I worry about my weight because; I retired about 6 months ago.  I need to admit to doing a lot less each day, and even though I don’t work anymore, I still eat the same

amount of rubbishy food.     I also have the advantage or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it, of being able to please myself in whatever I choose to do because I live alone.  When I did work I always worked outside and now, when I get dressed in the mornings I am beginning to notice that there is less room for manoeuvre on my clothing, so I have decided that drastic action was needed.   Rules have had to be put in place and I wonder if anyone else out there in Internet land has suggestions to offer.

My first rule is that I need to recognise that the only person I should measure myself against is my former self. 

Then there is the major problem which is that I am one of those people who finds it easier to ban something altogether than to limit myself to small and measured amounts, so my second rule is that during the week I am banned from eating between meals, all sweets, cakes, bread, biscuits and oily foods.  (There is a surprising amount of choice left even when they are taken away). 

My next rule is that I can eat anything during the weekend and consequently, from the time I get up on Saturday morning until the time I go to bed on Sunday evening I can go absolutely mad.   I often try the most recent fast food fad that I have seen advertised on TV, and eat extra to ensure that any half opened packets of prohibited foods are finished before I get up on Monday morning.

I have to admit I really felt the need to eat everything in sight during the first couple of weekends, but then I realised that if I missed anything I only had another 5 days before I could binge again, and so the need to get into ‘eat everything in sight’ mode stopped being such an urge.  

The last rule is to find an exercise regime that challenges me just a bit.  Luckily most of the exercises for over 50s don’t require the need for lots of space, I am not one of those people who feel the need to dress in designer sportswear and visit a gym.  I just do 15 minutes or so a day in the privacy of my own home.  There have been days when I could easily skip moving around and looking really stupid but the time passes quickly enough. It is really important to do them every day.   Getting started is the challenge; once you have started it is easy to commit to.   The first day that you miss is the day that you start on a slippery slope of getting out of the habit.   Even a 10 minute a day workout works.  I just got my tablet and found a video on you tube (►►►).

I have been doing this for the past three months now and I have not experienced drastic weight loss, I am only two kilos lighter, but I do feel better and less lazy which I can only put down to my new little habit.   A family member or two have noticed as well which added incentive. 

Now I am going to admit to the fact that I have changed the initials at the bottom of this paragraph to protect my little ‘closet exercise habit’, but I wanted to share it because it really does work even for an older man like me.

Anonymous of internet-world

For the exercise enthusiast who would rather strut their exercise stuff in private, LPG found lots of exercises that will cost nothing to follow online.  But before you get started we advise you to make sure you have chosen a video, which is not too much for you.  The best thing to do is mention your plan to your GP the next time you visit and check what they think.

There are lots of routines online and although many have been made by Americans we would just like you to remember that they are built exactly the same way that we are, so just roll with the accent and have a go.

Click below to find some alternatives….

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