Healthy Aging: Body, Mind & Spirit

The most important thing I have learned about midlife weight loss

After losing 30 pounds in the past few months, I am now amazed at how little I need to eat each day to feel full, comfortable and content.

I see now that most of my previous food consumption was simply based on what I learned growing up, and not on what I actually need to eat to stay alive.   Yes, there are always the thousands of calories we consume for “entertainment” or emotional reasons. Those have mostly been replaced with delicious healthy protein snacks. What I am talking about here are the habits we have grown up with that keep us fat.

In my case, I believed that I “should” be eating starches like cereal, bread, potatoes, rice, etc. at most meals, and our culture is so set up that way!   Now, instead of cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and some other starch for dinner, I limit those “filler foods” to one small piece of excellent whole-wheat bread in the morning with my eggs, and one quarter cup of rice or potatoes (sweet or white) with dinner.

At first I was appalled at the thought of cutting back so drastically, but as I replaced those empty calories with high quality protein, vegetables and fruit, I found I was never hungry, even without eating anything for lunch but a 15-gram chocolate protein bar. Like I said, I AM AMAZED, especially at age 56, well into menopause.   Our brains are powerful and full of previous training and food expectations!

I just want to let you know what can be accomplished with some diet changes and of course a bit of serious determination… I may have to get old, but I don’t have to be fat!

The best deal I have found for healthy 15 gram protein bars, breakfast foods, drinks, puddings and entrees is over at Nutmeg State Nutrition.  I have received excellent service from them.

If you do decide to place an order with them, please mention “Healthy Aging Blog” in your comments, and you will receive a free snack on me!

BTW, I am officially allergic to soy products, but I do not react to protein products made from soy isolate...good to know!