Midlife_Surfista on LTK

Midlife_Surfista

Frustration gets a bad reputation — but your brain actually needs it.

Learning happens best when a skill is challenging but not overwhelming. That “almost” feeling is where your nervous system pays the most attention.

If a surf session leaves you frustrated and curious, that’s not failure.

That’s learning.

This is Surf Brain 🧠🌊

Frustration gets a bad reputation — but your brain actually needs it. Learning happens best when a skill is challenging but not overwhelming. That “almost” feeling is where your nervous system pays the most attention. If a surf session leaves you frustrated and curious, that’s not failure. That’s learning. This is Surf Brain 🧠🌊

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Learning to surf in midlife has taught me way more than how to stand up on a board.
It’s taught me how to stand up for myself.

I’m still learning.
I still fall.
And I’m finally okay with both.

Joy doesn’t have to be earned.
It can just be chosen. 🌊

Flow isn’t magic — and it’s not perfect surfing.

Flow is full engagement without panic or overthinking.
You can fall, wobble, or wipe out and still be in flow.

If you’re waiting to “get good enough” to experience flow, you might already be missing it.

Surf Brain 🧠🌊
Save this for your next session.

Ever heard the saying “don’t let perfect become the enemy of good?” Your brain doesn’t learn from perfect sessions — it learns from showing up.

Short sessions.
Average conditions.
Messy reps.

That’s how skills are built.

Consistency (in safe conditions!) beats perfect.

Surf Brain 🧠🌊

Fear and learning don’t live in the same nervous system state.

A little fear is normal. Too much fear shuts skill development down.

Learning happens when you feel challenged — not threatened.

Choose conditions that support your nervous system, not your ego.

This is Surf Brain 🧠🌊

One of the hardest parts of learning as an adult?

Awareness improves before performance.

You start noticing every mistake — timing, balance, positioning — before your body can consistently execute the fix. And that gap can feel discouraging.

But it’s not regression.
It’s progress arriving early.

If surfing suddenly feels harder, stay with it.
Your Surf Brain is leveling up 🧠🌊

Follow for more science-backed surf learning.

It feels a bit like you’ve cheated the system… #surfboard #longboard

Another surgery coming up and some big midlife transitions. I’ve been lucky enough to take a “self care week” in Hawaii to process and reflect before hand. But it is strange to be in this beautiful place and still feel “a little bit sad”

🤙🏼In case you’re new here, I’m Tiffany, a 42 year old content creator that started learning to surf at age 40 and discovered that surfing was the first form of exercise that was genuinely fun for me.

📕We’re all in different stages of the learning process. Don’t jump too far ahead and start comparing Chapter 1 of your journey to someone else’s Chapter 20.

🏅Recognize your little signs of progress, and remember that making mistakes is part of the learning process.

➡️And keep moving forward by remaining consistent, curious, and open to feedback!

And follow me for more facts and tips about navigating your learning process with the series Surf Brain 🧠

Ever come back to surfing and think, “Why does this suddenly feel so hard?”

That’s not regression — it’s recalibration.

When you take time off, the skill doesn’t disappear. But timing, balance, and prediction get rusty. When you return, your nervous system becomes more aware of errors while it updates the skill.

Those frustrating sessions aren’t failures.
They’re information.

Bad reps still count.
Struggle still counts.

This is Surf Brain 🧠🌊
Save this for the next time everything feels hard.

#SurfBrain #AdultLearner #BeginnerSurfer #surfergirl #midlifesurfer

Protein gets all the glory post-bariatric…
but fiber is the unsung hero that keeps a surfer girl functional 😅🏄‍♀️

After gastric sleeve surgery, I prioritize protein first — and fiber is a close second, especially if I want my digestive system to cooperate after I’ve already wrestled myself into a wetsuit.

My general rule of thumb:
🥑 Whole foods first — fruits, veggies, tubers, beans & legumes
🍞 Strategic convenience — some grains and wraps that actually pull their weight
💥 Emergency options — when my gut hits DEFCON 3 and I need backup ASAP

Is it ideal to get all your nutrients from unprocessed foods? Yep.
Is there shame in using a processed option or supplement you tolerate well? Absolutely not.

Learning to fuel your body after bariatric surgery is about nutrition density, digestion, and practicality — not perfection.

Curious what fiber go-to’s I rely on most? They’re all in the video 👆
👇 And tell me — did I miss any of your favorites

#BariatricNutrition #SurfFuel #MidlifeSurfista #WomenWhoSurf

#LTKActive #LTKdayinmylife #LTKfoodie

We are experiencing some… technical difficulties. But better audio is on the way to me in the form of DJI Mic 2!

#LTKdayinmylife #LTKstorytime #LTKvlog

Nothing like the feeling of the first wave on a new board

#LTKdayinmylife #LTKvlog #LTKActive

I have only owned Hyundai vehicles for almost 2 decades now, and here’s why…

#LTKvlog

New here? Start here 👋

This space is for learning hard things — imperfectly.
Surfing. Fitness. Creativity. Confidence.

Science-backed. Ego-free.
Welcome to Surf Brain 🧠🌊

🌊📸 @mariafernandaphoto @mariafernandaphoto2
🎤📸 @billbrown686

👉 LAST SPOT for Montañita, Ecuador with @beyondsurfsd
🇪🇨 Co-ed Beginner Surf Trip! 🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️
📅 March 19-26, 2026
🌊 Warm water, consistent waves
🏖️ Beachfront stay + guided surf sessions
💵 Great price!
📲 DM @beyondsurfsd to grab it!

