3 More Things I've Learned About Boosting Health

Hello friends, and welcome to Notes from the Road! Together, we’re cracking the code on midlife. In this issue:

• 3 more things I’ve learned about supercharging my health.

• The importance of preparing emotionally for retirement.

• Using the AARP Livability Index to find a new place to live.

• 9 big purchases retirees often regret.

• Tour of our Edinburgh slow travel apartment.

Let’s get started!

✨ This newsletter contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy from Amazon after clicking on a link, I get a small commission without costing you extra. I personally use these products and am sharing them because I think you’ll like them too. ✨

Last week, I shared what I’m learning as I reduce weight and inflammation and increase strength and flexibility. The overall goal is to keep chronic disease at bay so I have a good healthspan.

I’ve learned so far that supercharging your health requires five different ways of thinking. Last week I covered planning and research. This week, I cover learning, measuring, and committing.

Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only, based on a sample of one. I’m not a doctor. Please consult yours before adopting any of my potentially harebrained ideas.

Learn—I’ve learned that my tricks for healthy living in my 30s and 40s don’t work in my 50s. I’ve had to figure that out. You might be different. Maybe your tricks still work. Even so, maybe invest some time to validate your approach. For me, I’ve learned a lot about midlife female health from Dr. Mary Clare Haver, Vitality OET, and JJ Virgin. As always, not everything each person says is right for me. I “triangulate” among a few resources.

Commit—I’ve learned that I need to commit to my health regardless of the circumstances. We travel a lot. This often gets in the way of progress. As soon as I get in a groove on health and fitness, we’re on the road. That means different (and usually not very healthy) food availability, limited space for exercise, and leaving my regular gym. Plus, jet lag, which makes it hard for me to normalize quickly. My routine goes to h-e-double hockey sticks.

I hate this two-steps-forward three-steps-back situation. So I’m doubling down on commitment. On our recent trip to Edinburgh, I figured out some ways to make this easier.

To keep my food on track, I found recipes that are easy to make in a vacation rental. I brought printed copies of them in a zippered envelope. (I also use these envelopes for traveling with other special kitchen items like tea steepers, teabags, spare ziploc bags, special utensils, etc).

To keep my protein intake up when I can’t find a good healthy source, I brought a smoothie cup that blends well so that I don’t need a blender, and a few scoops of protein powder in a ziploc bag. Protein bars work too, but I’m still trying to find a good one that doesn’t have too much sugar.

For exercise challenges, I searched my rental neighborhood for short term memberships at local gyms and joined one. I also brought a travel yoga mat and exercise bands in case that didn’t work out. Because I overthink everything, I also found these neat exercise cards that take the guesswork out of building routines.

Measure—I’ve learned that the only way to really make progress is to take a long, hard look at the data. And that means that I measure everything. For many people, this is a non-starter. If that’s you, I hate to tell you that it’s really absolutely critical.

I resisted this idea for a very long time myself, but truly: the only way to ensure accountability is to see it in writing. Plus, it’s different now. When it meant just losing a few pounds I wasn’t willing to put in the effort. The stakes are higher now. What could be a higher priority than my health?

For this, my constant companion is Cronometer. It tracks food, supplements, exercise, water, and so much more. You can run reports. And it links to your fitness tracker. I used Fitbit for a very long time but have moved to Garmin. And I love the Strong app for an almost frictionless way to track my workouts.

Anything you’d like to share with our readers about your own health discoveries? Let me know and I’ll share it in a future newsletter.

We’ve spent a few weeks on health and fitness. Next week, a new topic!

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The Weekly Roundup

Worth your time to watch, read, and listen.

📺 The Importance of Preparing Emotionally for Retirement. Andy retired from his pediatric practice after a 34 year career. He describes his challenges doing that, and why it’s important to be mentally prepared. (2 min. watch)

📰 AARP Livability Index: Great Neighborhoods for All Ages. This searchable database scores neighborhoods and communities for housing, transportation, health, and more. A good tool if you’re thinking about relocating.

📰 9 Big-Ticket Purchases Retirees Often Regret. Some items here not so surprising: boat (which as my father always reminded me stands for “break out another thousand”). But also look out for that dream house, which trips people up too. (6 min. read)

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