Meet Mimi Ison, 62: Instagram fitness star
“I never did corporate, didn’t land my first real ‘career’ job until age 46, and now I create content. How the hell did I get here?”
Age: I’m an amateur 62-year-old, and an aging person in training.
Location: Los Angeles
Previous locations: My roots are in the (510) East Bay. Short stints in San Francisco and NYC.
Follow me here: Instagram • Facebook • Linkedin • heymiddleage.com
I’m in the midst of: Assisting two aging parentals, about to start writing again on my dormant blog (and maybe Substack), learning new editing skills, and navigating thinning brows (tips welcome). Caring for three resident cats and three foster kittens. Cat energy is essential for life.
My income: Moolah fluctuates. Content creation started as a hobby, but now it’s my job. Fortunately, income has increased every year since I started. There’s no roadmap so I’m learning as I go. It’s super exciting and creative, and nothing I ever imagined would happen.
Monthly expenses in a nutshell: Mortgage, taxes, groceries, insurance, retirement accounts, investments, pets, eating out.
I used to be a fashion-obsessed shopper; I followed every trend in clothes, shoes, beauty products, hair, and nails, but since I don’t work in an office anymore, that spending has decreased to a sliver of our expenses.
The most unexpected spending has been insurance, which increased for our home, cars, and health threefold in the last couple of years.
I have multiple subscriptions because I love streaming (current faves: PokerFace, Hacks, Stick, and I can’t wait for Slow Horses season 5). Also coffee. Cannot live without my Nespresso.
Primary personal debts: Mortgage. I haven’t had any other debt for over three decades. I did a lot of foolish spending in college and in my 20s, so I had a lot of credit card debt. Once I paid it off, I vowed to never have unproductive debt again.
Retirement savings: On track, but it never feels like enough, since the cost of life keeps increasing. I don’t have plans to retire, but that’s by choice.
Work remotely or onsite? Remote, and anywhere I need to shoot content.
Relationship status: Married for 35 years
I’d like to connect with: Women who are experienced in the content creation world who want to hang out, share advice, and support each other.
A typical weekday schedule in a nutshell: I set my own schedule, which isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential — more on that below.
My only flex is that I wake up to no alarm, so I sleep late.
I quickly scan emails and Instagram from bed, down a big glass of water, slap on sunscreen, then take a quick walk. Breakfast is always free of refined sugar — usually berries, plain Greek yogurt, nuts, and a Nespresso with Nutpod creamer. Then it’s emails and content creation: concepts, writing copy, stories, and planning. Late mornings are for meetings.
Around 1 pm, if it’s a home workout day, I’ll do strength training or an online shuffle class in my garage. On boxing days, I hit the gym in the late afternoon.
I’m on the socials throughout the day scrolling, posting, responding, and searching for cool content and music. Social media has its issues, but for me it’s been hugely positive. Instagram connects me globally, giving insights into midlife experiences — the joys, frustrations, and triumphs. I keep things uplifting because there’s enough negativity elsewhere, and I block if needed without hesitation.
Dinner at 7 pm (I cook three to four times a week), then content editing after streaming a show or two with the fam. My best creative energy hits around 9 pm, so I stay up late working.
Each week, I make time for something social like coffee dates, Zoom chats with Instagram friends, lunches with new connections, and midlife-focused events or brand activations. In Los Angeles, that usually means driving an hour or two each way, but it’s usually worth it.
Sometimes I feel like my days lack depth, but I know I make a difference to the person who needs a nudge to start physical movement or change the way they feel about aging because I get messages, including very vulnerable ones, every day.
Also, I’ve got two aging parents who need support. One lives nearby, so I’m on deck for doctor appointments and errands. My dad’s a quick flight away, and I visit to give his caregivers a break. Last year, I spent a total of eight weeks with him. That time? A gift. I know most people don’t get that kind of window. I didn’t have that kind of time with my mom, and it’s my biggest regret. So now, I build my schedule around what really matters — and this matters.
On the weekends I’m usually: My fave start to the weekend is a boxing workout on Saturday morning. If I do some hard work, and get a good sweat on, I have energy for the rest of the weekend.
Lately the husband has been finding places to eat on Instagram so we’ll check out a new place outside of our neighborhood. In the last month we had sand coffee, super yummy Hawaiian/Korean food, and soft-serve ice cream with fancy toppings.
My Sunday morning ritual since college: the entire New York Times in print and a big latté.
Since I work at home, errands and chores are spread out over the week, but I used to cram them all into the weekends.
How much my career is tied to my identity: I lacked a career for so long that I’m used to, and very comfortable with, not being identified with a job.
My happiness meter: Fulfillment is the goal more than happiness, and as I get older, it comes from gratefulness, less self-criticism, physical well-being, and leaning into friendships.
“Fulfillment is the goal more than happiness, and as I get older, it comes from gratefulness, less self-criticism, physical wellbeing, and leaning into friendships.”
My thankfulness meter is a 10/10 every day.”
My career trajectory: Lukewarm with no direction until I was in my mid-40s. At 62, I feel limitless.
My superpowers: I can start a conversation with anyone — in grocery-store lines, on airplanes, or waiting to pick up my pizza. I’m generous with compliments. Brief human interactions are spirit boosters.
Hopeful retirement age: Retirement would make me blah and lazy, so I don’t plan on it. I’m lucky: I travel enough that I don’t need to retire to travel. I have a flexible schedule so I don’t need to retire to do what I want.
Peri/menopause journey:
I listened to a podcast about Boomers feeling frustrated because we’re the generation hit hardest by the Women’s Health Initiative, which essentially took menopause hormone therapy (MHT) off the table. That’s me — I’m at the tail end of that group.
I’d heard the word “perimenopause” but had no clue what it really meant. Looking in the rearview mirror now, I realize many symptoms I experienced like frozen shoulder, brain fog, and insomnia were probably perimenopause-related, and I just didn’t know it.
When I was 60 — eight years after menopause — I started MHT to prevent osteoporosis, right at the supposed “cutoff” age.
An unexpected bonus? Within a week, the full-body joint pain I’d been living with for years vanished.
Healthy habits: I’m super active. Boxing training sessions two to three times a week, online shuffle classes, yoga, walking, step, strength training, and floor mobility work.
After menopause my A1C kept rising, so I’ve cut back on sugar dramatically.
I don’t drink alcohol (Asian glow IYKYK).
I’m all about aging with healthy feet. A year ago I partnered with Vivobarefoot and it’s official — I’m a barefoot shoe believer. Most people, even health enthusiasts, wear unhealthy shoes. Barefoot shoes keep my feet strong, improving balance and mobility. Drop a comment if you have questions. (To save 20% on the U.S. site, enter code MIMI20. Code doesn’t apply to sale items.)
I’m also in a text group doing NYT puzzles — we rotate choosing the Wordle word and share our Connections results. Throughout the day, I tackle The Mini, Strands, and Letter Boxed. It's mainly for fun, but I suspect it's good for memory and keeping my brain sharp.
Not-so-healthy habits: I use my devices until I go to sleep.
Best investment: Exercise, now and always for today and for later life.
Worst investment: Years ago …
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