Month: February 2024

A friend whom I hadn’t seen for a few weeks greeted me with these words: “Every time I see you, you’re taller.“ You may expect to hear that when you’re seven or 17, but I’m in my 70s. I couldn’t help feeling smug.

I decided
to do some research to understand why I wasn’t shrinking like all the other
seniors I know. Here’s what I found.

Is It Normal to Lose Height as You Get Older?

Most
authorities agree it is normal for one’s body to shrink with age.

According
to UAMS Health: “Men can
gradually lose an inch (2.5 cm) between the ages of 30 to 70, and women can
lose about two inches (5 cm). After the age of 80, it’s possible for both men
and women to lose another inch (2.5 cm).”

The
Cleveland Clinic attributes this to the fact that “the
discs between your spine’s vertebrae flatten, your muscles start to lose
mass, and the spaces between your joints narrow.”

How Much Height Loss Is Abnormal?

However, if
you’ve lost three or four inches, that could mean you have osteoporosis and so
need to consult a medical practitioner. Rheumatologist Dr. Abby G. Abelson, MD,
FACR from the Cleveland Clinic says:

“Certainly,
losing a half-inch or three quarters of an inch may be normal, but I’ve seen
patients who say they’ve lost two, three, or four inches in height, and they
thought that was a natural consequence of aging. But it’s not.”

How to Prevent Height Loss as You Age

So, it may
be normal, but is it preventable?

The
solution for preventing that normal shrinking (not the one caused by
osteoporosis) is very clear and involves several strategies:

Get Enough Vitamin D

Mention of
Vitamin D automatically brings our thoughts to sunlight. If you spend a lot of
time indoors, a vitamin D supplement may be necessary. If you live in a country
that doesn’t see much sunlight in winter, you will probably need to take a
vitamin D supplement during that time.

Eat Calcium Rich Foods

Calcium is
the number one mineral for bone density. It’s best to take it with food,
because many calcium supplements contain relatively indigestible forms of
calcium.

Aerobic Exercise

Exercise,
particularly the aerobic kind, is an important ingredient to a strong body.

One
Israeli study measured 2,000 men and women ages 35
to 55 in 1965, and then again in 1995. Those who engaged in moderately vigorous
aerobic activity, even if they started after age 40, lost only half as much
height as those who stopped exercising in middle age or never exercised at all.

Weight Training

Weight training
can help you keep good posture through maintaining muscle mass. I particularly
recommend banded face pulls
as an important part of your exercise routine. You can even do these easily at
home if you buy a set of resistance bands, which are very cheap.

This
exercise works the shoulder and the back, so it helps maintain your posture. Don’t
be afraid of lifting weights, as there are
so many advantages not just in terms of height.

Here’s My Secret

I measured
my height a couple of months ago. If anything, I’m about half an inch (1.25 cm)
taller than I was in my 20s. So not only haven’t I shrunk, I’ve actually increased
my height. So, what’s going on?

My friend
who commented on my height went on to say: “It must be all this gym stuff
you’re doing.” I think she’s right, plus the nutrient-rich
plant-based diet I follow. I also use my bike as my
main means of transport, cycling 30–40
miles (48–64
km) a week.

We often
think we need to drink cow’s milk to get enough calcium, but in fact there are
good vegan sources in green leafy vegetables, almonds, sesame seeds (and so
tasty tahini spread), dried figs, chia seeds and pulses (legumes).

All of
these foods are packed with other nutrients as well. So, in addition to getting
the calcium you need, you’ll be enjoying a whole range of phytonutrients to
support your body and well-being.

You may be
thinking that you are too old to
go to the gym, but think again.

I feel this simple measure – my height now compared with what it was in my 20s – is another indication that I have an abundantly healthy lifestyle (which I proudly document on my Instagram account) that brings along many other benefits.

It is normal for most people to lose height as they get older. This is because they don’t eat a nutrient-dense diet and they don’t maintain their muscle mass through weight training and other fitness activities. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been that keen on being normal.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How
has your height changed with age? What are you doing to maintain your posture?
Do you think it’s possible to reverse the height loss process? Please share in
the comments below!

