FIT & FINE AT EVERY AGE

Let’s be absolutely honest, everyone likes to look and feel good. Our standards of beauty may not be the same. But that has little to do with liking, no LOVING what’s looking back at you in the mirror. Feeling good emotionally and physically influences the quality of our lives. If you’ve ever been ill, had a health crisis, or been a part of someone else’s health crisis or recovery, then you know how absolutely precious it is to have good health. There’s a lot to the healthy equation. Genetics, hormones, ethnicity, socialization, economics, education, gender . . . are influential factors to a healthy disposition.  Some of these factors are within our control and some aren’t. But, here’s what I know for sure: if living our absolute best life is the vision, then caring for and cherishing our bodies as sacred gifts has to remain at the top of our priority list period. 

Like many women, my challenge slowly appeared as I approached my late 40’s.  I started noticing weight creep (when the scale shows that you are gaining, but it may not be as obvious otherwise). My face was getting fuller. My clothes were fitting differently. And I was NOT feeling my reflection in the mirror at all.  I struggled to understand what was happening to my body. I’ve always had a healthy diet and exercised regularly. The few people that I shared my concern with, including my doctor, thought I was nuts. In fact, my Doc accused me of wanting to hold on to my  “college girl figure”. ? Please, I’ve never had a desire to hold on to anything that wasn’t in the present. Anyway, after a pretty heated debate, Doc finally advised that if I really wanted to shed a few pounds, I would have to “shock my system”. I carefully considered my Doc’s counsel – “shock my system”. ? I’ve never dieted, never counted calories. The most I’d ever done was eliminate red meat from my regimen. Nonetheless, I was committed to figuring this out and getting to a happier place.

After much research – that included talking with friends that were experienced dieters – I decided that Weight Watchers online was the best tool for me. My goals:

1. Shed the unwanted pounds.
2. Take inches off my waistline.
3. Understand the best food combinations to maintain my target weight.
4. Evolve my workout regimen to sustain good to great health and a tone tight look that I could love.

That was over 5 years ago. The >20 pounds I shed has NEVER returned. Maintaining is the result of adapting and creating a new normal. My healthy lifestyle has been redefined. I no longer avoid taking pictures or glances in the mirror. In fact, when it comes to my reflection & mirrors, every now and then I have to do a double take (go girl)!

There were a few “aha moments” while on this journey. Actually, they read more like transformative life lessons.  Hopefully something here inspires your determination. Hopefully you’ll be encouraged to be relentless about elevating your sexy and being fit and fine at any age.

1.  Be willing to make changes and accept new learning. This means you may have been wrong about what works. Or what used to work just doesn’t anymore. Embrace and practice the new learning your new truth.
2.  When eating out, ask for what you want; frequent restaurants that are willing to accommodate your requests. Make meals out of appetizers. Order from the kids’ menu. Share meals. Be thoughtful about dishes with creams or saucy combinations.
3. Plan, plan, plan. Meal planning is one part of life that procrastinating or simply being lazy will cost you.
4. Know your body. Keep it nourished and fueled with real food. Don’t allow yourself to get hungry. You know exactly what your body will need during the day. Think ahead and be prepared. You will avoid overeating or eating junk that will take you off track.
5. Practice mindfulness when you are eating. It will help you not overeat. What is mindfulness? I appreciate Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition, “paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of the experience moment to moment”.
6. Enjoy all that you love a little bit at a time. That’s what I call portion control!
7. Some things take time. With a plan that is yielding results, you will get to your goal. It may take longer than you hoped. You may have to edit your plan to see improved results. But with every thoughtful action you get closer to your goal. Remember, “The race isn’t given to the swift, nor to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end”. (The Bible)
8. Give yourself some credit when you earn it. After all, “you are doing the dam thing”. (Kristen Williams)
9. Pray daily for understanding, courage and guidance. Remind yourself  “with Christ all things are possible”. (The Bible)
10. Embrace your humanity. There are some things we simply cannot change: hormones, weather, time. Learn to “work it” in every situation – adapt. You can control YOU so practice adapting!
11.  Nothing happens when you do nothing! Real living happens when you take action; when you block out the voices of folks that just don’t get it or worse — haters. Real living happens when you respond to your own voice, vision, and calling. It is a great life!
12. Nobody needs to “get it” (your vision) but you. This is about your life and your health. Know that you are worth every ounce of energy you commit to your life.
13. Educate yourself about nutrition, exercise and food. Take action. Only a fool has knowledge and does nothing with it.
14. It’s okay to want to be fine and sexy! It is absolutely possible to be fit and fine at every age.