Aging is like an ocean tide. No matter where we are, we all must face it – it’s inevitable, it can be relentless and it’s real.
But did you know that 70% of aging can actually be voluntary? Yes, by making changes in your lifestyle, you can dramatically slow down and even eliminate some effects of aging! Let me explain:
Much of what we think of as aging – like sore joints, lack of energy, poor balance, hunched posture, weight gain, illnesses, etc. – are not primarily caused by the passage of time. They’re actually a result of sedentary living, poor diet, lack of sleep, too much stress and a negative attitude about life.
So how do we slow down aging, regain energy and perhaps even reclaim our younger figures?
We need to change the signals we send to our bodies, which we can do by addressing these three areas:
1. Regular Exercise. Physical activity can be transformative on its own, but an active lifestyle can also support:
- healthier eating, more youthful skin, better sleep and a positive attitude,
- better stress management,
- battles against depression, anxiety and insomnia,
- improved memory and a
- reduced risk for Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancers, strokes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Want to add some exercise to your lifestyle, but don’t know how?
Just get started! Choose a simple activity like walking or using light weights. Start small, make it a habit and then keep it going. Find an activity you can be passionate about so you will enjoy it. (You know, you don’t have to run marathons to be physically fit.)
The rewards of a little exercise can be life-changing and possibly life-saving!
2. Nutrition. Eat the way you KNOW you should eat (but don’t always). Changing an eating habit or your dining lifestyle can be hard, but again, you don’t have to turn the world upside down here. Start small, and remember:
- Restrictive diets usually fail, so don’t “go on a diet” yet again.
- You can monitor the amount of processed foods you consume.
- Learn to read food labels and identify nutritive value.
- Eat a variety of wholesome foods daily.
- Eat regularly – get a routine.
- Drink plenty of water!
3. Emotional Commitment. Some women who ask for my help to reclaim their energy level are so physically or mentally drained and overwhelmed with responsibilities for others that they’re too tired to nourish their own emotional/ physical needs. To feel good, you must make yourself a priority.
You have to want to live a fully engaged life where you are:
- energized,
- active,
- involved and
- sharing it with those you care about.
Exercise, good nutrition and emotional health all work together.
Just remember, you have choices for how you want to live the rest of your life. So why not make it a long and fabulous one?
Jenene Armstrong
Jenene Armstrong is a lifestyle health coach and personal trainer serving women over 45 who are ready to prioritize their health, regain their energy and reclaim their figures, so they can feel fabulous again and live longer, healthier, more active lives. Through her business – HealthFit Coach LLC – she offers health coaching sessions by phone and does one-on-one personal training in her in-home fitness studio.
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