Dieting Over 50: Is There A Difference?

While I believe in the cliché “With age comes wisdom”, I also believe it makes us shorter and heavier. At least, it has for me. How about you?

If you’re someone who’s beyond the age of 50 who is looking to lose some body fat, you might start to wonder if there should be a difference in the approach you use versus the approach of someone who is younger.

After all, your body is different now than when you were in your twenties, so it only stands to reason that you may need to use a different type of diet.

So what differences should someone over 50 take note of? What alternations will best help you see success?

Let’s go over the main things that you should know so that you can get right on track to progress.

Alterations To Your Calorie Intake 
 

The very first thing that you will likely want to do is use a slightly lower calorie intake at this point in your life. Now, there is the common saying that the metabolism naturally slows with age. While this is true, it’s not for the reason many people believe.

The primary reason why your metabolism will decrease as you get older is because you’re losing lean muscle tissue. If you’re someone who has been active for the last 20 years, then you likely don’t need to use a reduced calorie intake as you will have more lean muscle tissue.

If you haven’t been exercising though, then a slightly lower calorie diet is in order. Try starting at around 10 or 11 calories per pound of body weight.

At this point in your life you may not be quite as physically active overall either as you were when you were younger, so that will also factor into your total daily calorie burn.

Accounting For Nutritional Deficiencies 
 

Another adjustment that you should make is accounting for nutritional deficiencies. Those who are older will want to really make sure that they are taking in enough calcium, iron, and B vitamins.

This will help ensure that they maintain strong bones and high energy levels. In addition to that, make sure that you’re taking in a very high quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables daily on whatever diet you choose as these will help to protect against some of the common diseases that can develop as the years go on.

Adding Extra Protein 
 

Finally, the last thing that you should adjust on your diet protocol is your protein intake. Many older individuals are not getting enough protein total, so it’s important that you bump up your intake.

Additionally, since you aren’t quite as active as you were when you were younger, having more protein in the diet will help to further safeguard against lean muscle tissue loss, so will help to keep your metabolism higher long term.

Remember to add plenty of low fat dairy sources of protein in particular such as Greek yogurt, skim milk, and low-fat cottage cheese as these are both high in protein and high in calcium, so will really help you along your way.

So there you have everything that you need to know about dieting past 50. While the general approach should still be quite similar, making these few additional changes would be well worth your while.

Visit HERE for additional help for dieting.

Ol' Baldy Says “Hair Today or Gone Tomorrow: It's Your Choice!”

Chrome Dome...Baldy...Mister Clean...When I was younger, my friends use to tease me about my lack of hair—calling me names which hurt my overly sensitive feelings. (Yes, I was a wimp back then!) They didn't mean anything by these words and didn't know how sensitive I was about my hair loss—even to the point I'd hide my misfortune with an obvious comb-over.

My comb-overs were so ridiculously obvious, I wasn't fooling anyone. One day in my late 20s, I had my oldest son Michael push me into the swimming pool. Afterwords, I cut my hair.

Many years later, I wear my baldness proudly. Every other day or so, I shave my head. Now in my 50s, I finally have accepted my fate. Besides, I have the perfect head for no hair—neither pointed or flat. Just right.

But there are times I wish I had a full head of hair my girlfriend could put her fingers through. Few things feel better than a scalp massage! And...when I am out in the sun for any period of time, I need to to wear a baseball hat or risk skin cancer like my father, another bald guy.

While I accept my baldness for the most part, there are other men and even women who are broken up about their thinning hair! Some conceal their balding pates by hats or hair pieces. Some have resorted to expensive, even painful hair treatments while others have been paralyzed by depression. Many even refuse to develop a reasonably normal social life, fearing ridicule. I even read about a young man who killed himself due to going bald.

I'm one of those guys who believes if someone can't accept me for who I am—lack of hair and all, I say forget them! I don't need their acceptance of me to define who I am! Yet, I know I may not be the norm.

Yet, before you sink into such despair, please contact a counselor for help. Realize there are many wonderful people who accept a person for who they are inside. Also, know there are many inexpensive hair restoration treatments available to the public.

Thinning hair is not the end of the world, my friends. Neither is going bald.  However, if you need help for these issues, get the help you need. Perhaps it will give you the peace-of-mind you richly deserve.

CLICK HERE for more information.

When It Comes to Jobs, Many Refuse to Wait on Washington

Courtesy: Business Week

While leaders from both parties twiddle their thumbs and half-heartedly ponder the economic “crisis” over steak and cocktails at the finest Washington establishments, our nation's brave men and women continue to lose their jobs, homes, and families courtesy of their inactivity. The Dumbocraps and Repubic-cons refuse to take little, if any, responsibility for their party's limited response to the nightmare and, instead, blame the opposition for the problems. Wait until election time, they promise, and things will get better for America.

