. Everyone cheered and clapped while I stood and cried tears of joy.

Since then, Matthew popped the question and we’re now planning our wedding. Best of all, I’ll be a thin bride and feel healthier than ever.

From Claire Young, 42.

I had a baby

We were laying in bed one night when I turned to my partner Paul and said: ‘Let’s have a baby.’

It was dark but I knew his eyes had gone wide. ‘Really?’ he said.

Paul had wanted a baby for years but I already had a daughter, Amy, 11, when we met and I wasn’t interested in having any more.

But now with my 40th birthday on the horizon, I didn’t want to have any regrets. 

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘but there’s one condition.’

I explained if I wasn’t pregnant by the time I was 40, we had to draw a line under it. I didn’t want to be an older mum.

That gave us 18 months. Paul agreed to my terms and we started trying.

Months and passed and then one day, I realised my period was late.

I took a test then when I was home that evening, broke the news we were expecting.

Paul’s face was an absolute picture.

At the right time, I gave birth to Matilda, who had beautiful blue eyes, a perfect pout and dark, silky hair. The moment I held her in my arms, I knew it was the best decision I ever made.

But without the fear of turning 40 hitting me like a steam train, Matilda wouldn’t be here.

Now, I’m planning a quiet 40th birthday surrounded by nappies, muslins and romper suits and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. 

From Rachel Faulkner, 39.

I moved to a tropical island

Glasses clinked around the room and everyone shouted: ‘Happy birthday Sophie!’

It was only minutes before someone asked what I’d be doing for my next birthday… the big 4-0.

My husband Ben’s birthday was around the same time and it got us both thinking.

Later, he blurted out: ‘What if we moved to a tropical island?’

I’d always dreamt of living by the sea somewhere hot and beautiful.

‘Let’s do it.’ I replied.

We searched the internet and then Ben said: ‘What about here?’

I looked at his computer screen and gasped as I took in white sand beaches and blue skies that went on forever.

It was perfect. 

We packed our things, rented a house we’d seen online and left our home in Balham, South West London to fly to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean with our children Lena, 8 and Clemence, two.

When we arrived, we couldn’t believe our luck. The house was five minutes from the beach, four storeys high and had five bedrooms.

We made friends quickly and weeks later, celebrated my 40th with a lobster dinner on the beach with our new island family.

We danced under the stars and took a sailboat around the crystal clear waters the next day.

Now, the kids can go dolphin watching before school and I work from home, helping others fulfil their ambitions, surrounded by palm trees and tropical birds.

It is a dream come true.

*for more information, visit sophielebrozec.com [if you’re able to include this I’d be grateful]

From Sophie Le Brozec, 41.

I ditched my husband

I took a pen and a piece of paper and began to write. The words flowed out of me and before long, I had a very important list: 40 things to do at 40.

For a long time, things had been on a downward spiral. I wasn’t happy in my relationship and I reckoned I deserved more from life.

That night, I told my husband: ‘It’s over.’

I packed my bags and left. The first thing ticked off my list was GET A DIVORCE.

From there, I booked a holiday to Dubai. I went sand bashing – driving buggies over the dunes – and crossed off DO SOMETHING DANGEROUS.

Next, I went on Songs of Praise for GET ON TELLY and jumped out of a plane. I spent a weekend bubbling away in a hot-tub in a beautiful villa overlooking a lake in the Mediterranean and went to a swanky black tie dinner. I filmed a medical mission in Iraq, finally went to the ballet and splashed out on a brand new car.

The months rushed by and one by one, the items of my list got checked off.

Before I knew it, it was my 40th birthday. I celebrated with a fabulous fancy dress party, with me dressed as an ice queen fron Narnia. As I looked around at all my new friends, I realised it was all because of my list.

It had brought me a whole new life, filled with happiness. I couldn’t be more grateful.

Now, the only item left to tick off is meet my life-long crush, Declan Donnelly. A girl can dream…

From Steph Gutmann, 41.  

I conquered the pole

I cleaned the dishes, vacuumed the lounge, opened the post and then looked at the clock. I couldn’t ignore the little white stick on the windowsill any longer. 

I turned over the test and gasped. I was pregnant.

I had been broody for a while but my partner [not naming] wasn’t. 

Was I too old to have a baby? It seemed fate had taken over.

I told my boyfriend the news and he said: ‘There are options, you know.’

I shook my head and said: ‘I’m having this baby.’

In time, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy and called him Ben. The first few weeks passed in a blur of sleepless nights, nappies, breastfeeding. 

As soon as I could, I took up a local pole fitness class. I’d dabbled in it before Ben and now, I wanted to get back in shape. 

It was a struggle at first but gradually, I became stronger and leaner. 

Months passed and my instructor Rhi said: ‘Will you perform in our charity show?’

‘Of course,’ I replied.

I trained until I was able to move from one gravity defying pole exercise to the next.

At the showcase, I completed my three-minute routine and when my feet finally touched the floor, there was a huge cheer from the crowd.

It was a rush.

I realised something. My body was so strong now and somewhere in the mayhem of becoming a mum, I felt stronger in myself too.

I made a decision. I told my boyfriend: ‘We’re finished.’

I packed our things and moved with Ben to a little house 90 miles away in the village I’d grown up in. 

I look back and know turning 40 made me sit up and take stock of what I really wanted. I have my beautiful son and am so fit I run marathons.

Age is just a number and I won’t let it hold me back.

From Jane Sauer, 42. 

Punteha van Terheyden