Should You Give Up Alcohol When You Hit 45?

Posted on Jun 22nd 2011 11:00AM by That's Fit Editors

By Deborah Dunham for Blisstree.com

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For the next 30 days, I have vowed to give up alcohol, caffeine and sugar. Starting right after I finish this hazelnut coffee and glazed donut. Just kidding.

But I'm serious about ditching these items from my diet. As much as I love a nice, hot cup of Joe in the morning, a glass of Cabernet with dinner and some form of chocolate every evening (especially warm Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies), I feel like I'm somehow out-doing all of the goodness that my body gets on the road, on the trails and on the mat every day.

Other than those daily indulgences, I eat very healthily. I'm a strict vegetarian, I drink green smoothies each morning (almond milk mixed with fruit, kale, swiss chard and protein powder) and I run marathons and compete in triathlons -- which means most mornings are taken up with one to three hours of exercise.

Still, that sugar. That caffeine. And that alcohol.

In some ways, I think I have used my otherwise healthy behaviors to justify my junky treats. "Hey, I ran 10 miles today, so I can eat this second brownie." Right? Not really. All of the bad ingredients in those items still go into our bodies and have to land somewhere. And, regardless of my fitness, my body is not where I want them.

It just so happens that my new epiphany coincides with a new study that shows I'm not alone. Bioglin, a new supplement company, questioned more than 5,000 people and revealed that at age 45, when health issues start creeping up, many of us are more inclined to ditch the booze and clean up our diets.

It seems the 45 to 54 age group was the most motivated to get healthier, due to a recent health scare, a family member's illness or a bad medical assessment from their doctor. It's an age when youth and vitality are still within our reach -- and being faced with losing that is not an option for many of us.

So, while I'm not 45 yet, I do relate to the desire to get healthier as we age. I mean, getting older is fine, but who wants a body that looks old and acts old? Why not stall -- or prevent -- things like weight gain, high blood pressure, joint pain and heart disease? I just want to have more energy, feel happier and watch my body respond better to my training. So giving up the wine, the coffee and the sweets for the next 30 days will be a good test.

How about you? What is one thing you want to give up so you can feel better?

More from Blisstree.com:
In Pursuit of Happiness: Start Some New Habits (The Good Kind)
Liver #1 Fail: How Drinking Alcohol (Or Not) Could Affect Your Health
I Live With Addiction: No Alcohol, But Lots of Temptation

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Tags: aging and diet, alcohol, chocolate, coffee, cutting out alcohol, diet, dieting after 45, give+up+alcohol+after+45, giveupalcoholafter45, giving+up+alcohol, givingupalcohol, heart disease, high blood pressure, should+i+give+up+alcohol, shouldigiveupalcohol, sugar content, weight gain

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

mika 6-22-2011 @ 1:25PM

I can not possibly give up my glass of wine at night or my piece of dark chocolate. I eat healthy and work out so that I can enjoy these things in moderation.
I weigh myself once a week and try not to obsess on a number. I try to keep my weight within a 5 pound range and when it gets toward the higher end. I cut back on "treats" and work out more.

I have lost 40 pounds by watching my calories, never letting myself feel deprived and walking every day in SmartSole exercise insoles. (hTtp://www.smartsole.com) They are body toning insoles similar to Reebok Easytone that help you burn extra calories while you walk or work out as well as tone and tighten your legs, calves and butt. I read about them on my weight watchers board and the code ww10 gives you a 10% discount.

I also always use a pedometer to make sure I get in 10,000 steps daily which is 2 miles. I don't have the time or money for a trainer. But by making simple changes that work in my life as a working mom, I was able to go from a tight size 12 to a healthy size 6. No desire to be be a bony 0.

duane 6-25-2011 @ 11:45PM

screw that im 54 and want to drink more

BTDT 6-26-2011 @ 1:14AM

Every thing that ever lived, died.
Live while you're alive.

Mugsy 6-22-2011 @ 3:27PM

Whoa! I am 45 (exactly, in fact) and do much of the exercise you do (I'm a distance runner). But I think you might be giving up the WRONG items in the name of health!

