The Effect of Aging On Weight Loss
by Journey to Health Program Director, Becky Anderson
I just turned 51. It seems like just the other day I was at an age where I thought, “Dang–50 is old!”
Now I don’t think I’m on my death bed, but I acknowledge how my age makes a lot of things more difficult than they once were.
I grew up a basketball player. I kept playing full court until it was obvious it was time for me to “hang it up.” I was 34-years-old. That was 17 YEARS AGO!!!
Probably because I played longer than I really should have, I now have a lot of joint pain and discomfort. My back, my knees, most recently a hip. Things crack and creak more than ever, and I make noises any time I go to stand up after sitting for any period of time.
My eyesight is a whole other story. Bifocals, what???? Presbyopia is my diagnosis. Aging of the eye. And don’t even talk to me about how horrible driving at nighttime is for me now.
A funny, newer one. I have an area in my mouth where food always gets stuck between these 2 particular teeth. My dentist has “fixed” this area two times over the last 5ish years. At my most recent checkup, I told my dentist that that area is bugging me again. He replied that he cannot fix it anymore. Apparently, our gums soften w age, and that space will continue to come back because my gum tissue is too old. Who knew?!?
Before I turned 40, I needed little sleep. I was high functioning on 4-5 hours of sleep. Since my mid-40’s, my requirement has nearly doubled.
My point with this week’s message is, as we age, it becomes more important than ever to stay at a healthy weight. Doing so makes all of the other issues we face because of Mother Nature/Father Time not quite so horrible. AND, if you are still at an age much younger than me, just know that it is easier now than it will ever be. Try your best to keep extra weight off. Try to keep healthy habits a part of your daily routine. Fight like mad to hold off these affects aging will have on all of us.