Click Here for Additional Stock in Her Blazer

Originally posted at: Ariana Madix’s Brown Tweed Plaid Blazer

Have you vowed a million times to stop doing certain things, but you keep doing them anyway? Like, you swore you were going to lose some weight and stop snacking in front of the TV after dinner, but you still do it?

Or you keep promising yourself to stop spending too much money, only to keep making impulsive purchases?

Then, do you get upset and beat yourself up over it? If so, you’re not alone. These are self-sabotaging behaviors. We all have them.

But you don’t have to resign yourself to making the same mistakes over and over again. The problem is that you’re using the wrong approach to change your behavior.

Vowing to stop doing something doesn’t work. You need to have a plan to change your behavior and establish a different habit. You need specific, doable strategies to overcome your obstacles.

What if You Reversed Your Approach?

What if, instead of vowing never to snack after dinner, you assume that you will continue to snack after dinner unless you design and implement strategies to remember not to do that and to prevent you from doing it? Strategies to replace that habit with a different one.

Here’s what I mean.

Let’s say you love sweets and even though you’ve eaten a healthy dinner, you sit down every evening in front of the television and eat a few helpings of cookies and chocolate.

You feel terrible afterwards, both psychologically and physically, and you have trouble sleeping because your body is working to digest all of that junk. Instead of vowing to never eat dessert after dinner, or to stop snacking in front of the television, you decide to approach it as a problem that needs solving.

So, what do you do? Here are seven steps that I’ll explain in the context of the example above.

Ditch Any Harsh Self-Criticism

Getting upset at yourself and shaming yourself never produces positive, lasting results. Shame and the lack of compassion for yourself can actually prevent you from making the changes you want to implement.

The next time your inner voice berates you, look at your negative self-talk, and think of how you’d feel if your boss or partner spoke with you that way. If you would be upset or think they were being harsh or unfair, that means it’s time to stop talking to yourself that way!

Treat yourself the way you would treat a friend who told you she did what you did. You wouldn’t berate her and tell her she was weak-willed or stupid. Be kind and compassionate towards yourself. You’ll get better results.

Figure Out What the Problem Is That Needs Solving

Back to our hypothetical situation. After giving it some thought, you decide that the problem really isn’t that you’re eating sweets, but that you’re eating too many sweets and you aren’t even enjoying them.

You’re so busy watching TV and not paying attention to what you’re chomping down that you’re not feeling satisfied, so you keep eating more and more.

You decide that you could solve this problem by arranging to eat these foods in a way that is more satisfying so that you won’t be tempted to eat as much. Your plan is to have a maximum of one serving as long as you don’t eat past the point of being comfortably full.

This means you might have to choose between eating a cookie or eating chocolate. Your plan requires you to eat the sweets mindfully at the kitchen or dining room table so that you won’t be distracted by the television, and can really enjoy what you’re eating, thereby eating less and feeling satisfied.

This Plan Has Several Other Advantages

First, it causes you to pay attention while you’re eating dinner so that you leave room for dessert. This may prevent you from overeating. Secondly, you will have to make a choice between eating dessert and watching television.

There might be days when you’d rather watch TV, and that’s fine. Or there might be days when your dinner is so yummy that you’d prefer to eat a few bites more than have sweets afterwards. Lastly, you won’t feel terrible after you eat too much, and you’ll sleep better.

So, rather than vowing to stop eating snacks at night, you’ve actually got a plan for what to do instead and a list of benefits to go with it.

Set Up Reminders

Something else that will help is to set up reminders. Perhaps you can stick a note to the table to remind you to stop eating before you’re full if you want dessert. How about making the room with the television a no-eating zone or put a sticky note on the TV.

Not eating in rooms other than the kitchen and dining room is a great practice if you want to lose weight or not gain any because it prevents mindless eating, not to mention avoiding spills and messes.

Write Down Your Commitment to Yourself

Writing down your commitment to do this and the benefits of it will also help you reach your goal. I write mine in Evernote so I can access it from my computer and my iPhone. Then, before eating dinner every night, read your commitment as a reminder of why it is important to do this.

Celebrate Your Wins

Another thing that has been proven by research to be helpful in establishing a new habit is to celebrate your wins. Every time you follow your new protocol, congratulate yourself. Give yourself a fist pump or something like that. Even better, keep a record of your wins.

