For Rick and Tonja Grimes, health and wellness are more than eating right and working out. It's breathwork and prayer, cold plunges and neighborhood walks, quality time without phones, and weekend adventures. And it’s what makes these their best years yet.
The couple met at the gym 23 years ago and are now business partners in real estate and in parenting a college student and a high school senior. They’ve entered what Rick calls the "check engine light" phase of life. "You're in your 20s, 30s, and 40s, and you're bulletproof," he explains. "You hit your 50s, and your check engine light is going to come on. Something in your body is going to need a little bit of maintenance work. Our goal is to have as few check engine lights as we can."
Their approach to physical wellness has evolved significantly over the years, shaped by their work and family responsibilities. Now that work is more flexible and their sons are older, they've been able to incorporate more: group fitness classes, walks, cold plunging, dry sauna sessions, and strength training. Mornings start early—taking care of their two Labradors and cooking breakfast for their son—before tackling their own wellness routines.
Their 18-year-old, who recently committed to play baseball at UTSA, is one of the biggest inspirations in their ongoing wellness journey. "He's really encouraged me in my cooking and our eating better," Tonja says. They've shifted away from seed oils and white flour, choosing unprocessed foods as often as they can. Rick and Tonja both practice intermittent fasting, though they're quick to note that what works for them might not work for everyone. Almost every night ends with a magnesium drink that's become their wind-down ritual. "It's almost like having a cocktail without the alcohol," Rick says.
Beyond the physical, they've embraced practices for mental health they never would have considered in their younger years. Tonja uses an app for meditation and treasures her quiet morning prayer time, while Rick has his meditation moment during his six-minute cold plunge. They've experimented with grounding mats and supplements, adjusted their phones’ blue light settings to help with sleep, and are learning to put their devices down and stay off social media.
Tonja's the first to admit the wellness information landscape can feel overwhelming. "You have to pick and choose. We can't do everything we want to do every day." Their solution? Find what works for you in the season of life you're in right now, and don't be afraid to change course when something isn't serving you. For example, a keto diet was too restrictive for Tonja—"You feel like it’s so strict that if you eat one carb, you totally blow it"—so she opted to be carb-conscious in a way that works for her body and her lifestyle.
As business partners and spouses, they've learned that maintaining their relationship health requires the same intentionality as their physical health. "If you're married and working together, you have to find quality time—no phone, no work," Tonja says. A recent weekend trip to the Pearl in San Antonio reminded them how mentally and emotionally refreshing it is to simply walk around together, grab lunch, and be present with each other without an agenda.
"It's not just about how long you have," Rick points out, "but how many of those years are you functional? Can you really think clearly? Can you enjoy things? Can you get out and throw the ball with your grandkids or dog?" That's what drives their commitment to wellness—not perfection, but quality time left.
"We can't do anything about what we did when we were 20 or 30," Tonja reflects, "but you can put things in your body and do things with your body that are going to make you feel better, not worse." If she could advise her 30-year-old self, she'd emphasize that what you do with your body now affects your health at 50, 60, and 70. "Enjoy life, but think about the repercussions down the road. Be intentional at a younger age." Rick's advice to his younger self? "Improve the quality of food intake because you are what you eat."
Rick and Tonja's story reveals a view of health and wellness that makes room for annual checkups and alternative therapies, group fitness and silent meditation, magnesium drinks and mimosas on beautiful days. Their approach to health is not about shame or perfection, but about a willingness to learn, try new things, adjust to your season of life, and embrace practices that contribute to a life well lived.
Both emphasize they're not fitness experts or wellness gurus, just two people navigating life's maintenance requirements with curiosity and gratitude. "We aren't perfect," Tonja admits. "We're a work in progress. We learn, and we grow."
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"We aren't perfect. We're a work in progress. We learn, and we grow." —Tonja Grimes
"You hit your 50s, and your check engine light is going to come on. Something in your body is going to need a little bit of maintenance work. Our goal is to have as few check engine lights as we can." —Rick Grimes
“You can put things in your body and do things with your body that are going to make you feel better, not worse.” —Tonja Grimes