Sure. Sure.

Such incessant, mind-numbing chatter from our nation's leaders in unacceptable. I say vote the rascals out—from both parties—in 2012, and start with a clean slate. In the meantime, however, we need positive, life-affirming results and we need them now!

While it is so tempting to wallow in self-pity—cry and complain how miserable life is right now, it does little, if any, good. Forget about congress being our saviors from this madness! Realize these elected officials only tune in to WIFM—What's In It For Me: Their Station of Choice. Seriously, I doubt if many of them actually care. Instead, they are in their private, relatively stress-free world far from their constituents. Their only worries are a watered-down martini and getting re-elected. No..We need to get off our “ifs, ands, or buts”, and put our own selves back to work.

Putting ourselves back to work is easier said than done! I should know! Every time I see worry in the eyes of my loved ones, I kick myself even harder for not being the man God intended. So, I dig a little deeper and search a little harder in hopes that somehow—some way—my efforts to improve our situation will not go without reward.

Like the timeworn cliche' says: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Many good, decent Americans realize this and scour the classifieds—online and off—for jobs. Others utilize the services of headhunters, while others frequently visit job boards such as Careerbuilder or Monster. If they are fortunate, they land a job or two—sometimes making less than their previous employment. If not, many tackle odd jobs to pay the rent or utilities.

The undaunted enlist their friends, neighbors, family, and former co-workers in their job search. They refuse to surrender the “American Dream”. Some, fueled by caffeine, creativity, and a hunger for money, become self-employed.

Giving up is not an option for these brave men and women. Even when Washington turns their backs on them, they are willing to step up to the plate.

Unlike many of these men and women, I am no hero. However, I am tackling two commission-based jobs and am also self-employed. I refuse to wait for our economy to improve. After all...As long as we have politicians from both parties grandstanding and playing the blame game, there won't be business as usual.

We have to take matters into our own hands.

How to Prevent A Breakup

I haven't always been lucky at love. With three divorces, you could even say I'm a miserable failure. That's okay; fire away! Sadly, however, these failures created broken hearts, lives, and families. Nothing is worse than looking into the tearful eyes of a child and realizing you've destroyed their world.

That's why I'm so determined to help others, even strangers, prevent romantic breakups in their lives. By learning from my failures, perhaps you can have the healthy, loving relationship you deserve for the rest of your life.

Before finding Mister or Miss Perfect, do yourself a favor:

Take Your Time. For some reason—perhaps because most women ignored me prior to college, I felt compelled to rush into relationships without a second of thought. I felt I needed to make up for lost time by dating every woman who paid even the least bit of attention to me. 

Such stupidity resulted in three failed marriages and a heaping helping of miserable dating experiences with women I had no business dating: a stalker, a computer hacker, and an odoriferous creature who believed bathing without soap made her clean.

Shop Around. One size does not fit all. Find a mate with whom you share the most in common. Though all good women, my exes and I were not well matched—at all. One abstained from social drinking, something I enjoyed on occasion. Another felt she was too educated to share in household duties. Yet another enjoyed a little harmless flirting.

It's my fault I married these women. For some reason, I believed I could mold these women into my heart's desire. All three of these ladies should have married someone else, yet I was too selfish—and lonely—to admit this. Believe me: Life is too short to do this even one time. But doing this three times?

Make Time to Talk. Learn about your date by or before your second date—before you begin to get serious. Politics? Religion? Drinking? Drugs? Marriage? Children? Education? Interests? Sex? No question should be off-topic between two reasonable, level-headed adults. Besides, if they aren't reasonable or level-headed, why are you going out with them?

Get everything out in the open before making the commitment to pursue this relationship further. Sure, saying goodbye to a potential date may sting temporarily. But this is nothing compared to a breakup or divorce later down the road!

Introduce Your Date to Family and Friends. This is one of the best ways to discover if your date fits into your family dynamics—and vice versa—considering your family is reasonably normal. How does your date relate to your family? Do they feel intimidated, uncomfortable, or relaxed? Do they want to retreat to the car immediately upon introductions?

Most family and friends will offer honest feedback about your date. They have your best interests in mind. Listen without interruption. Had I listened to my father, I wouldn't have married one of the women I dated.

Observe His or Her Family and Friends in Action. Away from you, your date will spend most of his or her time with loved ones. Observe how they communicate with you and each other. If they still treat you like a burden, a second-class citizen, or a contagious disease after an hour or so, make plans to bail out of this relationship before it gets serious.

