Getting Older

The last few years, I've been pushing to figure out this healthy stuff.

Why?

I've seen what aging can do - friends, neighbors, family, patients.  Once you hit "a certain age," usually in late 50s or early 60s, life habits catch up.  Any bump in the road can cause a ripple that makes it harder and harder to get back.  If you have a healthy base, it's very likely you will get back, but without it, you start the slide.  The BIG SLIDE - suddenly you wake up and feel OLD.

Knee replacements!!  I know so many peeps who've had them.  My aunt who is active, exercises, eats well, etc., recovered and returned to better-than-before (even with a hard post-op).  My neighbor who is none of that, didn't recover in the same way.  She now designs her life to move less, get assistance (bus tour, not walking tour - things like that).  I hear her say, it sucks to get old and she's excepting it. I believe it was the healthy base that was the difference.  One had it, one didn't and because of the BUMP, the stage was set for different results.  If this bump happened in their 30s, my guess is both ladies would have a complete return.  One healthy, one not healthy wouldn't have made much of a difference.  YOUTH had them both covered.  It doesn't happen when you get older.  YOU must have yourself covered.

That's why the rush.

I'm not there yet, but it's coming.  AND I know myself.  This is a walk I can take - either side.  I've done both as a younger person.  I'm not naive enough to think I can't be the OLD story.

I've got the exercise thing covered well.  I have my standards and I've worked the last several years on cross training options that will support me for the next several decades. It's the eating thing I need to focus on now.

Add to this, I know metabolism declines as you age (hello menopause).  I know you can counter some of that decline with lifestyle.  But things get harder.

My "white tiger" friend who has the healthiest relationship with food I know (white tiger because she's so rare), mentioned post 50 (she's almost 53) that things have changed.  After a few vacations, the few pounds she put on didn't go away with a return to normal - like it has her whole life.  She said she might need to actually work to get the pounds off.  She said it's the climb in her 50s that's doing it.  It really is just a few pounds (I can't see it) but she said her clothes feel snug and she doesn't like that feeling.

When other people tell me post-menopause things change, I don't give it much credibility.  Why?  Because their lifestyle has also changed.  Retirement or semi-retirement, more social stuff, disposable income to vacation more, eat out more, exercise is a walk around the block, alcohol everyday, etc, etc, etc.  I believe my white tiger friend though!!

I need to be prepared because I know what can happen.  It happened in my 30s, but I recovered because I was young enough.  If it happens in my 60s, I don't know if I can recover from a slide to 75 lbs heavier.  It would be a BIG deal to my body - joints, energy, sleep, skin, etc.

The fight is on.  I'm betting on ME, but I need to put in a lot of work to make it happen.  I hope Project Healthy Body can be a good step forward.