One thing that separates baby boomers from their predecessors is their dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Baby boomers are tremendously health conscious. As a group, they’re highly aware of health issues, the need for plenty of exercise, and a lifestyle that includes a good diet. But there is a big difference between being health conscious and actually following a healthy lifestyle.
Many times we may be well aware of what we should do to be healthier so we can live a longer and healthier life, but following through on those goals is much more difficult than just being aware of them.
Partner Up For Workouts
This is why having a partner in working out and making healthy decisions can make all the difference in the world. Baby boomers have seen a lot of changes occur in relationships over the years. This is partially due to how women’s roles have changed over the past half century. It also comes from huge changes to the way the work world functions. New parenting models and cultural shifts call for a real partnership in a marriage to cope with the new world we live in. That is why your spouse is often the best possible choice to be the partner, encouraging you along your path to a healthier lifestyle.
This is a good reason when you make that New Year’s resolution to start working out and exercising regularly that you don’t keep your decision under your hat. Share your goals of a healthier you with your partner. Almost certainly you will discover that he or she also has wanted to start a regimen of exercise and a sensible diet, but they also were hiding that from you. Why do we do that, even from our most trusted and intimate partner?
Commit to a Program for Fitness
Part of it is that once you commit to a program of exercise and losing weight and you tell someone about it, you are stuck with going through with it. You take away your backing out factor by giving someone else the opportunity to hold you accountable to your zeal later on when maybe sitting and watching TV is more appealing than hitting the gym. But another part of it might be that what a good workout looks like to your spouse may not line up with how you want to exercise. So that independent spirit makes you want to go it alone rather than allow your spouse to hold that office in your life as your workout partner and accountability team member.
These are not very good reasons not to engage your spouse as a partner in a healthier lifestyle. Disclosing to them your intentions is actually the best thing you can do because if you “stick your neck out” and let him or her know what you want to do, you’ll be accountable to do that next week, next month and routinely throughout the year until you hit your goals. You’ll regret your decision when you feel your spouse is forcing you to go to the gym, but you will celebrate your decision when you are coming home from the gym and you feel great from having a great workout.
Calories in, Calories Out
Working as a team for a healthy lifestyle and weight loss is crucial when it comes to diet. Exercise is great and even if you don’t lose any weight, starting and continuing an exercise program is good for aging bones and muscles and improves stamina. You will be delighted when you actually can squat down to pick up something off the floor and stand up again without help after a few weeks of exercise.
You Can’t Out-Exercise Your Mouth
But if you are going to get serious about losing weight, you have to change your diet as well. That’s nearly impossible to do unless your partner is all in. If both members of the marriage commit to a diet of healthy foods, eliminating deserts, chips and soft drinks and making foods from fresh ingredients, then you can keep each other on track by only allowing those foods in the house.
A diet doesn’t have to be a radical, temporary change. Two of the diets often recommended for a lifestyle revamp are the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. The benefits are amazing and they’re both really just a drill down of the phrase “clean eating.” These are worth exploring as long-term solutions for better overall health.
This is good for both of you. The scale will reflect that you are actually losing weight for the first time in many years. You will have someone to celebrate with that the program is working. Make it a healthy celebration, but a joyful one because you both deserve it.