My second set of in-laws didn't like me from the start, believing I was less educated than they due to my lowly bachelor's degree. Such dislike spilled over into my marriage, with my ex believing she was too educated to do any chores around the home. While I (the wimp) busily cooked, cleaned, and did yard work, she sat inside the house consuming tubs of ice cream.


Think. Don't jump into a relationship with both barrels blazing, assuming your relationship is perfect in every way. You're only fooling yourself. 

Instead, spend some quiet alone time and reflect on your relationship. In a notebook, honestly write down both the pluses and minuses. Include his or her family in the equation. Don't over-analyze the relationship; but don't ignore the important things, either. 

Remember: Life is too short for bad relationships. Make the most of life and love every day so you don't make the same mistakes I did!

Here's to your success!--Brian

CLICKHERE for effective dating tips! Win the love of your life!

The King of Dating Disasters Tells All

Let's face it: We're not kids anymore—most of us, anyway. So...Chances are great you've had a bad date at least once or twice in your lifetime. Some of us even go through a series of bad dates before finding that special someone. Yet, bad dates can be a great teaching tool which, in turn, will strengthen the odds for better dating experiences down the road.

Perhaps my poor dating experiences can benefit you. Here--in no particular order--are four things I learned when single:

1. Never Give Anyone Your Address—Even if You're A Guy! Over coffee on a first date, a slightly unhinged woman threatened to kill herself if I ever left her. I quickly ended the date, fearing for my life and hers. That was the wise, self-preserving thing to do. However, I forgot that I had given her my address. The next day, she angrily appears on my doorstep, calls me everything but a Child of God, and then proceeds to call everyone by my last name in the phone book—telling them what a lowlife, two-timing loser I was to her! Thank God she didn't carry a weapon!

2. I Talk Too Much! I discovered this when I had a first date with a pretty blonde who spoke incessantly—even while chewing her food. Perhaps she was nervous, but I couldn't get a word in edge-wise. I learned so much about her—and, surprisingly, about myself: I do talk too much! I was a male version of this lady—too talkative and me-oriented. From hereon out, I vowed to listen more and talk less.

3. Never Use A Date's Computer—Until You Really Know That Person!One night, my phone rang while I was in a popular fast-food restaurant. My then-girlfriend wanted to know who so-and-so was and why did she send a “hugz” my way. I quickly learned she had checked her computer's history. While my 'hugz” came from a platonic female friend, her assumptions hurt our relationship and broke my heart.

4. Even If You Click, You Can't Hurry Love! More than a few times in my life, I've rushed into a relationship—only to frighten the object of my affection away. Some I fondly recall with slightly cute nicknames, like Golfing Woman or Coffee Lady. I discovered I was moving too fast. It was like the Tortoise and the Hare: Slow and Steady wins the race.

Though none of these dates turned into a lifetime romance, I've learned from each and every date. Perhaps, by reading this, you'll avoid some of the dating mistakes I did.VisitHERE for more online dating success!

How to Find A Date or Love Online After 50

Boomers: Now is the time to find someone special. For many of us, our children have left the nest and we discover plenty of time on our hands. Too much time, in fact. The silent echo of a quiet home is almost unbearable. We're too young for the rocking chair! We refuse to sit idly by on the sidelines and accept a simple life of frozen dinners, crosswords, and The Wheel!  Heck, we might as well become cat hoarders or pack rats if we're going to do that! Let's face it, folks: We're healthy, vibrant human beings craving human contact—wherever he or she may be!

Find someone special through online dating!

Unless you've lived in a shotgun shack miles away from civilization, you know the dating scene has changed since our 20s. Instead of cruising bars or being set up by well-meaning, yet clueless friends, you're only feet away from finding friendship, dates, and (maybe) romance:

1. Online dating is safer than traditional dating. You have the opportunity to learn a little about the person prior to your first face-to-face meeting. Online technology even allows you to search the person's name in a database of convicted felons, deviants, or dregs of society!
   
   
2. Online dating is more cost-effective than traditional dating. Save on gas! Let your fingers do the the walking with an online search for Mister or Miss Right!

3. Online dating gives you more control! No more strange people hitting on you! No more drunken flirts spilling drinks in your lap! At the touch of a button, you can decide who you do and don't want to meet!

4. Online dating offers a wider selection of people from a greater variety of backgrounds than anywhere else! Seeking marriage? Find it online! Seeking a casual relationship? Find it online!Seeking a baby boomer? Of course, you can find that, too! From the spiritual to the flirty, from the affluent to the international, you can find that special someone online!

