3 Tips to Feeling Your Best Over 50

Hello friends! Today some blogger friends and I are talking all about what we are doing right now to feel healthy over the age of 50! I’ll admit, most of these are common sense, but they are easier said than done.

Tip #1: Nutrition is Key

As I’m aging, I’m finding that cutting calories and cardio exercise aren’t helping me achieve my ‘healthy lifestyle’ goals. So I’ve found changing a few things up in my diet has made a huge difference in the way I feel and look. Sticking to the 90/10 rule has been my rule of thumb lately. Eating mostly vegetables, proteins (plant and animal), and a few low sugar fruits likes blueberries and strawberries, seems to be what my 52 year old body really thrives on. Basically, if it comes in a plastic wrapper, I don’t consume it. (Stay away from processed foods.)

However, that doesn’t mean I don’t eat birthday cake, or an occasional dessert out for dinner. It simply means that I have chosen to limit a lot of the foods I would have eaten in my 20’s and 30’s.

Also, I do participate in intermittent fasting 6-7 days of the week. Intermittent fasting doesn’t really help with weight loss, but it does give your digestive system a break, or detox on a regular basis though. My fast is from 8 or 9 o’clock pm to noon the next day. Of course, like with anything else, this is subject to change, but I generally get a good 12-16 hours without food daily.

If you’d like to know more about this, comment below and I’d be happy to write an additional blog post on any of these topics!

I would like to say, please consult a physician before making any changes I am suggesting here. This is merely an account of the things I am implementing in my life that have helped me. Everyone is different and has specific needs based on their body.

Tip #2: Exercise Regularly

In my thirties I would have told you that cardiovascular exercise was what moved the needle in reference to losing weight. Now, not so much. For some reason, my midlife body isn’t responding to that form of exercise any longer. What I have found in the last 6 months is that it does like strength and conditioning, and lots of toning exercise. Meaning that I do a lot more training with weights, resistance bands and my own body weight. A lot less running, walking, or elliptical workouts.

Let me be clear. I LOVE cardio workouts. Much more than I like to do strength training. I think it’s a generational thing. As a fitness instructor, I taught lots of high-impact and low-impact classes in the 1980’s and 1990’s. However, now my body doesn’t respond to that type of exercise any longer, so now I’ve pulled way back on the cardio.

In general, I workout about 5 days a week. That’s my goal anyway. I do a couple of weight lifting classes, several toning classes that use bands and lighters dumbbells, and then a couple of classes that incorporate interval training with weights and cardiovascular exercises.

Finally, I’m also incorporating more stretch and balance exercise. Both stretching out those muscle groups and balance are crucial as we age. It gives us the ability to move more freely, and alleviates the aches and pains that seem to accompany these midlife years.

Tip #3: Supplement to Support Shortages

This is where the waters get murky! Everyone has their opinion on supplements, including me. But, what I think makes the most sense is to consult your doctor. They have the ability to get all the facts and data as to what’s really happening in your body. So, I feel that is the first step in this process. Also, it’s worth mentioning to everyone who has a sensitive stomach like I do, that I take these at different times of the day. So far, I’ve had minimal difficulty digesting them easily.

These are the four supplements I take daily.

1. Complete Women 50+ Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement. This covers all my bases vitamin and mineral speaking. I take these after my lunch on a full stomach.

2. Multi Collagen Protein. I use a half scoop of this in my coffee in the morning. Ancient Nutrition is my favorite brand! I’ve been using this brand for at least 3 years now. It supports healthy skin, nails and joints.

3. SBO Probiotics for women. Gut health is a huge priority for me. The gut plays such an integral part when it comes to good health! So, I take this in the evening.

4. Magnesium. I’ve been taking additional magnesium for at least 5 years now. As a school teacher, at the beginning of the year, I would experience severe leg and foot cramping. My doctor suggested taking additional magnesium to help alleviate the issues. It does help to a degree, but doesn’t resolve the cramping entirely. However there are numerous benefits to taking this supplement, so I’m good.

**I didn’t include dosages with this post because I feel like that is based on your own body’s needs. And really taking any vitamin, mineral, supplement without consulting a doctor can by risky in my opinion.**

Bonus Tips

4. Eliminate smoking.

5. Limit alcohol.

6. Get 8 hours of sleep a night. (This one is difficult these days. Menopause!)

7. Reduce stress.

I know. All of these are easier said than done! However, I have noticed such a HUGE difference in how I feel when I’m mindful of these 7 areas in my life.

As always, I hope you found this post helpful. And I hope you will head on over to my blogger friends posts to check out their tips, tricks and hacks when it comes to living a healthy midlife.

Dear D’Arcy Poised Petite CoasttoCoast2 Cammis Happy Place

I’d love to hear your thoughts on one or all of these tips! Please comment below if you have any suggestions for future posts!

XOXO,

Cindyh