Meet Coach Lorna Gager

Lorna Gager

Age: 43

Are you married?

Yes, for 13 years.

What does your husband do?

Banking—money management stuff. He and I met in the late 90’s when he was my client. Brian was a widower with four young children. We had a whirlwind romance which culminated in marriage. I immediately became mother to four adopted children in the ‘burbs. We added a fifth to round out our gang. It hasn’t always been easy, but it sure has been worth it.

Kids?

Five, ages 22, 21, 19, 17 and 11.

Where did you grow up and what did your parents do?

I grew up in Maryland. My dad was an attorney in private practice and my mom was a career woman ahead of her time. She had a big management job, but still had dinner on the table every night, kept the house in order and ran my brother and I around to all of our activities. I didn’t realize it at the time, but mom was handling work/life balance before it became part of our vocabulary.

Lots of women think that because they have done things the same way for so long that they can’t change their habits. This is simply not true.

What did you do before becoming a coach?

I worked on Wall Street right out of college. I was registered and worked for a brokerage house on both bond and equity desks and thereafter was in sales for other financially related businesses.

Why a coach?

After becoming an instant mom the way I did, I quickly lost my way in terms of my health and well being. I gained weight, got out of shape and worst of all in my book, lost track of who I was. Once my youngest was old enough, I took stock and mapped out the return I needed to make to get back to myself again. I love being a coach, helping women down the path that I travelled on alone. It isn’t easy and there are lots of fits and starts, but with someone in your corner—giving you a level of support you don’t find in daily life—attaining your goals is much easier.

What kind of FabOverFifty woman can most benefit from coaching?

Everyone can benefit from coaching. But the most appropriate client is someone who really wants to make changes in her life but just can’t seem to find the way forward. Lots of women think that because they have done things the same way for so long that they can’t change their habits. This is simply not true.

What is your mission?

To encourage women to let themselves be at the top of the list instead of putting everyone else ahead of them. That prioritizing themselves is a necessity, not a perk. To remind women that it is ok to let go of the guilt and to be gentle with themselves. To teach women that this can fit into their daily lives rather seamlessly.

What’s your training?

I am a certified Wellness Coach through WellCoaches, Inc. and a personal trainer certified with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Tell us about a typical client.

The woman with whom I work best has kids who are mostly grown and who suddenly has some time on her hands. She is concerned about her health, wants to make positive changes, but doesn’t know where to start.

How do women most sabotage themselves?

So many women are dependable and reliable to everyone else except themselves. Our families, co-workers and communities rely on us. The problem is that we don’t keep our promises to ourselves. We put our needs at the bottom of the priority list and then don’t understand when we don’t feel good about ourselves. When we don’t have integrity with ourselves we lose trust and belief in who we are.

What’s the greatest piece of advice you can give FOF women?

Fifty is the new 35. It is never too late to start a new path. Changes can be gentle and incremental and women will be so much happier with themselves once they start the journey.

What famous women do you most admire?

I have always had great admiration for Eleanor Roosevelt because she had her own agenda, was always her own person and was way ahead of her time.

Do you have a mentor?

Over the years I have had many people take me under their wing, each of them offering me different and important lessons. I have never had a formal mentor but I am always on the lookout.

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