ROFL yeah...the journey south! I suppose that nearing 63, I may be "cresting the hilltop" and its a going to be a downhill run from here on out.
I recently cut my alcohol consumption back by about 33%, and cut out some other stuff that was slowing me down.
I've always had a hard time trying to bulk up any lean muscle mass. I'm built like a scarecrow without the straw stuffing. Resistance training and such just hardens me up and makes me feel stronger, without adding much bulk. Oh well...I was never meant to be "The Hulk."
I'm more interested in my long-term health.
In the last year, I've become a real nazi about avoiding refined sugar and anything made with it. No candy, pie, cakes, donuts, processed packaged foods, etc. except for the rare "field emergency energy kit" raid (Cliff Bar and a canned caffeine drink) when I have to do something like paddling a few miles against wind and tide and I've run out of real food and am feeling a bit tapped out.
I used to bring a Snickers bar along on my paddles, but I quit eating those a couple of years ago.
Other than the rare emergency, I avoid soft drinks completely. I prefer water or black coffee. I still like a good micro brew or two, though.
Someone served me a slice of lemon cream pie a few weeks ago, and I actually ate it!!! I didn't feel like arguing with my Dad's housekeeper who brought it over and offered me a slice, as she's a great worker and my Dad likes her. I didn't want to take the chance of insulting her. A good housekeeper is hard to find!
Right afterwards I went for a long walk (over a mile), and the next day I walked a mile down a beach for some cutthroat fishing, and a mile back, then after I came home, went surfing two days in a row, then paddled about 12 miles the next day, and always try to get out for a bike ride whenever I can find the time.
Whew! I burned it off!
I just try to prepare and eat real food. I'm a meat and potatoes, fish and chicken, fruits and veggies, nuts and whole grain eater. I don't need to watch my weight, but I have become convinced that refined sugar and most food additives and preservatives are poison. I haven't had any sugar or honey in my house in over a year, no jam or jelly on my toast, prefer butter over margarine, avoid a huge list of additives and preservatives and food stabilizers, etc, and I read the list of ingredients on the labels of any packaged food I buy, and reject anything that I don't want in me.
I usually avoid restaurants, unless I'm on the road, or out with someone. (A woman I know who owns a deli/bar asked me where I've been...I had to fess up to her that I'm avoiding deli food and bars).
Yep, and I buy "organic" whenever possible, which is difficult out here on the Beach without having to drive into Aberdeen.
I'm still behind on my projects, the main one finishing my fence and building a chicken wire enclosed garden, so that I can grow as much of my own food as possible. I can even visualize raising chickens in my future.