Healthy Habits - After 40 - What will you do?
When we're young we have energy ... we have a high metabolism and vigor and muscle-tone. To some extent, this is automatic. Young bodies are growing taller and burning lots of calories. Young adults are up early and stay up late. Their bodies don't tire easily.
Somewhere in our 30's ... I started noticing it around age 35 ... our youthful energy begins to fade. Our bodies don't want to do as much anymore. We begin to dread the alarm clock and consider going to bed earlier.
If our habits don't change, we gain weight, we lose muscle, we accomplish less as energy needs to be rationed.
I've noticed the divergence of healthy and unhealthy people over time. One uncle who was tall and lean into his 30's is now obese and risks serious health problems (now nearing age 70). Two cousins (brothers, 2 years apart)... one is still active and average size while the other is now partially disabled from too many years being overweight and smoking. They are age 63 and 61. One friend from high school has already had heart bypass surgery.
Too many just live life as they always have. They accommodate weakness and encourage its progression. Some have always had good habits.
Many, like myself, have needed to learn better habits.
What will you do? What have you done?
Comments (80)
Well I don't do all this regularly
Hi, Frank.
Ariel - Sleep, water - These seem like simple changes, don't they? The affects are somewhat cumulative (over time) ... perhaps this is why many seem to dismiss them.
Exercise... When our metabolism doesn't stay "normal" on its own... this is crucial.
Care of the skin - the most exposed 'organ' of the body - Do you consider this to mostly be about appearance (like minimizing wrinkles) or do you see this as significant part of overall health?
I think about dental care... how dental plaque has been connected to plaque in our blood vessels... a connection that doesn't seem obvious. I'm wondering about connections between skin health and overall health.....
High blood pressure and the affects of genetics ... definitely something to be considered as we get older.
I visited my doctor a few weeks ago. He went through many questions regarding my family history and heart-health... determining my risk of developing heart problems... an important conversation for everyone to have with their doctor.
It's good that your body (and brain) are leading you towards healthier foods.
Bone health - and cartilage ... As a mother, I'm sure you think about this with your children. Competitive sports and accidents that can happen... and potentially creating a life-long "trick knee" or other concern... a challenge we feel ourselves and another of the worries of parenthood.
Stress ... A hidden factor ... Some bad things that happen with body chemistry and brain health ... something science is just starting to understand, I think.
Calories - Fewer burned so fewer should be consumed ... I know I continue to try to find the balance ... when I'm more active, my body asks for more food... so I try to answer with water or raw vegetables (I prefer them raw
Nice list! And the joy of using the dancing elephant emoticon!
Not all people have strong teeth you know. But i can smile with no problem.
As life gets busy... perhaps with a family and a mortgage to pay for... it's tough to make play/sports a priority (even on the weekend)... that's a key part of the challenge... when responsibilities dictate more of your life... it's a trap that catches many.
I'm glad you have your current habits! Do you think you'll be able to hang on to them 10 years from now?
(I'm hopeful for you
I've tried sleeping on my back many times......but after laying there for over an hour in that position, I'm just unable to sleep.
Beginning with your last questions,...
I always liked to football and i did that till i was 34,and now i do not do that for some reasons but i exercise twice a week just for my heart and long,the equipment i use is,..
Treadmill,weight-bench,vibration
And a belly equipment
But i didn't lose my belly,so i will buy belly dance costume,maybe i get a belly like this
This was a joke
Inthemind, yes there are exercises imitating playing a wind instrument for nice lips, chin and cheeks
Bella for the problem with the legs you my need s man to give you some nice massages, but also try do it yourself when you stay on the cauch or bed try massaging your own feet. legs it helps also.
The connection between mind-body-spirit ... something else I think we're just starting to understand. (though I'm sure many would say that some have understood it for centuries... I think the group awareness and understanding is still quite young... my own understanding is still quite young
Btw - This would be part of my argument against government (institutionalized) healthcare ... there is a world full of alternatives, education and prevention that needs to be embraced as well and I think giving charge of this to the politicians works against the greater good.
I think the most healthiest habit I did for myself was taking the dancing class because my body was regularly trained doing some dancing movements which I did enjoy a lot, but when the gig became many and they were consuming some of my private time, I took a long break.
I will take that dancing class again I know and lately I am starting to pay attention more to my eating habits though. I have to eat more vegetables and fruits I admit
Nice blog
You so right about dancing, and it don't matter what shape or size you have just dance and enjoy that is fun, like i always say Fun is the key to Happiness.
Lots of challenges in this area... for most of us... some are more fortunate (genetics and good lessons from parents)... we do what we can and what we need to.
(the value of antiseptic mouthwash... wish I knew about that when I was young)
only if you slept well i guess! hehe.
Here if you ever have the chance to come visit Bucharest whatever you do do not drink to much water from the sink from the buildings.
Yah i by the water too and thats another waist of money how i say because a bottle of 6.L.is even more then 1.Euro so on a day i got used to drink 3 liters all most of water and in 1 week i need like3 o 4 bottels of 6.liters.
Happy are those who live on the country side with good water fresh air, not like here