Age gracefully

age gracefully

A time to reflect

Birthday’s are often a time to reflect. This last year made me really stop and think – my accountant told me I should be starting to think about retirement and when I weighed up whether to revise my seven cookbooks those words were still ringing in my ears. But I realised there was so much life left in those fabulous recipes that they deserved a facelift and a chance to serve the next generation. Hence, many of you now have my updated babies in your kitchen.

I feel that way about me too. At 62 I’m not ready to retire, sure I might slow down a bit, but I’ve got too much life left in me to retire! I often think how different this story would have been if my dear friend Kimmy had not taken that life-changing photo on Mooloolaba beach and I hadn’t made the decision there and then to become a healthy person. Where would I be today?

For my first 37 years of life I didn’t do much to encourage good health. Luckily I did something about it and am living proof that you can make a difference. It is never too late to start a healthy regime, trust me, because I’m sure if I hadn’t got my act together I would probably have type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart concerns and be generally unwell. But I turned my life around and I plan on being the feistiest granny ever and to age gracefully with a healthy and energized attitude.

If you want to age gracefully, here are three things to do right now:-

  1. Assess your eating and exercise regime. Eating a healthy diet and being active will keep you healthy on the inside and glowing on the outside. Be really honest with yourself. Are you eating enough fruit and veggies? Are you drinking enough water? How often do you exercise?
  2. Take a good hard look at your habits. Just because you have done things a certain way all your life doesn’t mean that it is the right way or should be continued. Look at the habits that are causing you health concerns such as smoking, drinking, overeating, bad food choices and laziness. When mixed together you are asking for health troubles and a quality of life that will be less than what you desire. What bad habits do you need to ditch?
  3. Be willing to do what it takes. If you don’t change then nothing will change. Think about your life five or ten years from now, what does it look like if you don’t change? Will you be 10 or 20 kilos heavier? The things that you struggle to do now will be impossible then! Now take a moment to look at your future if you decide today to make a change for the better, isn’t that a much better option!

What does your future look like?

If you want to be agile, fit and healthy now and as you age then commit now, not next week or next year. Decide today, right this minute to do what it takes to become a healthy person.

When I decided to become a healthy person I didn’t even know what that meant. But I committed to quit fad dieting and make lasting changes. The rest is history, I lost 35 kilos in 20 months and have now been in my healthy weight range for 24 years. If I can do it, so can you!

Not sure where to start? Start your journey to weight loss success here


6 thoughts on “Age gracefully

  1. I will be 52 next week and I really enjoyed reading this article and find it so encouraging. I am 103kg in menopause and I walk over 11000 steps each day watch what I eat and still no weight loss, but I am grateful this time that there is no weight gain more importantly.
    Thank you for your wisdom, books and encouragement. I’m really loving the Thursday live events on Facebook, you’re such a bubbly personality.
    Thank you and kind regards.
    Mary

    1. Hi Mary,
      How lovely to hear from you and thank you for your positive feedback. I am loving my Thursday’s with Annette 2pm every week. I love connecting with everyone and I have lots of great things planned for the show.
      I read your comments about your weight issues Mary and I am wondering if you should check a couple of things. I find losing weight is easier when you are making healthy choices, looking at your portion sizes and being active. You are certainly being active so I would think that you need to look a bit closer at what and how much you are eating. Maybe it would help if you followed either book 5 or book 6’s menu plans. Keep in touch and let me know how you go.
      Happy slimming
      Annette 🙂

  2. Update: since my previous email & decision to embrace healthy living, I started active action on the 20th March 2017 – Start Weight: 100kg
    Present Weight. 92kg
    Goal Weight. 65kg
    Goal Date: 20 Nov 2017
    All in 8 months
    Weekly Goal: to loose 1kg per week.
    I’ll keep you posted.

    1. Hi Alofa,
      Go you! Well done on your progress and great job with the goal setting 🙂 Too often people set unrealistic goals – a kilo a week is a good steady weight loss.
      If you need any help along the way or if you hit a plateau please feel free to email me again.
      Happy slimming
      Annette 🙂

  3. Hi Annette,I have been dieting on and off for a few years now and lost 20kg 2 years ago. I put most of it back on eventually over the next few years. I have purchased your recipe books and for the first 3 weeks lost 4 kg. I am working on the level one meal plan and have been exercising as well daily. I seembto have hot a plateau as I have not lost any weight at all in the last 2 weeks.could you please give me some advice on how to get over this hurdle and continue to lose weight. I love your books but don’t know why I have stopped losing weight. Your advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Diane

    1. Hi Diane, I’m so glad you have my cookbooks. It’s great that you are following the menu plans, so I know you are making great food choices. My next question would be, are you weighing/measuring your portions? Many extra calories and fats are consumed by guessing portion sizes. Also are you choosing low fat dairy and lean meats? The other thing to watch is that you are not consuming extra calories in drinks or alcohol. If you want to chat further, please email admin@symplytoogood.com.au or send a private message on my Symply Too Good Facebook page.
      Keep in touch and let me know how you are going.
      Happy slimming
      Annette 🙂

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