Health Kick

A healthy lifestyle is essential once we reachthere are many ways to eat healthier and take
Fabulously40, a lesson that many of us seem to bebetter care of ourselves, the secret is finding out
slow in learning.what works best for each individual. After trying
In our 20's and 30's, we could get away with badcountless diets and eating plans, I have discovered
food and lifestyle choices. If we didn't get eight hoursthat Weight Watchers works best for me. All I need
of sleep at night, it wasn't evident (at least not rightto do is to make it a daily routine. For me, that
away). If we ate or drank too much for a wholemeans going to their meetings, having a workout
week, perhaps we added a pound or two, but notbuddy, and being held accountable for everything
much more. And when decided to go on a diet, thethat goes into my mouth. What prompted this
pounds seemed to melt away. So I ask you, whatsudden revelation?
the heck happened?Every year I gain 10 pounds during the holiday
At 40+, it seems that anything we do that is notseason, and every year I have to deal with the extra
appropriate to our age category takes an immediateweight after the holidays. This year, however, I
toll. I've always had a weight issue -- I would eat,managed to gain 10 pounds before the holidays even
gain weight, diet, lose weight, and then repeat thebegan, and it was downhill from there. Given that the
cycle -- only now it seems worse than ever. I don'tpounds no longer come off as easily as they used to,
think there's a diet I haven't heard of, tried orthe time had come to figure out what I need to do
attempted.in order to stay healthy and vibrant for myself and
Ironically, I've found that they all work as long as youmy loved ones.
count your calories. Take in fewer calories than youNot long ago I scolded my dad to stop smoking and
burn each day and you will loose weight. Thestart taking care of himself. When he didn't
challenge, of course, is keeping the weight off. Had Iimmediately oblige, I called him selfish. I laid on the
found the answer to that age-old problem I would"Jewish guilt" hard and thick because, after all, if he
have been the most celebrated woman on thegets sick we children have to take care of him. If he
planet.chooses to get sick by being careless, that's selfish
Let's face it ladies, we live in a society that preachesand unfair.
that size 0 models are the most beautiful creaturesSo -- I am publicly announcing that from today
on earth. We hear it, we live it, and worst of all, weforward I will be very conscious of what I eat and
teach it to our children. I remember preaching to myhow much I exercise. If I don't take care of myself
daughters to stop eating too much so they will notnow, my kids will have to take care of me, which I
have my thighs, arms, or derriere. Find What Worksdo not find appealing. I want to be a "cool" grandma,
for Younot an old and sick one. For this to happen, I need to
I have finally accepted the fact that as we age, wehave a plan and stick to it.
need to take care of our bodies in a more attentiveIf you're a regular reader of my blog, you're probably
way. Like it or not, every extra piece of bread wecringing just about now. Another plan??? Just how
put in our mouths will end on our thighs, arms ormany plans, programs and guidelines do we need to
somewhere in between. However, that doesn't makeadhere to? I say as many as possible, as long as the
it any easier to say no to that freshly butteredoutcome is a positive one.
croissant and dive into a plate of raw carrots andI call all of you to join me as I embark on the "health
broccoli instead.kick" at this special stage in my life. I will definitely
Recently, I came to the conclusion that althoughneed your support getting there.