My husband is on a feeding tube. He had throat cancer 12 years ago and the radiation caused damage to his vocal chords that made him aspirate when he eats. The aspiration got so bad he kept getting lung infections, so a year ago he got a feeding tube installed so he could skip eating by mouth altogether. The actual surgery of installing a feeding tube is simple and can even be an outpatient procedure but the emotional trauma of never being able to eat again is horrible, as you can imagine. He has handled this event really well in my opinion, and while, yes, he was severely depressed for several months, afterwards he lifted himself out of the funk and does not complain very often about his plight.

I, on the other hand, was also traumatized. Eating out was a big part of our life and of course eating and drinking is a very social thing also. We can no longer go out for drinks or dinner with friends. I don’t feel right hosting meals out my house for friends or family because he is left out from enjoying the event. It has been a big loss for both of us.

Now let’s add old age issues to the mix. I have been pre-diabetic for about 7 years but never crossed the threshold to diabetes type 2 until a few months ago when that number nudged into the diabetic range. Yes, I am overweight. Not obese, but definitely could use to lose 50 lbs (I am tall). I had also been on a statin to lower by fatty liver numbers (also made worse by being overweight). Recently I had a reaction to the statin, however, and am off it hoping to lose weight and not need that medicine either.

I need to lose weight, cut out sugar and carbs, and lower my cholesterol. I have lost weight before and am determined to do it again so I do not have diabetes or high cholesterol anymore. Of course there are lots of older people who just take meds for these issues and continue their same eating lifestyle. Luckily I do not have high blood pressure yet, or salt would become an enemy also! My goal is to lose that weight and need no meds. It is ridiculous that I cannot achieve this goal. Especially with my husband no longer eating, I am in total control of my diet. This should be easy right? Not!

I like fish and chicken. I like vegetables and fruit. I have already removed gluten from my diet due to stomach issues. This losing weight should not be an issue for me, but it is. Eating does not excite me anymore. I don’t want to eat foods that look too good in front of my husband. I try to help him from being tempted by my food by eating food I know he would not like. I actually find that I don’t want to eat, which might help with this weight loss issue but it also depresses me because food is a pleasure and it is gone from my life.

I try not to feel sorry for myself because imagine how exponentially horrible it is for my husband? He can’t even have a cup of coffee without aspirating! So, once again I find myself admonishing you, the reader, do not take food for granted! If you are not diabetic, or don’t have high blood pressure or high cholesterol then count yourself lucky but be warned. With old age our eating habits catch up with us. We can no longer have burgers whenever we want or desserts filled with sugar and fat. We need to be eating lean meats, lots of vegetables and fruit as opposed to steak, potatoes and ice cream. If you are not currently eating well, it WILL catch up with you. And when it does, you will have to decide whether to add pills to your daily regimen one by one or whether to make a life change.

I have a friend who has eaten healthy his entire life. He is 79 now. And guess what? He is healthier then most 65 year olds I know. He is reaping the rewards of his lifestyle choices. Can I reverse the damage I have done? Can I lose enough weight to make the diabetes go away and the cholesterol numbers to be in a healthy range again? I am going to try.

And the other issue that cannot be ignored in conjunction with diet is excercise. I have definitely slacked off on excercise over the last 10 years and I am definitely paying the price now! Please don’t minimize the important of actual excercise in your health and longevity. Finding time to fit it in is very difficult, especially if you work full time like me and caretake others. But I MUST find a way to incorporate excercise into my daily life and I will.

Old age is not for cowards for sure. If you want to live to be 70 or longer you can no longer neglect your body. You can no longer eat whatever you want. You must proactively take steps to improve your health or your quality of life will greatly diminish and pills, lots of them, will become part of your life. I am fighting the good fight, and I write this blog for myself as much as for. you. Food is a pleasure and we need to figure out how to get that pleasure even while making healthy choices. Whenver I start having a pity party for myslef about food, I remember my husband. The poor guy has lost ALL pleasure associated with food. The least I can do is find ways to get pleasure that will not harm me. Change your food choices now, before your body breaks down from the damage you have been doing eating fatty, sugary foods. Your choices will effect how long into old age you get to live!