Jane Doe is turning forty next month. Her husband, John, and she are healthy and keep regular exercise as part of their lives. They both feel that they eat right and are happy with their bodies. Jane has an office job and teaches fitness classes part-time. John also has a desk job and is a member of a running club.
Jane feels good about herself, but wonders why her fitness routine and healthy diet have not yielded the results she expects. So, in anticipation of being a "forty something", she decides to revamp her exercise and eating to really transform her body. She studies up on new fitness/nutrition science, talks to other fitness instructors and nutritionists, comes up with a plan for herself and implements it.
Although her new plan is not particularly difficult, it does require that she be more disciplined in her eating habits, eating schedules and the way she works out. After her research, she realizes that truly attaining the body transformation that she wants requires more than just doing what she has done year after year. In fact, it's yielding diminishing returns!
When Jane first explains to John what she intends to do, John is very supportive. He thinks it's important for Jane to feel good about herself especially at this time in her life. Deep down, however, John feels that Jane will "mellow out" and return to her previous behavior soon enough. So, any inconvenience to him caused by her lifestyle change is temporary?right?
Fast forward a few months. Jane has worked out her dietary needs, schedules and foods quite nicely. Her workouts are coming along and she is starting to see real change. She likes it?
John, on the other hand, has always felt that he is the fitter one. After all, his friends always ask his advice about workouts and fitness. His routine hasn't changed in 10 years, though, and he really doesn't think about the quality of the food he eats. His attitude is that so long as he exercises, he can eat what he wants. He has accepted his slowly growing "love handles" as part of aging. But now, he seems to be getting older and Jane seems to be getting younger!
Fast forward six more months?.Jane is really looking and feeling different. She has remained true to her goals and everyone comments to her how amazing the changes are. After all, she was already "fit" before. When she and John go out, John can see how men are attracted to her like they were when she was 15 years younger. She exudes a confidence that he hasn't seen in years.
John is starting to feel insecure with his own body, his own fitness accomplishments and even his attractiveness to Jane! He wishes that she would go back to being the wonderful, "soft" woman she used to be instead of the hard-body babe she is becoming. He begins to feel resentment and jealousy of her attention and success.
John has two choices here. He can learn from Jane's experience, try some things for himself and transform his body; or he can continue to believe that Jane's methods are too extreme and resent her success.
If you are over age 35, you probably know more than one couple with a similar story as Jane and John. You might even have had the same experience yourself. A physical transformation by one partner in a couple and not the other can lead to adjustment problems.
The message is that we as individuals are solely responsible for our own physical fitness and health. However, changes in eating behaviors, work out schedules and interests do affect the people closest to us in a variety of ways. Sometimes, like John, resentment develops in the unchanging partner. Sometimes competition fuels this, sometimes fear, sometimes a feeling of inadequacy, or not understanding how important it is to the other partner.
So, if you are the transformer, it's important to listen to your partner and empathize with the difficulties your lifestyle and physical changes are causing. As you transform, be aware of the insecurities that might arise because you are moving in a new direction and reassure your partner whenever you have the chance.
If you are the partner who is not currently in the process of body transformation, talk about the inconveniences, feelings and insecurities you have. Ask your partner why he/she feels the need to change so dramatically. Communicate your feelings!
Most all of us go through some kind of emotional change in mid-life which usually has something to do with our body changes. It may be exasperating to have a partner suddenly become very particular about their eating habits or exercise?but an extramarital affair, alcohol/drugs or shopping addiction would certainly be much more disastrous!
Copyright (c) 2007 Ainsley Laing
Always purchase the highest quality food you can afford. What we put into our bodies is what our bodies are made of and for children this is particularly important because their bodies are developing all of the time. Organic food is very important for children so as to lower their exposure to chemicals, hormones and steroids. A recent study showed that the level of pesticides and other chemicals in children's blood was markedly decreased when they began eating organic foods. If you cannot afford to eat mainly organic, consider organic meats and dairy.
Breakfast - The cereals and packaged yogurts many children are eating for breakfast are filled with anti-nutrients, including lots of sugar and white flours. It is wise to have ourselves and our children eat whole foods for breakfast and include a good amount of protein. This will set them up for a day of activity and learning. It also will affect their mood and behavior in more positive ways. Consider eating what we traditionally think of as lunch and dinner foods at breakfast. Leftovers are fun and easy.
