Do you remember the days before some brilliant innovator built a suitcase with wheels? I walked across three terminals with my luggage the other day and was so grateful for those wheels.

Many were the times I would arrive at my destination with an aching back or sore shoulders, but no more thanks to the wheels.

Today most of us have luggage with wheels to make travel easier. But we still carry other kinds of ‘luggage’ around all day, every day. That luggage is excess weight.

Excess weight bears down on the body in just the same way real luggage does, but there is no relief from it. It is there while sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs – even when sleeping.

What Are the Costs of Extra Weight?

What would life be like if you shed ten, twenty, forty or sixty pounds of excess weight? How much extra energy would you have?

How much easier would it be to take a walk, carry a child, play a game of golf or carry groceries up a flight of stairs? How would your joints feel if you weren’t carrying that extra weight around?

Losing weight may seem difficult, but if you are appreciably overweight, think how hard it is to do what you do every day. Once you visualize a life with less weight, you can plan to accomplish that goal.

How to Start Losing Weight After 50

Like everything we want to accomplish in life, it takes focus and determination to start shedding the extra weight. It also takes knowledge. I’ve helped hundreds of women change their food and the most important fact I’ll share with you is this: Do not diet.

Diets are unrealistic and temporary. They cause guilt when you don’t adhere. They may get you to lose weight, but as soon as they are over, 85% of dieters gain all the weight back.

Here’s what you need to do to be successful

• Eat real food, and prepare it yourself as much as possible.
• Be conscious of how much food you need to be satisfied, and stop there.
• Stop grazing and eat real meals.
• Get your emotions in check by managing your stress.
• Move every day, and increase your movement a little at a time.
• Love your body!

If you are a former dieter, chances are you’ve said many unkind things to your body. See what happens when you begin to appreciate your body and all it does for you, even when you haven’t given it the best care.

Need Recipes?

Today you can get healthy recipes for foods you like on the web. Visit my blog and plug in the word recipe, and you’ll find many dishes.

Get Support to Lose Weight After 50

Whatever action steps you decide to take, write them down. Look at them often and praise yourself for every good step you take in shedding your luggage. Your spine, your heart and your personal pride in yourself will be glad you did.

Celebrate with a trip you’ve been wanting to take but didn’t have the energy before you made these changes.

If you need support and accountability, look at my online program 6 Weeks to Diet Freedom for a comprehensive, manageable program to change your eating for good. It begins on January 15th.  

What will 2018 be like for you? What kind of ‘luggage’ will you be carrying? Will you be carrying extra weight on your body that holds you back? Or will you be pushing a piece of luggage to new and exciting destinations?