It is hard to break bad habits!
Everyone knows that.
The reason for that is--it is something that YOU have learned or do.Something YOU are used to and therefore YOU "own' that habit, so to speak.
If anyone tries to tell you it is a bad habit, you would most probably deny it.
Denial is your defense weapon so you dont have to get rid of your habit---yes you are afraid to break it.
A study done on seniors by Dr. Moore who is a member of American Geriatrics Society, shows that it is never too late to change bad habits.
Maybe some wont realise that these are bad habits, but if one really thinks about it, these acts are not "normal" to what actually should be done.
She offers the following suggestions to help older adults conquer some of the more common bad habits:
Bad Food Choices: Excess weight can cause multiple health problems and complications, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Substituting good carbohydrates (sweet potatoes, wheat bread, brown rice) for bad carbohydrates (white potatoes, white bread, white rice) and adding lean proteins, while limiting foods with high fat and sugar contents, will help seniors maintain a healthy weight.
Smoking and Drinking: Smoking and excessive alcohol intake is proven to have negative health effects on a person at any age, but seniors who smoke and drink regularly increase their chances of more advanced medical problems. The effects of many medications are altered when mixed with alcohol, which can pose serious health risks, especially for seniors taking multiple medications.
"Couch Potato Syndrome": As people age, they often slow down and feel like they can't do as much as they did when they were young. While physical activity sometimes becomes restricted due to health ailments, that doesn't mean the brain needs to slow down. There are a variety of activities seniors can do to keep their minds focused and sharp, including word puzzles, interactive games, joining a book club or participating in other social and volunteer activities.
Adjusting Medications: The majority of seniors are on multiple medications and sometimes find it difficult or too bothersome to remember when and which medications to take each day. As a result, some seniors "adjust" their daily medication routine without talking to their physicians. To help keep medications organized and alleviate frustration, seniors should use weekly or monthly pill boxes and have a family member or friend help them fill pill boxes on a regular basis or make a color coded chart to help keep track of their pills and the times they need to be taken.
Lack of Exercise: Keeping physically active is integral to keeping the heart, mind and bones healthy. For some seniors, physical restrictions make exercise a challenge, but there are still small ways to incorporate physical activity into a daily routine, such as parking further away from the store to get in a short walk. And, programs such as yoga, can help with balance and weight loss and can be adapted to all levels of physical ability.
