WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
In the beginning, we struggled to find masks, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes. For a while, eggs, meat, and bread were scarce. We had groceries delivered, with many substitutions, and ate all of our meals at home. Eventually, we started ordering take-out and began cautiously venturing out to restaurants with outdoor seating.
Bored and inactive, my husband and I were eating a lot of drive-thru fast food, or I was just cooking huge, tasty meals at home. However, they were also extremely fattening and not particularly healthy. By the end of Summer, the virus was still going strong...
In the midst of it all we bought a new house. The move provided a welcome flurry of activity.
Around Halloween, I went to Manhattan, KS to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids. I drove straight through on the way; eleven hours of drive-thru junk food. While I was there, we ate Italian, Mexican, pizza, donuts from Varsity, and a brunch to end all brunches at The Chef.
Driving back home, I stopped in St. Charles, MO for coffee and a pastry, and St. Louis for the night. I got a take-out burger and fries for dinner in my motel room, and an Egg McMuffin and coffee for breakfast the next morning. I stopped in St. Genevieve for a latte and a blueberry muffin, and later had chicken gizzards and rolls (carry out) from Lambert's, in Sikeston, MO.
November was more of the same, punctuated with a fabulous Thanksgiving feast for two, complete with homemade cranberry sauce, and a warm peach/blackberry crisp with vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream.
By Christmas Day 2020, I had gained ten pounds and felt like crap. Time for a change...
While watching an episode of Restaurants On The Edge (which I highly recommend) on Netflix, someone mentioned The Blue Zones; five unique regions across the world with the healthiest, happiest, and longest living people, as identified by Dan Buettner, National Geographic, and several scientists. I was intrigued, and decided to investigate further...
The Blue Zones are: Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Ikaria, Greece. Though they all have different and varied lifestyles, some of the characteristics that they do share are: physical activity incorporated naturally into their daily lives (like gardening or walking); a sense of purpose (like caring for grandchildren or civic volunteering); low stress levels and a slower pace of life; strong family and community connections; spirituality/religious faith; and a diet that is predominately plant based, and characterized by moderate caloric intake.
I found Dan Buettner's book, The Blue Zones; 9 Lessons For Living Longer on Amazon, and read it in one day. It's a life changer.
But first, let's talk about my diet up to this point. I have a problem with food. Some people drink alcohol. Some people smoke cigarettes. Some people do drugs. I eat. I eat when I'm happy; sad; fearful; depressed; anxious; angry; stressed out. I eat to reward myself. I am hypoglycemic, so of course, I crave sugar. And the more weight I gain, the more I want sweets. .
Needless to say, I had not been living a "Blue Zone" lifestyle. So after reading the book, I began to make a few subtle changes in my diet. I had practiced yoga off and on since the mid 80s. However, due to a knee re-injury...and apathy...I had lapsed into a morning routine of HGTV and coffee. So I retrieved my yoga mat from the closet, and began kicking off the day with a thirty minute sun salutation. Afterwards, I sat for a twenty minute meditation for positive energy.
I began tweaking my food intake; mostly fish, poultry, and lean meats in moderation, lots of vegetables and fruits, beans, eggs, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, and herbs and spices. Very little processed food. Very few sweets. In a matter of months, my energy level was way up, my blood pressure was down, and I had lost that extra ten pounds with relatively little effort. I went in for my yearly physical, and the doctor was pleased with my numbers...except for my cholesterol and triglycerides. They were still high but improving. And I had signs of the early stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver, which is not uncommon for my age, and totally reversible with some key lifestyle changes.
But back to Blue Zones. The interesting thing about the 100+ year old people who live in the Blue Zones is, they are not living their lives with longevity as the ultimate goal. Their lifestyle is just second nature. If you ask them what they are doing to stay alive and healthy, they have no idea. Because they aren't really trying. They aren't counting calories, measuring the nutritional values of their meals, eating the rainbow, checking their numbers, hitting the gym, or getting in the required steps on their Fitbit. They're just living naturally.
According to most scientists who study this sort of thing, lifestyle has more impact on longevity than genetics. Good to know. My maternal grandparents, and my parents, all lived into their eighties and nineties, and I don't recall any of them ever stressing out over their diet and exercise program. Excellent genes? Perhaps. But I wasn't going to depend on that.
The thing is, I don't want to simply live a long time. I want to thrive. I want to have energy and vitality. I want a sharp mind. I want to maintain a zest for life up until the end. I don't want it to be forced...I want flow. I want a lifestyle that feels natural, positive, and satisfying.
However, after a few months, my enthusiasm waned, and I slid back into my old lifestyle. The mercurial ten pounds...plus ten more...were back. I was simultaneously anxious and depressed, tired all the time, and heavier than ever.
Flash forward to Christmas Day, 2021...
I woke up feeling extremely tired. I had a fever, a bad headache, and no appetite. A trip to the ER revealed that I had Omicron. They sent me home with instructions to quarantine for ten days, rest, take Vitamins D, C, and Zinc, and to hydrate as much as possible. I did what I was told, and after ten days I still felt a little washed out, but the worst had passed.
During my quarantine period, I watched a lot of YouTube videos, mostly about health and nutrition. There is a plethora of confusing information out there. However, the more I watched, the more fascinated I became, comparing and contrasting the sometimes wildly conflicting theories. Which diet is best? Keto or Vegan? Mediterranean or Paleo? How much exercise do we need for optimal health? Which supplements should we be taking? Or do we really even need them if we're eating the right foods...which are? Is it important to eat organic? Should we eliminate meat from our diets? Grains? Dairy? Beans? What about stress? Sleep? Spirituality? Purpose? What about toxins in makeup, cosmetics, hair products, and household products?
On one level or another, they all made sense to me. Each physician, scientist, and expert in their field had a compelling argument that supported their research. But it was difficult for me to get on board 100 percent with any of them.
So, what did I do?
Well, that's what this is all about. It is my journal of thoughts, ideas, inspirations and tips for enjoying a happier, healthier, more satisfying and vibrant way of life. It's what is working...and not working...for me. And I want to share that with you! We deserve the best life possible...at every age. I might be a septuagenarian, but I will always be a work in progress!
However, we are all different. What works for me, as I transition into a healthier lifestyle, may or may not work for you. I am not a nutrition or fitness expert, professional chef, mental health counselor, or physician. Always consult with your doctor or qualified medical professional regarding your own health and well-being.
[spoiler alert - I did finally lose those pesky 20 lbs...but more about that later...]
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