~ organic eggs - scrambled with some tomatoes or a vegetable
~ plain organic yogurt with blueberries and a little Stevia
~ turkey or chicken slices with some fruit and/or veggies
~ steel cut oat with some organic eggs cooked in for protein
~ homemade soup or chili
~ leftover casserole
~ a smoothie made with organic yogurt, flax seeds, almonds and berries, with a little Stevia to sweeten - great for teens on the run
~ cut-up fruit and veggies with some organic cottage cheese or almond butter for dipping and spreading
Lunch and Dinner - Think about protein, good fats and some good carbs in the form of vegetables and low-sugar fruits, i.e. berries, pears, apples and veggies.
~ nitrate-free deli meat (Applegate Farms) with some cut-up fruits and veggies
~ organic cottage cheese and blueberries · bean dip - layer refried black beans, salsa, organic cheese, and top with chicken and/or tomatoes, broccoli, avocado
~ mix any of the following in a bowl and stir in some mild or fruity salsa and chill: little tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, black or aduki beans, chicken, turkey or organic beef
~ salads with dark greens and some protein and lots of colorful veggies cut up in small pieces
~ chili with beans and/or organic beef, bison or turkey
~ chicken and vegetable soup
~ quiche with broccoli and organic cheese - try it without the crust
~ salmon (wildcaught) or other protein with sweet potato fries (just slice into small pieces, toss with olive oil and some turmeric or cinnamon and bake on 475 until soft) and some green veggie
Snacks - Think about snacks ahead of time and take a few extra minutes to pack some whole-food snacks if you are going to be out and about for very long. It is worth the extra time and effort to know you will not be stuck somewhere with hungry children and nothing but sugar and chemical-laden food for them to eat.
~ ants-on-a-log - use Arrowhead Mills organic peanut butter, which is available at most grocery stores now. Most brands of peanut butter are loaded with sugar and hydrogenated oils.
~ cut-up apples - alternate colors of apples you buy - have some peanut or almond butter to dip
~ sliced cucumbers
~ grape tomatoes
~ baby carrots
~ trail mix with pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts and something sweet such as some raisins or dark chocolate chips
~ organic cheese
~ berries - frozen ones are a great treat in the summer
~ a slice of nitrate-free turkey or chicken or roast beef
~ hard-boiled egg ·
~ green beans ·
~ organic cottage cheese - remember to pack the spoon
Drinks - Juices, even 100%, are just sugar water and cause sugar imbalances. Pop is sugar and chemicals and is robbing calcium from the bones. Sports drinks, like Gatorade, are sugar and chemicals and should be avoided.
Milk, actually causes a lot of children problems - ear infections, sinus trouble and digestive problems. When we do have milk, go to a health food store and buy organic, non-homogenized, vat-pastuerized, whole milk. You pay more, but the quality is worth it and it is not a great idea to be drinking very much anyway. Another option is purchasing a cow share program and getting your milk straight from the farm, the way nature intended it. Visit www.realmilk.com to learn more about this option. The dairy industry has spent billions of dollars convincing us we have to drink processed milk. Harvard Medical School studied over 70,000 nurses for 12 years and the ones who drank the most milk had the most hip fractures - a sign of osteoporosis. Also, the countries who consume the most dairy, including the US, have the highest rates of osteoporosis. So, while calcium is essential, our bones would be much better off to stop eating sugar and white flour products than to drink more milk.
~ Water! This is the most important beverage to consume. Even when we get a little dehydrated, our brains work at a much lower capacity, which really affects children in school.
~ Smoothies with organic yogurt, blueberries and some Stevia to sweeten. Throw in some flax seed.
~ Herbal Teas - There are lots of organic, decaffeinated flavors that kids like. · Healthy Lemonade - Buy some lemons or a bottle of lemon juice, add to water and put in a little Stevia to taste. Add some ice cubes - no sugar!
~ Stevita - has great alternatives to the sugar and chemical-filled Kool-aid. A little goes a long way too!
We all have one body during this lifetime, and our children have only us to provide their bodies with the foods that will truly nourish them and help support them in living their healthiest, happiest lives. Go easy on yourself as you make changes and celebrate small steps. Being in charge of your own eating and your family's is no easy task. You may want to pick one thing - limiting sugar, packing lunches and snacks, more protein, no hydrogenated oils, more fresh veggies, etc. - and focus on that until you feel like you are doing well and the family is on board. Find a friend who wants to make changes and you can set goals and support each other.
Both Ainsley Laing & Angelle Batten are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ainsley Laing has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Aerobics and Fitness. About the Author:Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Personal Fitness Training. To see more articles by Ainsley visit. Ainsley Laing's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
Angelle Batten has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Fitness and Health. Health Kids, Happy Moms @ Two moms, one a Holistic Health Educator and the. Angelle Batten's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.