““Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” ”
By age 60 we see the big picture when it comes to looking and feeling good. Sure, it would be nice to be a size 6 or 8, but is that the most important thing we can do? At this age, we’re wise enough to know that health is far more important than the size of our dress. We see friends around us falling ill, and it changes our perspective. It’s not the perfect bikini body we strive for; it’s the healthy body, and if it also looks good, so much the better. The question is: how do we get there?
The Basics of Healthy Living
Here are 5 simple healthy hacks to keep you going strong:
1. Love your body
Make a positive statement every day about your body. Stop criticizing it. It’s the only home you will ever live in. When you appreciate it, you will put good food in it and it will stand taller.
2. Eat breakfast
Did you know this is the meal centenarians value the most? People in the Blue Zones (longest lived populations) wouldn’t think of starting the day without breakfast.
3. Stop night eating
Your body’s digestive system does much more than digest food. It has immune receptors and it generates serotonin, the happy hormone. If you give your body 12 hours between your last meal and next day’s breakfast, your digestive system can rest and regenerate all its functions. It’s also the proven way to prevent obesity. Refer back to my post on the circadian rhythm’s role in weight management.
4. Eat more vegetables
We all know this, but do you do it? Include all the colors, and eat the ones you like. Don’t eat vegetables you don’t like. There are enough choices in all the colors for you to find the ones you enjoy. I often include vegetables with my breakfast so I get a good start in my daily vegetable count.
5. Drink more water
Many women are afraid to drink more water for fear of needing to get up through the night. When you gradually add water with the goal of getting 7-8 glasses a day, your body’s cells will absorb more water; it will not go to your bladder.
So there you have it. When you make these hacks part of your life, everything changes for the better.
On that note, what do you do to stay happy and have fun? Do you have a circle of friends? A loving spouse or companion? Do you spend time outdoors or have a hobby? Are you studying or working on something you love? Join the conversation.