We love featuring our everyday GORGOgirls that are inspiring us to crush life and a balanced approach to fitness.

Meet Zina Breeding.

Tell us about yourself!

I retired from Department of Army Civil Service in June 2016 after 37 years at the age of 55. I worked as a warehouse work leader/forklift operator for the majority of those years. Blue collar work in warehouses doing shipping and receiving, operating a forklift, driving a 4 ton box truck (think large Lowes delivery truck), loading/unloading semis. Physical work. Now I babysit my two year old grandson 3 days a week and help out my mother, mother-in-law and 100 year old grandmother-in-law with running errands, driving them to appointments and whatever else they need help with. It keeps me busy!

I got married when I was 20 and have two children. Elizabeth is 34 and the mother of my adorable grandson Silas and my son Alex is 31. I got divorced after 29 years of marriage at the age of 49. My children blamed me for the divorce and pretty much had nothing to do with me for two years...divorce is hard on your kids no matter what age. But sometimes you have to do what is needed for you...for once in your life. I got remarried in 2013 to Keith and there is never a day that goes by that I don't know that I am loved and most of all appreciated.

Tell us about your fitness life!

I have worked out off and on for years. I've attended group fitness classes, did a stint of running and been a member of the gym that is home to Camp Gorgo (I was there when Val and Christie worked there when they were stationed at Fort Knox). When I was doing the group fitness classes (probably 2006/2007) I loved the Les Mills Body Pump classes and got great results from them. I started my latest fitness journey in November of 2018. I have a workout area in my basement now and workout from home. I would love to go back to the gym but for now this is what works for me. I love lifting weights and my body seems to respond pretty quickly to that type of workout. I've been following Val, Christie and Dani for several years and have been doing their Facebook challenges. I enjoy using weights and seeing the changes in my body...I love how it makes my arms and shoulders look. I also try to get in a couple of days of cardio using the elliptical although some days chasing after a two year old suffices!

Any hobbies or things you enjoy doing?

My husband and I are avid golfers. I had never picked up a golf club until I met my husband so I started very late (age 49) but I absolutely love it. It's something we enjoy doing together and I learn something new every time I play. We enjoy traveling and playing in couples scrambles. I also have a group of ladies that play and we enjoy traveling to different golf courses and playing in tournaments.

DO YOU HAVE ANY GOALS YOU’RE WORKING TOWARD?

My goals are pretty simple...be healthy, happy, physically active, stronger and maintain a healthy weight. I want to be proud of how I look and feel at age 60. I want to be ok with aging because I don't like the alternative.

Any struggles?

I struggle with feelings of guilt. My husband suffers from spinal stenosis and his physical activity is limited. I feel guilty spending time away from him doing things that he can no longer physically do. In 2016 my Dad spent 22 days in the hospital. My Mom and I took turns staying with him day and night. He came home from the hospital and three hours later my mother suffered a stroke. The decision to put him in Hospice care was made while I was at work that day without my knowledge and I was upset. We talked and while I was hugging her and telling her I loved her she had the stroke. In my mind, I had caused her to have a stroke because she was upset that I was upset. Daddy ended up back in the hospital after only being home 3 days and my Mom ended up in the rehabilitation center across the street. I ran back and forth between them until Daddy died 9 days later. My heart was broken and I was mentally and physically exhausted. And I felt guilty because I hadn't kept him alive long enough for them to be together again. My mother's stroke and my Dad's death were neither one my fault but you couldn't convince me of that. It's been almost 4 years and I'm still struggling to even write this. I feel guilty about spending time on my self, doing what I want to do, when there's so much I could be doing for the others I help take care of. I worry too much about what others think instead of doing what makes me happy. I struggle with depression at times and exercise has always helped me to keep that under control. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy so I am working on granting myself more grace and focusing more on what makes my heart happy.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE GORGO COMMUNITY?

The GORGO community has given me the opportunity to make new friends and to learn that I'm not alone in my feelings and struggles.

I worked for 37 years in a male-oriented job so I don't have a lot of female friends. I love that the women are strong and encouraging instead of tearing each other down. If you're struggling, they are there to pick you up, dust you off and help you to get back on your way.

CAMP GORGO: Thoughts about your experience? Fav part? What made you want to attend?

In 2018, I began my journey to lose some weight and to start working out again. When they advertised the dates for Camp GORGO 2019, I noticed that my 59th birthday would fall on that Saturday. I live in Elizabethtown where the camp is held,

I'd lost 35 pounds, was working out again and it was my birthday...how could I not go?! So I signed up and attended the camp. I didn't know anyone. I knew I was not going to be in as good of shape as most and probably older that anyone else that was there but I stepped out of my box and went. Not going to lie, it was intimidating to walk into a room full of women. But that passed quickly. There were women there of all shapes, sizes, ages and athletic abilities. And they were all smiling and friendly and helpful. During the breakout sessions, I learned that these young women were struggling with the same things I struggled with at their age: self doubt, feelings of not being enough, trying to balance career/motherhood/being a wife, trying to look a certain way, stress, depression.

I don't know why I was surprised...I still suffer from some of the same things even at 59. It was very eye-opening to hear what had led all of us here. The Saturday morning games were a blast (I know they were for fun but there was some pretty fierce competition going on!) and it was fun to see everyone dressed up in their costumes. The afternoon sessions at the gym were very informative and a chance to try something new or learn how to improve what you were already doing. And again, it was great to see everyone encouraging and helping each other. And getting to dress up on Saturday night and spend a night with your new friends was awesome! I can't wait to go back this year!

Do you have any message you feel called to share about where you are at in your life right now to encourage other GORGO GIRLS?

Life is short. The older you get, the better you understand that. It's sad that we spend so much of our lives stressing over things that in the grand scheme of things don't matter. Even though it's hard, take time to care for yourself.

Do what makes you happy and spend your time with the ones that make your heart full.