Life is Funny
When you were in preschool, an afternoon nap was mandatory.
As an adult, you dream about taking a nap in the middle of the day.
Way back when, your bedtime was 8:00 pm.
As grown ups, most of us only wish could turn out the lights and crawl under the covers at 8:00 pm.
When you were in elementary school, you were required to read 30 minutes each day.
As an adult, there's not much time for pleasure reading, and if there is, it's certainly not happening on a daily basis.
When you were a kid, your parents pressured you to go outside and play with your friends.
As an adult, you wish you could go outside to enjoy sunlight and fresh air while visiting with your neighbors... but if you did, you know there would be no one to make dinner.
When you were a teenager, you wanted to get out of the house and move as far away as possible from your parents.
As an adult, you would pull out your two front teeth to have your mom or dad live nearby.
When you are a younger adult, you count every calorie and exercise like a crazy person to maintain your ideal body weight. Desert is reserved for special occasions.
As an older adult, weight loss is slow and steady...it happens without even trying. People encourage you to eat as much as possible. Deserts and snacks become mandatory.
Does this sound familiar to you?
As a medical speech pathologist, I advise patients and family members on ways to prevent weight loss each and every week. Over the years, drawing upon both research and clinical experience, I've come up with a list of things that can be done to put a stop to weight loss.
Considering this, I present...
1. Keep favorite foods on hand and serve them often- avoid foods that are likely to be refused...like Brussels sprouts and lima beans
2. Choose high calorie foods- eat a creamy baked potato soup rather than vegetable and broth soup (that's diet food)
3. Choose high protein foods- meat, fish, chicken, cheese, beans, yogurt, eggs and peanut butter
4. Add butter...to anything and everything- each pat of butter adds an additional 36 calories
5. Use high fat dairy products- whole milk, cream, sour cream, cheese and cream cheese
6. Add high calorie condiments- use dressings and mayonnaise generously on salads and sandwiches
7. Add sugar or honey- ditch the pink or blue packets when sweetening your drinks, and get an extra 16 calories per teaspoon by adding the real thing
8. Skip foods and drinks that are fat free, sugar free or diet- always go for the full fat, full sugar, full calorie options
8. Add sauce or gravy to meats and veggies- it puts extra calories in every bite
9. Provide sufficient serving sizes- larger portions may be necessary in some cases
10. Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks every day- no skipping!
11. Give high calorie drinks- juices, milk, soda and sugar sweetened tea are best... there is no nutritional value in water, I repeat, there is no nutritional value in water!
12. Offer bedtime snacks- because it will be a long time until breakfast tomorrow morning
13. Eat desert every chance you get- pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, pastries and ice cream
14. Use extra seasonings- food tastes better when the flavor is enhanced with salt, pepper, red pepper, cinnamon or vanilla
15. Exercise- increasing your level of activity increases your natural appetite
Pass these tips along to someone you know who may benefit or put them into practice when you head off to work with your patients today. Several small changes in food and drink choices can lead to big increases in daily calorie consumption. Give them a try. What have you got to lose?
Growing up is mandatory. Growing old is optional.
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