Eating!

What is it about reaching a certain age and the need to worry about what it is we are going to eat? My personal opinion is we stay away from or only eat in moderation those foods we know can mess with our metabolism and make it a point to eat at regularly scheduled times. The schedule that seems to work well for us is to eat at 7, 11:30 or 12:00 and then around 5 or 5:30 with possibly a snack in between to carry us through.

Now when I say snack though I am talking about a healthy snack – such as a half of a banana and in some instances some peanut butter to go with as our morning snack. The afternoon snack – well that changes from time to time and can range from some trail mix to a piece of dark chocolate. And then there is the evening snack which is usually six ounces of yogurt.

My educated guess, knowing pretty much what we eat and when we eat it, is not the food we eat but is more with the fact that we do not exercise enough to burn off the unwanted calories that come with eating what we eat. Some might say – I cannot exercise – I don’t have the room. Poppycock! If you can walk – you can exercise. Take a walk around the block for ten or fifteen minutes every day. At least you are not being sedentary which is one of the things we should avoid.

Our biggest problem is when we are away on vacation and spending time with relatives especially if they are providing quarters for you to sleep, bathe, and so forth. But, then again – this is where good old Yankee Ingenuity comes into play. Here’s the thing, I constantly write that we are the masters of our own destiny. Just because a relative is putting you up doesn’t mean you give up daily exercising.

Take my stretching routine for instance. I only need a small space at the end of the bed I am sleeping in and I can do my fifteen minutes of stretching every morning when I wake. Now taking my fifteen or so minute walk every day – well – that is another story because one must also consider the environment around us. At present, we are in, as I like to put it, “the boonies” and we must be careful walking on the road in front of the house as it is a well-traveled road and some of the drivers do travel faster than the required speed limit.

But, I take into consideration the fact that I am not as active when visiting relatives as I am at home or on a two-week vacation staying at a time-share where we can be as active or inactive as we want to be. I compensate by watching what I eat and trying my best not to constantly sit around doing nothing. True, it isn’t the best way to stay in shape, but under the circumstances, it will have to do.     

Until next time!