Staying Fit and Fabulous After 50

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Judi

In recognition of March National Nutrition Month, I asked my BFF and expert dietitian, Laura Sabban MS RD CSR, to provide her views on two diet books that came my way. The books are “The Digest Diet” and “The Digest Diet Cookbook” by Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest and coauthor of the bestseller “Flat Belly Diet!” (Note that the PR lady did not send a copy of the “Flat Belly Diet!” which sounds interesting to me since I do not have a flat belly but would really like to know if it is possible to ever have a flat belly again – especially after having two children during my life before 50.)

So what did my BFF Laura have to say about staying fit and fabulous in our fifties? “Selling magazines and diet books making us think it is easy to shed pounds at this age is making people rich. But a lifetime of habit isn’t going to change without some effort and we need to be realistic about what it takes to be able to avoid those elastic-waist pants,” says Laura. (I know Laura, I don’t want to have to only rely on stretch pants as I age.)

In reviewing the books, Laura comments that “The Digest Diet” and its companion cookbook start out saying it will be easy to make huge lifestyle changes. “The author Liz promises that there are magic foods to eat that ‘release fat’, and that you won’t be miserable or hungry because the foods are so satisfying,” says Laura.

“Indeed the recipes are truly interesting and photographed in stunning color. However she promises that you’ll lose an average of 11 pounds in 3 weeks and that you can exercise at your own pace…as long as you follow the diet exactly, do high-intensity interval training (!!!), spend your Sunday afternoon cooking organic foods, give up dessert in favor of ricotta cheese and eat a salad when you (invariably) get hungry.”

(Really, I have to do all that? BTW, I did try the Strawberry Almond Shake during the BlogHer conference book event last summer and it was rather tasty. I sampled the shake made with frozen berries, flaxseed, avocado and cocoa powder. A typical shake includes 16 grams of protein. I also found the new cookbook recipes to be appealing and may try to make a few such as the Chicken Piccata with Capers & Olives and the Herb Crusted Salmon. )

“At 1200 calories a day, even with no magic foods, almost anyone can lose weight,” Laura adds. “The science presented isn’t always great but overall, the book does advocate a balanced, healthy approach to dieting and will work for the motivated. The 12 people who ‘tested’ the plan seemed to like it. But I think that boomer women don’t want to spend much time cooking anymore, won’t join a gym if they haven’t already and want to have dessert more than once a week.” (Hmm, hmm, hmm. Laura you are my BFF and I do agree that boomer girls don’t want to spend extra time in the kitchen, but I do know many boomer girls who like to work out at the gym including your BFF.)

Laura is my BFF and a very smart registered dietitian.

As a special guest blogger, Laura provided these simple tips to help boomer girls stay fit and fabulous:

- Firstly, eat three reasonable meals a day. Don’t go more than 5 hours without eating something. Yes, it has to do with insulin levels, but there’s no point in making it more complicated than that. (I agree – breakfast, lunch and dinner – I try not to miss a meal.)

- Second, eat vegetables and fresh fruit as often as you can. No one ever got fat from eating too much fruit. (I’m glad I love fruit – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, pears, grapes.)

- Thirdly, choose lower fat dairy products. We eat too much rich cheese on everything. (I really like the Sargento Reduced Fat Cheeses. You can buy slices or shredded varieties.)

- Fourthly, take a walk every day, weather permitting. Or find another way to keep moving that feels comfortable. It’s also a mood lifter. (Walking does it for me – oh where is that pedometer?)

- And lastly, every day reward yourself with something yummy of about 100 calories—1/2 oz. of chocolate, a small yogurt, a tablespoon of peanut butter on celery, or a snack bag of crackers or cookies. Sometimes just knowing a treat awaits you later makes it easier to hold out against indulging too much earlier in the day. (My treat of the day has to be dark chocolate – my boyfriend L has converted me – it’s the best.)

“Common sense may not be sexy, but it’s all one really needs,” adds Laura.

Now you see why Laura is my BFF? She is so smart!

If you would like to be entered into the raffle to win a copy of “The Digest Diet,” leave a comment on my blog about how you stay fit and fabulous during your life after 50. Or “like” Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or “follow” judiboomergirl on Twitter and leave your comment there. Deadline for entry is March 31, 2013.

Judi

Quintessential Anna Quindlen

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Judi

I have always loved journalist and author Anna Quindlen’s writing. I used to read her Life In The 30s column in the New York Times each week when I was in my 30s. I loved the way she wrote about balancing work and life and how the two often collide. I loved her stories because I could connect with them – it was as though she was describing my unbalanced life with two kids, a husband and a full-time job.

