Why Does IT Not Work Any Longer?
In my Nutrition Coaching and Life Coaching practice, I often hear ” When I was younger I could….” or “It used to be so easy for me to…”. It got me thinking. Is there value to the belief that because we are older health, behavior, weight, eating, exercise… is harder than it was when we were younger? If a person has this belief, is there value to keeping this belief? Does it even matter what you believe?
I say yes. It does matter what you believe. Whether the belief is based upon fact or faulty thoughts, it still matters.
Aging does change the physical body. Aging starts when we are born. I think we forgot this. Or perhaps we hang onto the idea that we stay young until we hit some arbitrary age such as 50 and then we wake up one day and begin to hold our aging body responsible for everything. Does how we achieve desired health and fitness results really change as we age ? Do we have a faulty memory in our assessment of the ease with which we created desired results? Does this blame on our aging body provide an explanation for an area of frustration? Is it a hall pass to stop doing something or not change your method?
Do you create a narrative for yourself that gives you a reason or excuse for not creating the results you want for yourself?
I am not saying that things do not change as we age. But I do think it is too easy to blame aging bodies and forget that it has always been a challenge and there are some benefits to being our “older” age. In my 30s and 40s I had children to shuffle here and there, supervise homework and I worked. Getting regular exercise required a lot of effort from me. It was no easier or better for me when I was younger to achieve my health and fitness goals. It was just different.
How can we shift our belief that it is harder to achieve our health and fitness desired results if that is where you find your brain dwelling. Be curious with yourself. If and when you hear yourself saying something like ” I am now older, that’s why I am the way I am” or I cannot change my habits because I have been doing the same thing for 40 years or I cannot lose weight no matter what I do”. We need to examine these thoughts because if we underestimate our capacity based upon a thought, we could limit ourselves to a life of mediocrity and stagnation. I am sure you have heard the sage advice of “If you argue for your limitations, they are yours to keep”. If your argument against regular activity/exercise, is I am too old to exercise, your result will be exactly this- too old.
In conclusion, age is not a reason to give up nor does it deserve to be used as an excuse to avoid hard work. As Mel Robbins says, ” There is no one coming to push you, you must make yourself do the hard things”.
You are the perfect age to challenge yourself, to work hard, to try new things and to ask for help on how to do this.
Peace,
Kim
