My Journey to Becoming a Health Wealth Planner

My name is Yuka, and I am a Health Wealth Planner dedicated to supporting people in their 40s and 50s.

Currently, I live in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, with my New Zealander husband and our two children, aged 11 and 9. Even after giving birth, I worked full-time for many years in Tokyo and New Zealand as a working mom. Back then, I was constantly overwhelmed by time constraints from morning to night, and I was always stressed. On weekends, I was either doing housework or spending time with my family, leaving almost no time for myself. Given my hectic routine, my only moment of bliss was enjoying a quiet cup of coffee at the office, undisturbed by anyone.

But in reality, I was just pretending to be satisfied with that lifestyle. Deep down, both my mind and body had reached their limits.

Now, you might be wondering how, despite reaching my 50s in a couple of years, I manage to live energetically. Let me share a little bit of my story.

More than two decades ago, I was lost in a seemingly endless tunnel for eight years, from the age of 24 to 32. Looking back now, I can’t help but think how foolish I was to waste so much time! (Haha) I was trapped in a painful cycle of breaking up and getting back together with a man I loved. Eventually, he proposed, only to break off our engagement shortly after, leaving me completely shattered. I fell into depression, and one morning, I found myself unable to get out of bed. I had no choice but to take some time off from work. I constantly thought about him, lost my appetite, and my reflection in the mirror resembled a lifeless zombie, so emaciated that my collarbones protruded sharply.

Desperate to escape from this darkness, I turned to fortune-telling, the law of attraction, spirituality, and self-development books. I experimented with various methods, but nothing truly filled the emptiness inside me.

Then one day, driven by a strong urge to change my life, I, who had never been into exercise, stepped into a local gym for the first time.

That was the beginning of my new life. At first, working out was just a distraction, but as I continued, it became an essential part of my daily routine. My body started to tone up, and the zombie-like version of myself disappeared. My complexion improved, my skin became radiant, and my friends and colleagues began telling me, "You look younger!" More than just a physical transformation, I found myself becoming more optimistic, and my health improved dramatically.

For the first time, I realized the incredible impact exercise has on both the mind and body.

Throughout my school years, I was never into sports and was always part of cultural clubs. Even during university, I never exercised. But once I started, my body and mind changed significantly. As my physique transformed, my perceived age changed too, boosting my confidence. Feeling good about myself improved my overall well-being and, ultimately, my entire life. Suddenly, my days became filled with joyful and exciting moments. The girl who had once cried endlessly and struggled through heartbreak slowly regained her self-confidence and climbed out of despair, all thanks to exercise.

Since that painful heartbreak in my 20s, I have maintained my workout routine to this day.

However, after experiencing childbirth and working full-time, I found myself feeling fatigued and drained as I aged. I often lacked the energy to get through the day. That’s when I recalled the simple truth I had almost forgotten—"Exercise makes you feel better." Since mornings were the only time I could spare for myself, I began going to the gym every day.

The result? My persistent fatigue vanished, and I felt more energetic throughout the day. My immune system seemed to strengthen, as I stopped catching colds and started feeling healthier overall. And that wasn’t all—my skin improved significantly. Now, I only need affordable skincare and makeup brought from a supermarket or a chemist to maintain a radiant look. I have no symptoms of menopause, and I am truly grateful for that.

Once you hit mid 40s, you enter the second half of your life.

If you continue living as you always have, your stamina will decline, and you will become even more prone to fatigue. Many people experience body aches as they age. And now, in an era where life expectancy is reaching 100 years, issues like aging, young caregivers, and solitary deaths are becoming major social concerns.

That’s why I strongly believe in preparing for the future—10, 20, or even 30 years from now—by maintaining our physical strength and independence for as long as possible. The key is to invest in our health today to ensure we can move freely and independently in the future.

From my own experience, I can confidently say that prioritizing exercise, nutrition, and sleep fills your body with energy and makes daily life more fulfilling.

Many people in their 40s and 50s are busy with parenting, often neglecting their own needs without even realizing it. This makes it easy to overlook the importance of tuning into their own minds and bodies.

To "take care of yourself" means first understanding your physical and mental state.

When you prioritize self-care, life becomes easier and happier.

Now more than ever, investing in your physical and mental well-being is crucial for your long-term health and happiness.

Your body is your foundation. Your health is your greatest asset. That’s why I call it "Health Wealth."

Even now, in my late 40s:

• I still get asked for ID when buying alcohol a few times a year.

• My younger colleagues, who are nearly two decades younger than me, often compliment my skin and say I don’t look my age.

• I have successfully overcome my chronic back pain caused by long hours of desk work and post-pregnancy posture issues.

• I no longer suffer from the debilitating fatigue that comes with menopause.

• I can jump rope and do double unders 100 times, proving that I’ve maintained my physical strength and endurance.

I live every day with energy and vitality.

I suggest you start building your own health assets so you can enjoy a future filled with happiness and well-being.

This is my story—one filled with passion and the experiences that shaped me into who I am today.

The beginning of life was in the scorching summer

On July 18, 1978, during the hottest summer on record at that time, I was born as a premature baby weighing 2450g in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. Surrounded by rice fields and mountains, I spent my childhood playing with my older sister, who was four years older, and neighborhood kids, staying outside until the sound of the evening sunset bell at 6:00 PM. I was competitive by nature, and I naturally developed a sense of leadership. I still remember that in my first-grade report card, the teacher wrote about me "Superwoman" in the comments.
Influenced by the popular TV drama "Stewardess Story" at the time, my dream was to become a flight attendant when I grew up. Perhaps, even then, the desire to travel abroad was beginning to form.