Learning to surf isn't about knowing more - it's about training your nervous system.
Reps + feedback. That's the majority of the game.
Save this for the days you feel 'behind!

#LTKActive #LTKTravel

Can anyone else relate?

Our band’s debut was such a fun evening, and I LOVED my dress from Hello Molly!

#LTKOver40 #LTKActive #LTKMidsize

Watching is never just wasted time. You are training your brain.

#LTKOver40 #LTKActive

Some longtime surfers are stoked to encourage beginners.

#LTKOver40 #LTKActive

Talent doesn’t build skills.
Repetition does.

If you’re showing up — even awkwardly — you’re already doing the work.

Save this for the days you feel ‘behind.’

#LTKOver40 #LTKActive

I knew how adults learn.
I didn’t know how to surf.

That difference changed everything.

Surfing taught me that understanding ≠ skill.
And struggling doesn’t mean you’re behind — it means your nervous system is learning.

This is Surf Brain 🧠
Where we talk about surfing, fear, confidence, and learning in midlife — without shame.

Save this for the days you feel “bad” at surfing.
Send it to someone who needs permission to be a beginner.

#midlifesurfista #surfbrain
#neuroscience #adultlearning #beginnersurfer

🧠✨ Your brain can be your biggest limiter… or your greatest ally.

I spent so much time slowing my surf progression—not because my body wasn’t capable, but because my mind was stuck in threat mode.

Thoughts like:
“I don’t belong here.”
“I’m a kook and everyone knows it.”
“I’ve never been an athlete—why would that change now?”

From a neuroscience standpoint, this matters more than most people realize👇
When your brain perceives social threat or self-doubt, your nervous system shifts into protection mode. Cortisol goes up. Focus narrows. Motor learning slows. Your body literally has a harder time learning.

What helped me start shifting that?
🧠 Music & emotion – A power playlist activates dopamine, which improves motivation and learning
🧠 Visualization – Your brain doesn’t fully distinguish imagined reps from real ones; you’re still wiring success
🧠 Posture – Standing tall and open sends safety + confidence signals through your nervous system, changing how you show up

Is it a magic switch? Nope.
It’s a practice—just like pop-ups, paddling, or positioning.

But when your brain feels safe, confident, and capable…
Your surfing can change faster than you think 🌊

And if mindset feels like the hardest part (same 😅), working with a surf psychology pro can be a total game-changer. Check out @thesurfpsychologist

If this resonated, save it, share it, or drop a 🧠🌊 in the comments.
You’re not behind—you’re learning.

#MidlifeSurfista #SurfMindset #NeuroscienceOfConfidence #AdultLearner #SurfPsychology WomenWhoSurf LateStarter NervousSystemRegulation SurfProgress MindsetMatters

Keep doing it badly until you can do it better.

First cross-step attempts EVER:
❌ fail
❌ fail
✅ technically counts!
💥 wipeout

Two steps forward + One step back = Still moving forward!

Start messy.
Stay curious.
Trust the process.

The worst case scenario, usually isn’t the scenario that actually plays out

😆 Thank goodness.

And a huge thanks to my bandmate @rutta.lisa for rescuing me in Los Gatos! And to @Hyundai for making cars well enough that I rarely even need to remember you also gave me free roadside assistance with purchase!

Good friends make life’s headaches not-so-bad-after-all!

🍎What type of learner are you? Answer the poll!

I got a new camera for Christmas, and I couldn’t wait to try it out for the first time!

So I didn’t!! — I dove right in and tried to start figuring it out. Overall it was pretty intuitive, but now I’m figuring out what I want to do with it, and now I can find the most relevant how-to content available to me.

📷 is the The @insta360 X5!
Find the link on my LTK Store in my Link In Bio or midlifesurfista.com!

#LTKFind

#LTKvlog #LTKOver40 #LTKActive

Debuted a new wetsuit for this morning’s surf sesh!

#LTKmorningroutine #LTKActive #LTKselfcare

Emprada’s Rhen Asymmetric Draped
Jumpsuit - Berry
To keep or return?
Size S (5’2” & 135lbs)

#LTKOver40 #LTKWorkwear #LTKootd

Part 2! What are your favorite products that are always in your surf bag?

It’s gifting season, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things in case you need some stocking stuffer ideas for the surfer in your life!

If I’ve done anything over the past few years, it’s test and try all the products I can. I spent the money on many so maybe I can save you some!

Through that trial and error, I’ve found some things that have earned themselves a permanent spot in my surf bag and maybe a few that I didn’t feel lived up to all the hype.

This reel is not a sponsored ad btw, these are just honest reviews of products I’ve come to love and depend on!

I will link these in my Amazon Storefront that you can access via my link in bio or by going to midlifesurfista.com

Brands featured:
@surfears
@sunbum
@neutrogena

#surfergirl
#midlifesurfista
#stockingstuffers
#giftideas
#giftguide

What are your favorite products that are always in your surf bag?

It’s gifting season, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things in case you need some stocking stuffer ideas for the surfer in your life!

If I’ve done anything over the past few years, it’s test and try all the products I can. I spent the money on many so maybe I can save you some!

Through that trial and error, I’ve found some things that have earned themselves a permanent spot in my surf bag and maybe a few that I didn’t feel lived up to all the hype.

This reel is not a sponsored ad btw, these are just honest reviews of products I’ve come to love and depend on!

I will link these in my Amazon Storefront that you can access via my link in bio or by going to midlifesurfista.com

Brands featured:
@sexwaxofficial
@eltamdskincare

#surfergirl
#midlifesurfista
#stockingstuffers
#giftideas
#giftguide