I feel the need to say something about staying in shape as we age. At this time of year, many of us have holiday weight hanging on and the prospect of vacations and summertime as motivation to get in better shape.
I went from being in the best shape of my life at 42, running marathons, lifting weights, and cycling to the worst shape of my life at 50 after two hip surgeries. I had no idea how much harder it is to get fit when you are older, it had been a long time since I had needed to worry about extra pounds.
low carb dieting
I tried everything from low carb dieting to eating only one meal a day. I even took a part-time job at a now-defunct weight loss center to be “trained” as a weight loss counselor. What they really taught me was how to sell more of their products. The dieters at the center were prescribed a very low-calorie diet that was supplemented with the company’s snack bars. It drove me crazy when someone would come in for counseling weeping, after “overeating” by 5 croutons. Very few attained their weight loss goals.
healthy eating plans
I started to experiment with healthy eating plans and began lifting weights again. Slowly, 20 of the 30 pounds I gained melted off. (I’m never again going to be the lean runner of my 40′s) My experience motivated me to write an anti-diet book, Your Sacred Body. It’s about eating what you want and learning your body’s “full” signal. I also included tips for avoiding emotional eating. If you are interested, I’d be happy to send you a free copy. I would love some feedback.
weight training for over 40s
I think the best thing you can do for your body in your 40s, 50s , 60s and beyond is weight training. It keeps you strong and stable as you age and re-shapes your body, even if you are carrying a few extra pounds. If you do this 2 times a week and fit in cardio by walking, gardening or cleaning, it is all you need.