My school days immersed in the wind ensemble and an unfulfilled dream

Influenced by my older sister, who joined the wind ensemble before me, I joined the wind ensemble in the 4th grade of elementary school and started playing the flute. At that time, Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture had a strong wind ensemble culture, with many schools from elementary to high school participating in national competitions. Therefore, I also joined the wind ensemble in junior high school, dedicating myself to club activities. I attended a local public high school known for its wind ensemble, which had experience in national competitions, and spent my high school years entirely immersed in club activities, with afternoons, weekends, and even summer vacations dedicated to practice.

While many of my friends went on to attend national universities in the Tohoku region, my visit to the Yokohama Expo in 5th grade exposed me to the excitement of urban life, and I firmly decided, "When I grow up, I will go to Tokyo!" I enrolled in the Faculty of Business Administration at Yokohama National University and started living on my own. To pay for tuition and living expenses, I worked part-time every day, leading a busy life. However, I was fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful friends, and I began to pursue my dream.

However, with my height of 151 cm, I didn’t meet the application requirements to become a flight attendant, a childhood dream that was quickly dashed. Despite this, my desire to travel abroad never faded, and the influence of the foreign drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," which I loved at the time, kept my passion for English alive. I started to explore a new path.

The pain of the heart became a turning point in my life

After graduating from university, I joined a well-known foreign life insurance company that everyone had heard of from TV commercials. Although in the first few years I often returned home on the last train, the atmosphere was relaxed, with almost no hierarchy, due to the nature of the foreign company. Every day was incredibly fulfilling.

At the age of 24, I had a fateful encounter. I met a man who was seven years older than me. As I explained earlier, my heart was shattered, and while I threw myself into working out at the gym, I also embarked on solo trips to places like New York and Shanghai to find myself.

At the age of 28, in my fifth year at the company, I decided to change my environment. Using the company's "Skill Development Leave Program," I went to Los Angeles for a private study abroad, something I had always dreamed. During my time abroad, I took on many challenges, made new friends in a foreign land, and discovered new perspectives in life.

Challenges as a mother and life in a new country

After returning to Japan, I still couldn't forget my ex-partner and continued going to the gym. However, the many different cultures and values I learned abroad, along with the self-confidence I gained from my gym sessions, unknowingly helped me grow. It gave me the strength to step forward into a new future with confidence. A few years later, I met my current husband, and we were blessed with two children. My new role as a mother began. However, after returning to work from maternity leave, I found myself constantly overwhelmed by raising my two children, who were nearly two year apart. The stress often made it hard for me to be as kind to my children as I wanted, and I frequently struggled with this inner conflict.

In December 2017, when I moved to New Zealand, I resigned from the company where I had worked for 16 and a half years. Raising children in the nature-filled environment of New Zealand was a different kind of challenge, but it was also an opportunity for my own personal growth. However, it wasn’t easy to give up my full-time career, and it became a time for me to rediscover my own identity.

Balancing career and family

In the midst of all this, I was fortunate enough to be hired by the Japanese Embassy, and I returned to full-time work. The job in a completely new field was initially unsettling, but I was fortunate to have wonderful colleagues and supervisors, and every day felt fulfilling. However, I soon began to struggle with balancing work and family life. As my children grew, I felt more strongly the need to value my own time. Fortunately, there was a gym on the ground from in the office building, and waking up early to work out before heading to the office became an important routine for me to maintain my mental balance.

Changes in my body caused by the sudden pandemic

At the end of March 2020, with the onset of the pandemic, the embassy's workload increased drastically with tasks such as protecting Japanese nationals and handling humanitarian issues, as well as responding to the rapidly changing immigration regulations between Japan and New Zealand. The gym was closed, and once again, the stress began to take a toll on me. My body shape and physical strength deteriorated quickly, and during a health check-up, it was revealed that my chronic health issue had worsened. Although I started medication and the condition improved, my body shape in 40s had deteriorated in no time. I began wearing looser clothes to the office, and I ignored the changes in my body, pretending they weren’t there.

Restarting exercise and discovering jump rope

As the COVID situation eased and I was able to return to the gym, I decided to use my lunch break for a workout to refresh myself. Since I only had one hour for exercise and a shower before returning to the office, I began searching for an efficient way to exercise. I eventually settled on incorporating a few minutes of jump rope cardio, in addition to the stretching and strength training I had been doing. I had participated in jump rope competitions in elementary school, so I could do it to some extent, but after many years, I realized just how long one minute felt! I kept tripping up repeatedly. However, as I continued, the number of times I tripped gradually decreased, and I was able to jump for 30 seconds, then 40 seconds, and more. That small progress made me so happy, and it boosted my motivation and commitment to exercise. Slowly, my body began to tighten and tone.

A new chapter of my life

Then, in March 2024, after the pandemic, I moved with my family to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. Here, not only young people but also those in their 60s and 70s jog along the beach every morning. Everyone looks so vibrant and healthy. This lifestyle has given me new energy and has reminded me of the importance of taking care of myself and staying healthy, both mentally and physically. I believe I was led to this place in order to become more active as a Health Wealth Planner. To that end, I am helping as many people as possible to stay healthy and energetic for as long as they can.