Good discussion topic!

I come down on both sides: enthusiastic yes to healthy eating and equally enthusiastic hell no to exercise/physical movement as an ongoing habit

Like you 3katz I generally actually prefer healthier and lighter food especially as i get older. I haven't eaten red meat in decades just because the texture and taste grosses me out.I still eat chicken and seafood however I think I could probably go vegetarian with not a lot of angst

I quit drinking alcohol a few years ago because even a glass or two wrecks my sleep and makes me feel lousy

I also stopped eating what I call 'white food' around the same time so potatoes, rice, bread etc aren't a regular part of my diet any more-don't miss it

That said if I go out to eat I certainly will sometimes order a glass of wine, have some french fries with my fish sandwich or a baked potato with my lobster etc, And my sweet tooth continues unabated; I do feel a bit of guilt about that because sugar (ultimate white food!) causes inflammation and that's definitely Not Good

But mostly my diet and eating habits are solid and not hard to maintain at all

Exercise though...oof. I will ALWAYS choose lying around reading a book or even watching tv over exercise. So for me it's a medicine prescription so to speak and frankly I've not been too successful taking my medicine

I do Pilates regularly but as far as weight training and aerobic workouts--not so much

I'm definitely in the middle. I eat a healthy diet and have never had to struggle with my weight. But I hate exercise - I'm one of those people who has, once I became an adult, always felt worse after real exertion, the opposite of a runner's high. I do a lot of walking, and in the summer I garden, but that's about it. At age 65 I'm in good health and take no medications. I like to exercise my brain more than my body!

Overall, do it because I need to do it. I have bad depth perception, any sport that requires the slightest bit of hand eye coordination is out of my league. Jealous of all my pickleball loving friends. Tried Zumba, it was fun but made my knees very cranky. I enjoy hiking but I am on the slower side on any hike that where depth perception is needed, such as going up and down rocky trails. Also, have difficulty getting my family and friends to come with me. Hoping that once I retire I can find a low key “easy hike“ hiking group or new friends that would be interested in the same. In the meantime, I do some walking and dance to DVD’s or YouTube.

How about I need to force myself, but always end up loving it?

Weight has never been an issue for me. In fact, since the pandemic my weight dropped some and I need to eat 3 squares a day, with snacking if I think of it. I tend to not eat between meals. I like healthy food, similar to 3katz. I don't have any diet restrictions, but lean towards lots of salads and veggies. Lately though I've developed a passion for mashed potatoes with lots of 1/2 & 1/2 and butter, with or without gravy. I have been known to bake a pie and then have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until it's gone.

I've never been athletic. I used to take aerobics classes but other commitments got in the way. So I started walking, and tried to walk 2-3 times a week. I told myself that's what I was doing but I was fooling myself.

Enter Apple Watch which is on my case all day, every day, to get in my 30+ minutes of walking. No excuses. So I walk every single day. Today I'm waiting for a break in the rain. I hate holding an umbrella, but it's what I have to do. I don't always want to go out into the wet or cold, but I ALWAYS feel so good when I do.

Weight has never been an issue for me. And I thought we could be friends!

I wish I enjoyed walking or regimented exercise, but I don't. The only gym exercise I liked was weight lifting. Since we've had the horses at home, I feel like I get enough daily physical exercise, fresh air and my weight stays stabilized at a healthy level, even with my terrible sweet tooth. I'm indifferent to food and could, unfortunately, live on cheese and crackers and candy, not even good candy. I resorted to a 4 meal a week food delivery service for DH, though, which has worked well. At first I felt guilty about the expense but it's actually cheaper than the amount of aspirational food I purchased and then threw away.

The walk to the barn is 1/4 mile round trip and once a day, I get the dog outside for an unleashed walk down our country road. Except for early spring, I wouldn't do it except for the pup.

I do it because I have to. I come from a long line of fat, unhealthy people. Lots of cancer, diabetes, etc, on both sides. I have outlived my mother by about three years now, and her experience certainly taught me some lessons. Not that she brought on her own cancer, but if she had been in better physical condition, she might have had a fighting chance (or if she had gone to the doctor sooner, which she avoided because she was always afraid the dr. would put her on a diet). My dad is 88 now and exercises twice a day, every day, and has exercised daily for about 25 years (he didn't start 'til later in life). He isn't in perfect health but is the oldest of his siblings and has outlived half of them, and has outlived both his parents by at least 15 years. Almost all of my cousins are diabetic and overweight. So I am fighting against those genes.

