One of the most difficult aspects of this life journey for many people is keeping themselves fit and maintaining their weight as they age. I’ve experienced these difficulties myself for years. I went from a young man who seemingly couldn’t gain weight (no matter what I ate or how little I exercised) to a middle aged man struggling with a bursting mid-section and the inability to walk up a couple of flights of stairs without having to take deep breaths. Having once been a fitness trainer (as a man in my early 20s) who was paid to help other people overcome these challenges I thought that somehow I’d be immune from middle age weight gain and loss of cardiovascular ability. I was not.

Over the years I’ve taken action to keep my weight under control and stay in shape (as they say) in terms of cardiovascular ability. These things are important for a couple of great reasons. First, studies have shown that people who limit excess weight live longer and have fewer health problems. Second, improved cardiovascular ability contributes to an active and fulfilling quality of life. Neither of the prior reasons have anything to do with vanity. They’re practical aspects of life. Some people may simply think, “I don’t care about my weight or cardiovascular ability.” Because there are people who enjoy a sedentary lifestyle where they can eat what they want. That’s their right, but it’s also their funeral. What about the rest of us? Those who want to do their best to live a long and active life. There is a basic prescription that can move you in the right direction health wise and that’s what this post is about.

Disclaimer: What follows is not specific advice for anyone in terms of a diet and exercise plan. Consider it documentation of my experience. Always consult a physician or other health professional when making changes to your diet or exercise regimen.

Continue reading “Eat Less, Eat Better, Move More” →

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks or perhaps years where stress just seemed to build and you wondered when it would end or how you could turn things around? I have and this is something I’ve been thinking about writing about for awhile. I’m not a mental health expert and I’m not qualified to give mental health advice but I do know what my experiences have been like and I’d like to share them. The successes. The failures. And the still working on thems.

We hear a lot about mental health and that’s caused me to become a bit jaded about the subject because I’ve perceived (rightly or wrongly) that society approaches mental health as this thing, this blob that’s a one size fits all issue. I think the reason I feel that way is that so much advice related to mental health starts with, “Talk to someone.” I’ve no doubt that talking things out can help…at times…if it’s the right person…and the right situation. But finding the right person and right situation is not easy, especially if you lead a busy life and have responsibilities. Even then, I see talking as a band-aid that you have to keep replacing on a wound and the wound may or may not get better. It should also be recognized that if you’re in a position where you have to talk a lot every day as it is then more talking may not be so helpful.

Continue reading “Strategies For Managing Mental Health” →

Recently I’ve been working on one of my greatest personal challenges which happens to be in the arena of health and fitness. It’s one of my greatest challenges because it’s something that I’ve thought about for years, at times have worked on, but failed to make the progress I’ve hoped for. For years now I’ve lived at a body weight that I haven’t been comfortable with. While I have felt healthy and have been able to do many things that the average person my age can’t do physically I can see the stomach pushing out on my shirt in photos and I can feel pants and shirts I wore years ago getting tighter on me. To the point where I can’t wear some of those clothes any more. Well, I could wear them but it would look ridiculous. 😂

Up to now I have taken it as a victory that, although I’m unhappy where I’ve been physically, I have been able to stem the tide of weight gain and keep myself in reasonable physical shape. For many people that would probably be sufficient but I’ve had to be honest with myself and admit that I’m not a person who quietly resigns himself to mediocrity in other areas of my life. Our bodies are the only vessels that carry us through our existence so keeping mine fit is extremely important to me. That’s why four months ago I decided to make another run at getting my body weight under control.

Disclaimer: What follows is not specific advice for anyone in terms of a diet and exercise plan. Consider it documentation of my experience. Always consult a physician or other health professional when making changes to your diet or exercise regimen.

Continue reading “Losing 10 Pounds After Age 50” →