Healthy Habits for the 40 Year Old Slacker

So, you’ve made it this far with your body. You’ve been lucky to say you’re in pretty good shape but your body has hit some spikes in the road. Perhaps you’ve had a full on collision!  

But fear not, this is not a dead end.  

Some common complaints among this crowd are as follows:

Droopy Knee Skin

Silly Putty Elbows

Tired

Moody

Forgetful

Jiggle belly

Disappointment upon receiving mail from AARP

and….

I know there was something more but I forgot.

Healthy habits for the 40 year old slacker can be learned.  It’s like any new skill that you want need to master.  

Aging is not just a passing phase.  You're in this body until the end so you need to care for it with your utmost ability because once it breaks down it will never run the same. 

Allow me to clue you in on the healthy habits I have supplemented in my life....

Healthy Habit #1: Move.
No, i’m not talking about changing your name and moving to a new city.  That won’t do anything but slow down the AARP mailings.

Move your body everyday.  You don’t need a gym, fancy clothes, or even shoes.  Not any shoes?  

No. You don’t need shoes to do jumping jacks, run in place, shimmy in the kitchen, or shimmy in the bedroom (or really wherever you feel like because your 40 for crying out loud!).  So now you have no excuses.

Aim for just five minutes the first day.  And if you feel like it later do it again.  The sky’s the limit when it comes to moving.  

When you like what you’re doing and the way it makes you feel you will be moving 30 minutes or more in no time so pat yourself on the back!

To Move is a healthy habit.

Healthy Habit #2:  Eat Mindfully.
Personally, I do not recommend cutting out all carbs and sugars.  I really believe the mind has a difficult time taking its attention from banned items. 

I do, however, suggest paying attention to what you eat.  Think back to grade school and that triangle divvied up with the appropriate foods to eat.  

It is of equal importance to listen to your body when it tells you its full.  

Remember that little voice called a conscience?  Listen to it.  It always knows and will never steer you wrong.

Mindful eating is a healthy habit.

Healthy Habit #3: Change your mindset.
And here lies the rub. You are what you think. Always keep the following at the forefront of your mind:

You are healthy.You are attractive.People love you.

Whatever you want to be you already are.  

Keeping a positive focus is a healthy habit.

Becky Bales is a wife, a mother to 4, and a 40 year old slacker.