That’s a quote from my husband and ain’t that the truth?
I haven’t always been kind to my body and I’m thankful I figured things out sooner than later. I know people my age and younger who have osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune issues, cancer, and the list goes on. I’ve been spared at this point in my life and I’m grateful for my good health. My only complaint is a few symptoms related to menopause and I’m doing my best to manage them daily.
So, what’s the secret sauce to staying healthy as we age? For me there’s not one thing that stands out, but rather many areas I work on.
- Keep a youthful mindset. It’s not easy to keep your head from thinking that you’re “getting old”. You get exactly what you think about and if you think you’re older then you are. Period.
- Keep moving! I admit I don’t move as much as I’d like. I do walk daily but also know that’s not enough. Weight bearing exercises and stretching are ideal to keep joints loose and blood flowing. Many Medicare plans provide free memberships to your local gyms. Take advantage of them, if you have access to them.
- You are what you eat. That’s an obvious statement and needs no explanation. If you’re not active and consuming a high load of sugar and refined carbs, you’ll experience weight gain. Our metabolism is regulated by hormones and food is either friend or foe to combat health and weight issues.
- Be an empowered patient. Get your annual medical screenings and ask for screenings above what many healthcare providers will order. Bloodwork will reveal a snapshot of what may be going on with you. I realize for many it’s a matter of the additional costs of the tests that prevent many from asking, but what’s the cost of not knowing? Many people are fearful of the unknown and don’t want to know if anything is wrong. Catching things early could extend your quality of life. For some it may be a simple lifestyle change. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and luckily caught it early and has been clear for over 2 years. I can’t stress how important screenings are.
- Be social. Interactions with others are healthy and comforting. One thing covid taught us is that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. We lost human touch, eye contact, and smiles with everyone for too long. Interaction with others stimulates the brain to focus on what people are saying. Look at people in the eyes when they speak and listen intently. Eye contact is the window to the soul.
If you have limitations in your life, whether related to health, mental well-being, or finances, do what you can and make daily progress. We all have the ability to make a change, no matter how small.
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