You can create a chart where you mark down your successes each time, or keep a journal and record how much better it felt to not overeat and how much more you enjoyed the food. This reinforces the good feeling you get from making the healthy choice and makes it easier to do in the future.

Don’t Give Up When You Mess Up

Changing any habit takes a lot of time and repetition before it becomes second-nature, so don’t expect perfection. Sometimes, it takes a while to change these repetitive patterns.

If you forget one day and find yourself munching on a bag of chocolate-covered almonds in the living room, please do not beat yourself up! Guilt, shame, and self-criticism are not good sources of inspiration and might set off a bout of emotional eating.

Also, don’t give up. Take a few minutes to notice why this happened and consider what you can do to prevent it from recurring. We’re problem-solving, right? As I said, you probably won’t do it perfectly, but the only sure way to failure is giving up. So, don’t do that.

Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Your tenacity will pay off in the long run. Your new pattern will become a habit. One day, you’ll notice that you do it automatically, just like you currently do the old pattern. It will become easy.

Don’t Try to Change Too Much at Once

If you feel overwhelmed, that will make it harder to focus. Decide what you want to change, depending upon how much time and energy you have to be mindful. Be reasonable. It’s better to focus on one or two areas and be successful than spread yourself too thin.

Although the example I used here involves food and eating, you can use these strategies to get unstuck from any self-sabotaging habit.

I help people develop strategies to address their weight loss challenges so they can change their habits, lose weight, and keep it off without dieting.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What toxic habits do you want to leave behind? Have you tried in the past? What were the results? Do you think you can implement these seven strategies to change your life? Please share your thoughts with the Sixty and Me community!   

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Pullover (seen on Lisa Barlow) / Sunglasses (seen on Lisa Barlow) /  Ski Pants / Bag / Boots / Hat

One thing the Housewives don’t hit the slopes without is a bold, half zip pullover by Goldbergh. The brand itself is a staple on ski trips, along with Moon Boots that we’ve spotted on many of the most stylish Bravolebs.

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Sweater / Sunglasses / Pants / Bag / Boots / Coat

Queen of Aspen Kyle Richards is often spotted out an about in the resort town apres ski. Her looks often involve a Ralph Lauren teddy bear sweater, cozy teddy coat and designer combat boots.

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  Sweater (seen on Heather Gay) / Sunglasses / Vest / Bag / Boots (seen on Heather Gay) / Leggings

Apres ski style is a way of life in Salt Lake City, and we’ve spotted many of these Perfect Moment sweaters on the ‘wives that live life adjacent to the ski slopes.

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Coat / Lip Balm / Leggings / Turtleneck / Boots / Sunglasses

Part of being a Real Housewife is being bold. So while they all have classic, solid-color pieces, we always see statement-making prints and patterns packed for ski trips.

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Sequin Coat / Ski Mask / Gloves / Hat / Boots / Ski Pants

The Real Housewives love a bold ski jacket, and this sequin piece speaks for itself. Do it like them and pair your statement making coat with a designer ski mask like this one by Celine and marry fashion and function in the most stylish way.

Shop These Real Housewives Ski Staples Here via Shop LTK

Originally posted at: Real Housewives Ski Style Guide

It seems like at every stage of life we say, “Well, they’re at that age.” Whether it’s teething, or asking why every five seconds, or moodiness, or midlife blues, or reinventing ourselves.

In our 60s, we’re at that age where we often find ourselves newly divorced, newly widowed, or sprouting wings as we continue to fly solo.

Are You Out of the Dating Loop?

As baby boomers, we can wake up one day and find ourselves completely out of the loop when it comes to navigating the online dating world. I was 43 when my husband left, and since I had been married from the age of 20, I had never really dated anyone seriously. I didn’t know how to be single. After a few years when I had emotionally healed, I felt the desire to meet a man and even get married again. Where, I wondered, do I start?

You’re at that age when you may have entered singleness and now, you’re being urged… even pushed… by well-meaning family and friends to get back in the saddle of dating.

How to Successfully Date Using Online Platforms

Only IF you feel ready, here are some helpful tips to get you started in online dating.

