grow older better

Tag: food

  • Changing My Diet, Exercising, And More

    healthy_food

    This past year I have made many changes in my both diet and my exercise habits and I thought I’d post about it.

     

    Earlier this year I started doing yoga maybe once or twice a week and then tried every other day. At some point I just knew that 20 minutes a day every day seemed to be worth aiming for.

    So that’s what I’ve been doing – with an occasional missed day – but not very frequently – and never two days in a row.

    Additionally I’d been reading bad stuff about wheat and realized that I have had what feels like an addiction to bread. I don’t get that way when I make my own bread, but this feeling happened with what is considered healthy and local, but store-bought bread. So I decided – okay – I’m eliminating much of the wheat from my diet.

    I feel so much better and I no longer have many of those cravings for bread or wheat yummies like donuts and cookies.

    I also cut back on dairy by eliminating milk. I’m now only using almond milk in my coffee but I still eat cheese and Greek yogurt.

    And I added more fruit, garden fresh vegetable, and stayed with my usual consumption of nuts.

    The upshot of all of this is that I not only lost weight but also inches around my hips and my waist.

    And having a puppy again has gotten me outside walking a LOT – no matter what the weather is.

     

    I’m not sure which of my changes was the most relevant – and as a researcher, I should be interested…but I’m happy with the results so…..

     

  • Food Insecurity in the United States? Yes!

    food_insecurityFood insecurity is a nicer way of saying you are going hungry!

    Like Mother Hubbard our cupboards are bare!

    And as we grow older, more of us are falling into this category of insecurity.

    Age groups rarely looked at by any measure regarding food needs are now included – and it seems that almost 5 million of those between 50 and 59 [the younger "boomers"] are at risk of hunger. And that figure was from a few years ago.

    How many more will be hungry each year?

    It turns out that more than 9% of older Americans were at risk of hunger in 2009 –  a whopping 79 % increase since 2001.

    The economy is bad and it is impacting not only the potential of losing one's home, but of being hungry as well.

    Do we not care about our elders anymore?  Are we living longer only to lose our homes and go hungry?

    There are boomers and older who must make choices each month – rent or food? Food or medications?

    Yes there are programs that can help but they too are low on funds and supplies. If everyone is poor and in need of food – just who will supply the food banks?

    If congress thinks cutting food and service programs for the elderly and poor is a good way to save money – how will older people and poor people survive?

    I'm saddened by where we as a country have gone.

     

    Comments? Thoughts? Thank you.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Giving Thanks

    Happy Thanksgiving or Happy Thursday

    I love Thanksgiving – but it has not been a family holiday in ages and has rather become an extended-family holiday where friends and visitors gather for a pot luck feast.  This was true in Boston, then in D.C. and now here in Portland.

    What started years ago, well before I moved here, is what is called "Orphan Thanksgiving" – and it has become an anticipated event.

    Many years ago, my neighbors were staying here for Thanksgiving and put out an invite to anyone who was also not going anywhere.  Since it was such fun, it has since become the destination spot for Thanksgiving – so much so that fewer go away and instead arrive with visiting family and friends.

    As we are a small neighborhood most everyone knows everyone else and a relaxing day with all sorts of good food to eat and good wine and beer to drink makes for a grand afternoon and evening.  [With football games on of course!]

    And we all live within walking distance so there is never a need to drive and be in traffic…..

    So readers, whether you spend toady with family, biological or extended, or take the time to get away for a vacation, enjoy today and remember that being social is good for your health!

    PS Don't forget to share lots of your social-ness with those 4 footed neighbors and family : – )

    In our neighborhood the water fowl are already gathering – they know lots of bread crumbs are coming today….