Many physical changes occur once we hit the 50 and over mark, and they are not all pretty. Some can be really frustrating, like weight that just loves sticking to your body.
In a previous post, I listed some tips that can help tip the scale in the right direction, or at least keep it from continuing to edge up. How many of these would be new habits for you? Eat real food, eat it slowly at the table, eat only meals and be kind to yourself. If they have not been a part of your relationship with food, start now as they are really important.
Having a healthy relationship with food isn’t always easy. Our culture is inundated with suggestions that we should be perfect in all ways, and when we’re not, we are losers. It can make its feel terrible and forget how to really take care of ourselves.
Think for a minute of how you spend your typical day.
Food
Are there places where you could let up a little and devote a bit more time to taking care of yourself? Could you do some planning ahead on your meals for the upcoming week so you don’t grab and go? If you do something as simple as make a big pot of quinoa or organic brown rice on the weekend and put some carrots, zucchini and parsnips through a food processor, you will already have the foundations for a few meals. If you buy chicken, buy anti-biotic free and buy enough to freeze individual servings and season before you freeze them.
Self-Talk
What do you say to yourself? Do you say you were “good” when you ate well for the day and you were “bad” when you had a bunch of junk food? I think we all do, but instead why not say you are always good, but sometimes you make a bad decision? Then you have a chance to look at why it happened without judging yourself.
Do you say you’re not “allowed” to eat something? The only time that should happen is if you have a serious allergy to a food, and then you don’t allow yourself to have it so you won’t get sick. Yes, there are many food choices that are plain out bad for us, but the decision to have them or not have them should always be yours. Once you consistently eat foods that are healthy and energizing, you won’t need anyone telling you what you’re “allowed” to have because the junky foods just won’t appeal anymore.
When was the last time you said something nice to yourself? Can’t think of it? What do you think your dear friends and family would say about you? Save their noters and birthday cards. Chances are when you read them you’ll get a hint of how awesome you really are.
Personal Growth
Every year I choose a word to focus on for my personal development. This year my word is growth. When I decided on it I wasn’t sure what it would mean to me. I just knew it was where I wanted to put my attention. We can’t really improve our lives, whether it’s our weight, our health, our happiness or our growth unless we are conscious in the moment and are kind and forgiving to ourselves. I’m finally old enough to know I will never be everything I hoped for, but I also know I am happy to be where I am, knowing where I want to improve and grow. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? Don’t ever let those stinking ten pounds you want to lose interfere with your growth, but know that when you follow simple food habits you will have more energy and feel more able to grow and flourish.
A Few More Habits to Achieve a Healthy Weight
Try a simple form of intermittent fasting. Eat your meals within a 10 hour period so your digestive system has many hours of rest in between.
Stay away from the scale if having a good or bad day is the result of a few ounces up or down. Go for a walk instead.
Unless you are already pushing it, get a little more active than you already are. Overexercising can activate stress hormones and keep you from losing weight. If you haven’t been moving much, a few extra minutes each day adds up.
Come up with a mantra to say when you notice you are tensing up. Use it as many times a day as you need to. Unmanaged stress is a major cause of weight gain/retention and messes with your blood sugar.
Love and appreciate yourself and all that you are.