Remember when you were a kid and you'd be at the bottom of the hill and your friend would say "Race you to the top!" You'd dig your toes in and push up that hill! We were full of joy and possibility and boundless energy! Life probably isn't like that for most of us right now. But what if we could have a bit more of that enthusiasm and energy?
As a woman quickly approaching 50, I don't have boundless energy anymore but every day is a new day of possibilities. I know that I get a LOT more done in the day than many people my age. The shape of my body may not be what it once was but my spirit is there and the drive to age in a healthy way is there!
I know that if I want to keep enjoying this climb up the hill of life, I HAVE TO dig my toes in and do a bit of work. Or I will end up sliding down this hill and not enjoying the trip at all. I want to enjoy the 2nd half of my life as much as the first half. GRAVITY on our bodies is real! Aging is real but the speed at which we age is not inevitable.
We have moments in time when we know that we are not on the best trail we could be. My kids running cross country last year was a reminder that my body was not keeping up with my mind's eye of myself. Who knew that being a cross-country spectator was such a participatory event!? Running from point to point to cheer your team on is both exhilarating and a reminder that we are no longer 16! But what can we do about that?
Here are 3 tips for everyone! (But especially women who are in their 40's and 50's!)
1. Make sleep a priority. We all know that women need more sleep than men, yet we are chronically sleep deprived. Sleep not only resets our nervous system, but it is also the time when our liver detoxes, our brain stem is washed with cerebrospinal fluid, and our body helps to clear inflammation. In Chinese medicine, overall sleep is associated with the shen; signs of an ungrounded shen can include ADHD, insomnia, and scattered thinking! One of the quickest ways to gain weight is to not get enough sleep. No thanks!
So how can we help you get your sleep on track? What if we framed it as an investment in your health? Maybe you need help with an evening routine for yourself or kiddos? My favorite evening trick is a foot bath and a cup of tea. Even my teens will ask for it! Double down by adding magnesium to help you sleep better. Could you add that to your evening? Would you like some herbs to help if that isn't enough?
2. Inflammation is probably one of the biggest culprits that ages the body and the leading cause of many chronic health issues. It becomes worse as estrogen drops as we age. Did you know that estrogen is anti-inflammatory? This is part of why women who are pregnant sometimes have improvement in their chronic inflammatory skin and joint issues. But it is also what causes perimenopausal women to have stiff knees and shoulders, painful feet, and some of that weight that suddenly appears! An anti-inflammatory diet will help. Remember to eat the rainbow! Blackberries, blueberries, and other dark fruits are the yummiest anti-inflammatories. Garlic also is a huge help! Turmeric can be a great start but it all might not be enough. A custom solution will get you relief sooner! What are those nagging signs of inflammation that you have been ignoring?
3. Mindset is up next. That old saying, "where there is a will, there is a way!" still holds true. But what if your motivation and will are lagging a bit? Next newsletter, I am going to touch on rest vs. stagnation and how we can identify and improve that balance. But in the meantime, how is our mindset? Do we feel like we have the ability to see clearly what we want? Do we believe we can achieve it? Do we dare to hope?
Sometimes it is hard to maintain progress, especially when the progress seems slow. But most quick type solutions don't sustain themselves and we end up even more disheartened. Just like we tell our kids, every step is a step closer to the goal. And heart informed goal setting is where we must begin I think! What is your vision of yourself? What is your big audacious goal? Is it to joyfully keep up with your children? Is it to be able to finish a half-marathon? What goal makes you feel a little burst of excitement or puts a fire in your belly?
For me, I often see these older women in their 70's and I think, I want to be that vibrant and able-bodied at that age! And I know I can't just make that decision at 60! I have to sustain my body beginning now at 49! Investments take time to build and there is no cheating. But having the heartfelt goal that I want my kids to experience having active grandparents for their kids would be a blessing that I can work towards. Also, there is that little desire to cheat aging and be rock solid strong in my 50's. In my mind's eye I am still as strong and as able as when I was in the Army. Can I still achieve some of that? We'll see who it goes but it all starts with the goal and the vision of what you want! How can I help support you by cheering you on towards that goal? Someone I know used to compare your healthy aging to your financial future. I believe that. If you aren't investing in your body with the same mindset as you are in your financial future you are losing the benefit of time which is a life changing way to think about your health!
If any of this has inspired you to get the encouragement, knowledge, or herbs that you need to move your body forward please reach out for a consultation!
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