"Diet and Exercise"...Make that "Lifestyle"

Disclaimer: We are not authorities in the health and wellness, nutrition, fitness or medical fields. Consult professionals in these fields for expert advice and consultation on the subjects below.

We've all heard the age old adage (age-old meaning 20th century old): Want to change your life? Diet and exercise. We've heard it from our doctors, the news or our oh-so-loving spouses. We see it everywhere we look: fashion and celebrity and health magazines, TV shows, billboards, subways, buses, fitness clubs. It's all "diet and exercise".

Science is toting the benefits of diet and exercise - how it is good for you and contributes to reducing your risk for disease and illness across the board. They are right. We certainly agree with that, especially for seniors with greater risk of various malignancies.

The issue? Their packaging is all wrong...

Someone comes out with the latest fad diet. We try it. It doesn't work. Ok, no big deal. We try the next one. Cut the carbs. Drink green food smoothies. Exercise with 20 minutes of cardio three times a week. No make that five times a week, and add strength training...it never ends. 

The truth is, there are many "diets" to lose weight on; there are many "exercise routines" to get in shape with. The key: our attitude and our approach. What is your motivation? Are you doing it for you or someone else? Are you doing it because you're under pressure or because you want to make good, smart choices for yourself? What is your approach? Crash diet (NEVER GOOD)? Diet and exercise until the weight is gone (what then)? I propose turning our Diet into a Lifestyle. 

Switch your perspective from a diet, which can end (die) to a lifestyle, which is ongoing (life). Make education, information and implementation your avenue. Learn about good nutrition, balanced food intake. It doesn't have to be as intense as a nutritionist or fitness coach, consult someone in the fields you know and trust (doctor, nutritionist, fitness expert). 

Each of us has a different body type. Each one of us has a different goal. 

• Sit down and assess. What are you looking for?
• Set a goal. Write it down.
• Talk to your medical doctor about what you are able to do, what could be a good "diet"/exercise regimen.
• Talk to friends and family, people to keep you motivated and accountable to your goal.
• Research. Good recipes. Scientific research. How our body works with food. What is good nutrition? What is good exercise?

Do it for YOU. YOU can do it!

For some resources 
http://www.aarp.org/health/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy-eating/index.html
http://www.helpguide.org/life/senior_fitness_sports.htm
http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/

Disclaimer: These links are provided as starting points for your own research, not as be-all-end-all authorities on health and wellness. Nor do we claim to endorse any specific site.