Feeling like being twenty again doesn’t come easy

by marlies|dekkers
When I became 45 I wanted to give myself a birthday present. What would make me really happy? It would be great if I could give myself another 10 years of the energy level I had at that moment. I collected a team around me with specialists, personal trainers and nutritional experts, to help me with this goal. The result after years of hard working? It paid off, I feel better than ever, having more energy I could ever have wished for. But it definitely didn’t come easy.

Last week I was dancing in a club with some pretty ladies in their late twenties. They got tired after hours of dancing and really needed a couple of strong drinks to stay in a party mood. I was dancing till the sun came up, with only some sparkling water. My legs, carried by very high heels, were inexhaustible and I was lightly disappointment when the others wanted to go home to catch some sleep. Next morning, when I woke up at 7.30 I had two hours of sleep and no bags under my eyes. I realized that my very though sports regime and my super healthy way of life really brings amazing results.

In the morning when my personal trainer rings the doorbell I always jump out of bed because I simply have too much energy. Friends ask me why I don’t grab a simple cracker in the morning to save time instead of preparing my morning food, juices, pills and thee. I explain to them how energetic I feel when waking up. Getting compliments throughout the day. Having more energy than those ladies in their late twenties in the club. Then I realize, it costs some effort, but it’s sooo worth it. I wish all women to have this feeling. Therefor I want to share some of my health rituals which are very
important to me besides my though sports regime.

It starts with my breakfast. Never skip a good start of the day, it gives you a lot of energy.

My breakfast recipe is a big plate of oatmeal, biological oats made with soy milk (make sure you buy unsweetened soy milk) I cook the milk with a cinnamon stick and add the oats when the milk gets warm. In the meanwhile I break some pieces from a block of very dark chocolate (85% cacao). When I pour the porridge in a plate, I put the chocolate on it so it can melt over the hot oatmeal. I put lots of red fruit on it, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pomegranate and strawberries. Topped with almond slices. Really yummy! I drink fresh pressed orange juice with it and fresh green or ginger tea and a few glasses of water.

Part two are my supplements. When you take supplements, make sure you get the natural variant, not the chemical ones. My list of pills every morning: vitamin B, D and E. Omega 3-7, spirulina, chlorella, Q10, magnesium, selenium, zinc, borage oil, iron. I know you think I’m going overboard, but I’ve never seen so many surprised faces when I’m telling people I’m almost 50.

Next to all this effort, commitment and sweat, make sure you relax enough. I do a sauna visit twice a week. But if you have the time, make a long walk in the forest or on the beach. Have some fresh air and feel fabulous!

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