I don't enjoy exercise but I enjoy the feeling afterwards. I like to walk with a friend and can walk forever if I have someone to talk to or a good selection of music in my headphones. I hate the feeling of being out of breath, though, so I'm not gonna run unless I'm being chased. These days, besides walking, my typical workout is 20-30 min on the Peloton followed by 10-15 min of strength training.

I like the taste of most "good for you" foods, but I also love fries and cake and craft beer and and and... I just limit that stuff, moreso the older I get. I can't have junk food in the house. Fortunately, DH is in agreement and we are both really trying to eat well. Instead of cookies, we keep a clear glass jar of nuts on the counter. Pasta used to be a staple here...now we have it maybe 1-2 times a month.

I don't think I have been at my "ideal" weight ever in my life. I am generally about 10-15 lbs overweight and unless I want to eat only lettuce for the rest of my life, I have to be okay with being a bit chubby. Best case scenario for me is usually around 10 lbs over the recommended weight for my height. If I let myself go, I could easily be obese, I think.

I have always absolutely hated exercise. I love the way I feel when I'm in shape. I like the way my clothes fit when I'm in shape. But I hate the actual exercising. I always wished I was one of those people that loved to do it, but alas that is not me and never will be. The only thing I don't hate with a passion is spin. A few years ago I got a Peloton bike and while I'm not as consistent as I wish I were, I do keep up with it and have been able to maintain my weight.

If anyone discovers the secret of turning a couch potato into an exercise loving person, please do tell!

Hmmm. Well, I’ll just say off the bat that I probably have verged on disordered eating at times in my life. While i’ve never been overweight, I am short (5’2”) and realized as a young teen that my body wants its set point to be about 5-10 lbs heavier than I want to be. So I literally have fought with my body for 40 years, and have mostly stayed around where I want to be, but it takes disciplined eating and daily exercise.

It is so ingrained, and such a habit…I don’t even know if I love running and riding the Peloton every day, or if it‘s just that I simply addicted. I definitely feel gross when I don’t work out. I do enjoy the endorphins after as well. I also enjoy the fact that being fit makes me better at tennis which I play several times a week.

I pretty much don’t know how else to be at this point. 🤷‍♀️ 😂

I've been a runner since I was 23. I am now 70 and am still a runner. I was initially a road runner and changed to technical trail running when I was 45. I run 4 times a week, hike, walk my sons golden retriever and do strength training twice a week with a trainer and I love doing it all.

DLM, I'm sure we can find a way to be friends. Does it help to know my skin is lousy?

Forgot to address healthy eating above. Overall I enjoy healthy food and most meals that I eat are fairly healthy, although they may be higher in calories than preferred. Avocados…. My diet contains a lot of fresh vegetables, I am working on increasing my protein. Where I digress is good cheese and sweets, I can easily over indulge. Also, enjoy good wine or cocktails but these are handled as treats only, I have had no issues limiting alcohol but would love to add a bit more wine to my diet, without it negatively affecting my weight.

I live a healthy lifestyle because (1) I’m married to a family practice physician and that’s how he lives, and (2) I’ve personally seen what living an unhealthy lifestyle has done to some of our friends and family members. We eat very healthfully, and have set up a home gym here in our house.

Yes, I’ll admit, it’s hard at times. especially the eating and cooking part. We pretty much eat no meat (although we do eat some fish), no potatoes, white rice, white flour and bread made from it etc., and eat minimal corn, sugar, cheeses, and other unhealthful fatty foods. Type-2 Diabetes and heart disease runs strongly in both our families and we‘re just determined to try and avoid that.

I’ve taught myself how to cook and bake using almond, coconut and other more healthful flours. Instead of rice, I use bulgar, farro and quinoa. I use Banza pastas which are made with chickpeas. Instead of potatoes, I substitute beans whenever possible. Large butter beans work especially well (for me) in recipes callng for diced potatoes. Beans are a great protein substitute/source in meatless meals, BTW.

Our home gym has an Elliptical, a Bowflex, weights, a Bodyblade and a mat for floor exercises. We turned one of our two extra bedrooms into it once our kids grew up and moved away. It’s small, but it works well enough for us.

I do have to say, though, that when invited to a friend or family member’s home for a meal, we eat whatever they serve. We always try to avoid being a pain of a guest to feed (LOL)!