Met someone online? Talk with them by phone first!

Once you meet a potential match online, it's tempting to invite them out for a cup of coffee or drink so you can get to know them better! Resist that temptation! Talk with them on the phone first!

1. For safety's sake, get to know them better! Honestly, how much do you know about this person from a couple of online texts or chats? They could be a hoarder, stalker, or serial killer, for all you know!

2. Listen carefully to their voice for signals, clues, even inflections. A voice often indicates personality, intelligence, and character traits. Whining or slow talking voices turn me off. How about you?

3. Carry on a relaxed conversation with your potential match. Listen closely to them for hidden signals. Are your interests, beliefs, and desires on the same page? Are they trying to hide something? Are their answers too brief—mostly Yes or No answers? Do they sound dull, lifeless, or boring? Are they putting you to sleep? Do they speak secretively or softly because their spouse or significant other is in the other room? Warning: 35% of daters—online or off—are married!

If it's A Go...Schedule to meet face-to-face!

You've decided the person is not a serial killer, freak, or married person (unless you want a no strings relationship). Now's the time to meet each other! Do yourself a favor...

1. If meeting is a mutual go, schedule to meet them in the next few days! You want to see if this potential match has potential, right? Don't prolong the meeting for a week or so! Be like Nike: Just do it!

2. Schedule to meet your potential date in a well-lit location. Never—ever--meet at their home or in a dark, secluded place. Think safety—even if you are a guy or believe you can handle yourself in any situation.

3. Meet at a well-lit coffee house or fast food place for polite conversation. Perhaps that sounds cheap, but there is little sense in going overboard if your date fizzles or there's no connection. Besides, remember: This is a meeting, not a date.

Keep the meeting brief—about an hour!

Some of us are talkative, myself included. But try—I emphasize try—to keep the meeting to an hour. This shows respect for the person you met. During your initial meeting:

1. Make sure the person looks like their online dating profile photo. I know that sounds crazy, but I once met a woman who looked nothing like her profile photo—taken ten years earlier! One of my female friends once met a guy who used Richard Dreyfuss's photo to attract women. Funny thing was: The guy looked nothing like Dreyfuss, and was actually ten years younger than the acclaimed actor!

2. Listen more; talk less. You learn so much more about the other person when you speak less. Also, it doesn't hurt if you actually show interest in what your potential match is talking about. If that is impossible, I would suggest politely exiting from the meeting altogether. You're wasting everyone's time if you don't.

3. Look for non-verbal clues—such as body language, eye contact, or even sense of smell. Does he or she seem sincerely interested in you? Is this mutual? Is he or she able to look you straight in the eyes, and vice versa? Does he or she smell like they just escaped from a pig farm?

4. Find common ground—if you can—for a second date. Other than physical attraction, it is so important to discover some similar interests, beliefs, ideas, and backgrounds with your potential match. Sure, you can have differences, but too many could spell out a total dating disaster. For example, I am an extroverted, fairly talkative guy who enjoys the outdoors and indoors equally. I would not be a good match for a shy wallflower who disliked the outdoors. Yet, good news! There is someone online for everyone!

If you succeed...Ask for a real date.

There is no better than the present to set a date to have a real date—as long as you both believe the chemistry was right. I once clicked with a woman and the feelings were mutual. Yet, I waited a few days to call her back, and she had other plans—with someone else. If the feelings are mutual, don't hesitate—ask him or her out!

If at first you don't succeed...

If you failed to connect during your first meeting, don't give up! But it is rarely wise to ask for another meeting. Odds are you'll unlikely click! Yet, if you don't connect, remember this:

1. You didn't fail! Even if the planets were perfectly aligned, some people would never click. There are a wide-variety of reasons—from looks to personality, from interests to beliefs. Don't dwell on this! Move on! Believe me...unless you are an asexual hermit, there is somebody out there for everyone. (Besides, if you were an asexual hermit, odds are you would not be reading this blog!
   Am I right?)

2. Each meeting is a learning experience. You discover the type of person you wish to meet—not to mention some to avoid like the plague.

3. Each meeting brings you closer to that special someone. You know what I'm talking about: That one, unique individual you can't stop thinking about. That rare somebody who makes you smile, laugh, and enjoy life a little more than anyone else. He or she may even make your toes curl!

4. Never give up on finding that special someone with whom to share life! Online dating offers someone for everybody—including us baby boomers. If I can do it, so can you!

May you be richly blessed by finding that special someone online!

Here's to your success!--Brian