New Goals

I should warn you that what's about to follow is an info-mercial. I came across it par hazard as they say in French, but I love it! If you're into self-improvement like I am, you might find it interesting too. I whole-heartedly endorse this website.

Ok, ok, I'll get to the point: it's Realage.com. On it you can complete a questionnaire that will reveal your true age from a health/habits/diet/ relationships and fitness perspective. Also, once you have your results, it makes suggestions as to how and where to improve, and gives you a plan. It also offers a nutrition assessment to determine how well you are eating. If you've read enough, go there and try it for yourself. If you're curious as to how I made out, read on.

I just turned 57. According to my answers and my current state of being, my "real age" is 48.6. Now, I didn't have all the answers to all the questions asked. For example, my overall "health" was affected by my not knowing my cholesterol levels. I know I'm in the healthy category but my doc's never given me the actual numbers. I intend on getting them as it's likely that'll knock off a couple more years of "age" and I should be more aware.

In the Habits category, I could improve 2 areas. One is flossing. I admit to being a part time flosser primarily after eating corn and steak so I now resolve to floss at least once per day. Another, more expensive improvement is the car we drive as it's a small car. Staying alive longer dictates we should have a slightly large car in a silver colour as statistics indicate greater surviveability (also depending on the type of car you buy). So that improvement will have to wait until we consider buying another car!

In the relationships category, it tells me I should get a dog. Implication being, good to love another little being plus the exercise involved. I wasn't totally honest in my answer as I do regularly love and walk a dog but just not here in Florida. It further strengthens my resolve, however, to get myself to the pound to do some volunteer dogwalking while we're here in Florida! Also I should reach out more. I'm not too sure about this one as my life is full of family and friends and sometimes I'm not sure if I can fit more people in! But it does remind me to be mindful of stress and to join in more group activities. We've just joined the Y to do our regular weightlifting/cardio workouts but will add yoga and ballroom dancing (we're so forgetful we've even forgotten how to do a basic cha cha!). So that should pound that point down in a hurry!

Now "diet" is where I really fell down. Not enough vitamins (e.g., C, D, potassium, folate, omega-3, calcium), and more veggies, grains and less red meat. This is what I love about this tool: it's a wonderful reminder of what I "should" be doing, and hardens my resolve to improve while at the same time telling me what I'm doing well. Kind of like a nice teacher.

Fitness was an eye-opener as I believe I'm a pretty fit individual. Well! It told me plain and simply to lose some more weight given my BMI. Here's how to calculate your's: http://www.realage.com/WorkOutCenter/bmi.aspx Now, instead of stepping on the scales, I'm going to measure my waist instead (my waistband button just popped - talk about your indicators!). Also, as I have a low resting heart rate that is usually a good thing but it could also be bad. As mine's always low, & my doc isn't worried, I'm taking that as a good indication of my fitness. One down. It also tells me to vary my workouts and work on fitness and tone (hence the yoga signup).

In the website's Shape Up/Slim Down menu, it offers fitness & workout videos, a 20 minute workout plus yoga stretches, also a menu planner and WAIST loss tracker. I love this!

Enough of the info-mercial. I really do encourage you to check it out. Our only wealth is our health. Now that hubby & I are retired, our focus is on enjoying life to the fullest and the way to do that, I believe, is to have the mind and body able to do it because no one is giving us more time on the world clock than God and/or Fate and what we ourselves can control. I hope your results show you you're younger than you think too! And if you're not, how you can take steps to a new you.