Anyhoo, it’s not for everyone but it’s working for us. But, the last thing I want to do here is debate it.

somewhat related to the topic

I can relate to so many of the above comments! I’ve never “enjoyed” exercising per say, although I like to hike and dance (to live music) but sadly I have fewer opportunities for both the past few years. I love hiking with friends; I miss my late husband who was always ready to go out in nature, and took care of everything! I’m nervous to hike in the hills around me solo, and am bored of hiking in my neighborhood. Sometimes I consider traveling to a European city because then I typically walk over 10 miles a day painlessly, and lose weight without effort, eating whatever I want!

The last few years I’ve been doing Pilates twice a week, which I mildly enjoy- enough to keep doing it. My favorite part is when class is over, and the fact that at least I am doing SOME kind of exercise regularly. Since I retired, my natural inclination is to putter around the house, reading and surfing online.

I stopped eating white food about 15 years ago, have no interest junk food or fast food, drink alcohol only occasionally. I still crave sweets sometimes, but have become more conscious of the fact that I don’t feel good if I eat a lot of carbs…but when I go out to eat or to a party, I eat whatever I want. I eat lots of fresh produce- fruit is my favorite food. I’m usually in a state when I’d love to lose 10 pounds, or 15! I definitely have to watch my weight and just don’t feel physically good when I’ve put weight on; when I feel heavy I’m always aware of it, ugh. It’s still a struggle.

I could happily be a couch potato and read and eat ice cream all day. I really have to force myself to exercise. I do it because I want to be healthy and I see the difference in how I feel when I eat right and exercise. But, do I enjoy it? Nope... couch potato and ice cream.

If i could be fit, tanned and healthy by taking a pill, I'd probably do it. Barring that, I don't hate exercise but I am the queen of .excuses. I have been a slow runner for most of the last 15 years. Where we live now doesn't have many safe places to run. So last spring we joined Planet Fitness. I generally go four mornings, first thing. A treadmill run, followed by a weight lifting session.

I'd rather not, but I do it because I should.

I enjoy walking and running. Running is relatively new to me as I started last year and I'm 66 this year. I found out that I can continue to run even if I am short of breath. It is a lovely revelation.

As far as the health diet thing goes I became interested in health food and etc very young. Then I found out that I needed it because of migraines. I kind of thought I would eat healthily be a sort of a vegetarian but eat what I wanted occasionally if it were junk food. But junk food kills me. I instantly get migraines if I touch any kind of sugar product or MSG or canola oil and the list goes on and on and on. Plus if it rains etc so yes I am a health food nut. Not that I want to be.

DH is a fan/follower of Dr. David Agus, who says getting up and moving at least once per hour is critical. (Argus didn’t necessarily invent this concept, just spoke about it on a recent podcast.) It is such an easy thing to do, and yet I can sit for hours reading or working or crafting without getting up…I feel like I should set some kind of alarm to get up and move every hour. I’m guessing that getting up to grab a snack doesn’t count?

I have always gravitated to healthier foods -- I prefer whole grain breads, etc, love veggies and with a few exceptions prefer lighter meals. I didn't grow up eating desserts and don't have much of a sweet tooth (though it is growing stronger as I age). I find it takes much less to satisfy my hunger these days but I have been challenged by idle snacking ... and I have a weakness for salty/crunchy snacks.

I have and have always had a very sluggish metabolism so I need to be conscious of that -- I always lose and maintain weight better when more active. I was an athlete when younger-- not a star athlete but a consistent all-year athlete. In some ways that is helpful because I know how to exercise, lift weights, etc and I enjoy a lot of activities. It plays against me also because in my mind I can still jump into a pool and swim miles ... but in reality, I cannot. The thing working most against me is my vision which has declined greatly in the past 10 year. I have had two surgeries which helped up didn't resolve the issues. I have blurry double vision and no depth perception--which makes me feel unsteady and disoriented especially with outdoor activities. I am slowly working through this and trying to find locations/activities that I can do safely-- but this makes it a chore. I should enjoy them more but even walking can make me anxious-- especially on uneven ground or pavement. I thought the treadmill would be good but it really isn't .. I get slight vertigo and visually disoriented. I am thinking swimming may be the key but I don't have easy access to a pool. (Sister has a pool but it's not really a lap pool ... and I am not keen to exercise in front of her whole family lol).

