To Drink or Not to Drink

How many times have you seen someone order a fast food meal, loaded with calories, and then turn around and order a diet drink? Maybe you've even done it yourself. What is the point of the diet drink? Is it to fulfill a craving for the "taste" of a soda? Why is it so hard to order a cup of water?

Our drinking habits can be just as bad as out eating habits.

I'm sure you've heard it before----alcohol, no matter what form it comes in---packs on the calories. Coupled with the bloating that never seems to go away, you also have a tendency to eat more when you drink alcohol.

Studies may say a little red wine is good for your heart but a "little" wine every day can add up and before you know it, that "little" dress that used to fit you so nicely will become a tight squeeze.

The same goes for soda. It is loaded with sugar and let's not mention all of the damage it could do to your insides over time. I'm personally not going to drink something I know can remove acid or corrosion off of a car battery.

There is nothing better than water...and when you add a freshly squeezed lemon, you've got yourself a real treat. I recommend you go to this website and read up on the benefits of water and you just might not want to drink soda again: http://www.watercure.com

One more thing...if you're going out for a night on the town, eat something first and try sipping not gulping down your favorite drink....even if someone else is buying.

Late-Night Snacking

One of the worst things you can do to sabotage your weight loss goals is to eat late at night. That was a major problem for me for years because of my work schedule. Even though I ate my “dinner” at work, I would still be hungry when I came home and found myself snacking on more food. Sometimes I would actually make an entirely new “dinner”, watch TV for awhile and then go to sleep. That is a big NO-NO!

If you must snack later in the evening, why not choose a fresh piece of fruit instead of the potato chips and ice cream. Some people argue that they just don’t have a taste for fruit and if that’s the case, well don’t worry about it. Just start preparing yourself to buy a whole new wardrobe---a size (or maybe two) bigger.

And while you're just sitting there snacking you can read my book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age."

Your Eyes are Bigger than Your Stomach

Remember when you were a child and your mother told you to eat all of your food because it was good for you? And she also reminded you how fortunate you were to have food on your plate because there were poor children in Biafra who didn’t have anything to eat.

Well, you’re all grown up now and while it’s important to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet, there is no need to CLEAN YOUR PLATE. That means it’s unnecessary to pile on all you can eat because “it just looks so delicious” and then go out of your way to finish it all. Calories add up---especially at middle age---while your metabolism is continuing to slow down. If you’re taking in more than you’re burning off, you could easily see an extra 5-10 pounds in a matter of months.

More fruits and vegetables are definitely the way to go. Why not try color-coded days by eating only fruits and vegetables of a certain color. For example: On Monday, make it a green day and eat all vegetables and fruits that are green in color. For lettuce, I would recommend a mixed green variety because plain lettuce has no nutritional value. On Tuesday, you could do a red day and so on and so forth.

Today, I decided to do a mix and match day: purple and red so I’m loading up on the blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon.

Got Fat?

Are you one of those women fighting the battle of the bulge? Well, if it's any consolation, you'll be glad to know you're not alone. Thousands of middle-aged women can attest to the fact that they've put on a few extra pounds. Some, like me, are trying to SQUEEZE into clothes that don't fit anymore instead of accepting the fact that it's time to go up a dress size or two.

I'm going to spend some time blogging about Women's Heath---starting with the 7 unhealthy habits that keep you from losing weight:

#1 SKIPPING BREAKFAST: If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still, many of us skip it because we think it will help use lose unwanted pounds. But get this: that bad habit actually adds pounds. Studies have found that by skipping breakfast (or any other meal for that matter), your body is storing fat because it thinks you are starving and is trying to keep a "reserve" for you.

Now I don't know about you, but that's NOT the kind of favor I want my body to do for me so I guess I'm off to eat a mango.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for Bad Habit #2

The Joy and Pain of Middle Age

If you're a woman who was born between 1946 and 1964, you’re considered a baby boomer. So what does that mean? It means, you are now journeying into a new phase of life. It means when you look in the mirror these days, you may see a woman you’re not quite sure you recognize. She has strands of gray hair and wrinkles in places easily seen. That drop dead gorgeous body has been replaced with some cellulite and unattractive bulges. These are just a few of the road signs pointing to your middle age journey.

Aging is a fact of life. You may be able to slow down the process but you will not stop it. All the plastic surgery in the world will not help. It doesn’t matter how may face lifts, botox shots or tummy tucks you receive, at some point you will FEEL what it’s like to grow older.

Here’s some of what you can expect as you age:

After 30 years old, your metabolism starts to slow down which means you burn fewer calories. In some cases, the level of activity also decreases. So if you’re eating more but burning fewer calories, you’re going to see an increase in your weight.

Aging also impacts your cardiovascular system. Your heart muscles begin to weaken, making, it harder to pump the same amount of blood through your body.

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting baby boomer adults. One in three people over 60 years old have significant hearing loss, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

The desire for sex may also decrease, especially for middle-aged women. Vaginal dryness is one the reasons why. The lack of lubrication in the vaginal area can make physically intimacy painful and uncomfortable.

The healthy head of hair and glowing skin that used to make you the envy of your girlfriends also starts to take its toll. As we age, our bodies produce fewer natural oils which, in turn, make our skin drier and more wrinkled. In addition, our hair starts thinning out.

Even though aging is a natural part of life, there are a number of things you can do to ensure good health for a long time. Eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes loads of fruits and vegetables is a good start. Nutrition really is the key. Many health experts say you need food to jump start your metabolism first thing in the morning. That, in turn, will give you the energy needed to put in a 30-minutes walk or good aerobics workout, because exercise is also a key component.

Since we know we can’t turn back the hands of time, let’s just celebrate this new phase of life together!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev (Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age)