Baby Boomer Thinking Skinny

Today’s guest blog post comes from Nadia Giordana.  Nadia Giordana is a motivational author, mentor and TV producer/host of WomanVision TV.  She is author of: “No Thank You, I’d Rather Be Myself,” “Thinking Skinny,” and “Reinventing New Chapters in Your Life at Any Age.” She encourages women to shake off negative self-talk, resurrect their sidelined dreams, and reinvent new chapters in their lives regardless of age.

Don’t ever think it’s too late for you to do something about your health or how you feel. Too often, it is believed that only the young can lose weight, get healthy, and have a more fulfilling, fun, and active lifestyle.  I’m 65, and I have a fulfilling, fun and active lifestyle.

It was in August of 2007, that I made the decision to get my life back into balance and started living a healthier, happier lifestyle. I’ll never forget it. I knew beyond doubt that this time I would do it. Why? Because I wasn’t starting a diet, and I wasn’t losing weight for an event, or any one of the dozens of reasons we all start diets and fail. I knew because I was changing my habits permanently.

I was delighted when, 14 months from that defining day, I was 88 pounds lighter and bubbling over with excitement and anticipation. Excitement at what I had accomplished, and how relatively easy it really was, and anticipation because I knew my live was changing and I knew it would be for the better. It had to be, I had left behind not just an 88 pound albatross that was making me lazy and lethargic, I was rising above the embarrassed, social discomfort and unhappiness that enveloped me. My true self had prevailed and fought its way back to the surface. It was like coming up for air.

Naturally I wanted this same feeling for my husband. His turn around didn’t come as quickly as I hoped, but it came. My husband got started on his own journey four years later in 2011, and he was equally determined and positive as I had been. He KNEW he would do it, and look at him today!

We both feel renewed.  We’re not waiting for a diet to end so we can get back to everyday life. We have a fun, new lifestyle that includes bicycle riding, daily exercise, excursions, travel, projects, etc. What could be better than that? The couch and the easy chair are still there in our living room, they just don’t get as much use. We look happier too, don’t we?

Special note: I recently changed my primary care doctor who is a respected obesity expert at the Mayo Clinic. I wish I had known him a few years ago. Even though he became my doctor after I lost weight, I’ve had some great conversations with him on the subject.