Finding Balance

And so, we return to the story of excess weight. No matter what our experiences with weight changes were in our youth, after forty, unfortunately, metabolism becomes significantly slower, and what was once trivial now requires great effort. Remembering my "heavy" years in my 20s and realizing that long walks and eating salads no longer help, I fell into a panic. With immense energy, I dove into various available online diet programs. I tried everything I could access. For half a year, I was a vegetarian, then I quickly changed my mind and tried keto (both the vegetarian version and the meat-eater version). For a while, I very scrupulously followed fasting; at one point, I ate nothing that contained gluten. The result: -0 kg, stomach problems, an unimaginably bad mood, and eternal dissatisfaction with myself and the people around me. On top of that, there were problems at work (at that time, I was opening my own business—a private kindergarten), a parent's illness, a child going to study abroad, and other small everyday things and problems. The COVID pandemic put a very fat period in my life. Yes, yes! The same one that replaced solid office clothes with comfortable home workout pants, but foreign trips with journeys from the couch to the fridge. I gave up! After all, I was almost 50! I have a job, a family, an educated child, a house, a garden, and two cats. What else should I strive for? Age is inevitable, and changes in the body are part of it. Live with it! My wake-up call was my daughter. When she came home for the weekend again and I greeted her at the airport in what I thought was suitable comfortable clothing—half boots, fleece workout pants, an oversized jacket, and a knitted hat—she looked at me in astonishment and commented, "Mom, oh God! What happened?" And so it was time to pull myself together! Going through the miracle diet plans offered on the internet again (after which most of the kilograms sooner or later come back) and various dietary supplements, whose origin, needless to say, also did not inspire confidence, I decided not to waste money anymore and to see a specialist. My plan for the upcoming months was as follows: 1. Conduct a general blood test. 2. Consult with a nutritionist. 3. Develop a personal meal plan. 4. Start physical activities (mopping the floor, mowing the lawn does not count this time). My blood test revealed elevated cholesterol and a tendency towards insulin resistance (this must be taken into account if there are cases of diabetes in the family, as was the case for me). I underwent a course of acupuncture (Eastern medicine and culture is my weakness) and obtained a personal diet plan tailored to my needs, tastes, and preferred foods. In my case—more protein, greens, berries, less flour products, various sweets, and other carbohydrates. This does not mean that from time to time I cannot have a slice of pizza or a cake, as well as my beloved chocolate. I will let you take a look at my one-week meal plan. And yet!!! No matter what meal plans various influencers, online programs, or publications on the internet offer you, results can only be achieved if they are suitable for your body's needs. At our age, it is essential to eat a balanced diet that includes both protein and enough fiber and carbohydrates. If a twenty-year-old can take a cheat day and fit into her new party dress the next day, then we—ladies of a certain age—can no longer rely on that. Even if after a cheat day your weight drops (this will be more due to lost water), after the party it will no longer be possible to button that little button on the new skirt, as some extra grams will definitely be added to the lost. Also financially, a consultation with a nutritionist and an individual diet plan will save you much more money than the monthly subscription fee for an app on your phone, which you will most likely forget about, but will definitely pay for every month for a couple of years. Move! Move! Move! I am a very undisciplined person, and I need real motivation. Option number one—sign up for a gym or group training. And don't be shy if the group is meant for ladies over 50. Benefits—the opportunity to get out of the house and make new friends. I chose the second option: twice a week exercising with a personal trainer-physiotherapist. My benefit—first of all, working on my relevant muscle groups at my own pace, gradually increasing the load and, of course, disciplining myself because where will you go if someone is standing next to you? And so, the result. I have lost about 5 kg. The ideal weight has not been reached, but I no longerworry about it because my physical well-being has significantly improved, my body has gained more defined shapes, and muscles have appeared. I am not in a hurry; everything has its time. The main thing is the process and lifestyle change.