MORE than 63 per cent of us are overweight or obese. That’s more than 15 million Australians! And this was me.

I’m not young anymore and I had become matronly! God forbid, I never wanted to be matronly, but here I was fat and bloated. How did that happen? I was mortified! My body was on an accelerated downhill slide.

Surrounding this realisation was a huge burden of negative self talk and hopelessness. It’s all too late and it’s too hard, and besides, don’t most women get like this when they are my age?

Well, yes, a lot actually do! Oh, they will have struggled to maintain some semblance of physical order, as I did, but the overwhelming pull of sugary and fatty processed food, most often wins the battle.

We’ve come to accept it as normal. It’s become a collective consciousness, but it shouldn’t be this way.

To top it off, you don’t even have to be overweight to be sick from illnesses caused by lifestyle choices. Yikes.

Overwhelming medical evidence, statistics, and expenditure on health care are now pointing to a major trend towards a catastrophic national health crisis, in direct correlation with what we put in our mouths.

Younger people, although affected, are generally okay – for a while – but as we age, the real trouble sets in. If we continually consume “food-like” products, products that are primped, primed and packaged, and delivered to us on a platter and ignore the stresses we place on ourselves then we are really in trouble.

The ill effects of stress and “food-like” products are cumulative and insidious. We ignore our pipes and pumping stations until something goes wrong. We don’t really notice the incremental changes, until one day we are being slapped with a handful of prescriptions for pills to help us to maintain our lives.

What would happen if we just made better choices, became more mindful, and stopped eating processed foods loaded with sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and any number of preservatives, colours and flavourings?

We should be healthy and energised no matter what age we are. Yes, we will slow down as we age, and possibly get slightly rounder than we were when we were younger, but that shouldn’t stop us from being able to live productive and adventurous lives, providing we’re healthy.

I garnered all my willpower and took control of my health. That matron I saw in the mirror was going down! I made changes over time, which have now become a way of life. Oh, occasionally I still get pulled back, but through this journey, I’ve discovered a freedom that I never thought possible. And I’m NOT matronly, I’m not skinny, but I am healthy.

“Crowding out” as a method to stop eating rubbish works really well. Filling up on the good stuff leaves little room or desire for unhealthy choices. Allow your tastebuds to discover the true sweetness of real food. Don’t diet, just eat real food!

By eating mostly plants, high-quality proteins, healthy fats and fruit, you will discover a new lease on life. You will feel clear headed, energetic, motivated, strong and healthy. Your skin and eyes will be clear.

It’s never too late to take control of your health. All you need is a strong desire to want to live an energised and passionate life. Oh, and a desire to get rid of the matron in the mirror.

Life is a journey, make it a good one. Start writing your next chapter now, without delay, and by the way, make it your best chapter yet.

Linda Ivey is a health coach and wellness strategist, linda@getfedforlife.com.au, getfedforlife.com.au