BOLD Voices with Peta Gillian

These are all absolute game-changers for health and mindset!

1. The Let Them Theory totally shifted how I handle anxiety and decision-making.
2. Forever Strong and Built to Move transformed my approach to fitness - especially as a woman who loves strength training.
   
3. The Resistance Training Revolution is fab for understanding why weights are so crucial, and
4. Next Level is brilliant for us ladies wanting to optimise our training.

They're not just books, they're like having personal coaches guiding you through every page!

I feel most alive on any ski slope - it doesn't matter where, just give me fresh powder and I'm in heaven!

Super excited that I'm ticking off a bucket list dream this year, heading to the French Alps. Can't wait to experience those legendary slopes!

And you know what's awesome? I only took up skiing in my 40s on a whim... just proves it's never too late to discover something that lights you up!"

 I absolutely love living in the here and now.

Being in my 60s means I've witnessed some incredible changes - from when Australia switched to decimal currency right through to the digital revolution with the internet.

Every era has its charm, but there's something special about being part of all this progress and innovation!

Looking back, watching diabetes steal my mum and nana's mobility really shook me up. Those four walls became their world, and I promised myself that wouldn't be my story. My wake-up call came in my 40s when my own health issue raised it’s head.

These days, movement is my non-negotiable - walking, strength training, just keeping this body moving. I switched to real food for fuel, though I still enjoy my treats (life's too short not to!). Starting each day with water and movement sets me right.

What's interesting is how different my path's been from my family's. While they faced chronic illness in their 30s, here I am in my 60s, still bouncing around like that energiser bunny.

Best part? When friends suggest an active holiday, I'm always up for the adventure. No four walls are going to define my story!

I've learned it's not about following rigid rules - it's about finding what works for your body and mind, and staying open to learning. Movement isn't just exercise; it's my ticket to independence and living life on my terms.

Q. What do you think you do that's different to other people?

Like many of us, I bounced through my younger years like an energiser bunny, never giving health a second thought.

My wake-up call came in my 40s when I started noticing those little changes - the afternoon slumps, unexplained twinges, moments when my usual bouncy self just wasn't quite there anymore. That's when I knew something had to change, and strength training became my anchor.

Moving through menopause brought its own set of surprises - more aches and body changes I hadn't expected. It really hits home, doesn't it? That realisation that we're aging whether we like it or not. I'm so glad those health routines I established in my 40s laid such a strong foundation for where I am now in my 60s.

Life has a way of testing our resilience though. In 2024, our lives transformed when we welcomed two young grandchildren into our home permanently. These precious little people have been through so much, and helping them heal has opened my eyes to something crucial - how important it is to pass on healthy habits to the next generation. But here's the kicker that makes me shake my head: just when life demands more energy from us, mother nature gets mean and whispers "slow down."

That's why I've learned to really listen to my body while still pushing forward when needed. I get advice, absolutely, but I've become dead set on making decisions that work for me. After all, nobody knows my body better than I do.

It's funny how life's hardest moments can teach us the most healing ways forward. I was just eleven when I lost my nana - my greatest champion, the one whose love wrapped around me like a warm blanket and made everything feel right in the world. That loss broke my heart in ways I couldn't even understand at that age.

But one day, instead of jumping on the school bus, I just started walking. Something in me knew I needed that movement, that space to feel connected to her love again.

And you know what? I'm still walking every morning, decades later. It's never been about staying fit - it's my time to process, to feel, to let my mind wander where it needs to go.

Life's thrown some real doozies at me over the years - those experiences that shake you to your core. But movement has always been my constant. It's like my body knows what my mind needs before I do. And there's something magical about those quiet moments sitting on the dam wall, letting the breeze dance around me and the sun warm my face. It's in these simple moments that I find my balance again.

Sometimes the best mental health tools aren't the ones you read about in books - they're the ones you stumble upon when your heart is hurting and your feet just start moving.

There's something powerful about embracing who you really are - quirks and all. For me, it was realising that my rebellious spirit wasn't something to quieten down, but actually my superpower. I've learned to dance to my own tune, even when others might raise an eyebrow.

Being true to yourself isn't always the easy path, especially when the world's trying to squeeze you into its mold. But there's this incredible freedom that comes when you stop trying to meet others' expectations and just let yourself be... well, you.

It's like I've got this internal compass that sometimes points in a completely different direction from everyone else's, and you know what? That's exactly as it should be.

Q. What’s a habit you’ve cultivated that you wish you had started sooner?

You know what? I wish I'd discovered strength training way earlier. It's been a game-changer for me, and the research backs it up - nothing else gives you quite the same bang for your buck when it comes to overall health. It's simple really: keeping our muscles strong is non-negotiable as we age. The science is crystal clear on this one.

Here's how I approach food - it's pretty straightforward really. I treat food as fuel for my body, just like petrol for your car. Put in the good stuff, and your engine runs better. Sure, I enjoy my treats (who doesn't?), but they're treats for a reason - not everyday fuel.

What works for me is keeping it real with whole foods and really tuning in to how my body responds to what I'm eating. I've learned that those one-size-fits-all diet rules don't make much sense. Everyone's engine runs a bit different, right?

No fancy protocols or strict rules here - just listening to what my body needs and treating food as what it is: energy to keep this machine running at its best.

Life throws some real curveballs, doesn't it?

In my 60s, when I should be planning trips and enjoying quiet moments with my partner, I'm back to school runs and homework help. Taking on young grandkiddos permanently wasn't in my retirement playbook - it's scary stepping back into that parenting role after 40+ years.

Everything's different now - from how kids learn to what they eat, even how they play. And while part of me mourns those travel dreams put on hold, there's this fierce determination to give these precious little ones the stability and love they need.

Sometimes I look at my friends jet-setting around and think "that should've been me." But life had other plans, and while it's terrifying at times, it's also teaching me about strength I didn't know I still had.

Isn't it amazing how teaching our grandkiddos can spark something in us too? Working through that Big Life Journal with them got me thinking about my own goals, dreams and aspirations again.

My book (move the dial) - it's been sitting there unfinished for years, but something clicked while helping these little ones dream big. Now I'm back at it, committed to knocking out a chapter, five days a week.

It's funny how life works sometimes - here I was thinking I was helping them set goals, and they ended up helping me dust off one of mine. The writing feels different this time around, more focused. Second draft's flowing better than the first ever did.

Morning walks are my non-negotiable - they've been my mental health anchor since I was young. It's where I process, reflect, and set myself up for the day.

Strength training isn't just for my body; it builds my mental resilience too. It gives me focus.

I've learned to embrace my reflective nature rather than rushing to fill every quiet moment. Those pauses sitting by the dam wall, feeling the breeze - they're as important as any structured routine. And working with the grandkids on their goals has actually strengthened my own commitment to daily writing.

But most importantly, I stay true to myself. No following someone else's rules about what works - I trust my gut and do what feels right for me. After all, we're all wired differently, aren't we?

 Our family mantra is "we try, we learn, we keep going."

It's simple but powerful - especially now. When we face challenges, this mindset helps us push through. Whether it's the grandkiddos learning maths or me writing my book, we remember that trying is the first step, learning comes from every experience, and persistence is key.

It's not about being perfect; it's about staying in motion.