My weight has gone up and down all my married life. And people say that as you get older, it becomes even more of a problem. However, I’m pleased to say that’s not been the case. My weight in my fifties is now as low as it was in my twenties.
How can this be? I simply keep an eye on my blood-sugar levels. Around 4pm, I used to get a sap in energy and I’d get a longing for food. So I’d grab the first thing that came to hand, which was usually the wrong kind of carbohydrates. No surprise then that my tummy ballooned!
What’s frightening is that fat also accumulates in the body’s organs like the brain and the heart. But by keeping my blood sugar stable, I don’t feel as hungry and I have more energy. Hot flushes don’t overwhelm me as often, and I’m less likely to snap at my partner now! Oh, and I have fewer sleepless nights.
What I’ve done is change to eating little and often. In my earlier life, I’d grab a coffee instead of lunch on more days than not. I’d then stuff myself at dinner, and end up uncomfortable all evening.
Our body actually needs frequent small intakes of fuel for optimum performance. The rate we process food starts to slow down after midday. This means breakfast and lunch are very important, as much of the food we eat in the evening is stored as excess fat.
Sitting down to have breakfast is now top of my list every morning. Food quality is important to me, and portion size. I never put more food in than the gut can reasonably take, and visualise it being the size of a small melon.
I try to make lunch the biggest meal of the day, and keep grain to a minimum. By late afternoon, a small snack is now all I need take me through to a small evening meal. I eat lots of green and colourful veggies, and always have a protein source with each portion.
I don’t follow a fat-free regime, but I am careful to eat the right sort of fat. I like seeds and nuts in moderation, and salads always get a good glug of olive oil.
The amount of alcohol I consumed had to be reduced – and this has definitely had a positive effect. I don’t get so flushed now, which makes me feel so much better. After years of weight challenges, this has been like a breath of fresh air. I feel much more attractive, my skin has improved and my menopausal symptoms have halved. Oh, and I’m sixteen pounds lighter than I was.
(C) Scott Edwards. Try WeightLossDietWar.com for quality diet tips on and .
