What Is Really The Reason You Feel You Are Aging?

But not so fast — we get older with time, that is true. That, however, doesn’t mean you have to become old in either body or mind.

That’s a common misconception, just like putting on extra weight is expected when you get older.

People accept becoming heavier and feeling out of shape and “old” as the years pass, especially once they hit their 40s and beyond.

I was the same. By the time I turned 40, I was 30 lbs overweight with an ever-growing beer belly. Once I hit 45, I was a whopping 96kg / 212 lbs at 175 cm / 5 feet 8 inches.

At my height, my ideal body weight is 70 kg / 155 lbs, which is where I am now and have been since 2016. I’m the exact same weight at 54, just like when I was 18!

My muscles are lean, not big or bulky, and I have next to no fat on my body.

That’s how we should age — by keeping our bodies lean and in shape and our minds creative and sharp.

Why you feel old

Your age is a state of mind and is under your control. I dreaded getting older when I was in my 30s and didn’t enjoy turning 40 at all.

Before at 45 and after my lifestyle changes at 52 in the picture on the right. Photo by Rob Hourmont

My face and body were changing. It was easy to see in the mirror, on the scales, and with my multiple aches, pains, and illnesses.

I certainly wasn’t getting any younger and felt quite hopeless about the situation.

I kept thinking:

“Where will my life go from here?”

The fallout:

1 — I began to lose my confidence (I was a very confident young chap). That didn’t feel good.

2 — Slowly, I became weaker, with my joints mostly sore from spending too much time in the gym.

3 — Then I fell into a deep depression and was a miserable, sad “old man.”

The problem and how everyone can fix it

When your body goes, your mind soon follows.

People unknowingly let go of their health, become overweight, lose confidence, and feel down most of the time.

If you don’t know why or how to fix these problems that affect 90% of the population, you’ll be in luck if you read and follow my advice.

These 10 simple lifestyle adjustment tips will allow you to regain your optimal body weight and mental health within 3 to a maximum of 6 months:

1 — Change your diet.

Stop eating carbs, cut back on fiber, and ban sugar from your life. Go low to no-carb and high protein and fat.

Your body thrives on animal protein and fat. Not highly processed grains (carbs) which convert to sugar in your bloodstream, make you fat and sick.

2 — Learn to use your body as your gym.

The gym isn’t a great place to spend your time, try to lose weight, or get fit. People frequently overtrain and injure their muscles and joints.

Heavy training does very little for weight loss. Instead, it primarily damages your heart with the excessive cortisol flow caused by the “training stress.”

3— Move frequently by walking and swimming often.

Walking is the best and most underrated form of exercise everyone can do at any age, place, or time. Walking inspires the mind, burns fat, and strengthens your bones and joints.

Swimming is the same. Swimming is water therapy, calms the mind, and installs a sense of happiness.

4 — Get more and better sleep.

Sleep is vital to a healthy body and mind. If you deprive yourself of sleep, you will put on weight, always feel low-energy and demotivated, plus stress! Again, that’s bad for your heart and mind.

5 — Meditate twice a day.

Some say they can’t sit still for even 5 minutes to meditate. You don’t have to — you can walk and meditate.

I call it mindful meditative walking. Take in everything you see, breathe deeply, and walk slowly.

6 — Practice positive self-talk and affirmations.

I talk to myself often — when I wake up, shower, and during my walks, swims, and meditation sessions.

I tell myself I’m great and doing better and better, which I am. I try not to complain about anything or allow negative thoughts to creep into my mind.

Setbacks happen to everyone, and I’ve recently had a few challenging ones. That’s when you must step up your game, walk more and think positively.

In the end, all will pass and be fine.

7 — Get plenty of sun exposure.

They tell you to avoid the sun and wear sunscreen. That’s blatantly wrong. The sun is your friend, not your enemy. All you must do is use common sense and not fry in the sun all day.

1 hour of sun exposure to your bigger body parts (legs and upper body) while walking or swimming is excellent for your mental and metabolic health.

You tank up on vitamin D and happiness.

If you want to use sunscreen, please buy the organic kind made with zinc and free of chemicals. All mainstream sunscreen brands are full of chemicals, bad for your skin and health.

8 — Spend time in nature.

Nature is the gift that never stops giving. The more time you spend in nature, walking, relaxing, or sightseeing, the better.

9 — Work, work out, and play in nature.

I mostly work outdoors, sitting by a pool under a tree. I work out using my body with calisthenics in nature during my walks. I play and have fun by taking trips to the mountains, countryside, and sea.

working outdoors — I work and swim at this beautiful resort called “The Keys by Tomoka” every day. Photo by Rob Hourmont

10 — Read, write, and socialize

Writing and reading a lot helped me regain a healthy perspective on life. They both have a calming and positive effect on my mind. It also helped me find my passion and a new career.

I don’t go out at night. However, I’m out and about all day, working, walking, and talking to random people and the folks I know where I regularly go.

That’s a wonderful pleasure for your mind.

Final Thoughts

These 10 activities and lifestyle changes I adopted in 2016 made me lose all the excess weight, become muscular and lean again, plus eliminate my anger, depression, negativity, and bad moods.

For the last 7 years, and now at almost 54, I feel great and think I look pretty decent too.

Aging no longer frightens me — I embrace it. Every day is a beautiful new opportunity to live your life to the fullest.

Don’t let your age hold you back.

Rob

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