@Sueb20 thanks for the reminder of the benefits of getting up each hour! It is especially good for me as I have a clotting disorder and sitting for large periods of time add to my risk ... but I am SO good at sitting for long periods of time lol! Work, reading, whatever. Bluetooth headphones make it very easy to get up and walk around while in a meeting (as long as I am not leading it). I was also taking short breaks to jump rope (a great exercise!) but I let that slip. I need to return to it-- now that it is getting a little warmer, I can slip outside for 15 min at various intervals in the day!

I am more inclined to be healthy and active when I enjoy it ... doing it because I "need to" isn't much of a motivator. I need to adjust that thinking because it's not going to get easier as I move into my 60s and 70s.

I once did an activity where we had to list our core values, and for me daily movement was one of them. I totally rest only when I’m sick or when my body feels tired from too much activity. About 2 months ago I started personal training Pilates equipment lessons and that has really invigorated me. I look forward to Wednesdays because it’s Pilates day! But again, my work is teaching students and promoting a physically active lifestyle. It does not need to be forma exercise so many of you are probably meeting physical activity guidelines.

We do not eat fast food. Maybe once a year we will get a McDonald’s egg mcmuffin, but overall fast food like fried french fries do not agree with me at all. We get pizza maybe once a month at best. We cook at home mostly. We pack lunches, though today we are taking our new admin assistant to the campus cafeteria.

I have cut way back on alcohol because like @runninginplace I find as I got older it really disturbs my sleep, even one drink. So, I will have alcohol a couple times per month and try for a Saturday because I assume I won’t sleep well.

I’ve had to reevaluate my eating because I have moved into the prediabetes range, but I am down about 12-13 lbs since last fall.

I don’t watch what I eat much, but as others have said, what I want to eat has changed as I’ve gotten older.

For activity, I’ve alwasy enjoyed walking. For a while, though, it ws hard to continue to commit to it on a regular basis. As life eases for me, I plan to join a friend on her regular adventures to the local trails. Another friend and I joined the fitness center together and we are good at getting each other to go at least three times a week. A simple ”Gym at 11 tomorrow?” text is all it takes. And we enjoy it. Our primary benefits are the movement, the giggles, and routine of going. I know I sleep better on the days we go, so some days I go by myself, mainly for the treadmill.

Are we fitter? Who knows, but moving and laughing are certainly healthy!

I was a perfect size 5-7 until I hit 50. They took me off "the Pill", menopause hit full on...my knees started ripping on my 5 mile a day run, six days a week. I found I liked sitting down. Discovered "The Price Is Right". Re-ripped my knees....I started gaining weight. I'm a size 10. I'm not sure if I want the attention I got when I was thin. People had expectations from me...."Are you running the marathon Saturday? "Do you eat meat?" "I've NEVER seen you eat anything!"

My husband has very high blood pressure if he doesn't run. So I went running with him...and ripped my knee. I can't do it....but he's in trouble if he doesn't go without me. We have a home gym. He's stopped using it. Says he hates the treadmill. I'm going to be a widow if I don't figure this out.

Yeah ... menopause is a real kick in the pants, isn't it? I used to find it laughable to think that I'd ever be anything larger than a size 0 back in my misspent youth. Oh, how the words of our young and ignorant selves can come back to haunt us! I'm still relatively ok with my body shape and size, but being post-menopausal means that I have to work at it now. I wish I enjoyed working at it more than I do. My alarm sounds at 4:30 on weekday mornings, and it's a struggle to roll out of bed, have a cup of coffee, then hit the home gym. I am well aware, however, that it's a "now or never" thing with me each morning. If I'm not on the treadmill by 5:30 a.m., I'm not getting on the treadmill that day. And seeing how I have benefited from cardio endurance is my main motivation these days. Well, that and the fact that I don't wish to outgrow my current wardrobe.

I was pleasantly surprised on our last couple of trips to the mountains to realize that I was doing the hiking routes with ease. When I have not been exercising regularly in the past, I would feel it in my struggle to breathe and would tire out pretty easily. Improved cardio endurance has greatly enhanced my ability to hike at elevation, so I intend to keep it up for as long as I can.

Now -- if I could just make myself love weight lifting. I never have really enjoyed it, and once I stop doing it for any length of time, the muscle soreness when I resume (not to mention the fact that I have to go down in weight size and can no longer lift what I once did -- having to basically start all over at the baseline) makes it really hard to motivate myself. I do believe that weight lifting, particularly at a certain age, can make all the difference in one's physique though.

