I’m a year older: Alcohol, carbs or caffeine why must I choose?
Apparently I’m getting older. I just celebrated yet another birthday (for which I am grateful) and immediately the day after, my knees started to hurt and pop loudly. The knee popping startled me as I had just “passed” my annual physical with flying colors. Yes, I’m very Type A personality and view the annual physical as a testament to my abilities. Despite my tests results coming back in the extremely normal range, my doctor noted that I am getting older and that it’s probably time to cut back. Cut back on what you ask? Everything! Eek!
I have a dreadfully demanding job as an executive manager mother of a five year who is often out on the road. Cutting back on what brings me momentary flights of fancy saddens me. Do I really need to cut back on the cocktails? Seems a bit unfair that I would have to cut back on the so-called “bad” stuff despite being very healthy overall. The irony is that my main work focuses on prevention of health risks. I love sweets and luckily for me my son doesn’t. I find pasta comforting. Caffeine gives my step a peppy pep. Just because I am getting older I should not have to give up the good stuff. Through all my life trials and tribulations I believe that I have earned some small indulgences. A speaker at a recent health conference I attended at eight in the morning noted we can each individually prevent accelerated aging. Well, yes and no.
Let us consider the following. If you are pregnant at the age of 35 you are labeled high risk. You are sitting on the cold cot, you look over your obstetrician’s shoulder and see your medical file notes you as elderly. Talk about accelerated aging. Society, as well as the medical establishment, ages us. We are lumped into large age brackets to categorize our health risks, television viewing habits and purchasing power. Once we turn a certain age we are told to cut back on salt and sweets. I suppose sour and bitter is ok at all life stages. That in itself is very telling. I am cool with sour. I love my cocktails with a hint or two of a sour taste. Bitter? Well, I’d rather leave that to others to inject and exude.
When we are young all we can think about is getting older believing we will be able to then do what we want. We get older and we can’t do what we want because our bodies start to rebel against our very own actions of indulgence.
The other day as I made my way to the hotel’s fitness center at 6am I was tired and cranky wishing that my body had a naturally fast metabolism. Just a year ago, my body burned off fat more expediently and efficiently. Now, a year later, I have to push myself a little harder on the treadmill in order to crank up the metabolism. However, my knees are starting to be curmudgeons displaying a newly acquired distaste for running. I got to the treadmill and found a plastic cup that had some leftover white wine in it. Now that is my type of fitness machine. I put the cup to the side and cranked up the speed. I worked up a great sweat and upon finishing my workout went and got myself a large latte. Aging may make my knees cranky but I am not giving up my caffeine. Not just yet.
As for choosing, I am willing to cut back on carbs as a form of harm reduction in order to keep my primary care doctor happy as long as I can still have a cocktail or two. The thing is, carbs are tasty but they do make me sleepy and I have a bit too much to do. I have to run here and there and take care of a toddler. Sleepiness does not play a role in my life. However, as a Latina, I do believe in the medicinal attributes of a good rum.
Cheers to you all!
Other wordpress thoughts on guilty pleasures
Happy birth day to you. When your voice changed and sounds vibrating that mean you are getting older. Cutting back certain things to eat and drink is good older health since the body metabolism capability reduced.
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Thank you for the wishes :-)… Indeed that metabolism is slowing down 😦
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Do not feel that you are getting older, just enjoy your day. 🙂
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Happy Birthday to you!! I can give up just about anything except for my beloved caffeine! I’m a tea-aholic and refuse to give that up. I say pick your favorite vice and boldly stick with it!
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Thank you! Yes I’m caught between cocktails and caffeine 🙂
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Happy birthday! I think it’s perfectly acceptable to have an enticing cocktail every now and then. It’s all about balance (and I’m tempted to say balancing the cocktail in one hand) 🙂
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Thanks! Absolutely agree
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Happy Birthday! I hope your knee recovers quickly.
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Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
“Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.” ~Groucho Marx.
It’s just numbers, as long as you’re having fun. 🙂
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Thank you for the wishes. I love that quote! Must use it today 🙂
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Best wishes today and every day! 🙂
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At 37, I decaffed. At 38, I cut back on carbs. At 40, I took up drinking regularly.
I’m not 20 anymore, but I AM still living! I am here to enjoy my life!
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Hear, hear!
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Yes, you do have to cut back on some things as you get older. My doctor has told me to give up chocolate, mint, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, fruit, onions, etc. Most of what he says to give up are my favorites! So I have cut back ( portion control) and have largely given up on some things. I can’t and won’t give up chocolate. I’ve cut back on caffeine. I rarely drink fruit juices anymore. I indulge in one glass of wine at dinner, although not every day, one cup of coffee a day, and make sure I eat plenty of veggies. And exercise, though that’s harder in the winter.
Listen to your body – it will tell you what you can tolerate as you get older. And for knee pain, try Tumeric tablets ( the same spice that’s in curry). Tumeric helps reduce inflammation.
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Thanks for sharing. I will definitely give tumeric tablet a try. I love it as a spice. Have a fab day!
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