Diet, nutrition, and food

Food has never been a major consideration in my fitness program. I try to keep my calorie intake in sync with my weight and I have tried to balance the main components of good nutrition; protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. I’m not strict about it and it’s the kind of food I’ve had most of my life. The only time I pay attention to my weight is when my belt feels snug -- so I weigh myself to check and always find I’ve gained a bit. My method of dealing with weight gain is to eat less and exercise more.

My way of dealing with weight gain is a simple calculation of calories in through food, and calories out through high intensity exercise like aerobics.

There was a time when in my 30s and 40s when I was doing a lot of running and I had the luxury of eating large quantities of just about anything with no concern about overeating or putting on weight. It’s a simple calculation of calories in through food, and calories out through high intensity exercise like aerobics.

As I got older and my exercising decreased, I still maintained a high level of fitness but I didn’t eat as much and I didn’t exercise quite as much either. Things were still in balance. Now that I’ve reached 92 I’m still fit (for my age) but my exercise program is less intensive and not as long but I still do all the same exercises. It seems like a natural sort of progression. My weight now is just about the same as it was 70 years ago at age 22. I didn’t plan it that way, that’s just the way it’s turned out.

I’ve never been on a diet or had to eat special food. I was a social drinker and about a dozen years ago stopped drinking entirely. I grew up thinking that a balanced diet was important. We still have mostly poultry or fish for protein with potatoes and fresh vegetables, fruit, and berries. I still have blueberries and some other type of berry almost every day. And orange juice and vitamins. I like vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate!

I became quite interested in vitamins after I attended an event in the early 1960s where I met a couple who had just returned from one of their trips to Italy. The man’s glamorous wife had been under the care of a famous Italian physician. Her youthful appearance she claimed was the result of certain vitamins called “antioxidants” that the doctor prescribed. At that time, the word “antioxidant” was unknown, at least to me.  But the next day I bought Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and a multi-vitamin and have been taking them every day since, that’s about 60 years. I don’t know if taking these vitamins has had anything to do with my generally good health over the years. I’d like to think they did. And I’ve added a couple including fish oil.

I take Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and a multi-vitamin, along with fish oil and a protein supplement.

I started taking a powdered protein supplement a couple of years ago and noticed almost right away the positive impact it had on my exercise performance. I probably should have started taking it earlier. With aging more protein is important. At the same time metabolism slows and food intake tends to decrease. I’ve experienced that.

My food and nutrition over the years has been healthy and balanced with adjustments along the way for my increasing age. This, together with my exercise program has been a big part of what has brought me to the age of 92 healthy, fit, and active!