The Only Real Way to Combat Aging

Remember when you could eat crappy food, pull all-nighters, and still have the energy to power through your day?

Oh, and you looked good doing it.

But that was 30 years ago, and perhaps you’ve recognized in your midlife years that your body isn’t as resilient as it used to be.

Those same practices you had in your 20s now leave you feeling sluggish and heavy.

Sure, a lot has changed in three decades, but not all that change has been negative.

There’s good news, trust me!

In fact, I was talking to a client the other day about aging, the body slowing down, and what you can do about it.

Since she loves sports (as do I), we relate a lot of sports lessons to life lessons (because there are so many).

We started talking about basketball and how early on in playing the sport, you can get away with having poor fundamentals because what you have on your side is youth.

We can jump higher, run faster, and “get to the ball” quicker when we’re younger.

While our physical performance potential peaks in our teens and early 20s, we naturally lose that as we age.

But thankfully there’s something else that we get in return, and that’s wisdom, experience, and maturity.

Listen, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t grieve our physical decline, but if we’re smart, we will play to our strengths.

What I am saying is it’s important to realize that in midlife, you’re playing a different game than you played in your 20s.

The crash diets you used to do after eating crappy food and pounding sodas and beers – those days simply have to be over.

If not, the truth is you’ll be filled with continual disappointment.

Not that you won’t be tempted by diets and detoxes ever again, but it’s important to understand that the game has changed in midlife and as a result, your perspective and mindset have to change as well.

And the game changed for me, literally, when I was playing basketball (stick with me, it’ll relate).

I didn’t have a lot of structured basketball coaching when I was growing up – my education was on the streets, so to speak, by playing “pick-up games” with the kids on my block.

We’d play for hours at a time and I fell in love with the sport, so much so that I even managed to secure a spot on my college basketball team.

Since I didn’t have a lot of structured coaching in the sport, I had to rely on what I did have as an incoming freshman – strength, power, agility, and athleticism.

But as the years passed, I found that the new class of up-and-coming freshman were out-competing me – they were more powerful, agile and athletic.

I found that I simply didn’t move as well as I used to – that window of peak performance was closing.

I wasn’t going to beat them to the ball, or run faster, or jump higher – those were their advantages, not mine anymore.

In order to stay competitive, I had to draw on something else – my wisdom, experience, and maturity, and use them to my advantage.

I had to adapt if I wanted to “stay in the game.”

What this meant was that I had to return to the fundamentals – I had to “be brilliant at the basics” – dribbling, passing, and shooting.

And the same goes for you.

You’re now playing in the “game of midlife,” which looks and feels a lot different than the “game” you used to play three decades ago.

You may not have the same physical appearance or ability that you did when you were younger.

What this means is that overconsumption of unhealthy foods and drinks, poor sleep habits, limited exercise, and having too much on your plate are things you can’t get away with anymore.

What’s more, quick fixes like crash diets and detoxes, while they used to do the trick a few weeks before beach season hit, are only going to do more harm than good for your body at this stage of life.

What will work for you, however, like my approach was with basketball, is to become brilliant at the basics – your Sleep, Food, Mood, and Exercise.

This means discovering and then mastering how to:

• Get a good night’s sleep EVERY night
• Exercise on a regular basis
• Lower your stress and lessen your overwhelm
• Eat healthy, whole foods in an appropriate quantity

And since there’s no cookie-cutter formula that works for everyone, you have to find out what’s going to work for your unique situation and lifestyle.

That’s where I usually come into the picture for my clients – I provide the “glue” that holds it all together by offering the support, guidance, and accountability that we all need when making hard changes.

Because yes, it’s hard, and it’s even harder to do it alone.

Diets aren’t hard; they’re easy.

If you really wanted to, you could probably do a very restrictive diet for two weeks and you probably have.

But then what?

The hard part isn’t starting, rather it’s sticking to it, and when you don’t, the weight comes back, and then some.

Plus, every time you diet, you slow your metabolism down more and more, making results harder every time until you don’t see them at all anymore.

Realize that your body HATES diets, and it really hates them as you age.

So again, in midlife, the smart thing to do is to consider the big-picture, the long-term solution to living a long, healthy life.

Use your wisdom, experience, and maturity to not fall for these diets and detoxes anymore.

Instead, the only real and lasting way to combat aging is to commit to becoming brilliant at the basics – your Sleep, Food, Mood, and Exercise.

And I’ve started a lot of that work for you already in my ReINVENT Your Health 6-week online course that you can begin anytime.

Here’s what some grads of the program had to say:

“Leverage on your strengths! What a wonderful way to transform your health and well-being. The ReINVENT Your Health program is welcoming, challenging and has made a lasting impact on my life by helping me re-focus on the connectedness of my current health habits in regards to my sleep, food, mood and exercise.” –Jane G., 55

“Thank you Kim! I didn’t expect the outcome I had when I initially signed up for ReINVENT Your Health. Part of the great gifts in life you get is when you take a chance. I still use some of the techniques taught in ReINVENT Your Health.” –Norma H., 53

“Kim was referred to me by a close family member, knowing some challenges I was facing they thought she could help. After the first month, I was so surprised at the holistic approach and how powerful the sessions have been for me. It may sound basic and something you think you’ve done before, but it truly is different and powerful. I am really grateful to my family for the referral and Kim, who continues to amaze me as we take this journey together, I feel blessed.”
–Heidi B., 55

Begin the journey of mastering your Sleep, Food, Mood, and Exercise habits today HERE.

It’s Your Turn to Take Care of You,

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