Your body is talking. Do you understand what it is saying? Is it whispering, or is it screaming?
I asked a few of my clients about specific things they’ve noticed about their bodies after they turned 40 because I strongly believe something happens at 40. The following are some of their responses.
“The skin around my mid section is less firm.”
“Losing weight is not as easy as it used to be.”
“I cannot see as clearly and need to wear eyeglasses.”
“I have brown spots around the eyes.”
“My gray hair is more noticeable.”
“I am balding.”
My personal story
I went out dancing with friends one night when I was 43 and a week later I was limping and in pain. The surgeon who examined me said, “If you want to get rid of the pain there is only one way – surgery.” It turned out I had several herniated disks on my lower back. . The doctor gave me an anti-inflammatory medication and set up a surgery date. I went along with everything he said. Not questioning a thing. (I didn’t know my body’s unique ABC’s at this time). Were it not for the wisdom of a dear friend, I would have gone through with the surgery. However, I decided to pay attention to that wise suggestion and got a second medical opinion.
This is what I learned. (1) My body was no longer in the shape it used to be. Something had happened. (2) Surgery is not always the answer. (3) Always get a second opinion, or even a third. (4) Sometimes the doctor doesn’t know best. (5) Become your own health advocate. (6) Invest financially, emotionally and physically in your own health and wellbeing.
What does it mean to invest in your health and wellbeing?
As responsible adults, we manage a household; we manage our work and our professions; we take care of our children and parents; and we plan for our children’s future education. What we fail to plan for, and manage well, is our own health and future wellbeing. We do not pay much attention to our internal house – Our Body.
Our body is a wonderful, intelligent, self-operating system, designed to function like no other thing ever invented. However, when it starts speaking to us louder in our 40’s, we are surprised, confused, and we don’t understand what may be happening, or what our bodies are saying.
This is where investing comes in. The Body, at this point in our life, is traversing, or entering rougher terrain. Its needs are changing. Its parts are undergoing internal modifications and shifts that we cannot see - and many times don’t even feel - until it’s too late. Our body’s cells are continuously under attack and we are not aware of the impact this will have as we move forward into our middle years. So, what is one to do?
For starters we would do well learning our body’s language and listening to its cues. (I call it your unique body’s ABC’s). The wisdom of our bodies is quite incredible. So listening carefully is the first thing that has to do with investing in your health. And it can pay high dividends – health-wise.
If you are curious to find out how your body is talking to you, or better yet, what it is saying, contact me at the AHL Center for your free Lifestyle Consultation where we can start a conversation that will help you become aware of the direction your health is presently pointing, and start learning your unique, internal Body Talk. It all starts with a conversation, and no strings attached.
Feel free to leave a comment below on how your body may be talking to you, and what you think it is saying.