While I am a little further away from 60 than Anna is now, I so enjoyed reading her new book, “Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake.” This time I read Anna’s book on my Kindle, although I wish I had a hardcover copy. I found myself constantly wanting to highlight various phrases and pages so I could re-read them again and again. (Instead I used the Clippings tool on my Kindle, to clip and save various sentences and pages.)

“This is me, I agree,” I wanted to tell Anna as I read and re-read each essay. “I feel the same way about aging, I do, I do.”

As Judith Newman said in her review of the book in the New York Times Review, “Each chapter muses on a different aspect of the way Anna’s life (and, by inference, ours) has changed as she moves from her 50s toward her 60s.”

Anna talks about taking greater risks as we get older. She talks about conquering fears. When I read about how she finally conquered a headstand, I wanted to send her a note and say “Bravo.” Anna quotes business guru Deming, who said that “an essential part of maturing, is putting fear aside, because if there’s anything that cripples us it is fear.”

Anna says that many of us with lots of candles on our cake “may not like our age spots or crepey necks, but that we are happier now than we were when we were younger…that we settle into our own skin, even if that skin has sun damage.”According to the Gallup poll of 340,000 people that Anna mentions, people get more contented as they age. “After age fifty there was a change in the weather, and from then on happiness was on an upward trajectory into the eighties. As those in the survey grew older, they reported that stress, anger, sadness all declined.”

Ooh, ooh, ooh. There’s also the Pew study that Anna quotes as well. That study found that most adults over fifty feel at least ten years younger. (Is 50 the new 40? I thought it was the new 30? Some people say that 50 is the new 50. What do you think?)

I don’t want to give away all of Anna’s goodies, so I’ll stop here. I encourage you to download a copy or buy a hardcover book so you can highlight your favorite phrases and sentences as you read. There are essays about girlfriends, mothering adult children, being a parent to parents and a whole lot more.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, there’s one more quote I just have to share. I know you’re going to love it. It’s from Anna’s friend Lesley. Here’s what she said: “On the day my friend Lesley’s first grandchild was born, she sent out a message that ended, ‘You’re never too old to have the best day of your life.’”

Okay, so I haven’t had a grandchild yet. But whether or not I have one, two or none, I still love Lesley’s philosophy about aging. Don’t you?

Judi

Exercising My Menopausal Memory

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Judi

When my friends at BoomBox Network invited me to test out a new online site called Cranium Crunches, filled with games that challenge my brain, I gladly obliged. I always liked games when I was a kid – Candyland was my favorite with all the colored squares. I was also very good at playing card games with Nana M – War, Gin Rummy, Solitaire – I enjoyed them all.

With my menopausal memory fading fast, I was quick to try a teaser or two to sharpen up my skills. Am I game? You betcha! Here goes:

First up, was Memory Match, where I honed my attention, categorization and recall skills. I had to match as many photo pairs as I could before my time was up. What 44 clicks to get to 10 matches? I know I can do better than that. I did not back down. Again, 44 clicks. I tried one more time, with more determination. Sixty clicks. Ooh, ah. Ooh, ah. I was ready for a different game.

Next, I moved on to Find The Difference. I was very good at this game. This game required attention to detail, focus and searching strategies. I had to find as many differences as I could in each photo set. One, two three – I beat level I. One, two, three, four, five – I made it through level II. Uh oh! Uh oh! The puzzles in level III were not as easy. I needed help.

Next, I tried the Match game, which required me to act quickly, put things in categories, do problem solving and visual memory all at once. The images were fast moving and my fifty-something mind was a little dizzy by the last banana bunch.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other puzzles also kept my attention in check. I remember this type of game when I used to read Highlights magazine in the pediatrician’s office. I was much better at finding the differences in the pictures back when I was five versus now at almost 55. I was best with the pictures of babies versus more scenic shots.

Ruth Curran, founder of Cranium Crunches, has a background in psychology and says that her website offers good exercises for people with a broad range of abilities and levels of functioning. In fact, next time I am visiting Flo-ree-da, I am going to bring along my iPad and have a Crunch match up with my 90 year old mama. May the brainest girl win.

Judi

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in a campaign by BooMboxNetwork.com on behalf of Cranium Crunches and received payment for my participation. All opinions stated within are my own.