Chocolate (specifically the dark kind), red wine and coffee all have proven and verifiable health benefits! Dark chocolate (choose the low sugar), has more antioxidants than almost any fruit juice. The resveratrol in red wine also has antioxidants, and has many significant health benefits. They are already trying to make a pill form of resveratrol. Lastly, coffee drinkers have fewer strokes, lower incidence of dementia and fewer incidence of certain cancers. Just cut out the sugar in the coffee. (I tried to post some research links, but wasn't allowed. Google all three - you'll be amazed)

Moderation, as always, is key. Well, except in running…

Phred 6-26-2011 @ 7:12AM

I fully agree coffee, a glass of wine and a bite of dark chocolate can be good for you. I am well over 45 and these are a few of the pleasures I still have. I would not give them up to live a few days longer in a nursing home.

leaf 6-26-2011 @ 7:35AM

Mugsy you should had written this artical, the arthor clearly has a high image of herself but she lost me at "protein supplements" then starts talking about the bad things in a brownie! really?!

LAURA 6-26-2011 @ 3:12PM

Mugsy...thank you for your comments. As I was reading the article I couldn't help but think much the same. Unless you are adding too much sugar, milk or other junk to your coffee or indulging in too much dark chocolate or wine, there is nothing wrong with these three foods. The sad part is you can live ultra healthy and still develop heart disease, diabetes or cancer. Not to say you shouldn't try to eat right and stay active but don't forget to live a little too.

mildrednelson24 6-23-2011 @ 5:09AM

Yes major brands do give out samples of their popular products best place is "123 Samples" search online, I just received mine

rlr4818 6-25-2011 @ 10:15PM

I fully intend to give up alcohol when I am 6 feet under. Until then, bottoms up!

jw\ 6-25-2011 @ 11:21PM

I don't drink anymore . . . I don't drink any less either!! :D

flib 6-25-2011 @ 10:23PM

you're at an age when you think you can beat aging/death. No matter how strict you get with yourself, you will age. Your skin will sag, your joints will ache, you will have less energy.
It's good to do all the healthy things you talk about but it's also good to accept the reality of aging and to enjoy all the little pleasures in life. A few pieces of chocolate, a few glasses of wine. Enjoy them.

kutkrystal 6-25-2011 @ 11:41PM

There are some great comments here. And, wow, so many senior citizens working on their health. And doing so well. Applause. Seems like a lot of work to me, but each to our own.
Me? I'm also a newly SC. I guess I'm naturally healthy. So, I don't worry about it.

My motto is "why give up something you love to live longer without it"
So I think a drink is a good thing. And I think most normal, well adjusted seniors would agree. Kind of a reward for getting thru another day. Don't you think?

skylerzx 6-25-2011 @ 10:28PM

Your never going to give anything up...you love it too much.

Angie 6-25-2011 @ 10:30PM

I do have to have coffee in the morning, but am realizing I don't need three cups. So I'm down to two. I've totally given up milk chocolate because it doesn't taste as good as it did when I was a kid. But I am starting to like dark chocolate. The alcohol though, not sure. The older I get, the worse I feel in the morning. But I do love my red wine.
I feel better when I don't eat a lot of calories, especially anything with sugar. You must exercise at least a little each day. All in moderation.

john 6-25-2011 @ 10:36PM

The age you should give up alcohol is birth. If you never take the first drink then you will never become an alcoholic, give birth to a fas baby, kill someone while driving buzzed, or get alcohol poisoning. You will never wake up in someones bed and ask..."How did I get here" or "I hope he didn't have something!" Don't ever start and you will have no regrets!

Andi 6-26-2011 @ 3:27AM

Wow...not everyone is that stupid.

jim 6-26-2011 @ 4:46AM

You sound like a lot of fun

LadylibraKS 6-26-2011 @ 5:33PM

I think u r being way to harsh not every1 that drinks especially in moderation is going to become an alcoholic.I drank in excess in my 20's this was in the late 70's and early 80's and never beacame an alcoholic and I havet drank in years and im 52 now.U have to have an addictive personality or a parent that was an alcoholic when u were concived (fas). As many others posted a glass or 2 of red wine a night can be very benificial and healthy. I'm actually considering starting this. So were your parents alcoholics or something to give u such a harsh attitude about drinking. And jim I agree with u lol.

Augie 6-25-2011 @ 10:37PM

Good luck; I'm 62. Have been exercising all my life. I eat everything in moderation. Drink beer, wine and sometimes whisky. I don't gain or lose weight. I can't do what I could in the past. In fact I do less and less all the time. Some people half my age can't keep up with me though. One thing for sure, you can't stop aging. If you like chocolate or coffee enjoy it. The aches and pains will come whether you eat the things you like or not. Meanwhile keep training for your sport. When you're fifty you can't do what you did when you were twenty but you'll still feel great.