Frail or fierce? glass can make a

When you imagine yourself ageing, what do you picture? A frail, defeated version of yourself, unable to do all the things you once loved? Many of us are apprehensive about getting older because we often hear seniors express these common complaints:

-poor sleep and tiredness

-weight gain

-weakness

-memory issues

-digestive ailments

-loss of appetite

-concerns about wrinkles, dry skin, and brittle nails

-worried about falling

-chronic health issues (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol…)

No wonder we can feel apprehensive about getting older

The fact is, we all age However, how we age is actually well within our control After all, nobody is forcing us to eat those deep-fried foods, to skip that workout, to drink those pints

I am convinced that we can start to prevent (and even reverse) many ailments by doing just one thing: removing alcohol It is the catalyst that sets a host of other healthy habits in motion, paving the path to an infinitely better quality of life While giving up alcohol is often the last thing people think of, I think it should be the first

What if we flipped the narrative and started to view ageing as an opportunity? With age comes more life experience, more wisdom and, in retirement, more free time

The one hand, that free time could be spent in pubs, socialising over endless rounds Or, it could be used to do things like become fitter, to learn to prepare healthy delicious meals, take up new activities and hobbies, spend more time with family and friends, travel, enroll in classes, visit museums and art exhibitions, volunteer, develop your spiritual side… to really get out there and try all the things you never had time to while you were busy working. The drive to do any of these wonderful things will be lower if alcohol is in the picture, however It has a sneaky way of wiping out motivation and making our worlds smaller. Consider that, by removing alcohol, this could be your life: -you enjoy deep, restorative sleep every night and wake up energized -you reach a healthy weight because you’re not consuming empty calories from alcohol, you exercise consistently, and make better food choices -you look great - you’re engaging in regular exercise, including strength training. So, while other people your age lose muscle mass, you remain strong and resilient

People comment on your youthful appearance and often mistake you for being younger than you are!

You protect your precious memories by dramatically reducing your likelihood of developing dementia; your mental health is protected and can improve -your digestion improves, helping you to feel well

-you have a healthy appetite and look forward to eating nutritious meals

-you are vibrant, your skin is more hydrated, your hair and nails are strengthened

No fillers or injections could come close to your natural glow that comes from the inside out.

-you have better balance due to exercising, protecting you from falls

-your diabetes and heart disease could be under control, your blood pressure could come down, your chances of developing many types of cancer are lowered, and your cholesterol could return to healthy levels

Rather than imagining yourself as frail, picture yourself energetically keeping up with your grandkids, walking that golf course when everyone else needs a cart, hiking that trail with ease, exploring new cities on foot for hours without feeling sore or tired, connecting with friends and family on a deeper level, and strutting down that beach with confidence while other seniors struggle just to keep their balance on the uneven sand. This is active ageing and it’s yours for the taking, and it all starts with what you put in your glass.

Kelly Betts Active Aging Coach

https://www.thrivepersonaltraining.ca