They say 50 is the new 30. or 60 is the new 40. And in many ways they are right (whoever they are). However we have a strange dichotomy in out Western world.
People are living longer, being more active at an older age, getting more enjoyment in the later years. Yet at the same time, obesity is at an all time high. Well over 50% of the population in the US is obese or overweight. http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/vast-majority-american-adults-are-overweight-or-obese-and-weight-growing-problem-among. Lifestyle related disease has 
increased. And diet and lifestyle seems to be correlated with for so many of the diseases common to middle age and beyond: Alzheimer’s disease, arteriosclerosis, cancer, chronic liver disease/cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862441/.
increased. And diet and lifestyle seems to be correlated with for so many of the diseases common to middle age and beyond: Alzheimer’s disease, arteriosclerosis, cancer, chronic liver disease/cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862441/.And a slowing metabolism as we age makes it not only easier to add unwanted pounds, it makes it much more difficult to shed the excess 
weight. https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2016-09-23/how-much-does-your-metabolism-really-slow-over-the-years This double whammy promotes weight gain as well as loss of lean mass, further exacerbating the cycle.
weight. https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2016-09-23/how-much-does-your-metabolism-really-slow-over-the-years This double whammy promotes weight gain as well as loss of lean mass, further exacerbating the cycle.We can & must make a clear choice and take consistent action for our health to be our best, especially as we progress into middle age and beyond. That won’t mean something bad can’t happen, but will give us the best chance to live longer and healthier and more active. The 4 pillars of wellness: physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and mental health all need to be addressed. These are necessary for optimum health, and are synergistic, each building on the other, to make us more whole. This sounds overwhelming to manage, but through various strategies and hacks, it is quite doable to make consistent moderate progress over time. Next post will start focusing on specific strategies tips and products for each of the 4 pillars. Live long & prosper!