Fifty-somethings have a big problem. Read anything, and it makes you feel like you’re moving forward into a spiral of decline.

You might remember a time when you could eat anything, do anything, and bounce back like there was no tomorrow. Those days are long gone.

Or so they want you to believe.

Things change. They do, and there’s no getting around that. But it doesn’t have to be the horribly depressing time the media often makes it out to be.

Eating for life after 50 can be wonderful and enjoyable. It can bring back vitality you thought had long since disappeared.

I believe the normal media stories get it all wrong. They’ll tell you what to avoid (cured meats, bagged popcorn, and frozen meals made one list I recently looked at) and what should be on your plate (blueberries, leafy greens, and olive oil routinely make the lists.)

What they miss is where real change comes from. And that’s most often not on your plate at all.

Start with Gorgeous Living

Turning 50 is a punishment. Or so they lead you to believe.

Everything changes, and you better change right along with it.

I agree. But I think we need to readjust our thinking instead of focusing on the negative.

At 50, we’re approaching a new decade – a new life – and we’re better equipped in navigation.

It’s time to pull out your journal and have a thinking party. I often do this when I’m hoping for “big” change. This is a chance to ask yourself questions and start writing answers, ensuring it comes from the heart. Don’t think. Write.

This is how you find what gorgeous living means to you.

Okay, are you ready?

Journal Prompts:

What is your perfect meal? Why?
How do you feel when you eat what you love?
How has your favorite food changed since you were a child?
Do you approach meals negatively or positively? Why?
What do you want that you don’t already have?
What happens when you get there?
What role does food play in your life?
How do you treat mealtime in your home?
Have you ever grown a garden?
Do you know the source of all of your foods?
What is nourishment to you?
How could you get to a place where life is gorgeous?

A lot of joy comes from asking better questions. We’ve fallen out of touch with asking ourselves any questions at all. And that’s a mistake.

Because deeper questions allow us to explore things we’ve never considered before. And that allows us to get closer to what’s truly inside.

So what does all of this have to do with eating for life after 50?

Think back for a moment to all the times you succeeded with a plan. Maybe you went on a perfect vacation because it was well thought out. Or you landed your dream job because you worked hard to get there.

It worked. You achieved results because you had a plan.

And you achieved it because you put in positive vibes and hard work to ensure you met your goals. You approached it with gusto, because it made you a better version of you. Even if only for a moment in time.

And yet we believe the media’s advice that it’s all downhill after 50. (Maybe it’s because they cram it down our throats over and over again.)

We don’t have to “give up” anything in order to be the best we can be after 50. I’d argue you can be far BETTER because you have experience on your side.

When my dad died at 54, I made the decision NOT to follow in his footsteps. I did my research to figure out how someone who seemed healthy could fall in such a big way. The more I learned, the more I wanted.

It made me realize we have a choice. We can accept what life throws at us, or we can do what we can to chart our own course.

And I believe that’s what “50” does. It wakes you up. It makes you move into decision time.

Do you want to accept what the media teaches us life will be like after 50?

Or do you choose to forge your own path?

What do you love about 50 year old you?

The difficult part of eating for life isn’t deciding what to eat – it’s deciding who you are.

It’s easy to grab a piece of candy because it’s there. Going through a drive-thru rather than planning a meal is simpler.

That’s what happens when you don’t create your plan first.

It’s time to pick up your journal again. This is one of my favorite journals to keep! I call it the “love” journal – simply use a page each day to write what you love about being 50. I’ve included things like:

• I love the woman I’ve become.
• I love how I feel.
• I love the freedom I have now that I have an adult daughter.
• I love that I can turn away clients and build my business in any way I desire.
• I love the way I smile at the mirror because I love who’s shining back at me.
• I love waking up before 5 because I’m excited for me time – meditation, a journal, and stretching.
• I love the feeling I get by walking in nature and noticing what’s around me.
• I love that I’m more comfortable standing my ground.
• I love that I’m more comfortable with my decisions.
• I love eating food that’s good for me.
• I love knowing where my food comes from.
• I love growing my food and nurturing it as it grows.

I know this can be difficult, especially if you’ve never done it before.

I once had a coach push me to create a gratitude journal. Every day, I would use one page to write down everything I was grateful for. It could be something as small as a great cup of tea in the morning, or something grander, such as moving into a new house.

The point was to find gratitude in even the smallest of things.

And that’s the point of finding what you love about your 50-year-old self.

Media tells you what to take away. You can’t eat what you love. Your skin will wrinkle. You’ll never be the same after menopause.

That’s true.

But that doesn’t automatically lead to something worse. I would argue it leads to something better.

Right now, I have a goal. I see myself at 100, leading a very active, happy life. I’m hiking mountains, traveling regularly, tending my garden, and having friends over to share dinner and wine. I’m healthy! And I love life!

In order to get to 100, I have to take care of myself, so I have every chance of achieving my goal. It’s my plan – my 100-year plan – for creating the BEST ME I can be.

Nothing is left to chance. I create an environment that helps me achieve my goal. No different than when I plan vacations, or strive to create a new business venture. I give it everything I’ve got.

It works for me. Can it work for you too?

Lori