Health, diet, and exercise… What do you do?

Re: Health, diet, and exercise… What do you do?

Heart of Persephone​(sub female) • Jan 1, 2025

Over the past few months, I've been getting back into a healthier way of life. I've slacked off big time and am now paying the price. I'm back into weightlifting—nothing at the gym, just at home. I've always loved weightlifting and was on the school's powerlifting team many years ago. But now I am closing in on 50 years old, so things are slightly different than when I was a teen, LOL.
I've tried it all, fasting, keto, low fat, no fat, Slim Fast shakes, Shakeology, and other fads- thank you, Boomer mother era. Now, I eat balanced, not too much or too little, and I am not restrictive of certain foods. I meal prep for work, so I'm not tempted to grab gas station foods to get me through the night. Do I crave pizza, chicken strips, or French Fries? Very much I do. But I decided to have those things occasionally and plan accordingly. Going into work, I look like I'm moving in for my shift- a giant Mary Poppins cooler bag with my meals and snacks for 12 hours for 2-3 days, which I unload and put into the office fridge. The meals that I prep or not are where I weigh out and count macros. I'm making reasonably sized meals of meat, vegetables, and potato/rice portions. I also added vitamins and one prescription drug for HBP.
I exercise 5-6 days a week, giving myself some downtime. I use free weights, kettlebells, bands, rollers, and exercise balls. On days I work, I do a shortened amount of strength training and do some form of Pilates before bed; while at work, I try to get in 3 miles of walking the office floor. Then, on my days off, I do longer weightlifting sessions and add more extended home Pilates training and some cardio-kickboxing.
I don't smoke anything; I'm not a drinker. I think the last time I had one single alcoholic drink was over the summer at a birthday party. I do have a fond taste for Coke Zero and Dr. Pepper Zero; there is nothing like a crispy pop to get you going. I enjoy coffee, black or with a splash of creamer. When I go somewhere, I like to go through Scooters Coffee or Starbucks for a more calorie, sugar-laden drink, which is good because the closest one is 45 minutes away; I'm safe from the daily indulgences of buzzing through to get one.
I'm trying to live healthier without depriving myself. I love the feeling of building muscle again, and I'm keeping on track with that. When I am not overly full, I have a better focus, and when I feel a slight twinge of hunger, I have more energy. There will be days when I mess up and overeat or skip a few days of working out. But I do not beat myself up over that anymore, and I accept it and keep on.

Cello Trance{for You} • Jan 1, 2025

That is awesome heart. Thank you for sharing all of that. That was one of the turning points for me actually is making sure I was bringing some healthy food with me to gigs. I’m a professional full time musician and a lot of times I’m playing some big party or Wedding and they’re passing all kinds of food in front of me as I play. I just didn’t wanna be hungry while they were doing that, so I would eat and drink healthy things on the way to the Gig and also had it in my car waiting for me afterwards
That kept me from driving by some fast food place on the way after the gig. That was a beginning for me.

I see it as a gradual progression, a journey if you will. I will say, though, that the older I’ve gotten, and I’m well past your 50-year-old Mark, the more important it is to eat healthy food and to stay away from the unhealthy alternatives that are pushed in front of us daily.

Heart of Persephone​(sub female) • Jan 1, 2025

Yes it is very much a process. I at times feel I am very lucky where I live as there is no fast food places. Just 2 convenience stores, and our local Pizza Hut is only open Thursday-Sunday. So if I need food I have to be prepared as even our grocery stores close at 6 and 7 pm and closed on Sundays.

Cello Trance{for You} • Jan 1, 2025

Wow. Where I live just outside of Washington DC is just the opposite. For fast food there’s every kind iimaginable… There are Restaurants, shops, banks, gas stations…but I also have three organic supermarkets pretty much equidistance from me, not that I always shop at those. I do most of my shopping at a regular grocery store chain.