Nutrition, Dieting And The “New” Middle Age

You’ve heard all the talk about how 50 is the “new” 30 and 60 is the “new” 40; no doubt you’ve vow to stick to your “new” diet and exercise regime as preferably ginger and using garlic as often as possible. However, despite your best efforts in the gym, whilst sticking to the new regime, the pounds just won’t seem to leave. What’s worse – the pounds can get worse!

At 44, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stick to an aggressive new regime, and I certainly won’t be getting anywhere near enough exercise, but I’ve found a way that works for me; a “new” middle age, actually; a “new” way of being.

When I stopped drinking coffee, at least I knew I was avoiding a potential health risk for myself. But the effects were a little more subtle than I’d have liked; my cravings for coffee stayed for 6 months, as I felt I had to have that “new” coffee. New age gym, new body.

When I cut out caffeine, I did have better control over my hunger and my cravings, but I also felt I had better things to do ( Dillon being a far more efficient task than working). I’ve cut out alcohol and don’t have cravings, and that is for the moment at least, until I feel I’ve had enough.

I’ve looked back over my food purchases lately. I’ve stopped buying junk, and will hopefully continue to do so. I’ve made base line adjustments and started to think more about what I buy, when I buy it and how I put it to my body. I won’t be perfect; no one ever is. I will undoubtedly still buy something like a pair of Muvee’s shoes that are a bit too tasteful.

I’ve started a “new” journal. As we don’t always have the time or energy to write out our thoughts and feelings, I’ve set out my thoughts in a journal and added such entries as “This restaurant has terrible food” and “This drink is the most beautiful red I have ever seen.” As I review my journal today, I can see how my eating habits are improving. I’ve also started to see a difference in myitted Caption.

One of the major things that I’ve learned is that it’s okay to not keepTempeh on my Paleo shopping list, even though it is on the “clean” list. You see, it has gluten in it, and for some people is not okay. But I found that by keeping it at home and eating it when I have a craving, I can give in and binge, without guilt. Sometimes the piece of cake that my husband and I always have to have is the one with the most sugar. I’m saving a few for myself each week. I have begun to enjoy that burst of energy that food gives me.

I also started to meditate. I’ve been doing it for years, but I think I’ve become much better at it over the past couple of months. Not sitting cross-legged on a floor, but more in the background while reading or working. The idea is to get really still with your thoughts, not really paying attention to them, just letting them flow. It’s a great way to get stuck in a good mood.

I’ve started taking things a step further by adding things like wheat germ and juice to my morning green smoothie. I find that I’m much happier and much more productive in the mornings when I start with wheat-only cereal and a little bit of juice. I don’t even have to meal prep anymore because I start with the basics. Iook a little bit of the wheat, crumbled it and added it to my smoothie. Then I took a sip of my favorite juice, Season 14 and thought I was biochemical warfare fighting cancer cells. I also started to notice that even though I was having an energetic morning with those latest changes, I didn’t really have an appetite in the morning. I often thought maybe my body was just tired. But now that I’m committed to making sure I have a great lunch and the foundation for great days ahead, even in the midst of my morning ravings, I don’t think about lunch anymore. I bring a nice meal to work and love eating it. I make sure I have a great lunch and love it. If I start to feel tired in the afternoon, I will modify my lunch either more contentitile or more filling depending on my current level of energy or “energy”.

Lately, I’ve also started to include gluten-free pasta and brown rice in my meals as well, mostly for lunch or dinner, but I do have them in the morning sometimes too.