News Taffy

Time for a confession. Now that I’m over 45, I struggle to keep my weight down. If you know me, you might be laughing right now because to most people, I’m skinny as a rail. Still, it’s true. I have to work pretty hard to maintain a normal weight. When I was younger, I didn’t have that problem. I could eat whatever I wanted and didn’t even have a regular exercise program. However, I have always eaten pretty well and included fruit and vegetables in my diet while not eating too much junk.

As we age, our metabolism naturally slows down making weight gain easier. That is where I’m at right now. It is nothing to put on three pounds in a weekend of indulgence. That adds up quickly if I’m not careful. I’ve never had any curves but I don’t want to add rolls instead. So how do I stay so thin? That answer to that question was how my whole health writing job began.

Your body needs a balancing act to keep it properly maintained. The right nutrition, exercise, hydration and rest are important to keep it running well. I have found that exercising five or six days a week is the key to keeping my weight where I want it while still allowing me to indulge in my favorite treats a few times a week. Notice I said a few times a week, not every day. We have dessert maybe three times a week and I usually have one or two mixed drinks on the weekend. I try to avoid snacking on junk food, mindless eating and too much added sugar in my diet.

Many people don’t exercise and never even consider the possibility of exercise. Without exercise, your body is going to develop health issues. If your car sat in the garage and you never turned it on, the battery would die, the tires rot or some other problem could occur. So why do you think you can neglect your body? You will age so much better if you exercise moderately at least three times a week. I lift weights, walk, swim, ride my horse, practice yoga and dance for exercise. I feel more energized when I am active. My heart is stronger and healthier and I look better. People who exercise have better mental health, a better sex life, and sleep better.

I have observed that I have to have a minimum amount of water every day or my sewer system gets backed up if you know what I mean. I also retain water and my weight will go up a couple of pounds over night if I don’t drink enough. It may seem strange that drinking water prevents retaining water but it’s true. You are mostly made of water and if your body senses that not enough water is coming in, it holds onto what it has. So drink up and I don’t mean sodas.

Scientists now say a lack of sleep contributes to weight gain. You already know lack of sleep affects memory, job performance, mood, etc. Aim for about seven hours every night. You don’t have to watch the news or some sports event late into the night. Take care of yourself first.

Until next time,
Lisa