Must age affect how we feel?

Mattingly Chiropractic is pleased to bring you the next in a series of articles about menopause by Carolyn Carter.

I was talking to a friend the other day about getting older and how, most days, I feel unaffected. She said she thought getting older just means you have to take better care of your body. She added stuff about watching what you eat, getting enough rest and exercise, and taking supplements. I let that soak in for a minute then said, “Hmm. I guess we’re a lot like old cars. You can’t put any old fuel in the tank. You need to get out for drives to keep your engine clean, and get regular oil changes. And when something crops up, you need a really good mechanic to fix what’s broken.” There was a long pause before she said, “Um, I guess.”

Thankfully, I still have her as a friend, although I now keep my car analogies to myself.

Point is getting older should mean taking better care of ourselves. Like it or not, our parts are older. Eating double cheeseburgers at lunch every day when we’re twenty may not cause any immediate issues, but eating them at forty or fifty is a different deal. I make myself (yes, sometimes force myself) to eat a great lunch every day—usually a salad. I’m lazy, though, so I usually go to Bread Company. Most days I try to ignore my cravings. I don’t always win, but I don’t feel bad when I give in. I never weigh myself (scales only make you cry), but I do watch how my clothes fit. If they start to get tight, I increase my walking time. I park farther away from Target and walk all the way across that parking lot as fast as I can. I take the stairs when I can. I dance in my living room—with the blinds open!

So, getting back to my car analogy (I hope my friend doesn’t see this), this is the breakdown:

“Can’t put any old fuel in the tank” translates to “Eat stuff that’s good for you.”

There’s a book I love called Eat Right For Your Type.  It’s got to do with blood types. Believe it or not, there is some solid science behind it. The author has added food lists that work for each blood type. He breaks the lists into 3 groups: Food that’s good for you. Food that’s bad for you. And neutral foods that cause no issues. Weird thing is I pretty much ate what was good for me before I even saw the book. I discovered in my twenties that eating meat makes me sick so I don’t eat meat more than once a week, usually fish. Take a look and see if the lists work for you. Ultimately, that’s the goal. Find what works for you. Don’t beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. From what I’ve seen, that wagon always comes back around again—usually with loads of people who’ve fallen off it.

“You need to get out for drives to keep your engine clean” refers to exercise. I don’t stick to any standards of what’s considered exercise. Just move your body. It’s pretty simple. Flap your arms. Squawk like a chicken. Make a video. More power to you. You might be the next Jane Fonda.

“Get regular oil changes” translates to “Do a cleanse once a year.”

I tried that NuLean that Dr. Dusty, D.C. sells. Not for weight loss. My brain was fuzzy. After doing that cleanse, I went on some whole food supplements for my adrenals. Fixed me right up. When it comes to cleanses, definitely ask a health care practitioner. Metagenics has one you could try. According to their website, “More than 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment each year.” Think these could affect our health? I do. When it comes to cleanses, it’s best to speak with a professional. Some of the products aren’t made as well as others, and can make you feel worse rather than better. With cleanses, it’s best not to experiment on your own.

Last but not least. “And when something crops up, you need a really good mechanic to fix you up.”

Of course, I’m referring to seeing a good health care practitioner. I like to solve my own problems, but sometimes I miss the mark. When that happens, I’ll talk to someone who knows what they’re doing. You could say it helps to keep my wheels spinning.

Call Dr. Mattingly, D.C. today to set a time to visit and discuss your options to keep your body running smoothly at (314) 963-9050.  You can also set an appointment for an office visit online by clicking here.