As far as eating, I don't diet but I'm pretty careful about what I eat. I was vegetarian for years, maintaining a strict vegan diet at one point, and while I am no longer, I do believe that I learned a great deal about nutrition during those years that has stayed with me. That said, if I want chips and queso and a margarita on occasion, I'm having chips and queso and a margarita. Life's short.

I pretty much force myself. I do like some healthy foods but I also like some junk foods. I am becoming rather ambivalent towards food most of the time though. Fewer foods are giving me true satisfaction. Junk food that I used to like, say Snickers, is just meh now. This would be great if I was finding healthy substitutes that satisfied me, but that is not happening, either. I made a miso-glazed tilapia the other night with stir fried veggies. As I was eating I admitted that I really did not care for fish all that much but would keep making it because others in the family really like it. When that dawned on me, I just ended up giving half my fish to my son. It's rather depressing in a way.

For physical activity, I can motivate myself to do strength training because it helps me to do the things that are important to me. Core work keeps me from being sidelined by a back injury, which is my primary focus. The other muscles I work on for the help in doing gardening activities. I have to do these things so that when gardening season rolls around, I can carry the larger bags of compost to where they need to be without waiting for a teenager come help me. I had to accept this year that the gardening activities I do are simply not enough, even with all the digging, compost carrying, wheel barrow loads, etc. I also hate exercise for exercise sake but need to do it. I also need to let go of the notion of what I would prefer or the ideal circumstances for doing things. I am not going to walk when it is blustery cold outside so I need to either walk in circles at home or buy an exercise bike. I do not relish the idea but will do it so I can keep doing the things I would rather spend my time on.

I am a runner and run 2-3 full marathons a year and a handful of shorter races. I love to run; it is one of the parts of my day I most look forward to. I am still going strong as I enter my 50s, and I hope to continue running for the rest of my life; it is therapeutic for me. OTOH, I pretty much despise every other type of exercise, especially weightlifting. I joke I would rather run 10 miles than lift 20 minutes of weights, but I force myself to do it because I know it's necessary.

I was a vegetarian for most of my life, and I still gravitate toward a plant-based diet. I rarely eat meat and never crave it. My biggest downfall is sugar, not cakes, cookies, chocolate, etc. but sugary candy like licorice, jelly beans, and gummy bears. Sometimes I wonder if I am not eating enough calories, and that is why my body craves those things. I gave up sugar for Lent, and so far, it's going well, so hopefully it sticks!

Sueb20, I have a watch that keeps track of how much I walk/exercise, and if I am immobile for more than an hour, it will vibrate on my wrist - which I find annoying, and I end up taking it off.

I've pretty much always hated exercising, unless I was swimming, surfing, or playing tennis, but I sold my surfboards when we moved from Venice to Westchester. I still have bicycles, but I seldom ride them. In Venice, I used to ride my bike on the beach bike trails all year, mostly after work (they were too crowded on weekends), and while the bike trails are beautiful and scenic, I got bored with them after about 12 years. Also, having tourists walk on the bike trails instead of the parallel pedestrian walkways irritated me no end, and they did cause me to have a few crashes. My record number of crashes in one day was a 4th of July, when I went south to Redondo Beach. Pedestrians in the South Bay were the worst.

I've always watched what I eat, but I've never given up white food like rice and pasta - I just can't bring myself to do it. I do eat mostly whole grain pasta, including bean pasta, but I guess rice is my downfall. I rarely eat potatoes - they do not interest me, except for a potato frittata with a lot of other ingredients. I generally add a lot of vegetables to rice when I cook it, and this way the vegetables stay hot. I do like quinoa and kasha (Bulgar wheat) and make those fairly often instead of rice.

Today my favorite exercise is swimming, but during the winter, it is expensive to heat the pool, and so I do not do it. I used to wear a wetsuit when I went in the ocean, but those unfortunately no longer fit.

I am better at exercising when I have a partner, but after living with my brother, I have become as sedentary as he is. I really should be trying to inspire him to go on more hikes in the myriad of parks we have with such beautiful scenery. We used to go mountain biking on weekends but have not done that recently. The mountains here are rather steep, and so we have to pick our trails carefully. Lately I've been plagued with saddle sores when I ride my bikes.