The Thrive at Midlife Health Blog

Now, this is the area I have become most passionate about, as I hit my mid-fifties and as I witness those in my life age and see the decline of my parent's generation. The picture can be bleak. YET, how come Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, Octavia Spencer seem to get better with age? And they are all my age! Is it a genetic lottery? Is it a trapping of wealth? Is it the reason they are famous in the first place?

It is very easy to get disheartened by the apparent super-humans who inhabit social media these days. Even the scientists espousing current theories and evidence are built, bulky, super-fit beings. How on earth are you meant to achieve this apparent new norm at any age, let alone at middle-age?

I hear this a lot! "Well, I don't expect to be the weight I was when I got married" or, "Well, I used to be slim until I had kids" or "I'd be happy at this stage to just stop gaining weight". These are extremely low expectations. I strongly believe that we will rarely, if ever, exceed our own expectations. And so, we need to set our bar much higher. This is often what I do with my clients.

I have an unsettling knack for knowing whether a client will achieve their weight-loss and health goals within minutes of meeting them. This is something I've learned experientially, from meeting people, listening to their health hopes & dreams as well as coaching people past their self-imposed limitations, on their journey to health.

Why are we so obsessed with numbers? The number on the weighing scales, the number on the clothes you're currently buying and the dreaded number of your age! The way I look on it, being of a certain age is a privilege. What is the alternative? Bleak as this may sound, being of an older age demographic is a wonderful thing. HOW you choose to BE at an advanced age is something I strongly believe WE CAN TAKE CHARGE OF!

When it comes to weight loss, timing is all important. When is this illusive best time to start your weight-loss journey? The answer may shock you. It is the same time for everyone, of every age, in every situation of life. The answer is NOW. RIGHT NOW!

Most of us want to dive straight in to a weight loss plan, a new diet, an extreme approach, when we decide that it's time to get our health in check and lose that stubborn belly fat. By now you may have come to the realization that quick-fixes don't fix a whole lot, in the long-term, other than that stubborn fat to your belly! They tend to be too extreme to maintain and rely on discipline, that comes and goes, combined with restriction, which is unpleasant, at best!

Its May and suddenly you realise, summer is almost upon us. Its terrifying to think that your plans, last January, to diet, lose that weight and get toned have all gone south. Perhaps you did diet, perhaps you did lose some weight, perhaps you did join the gym. But are you where you want to be? Do your clothes fit the way you want them to? Do you feel good in your skin? If the answer to all of the above is "No", then you're not alone and you've come to the right place!

Cravings for sugar hit out of the blue quite often. They can scupper the best of intentions.
So what can we do to prevent cravings in the first place and how do we face them head-on when they happen? You've been eating well all week, you've begun to see the results in your clothes. Any bloating has reduced and fat-loss has begun. This feels great. You feel in control again, after maybe quite a long time, you have eaten calmly, enjoyed the predictable levels of hunger and found ease in the face of temptation. Then, suddenly, with no warning, you're hit by a crazy-strong craving for sugar. Not just for sugar, but for bottomless pit amounts of the stuff. You get caught in a cycle of craving, bingeing and craving some more. It's very stressful and makes you feel helpless in the face of it.

You're on a busy schedule, you drive all day, you have endless meetings, even your spare time is taken up with phone calls and scheduling meetings, tic-taking with people constantly. Your time is not your own. How can you possibly fit exercise into this schedule? In this article I will demonstrate ways and means of prioritizing your body's needs in a schedule jam-packed with other people's priorities.

And which one can I sustain?
In today's blog I will discuss the value of fasting versus eating regular meals. I delve into the practicalities of both and the science and cultural influences that influence each approach. Always open to learning, I 'never say never' when it comes to an alternative approach that can work for you. Let's take a look at each option so that you can consider both fully and further inform your approach to getting leaner and healthier this year.

Surprise yourself & eat protein, carbs & even fat to lose weight well!
In today's article I want to give you an overview of the simple science of weight-loss. I know that by the time you are here, you have tried many approaches already. If one strict regime, such as the Paleo, Atkins, low-carb, Keto approach worked then you might not have landed here. The diet industry is worth billions globally for the very reason that severe diets do not work, in the long-run. Find out what does over the next five minutes.

It's that time of the year again. In this article I will discuss the rationale for NOT dieting this time around. Let 2025 be your year to pursue health, fitness & vitality in place of an elusive number on the weighing scale. I can show you how.