Craft a Dynamic, Well-Written Profile

Please have someone else check your spelling and grammar. Nothing is more of a turn-off than poorly written text riddled with spelling errors in a profile. Spel cheque duz knot cache all miss steaks. Let your profile percolate overnight and look at it again with fresh eyes the next day. Be authentic and don’t overshare.

Use a Variety of Photos

Include photos of yourself in several scenarios, including dressy, casual, out in nature, etc. Also, include current pictures, not from 10 years ago when you were fit, trim and wrinkle-free. It’s the same as in a business; under promise, over deliver. And I implore you, please do not take a selfie in your bathroom with the mirror as a backdrop. Smartphone photography is more sophisticated than that!

It’s Time for the Fun Stuff!

Search Profiles

My first suggestion is to set your profile to delete any profiles without pictures. There are too many scammers out there who will bait the “hook” any way they can, and although they can “steal” pictures of good-looking men on the web, in time, you can ask for additional recent photos. Look for well-written profiles. Can they complete an intelligible sentence?

Watch out for the “too good to be trues” as they usually are. If their profile says legally separated, do not go there because their previous door is not closed! Another key point is realizing that not everyone you meet is a potential suitor. Some people you meet may be looking simply for companionship and not a serious dating relationship. I’ve met two lifelong friends of 20+ years on online websites. They weren’t a love connection, but they’ve made wonderful, supportive friends.

Making a First Contact

When you find a person who you think might be a possibility, send a brief note, introducing yourself.

Don’t Tell Your Life Story

If they are sending you kisses or other flirty icons in the first message, watch out because they could simply be seeking a booty call, and this type of man doesn’t improve with age. They could also be an online scammer.

If a man is too aggressive out the starting gate, proceed with caution. If someone contacts you first, and you’re not interested, you’re not obligated to respond. That’s the beauty of online dating. You make it work for YOU! Refrain from giving many details about your life or daily schedule when making initial communication.

Ask the Right Questions and “Listen” Between the Lines

The saying goes, “you don’t know until you ask.” Ask a few questions via the website and only when and if you feel comfortable, exchange personal emails and/or phone numbers. Move at a pace YOU feel comfortable with. Ask broad questions about their lifestyle, interests, etc.

Be ready to answer their questions truthfully but not in full detail. If the conversation is all about them and not a back-and-forth verbal exchange, it’s probably how it’s going to be moving forward.

It’s That Time

The First Meeting

The phone conversations have gone well. You’re feeling more comfortable with this person, and you have some common interests. Time to meet! Suggest a public place and put a time limit on it. You can adjust accordingly if the meeting goes better than expected. Breakfast or lunch works nicely, but I strongly discourage a nighttime meeting for the first date. Ladies, please let a friend or family member know where you’re going – better to err on the side of caution.

Danger, Will Robinson

At this meeting, be mindful of their eye contact and body language. If you sense him mentally undressing you… ding ding… run for the hills… he has one goal… to get into the “PlayStation.” The topic of intimacy should NEVER come up in the first meeting, or even the second meeting.

The first encounter should be a light-hearted, general SHORT story-telling meeting with no talk about financial matters. Just as in your telephone conversations, he should be asking about your life too. A one-sided conversation either way is plain boring.

What I call a one date wonder from many years ago comes to mind. The phone conversations had gone well, and we agreed to meet. We chose a popular burger fast-food restaurant, and this man talked non-stop for two hours. He told me he was an orderly in a mental hospital and had a seven-foot boa constrictor as a pet. As they say, No way, Jose! He was most definitely NOT my prince charming! He did not ask me one question about me or my life. At the end of the two hours (yes, I stayed), he told me how much he enjoyed the conversation… I thought, what conversation? He told me how he felt he could tell me anything. Wow, uh… NO. Buh. Bye.

It’s Your Turn

There you have it. These six tips can get you started toward a wise and successful online dating experience. Yes, there are lots of crazies and cons out there! There are also a lot of super nice people simply seeking companionship.

Use wisdom. Exercise good judgment. Do not proceed if your intuition says something is not right.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you entered the dating world after 60? What has your experience been like? If you’ve met your true love, share your story with us. We will celebrate with you!