THINKING HEALTHY Losing weight is never easy

Losing Weight Is Never Easy

thinking healthy

Shelly Howell is the author of “Don’t be a Wuss: Inspiration for a great life after 60.”

By Shelly Howell

In most areas of my life, I’m an adult. I think like an adult and behave like an adult. But when it comes to food and dieting, I’m a bratty 14-year-old girl.

I don’t want portion control. I don’t want to eat just one slice of pizza. And when I walk into the theater and smell the popcorn, I want some. Unfortunately, I’m part of the 73.6% of American adults who are either overweight or obese as defined by the CDC. There are a lot of us.

As we age, our nutritional needs don’t vary greatly from when we’re younger. The National Institute of Aging recommends a diet that consists of a wide variety of foods with significant sources of protein to maintain muscle. Fruits and vegetables are vital for vitamins and minerals, and we should avoid added sugars, saturated fats and sodium.

I think most of us know what we should be doing, but many of us have overindulged too many times and need to take off pounds. And being overweight puts us at higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even cancer.

There are as many kinds of diets as there are dieters. Finding a perfect fit is not easy. But I want to highlight some programs and strategies that are particularly helpful for older Americans.

Diets created for apps

There are popular diets that are impossible without a smartphone, but are affordable and lend structure to weightloss programs. You put in your statistics, establish goals and track your food plan throughout the day on your phone. If you like flexibility and are comfortable with a smartphone, these might be programs that will fit well with your life.

Proven published programs

There are many trendy programs which drastically restrict carbohydrates, proteins or fats. But most come with side effects and limitations that make them questionable. The most popular programs, with safety records, consistently appear on the top of studies for long-term effectiveness and help seniors who are working to control diabetes and high blood pressure.

Photo of Karen Troutman leading a meeting at the Weight Watchers location in Tucker, GA. (Photo by Shelly Howell)

Diets with prepared meals

If cooking is not part of your skill set, there are programs that require you to purchase prepackaged meals. While these tend to offer less flexibility, they can be convenient and effective programs for many people. They can be much more expensive than some of the other options, so look closely at the total cost.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has been around for over 60 years. While you can manage a WW program using the app, it has always included a weekly meeting where members get the support of a community.

Whichever plan makes the most sense for you, look at what is offered in terms of maintenance after you’ve shed unwanted pounds. It’s difficult to lose weight — and frequently harder to keep it off.

Like many of you, I’ve tried many of the programs listed here. It is not easy. I may have to stop acting like a brat.

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SEPTEMBER 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com 13