The Teenager Diet

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Are we eating like teenagers? And, how is that impacting our health and fitness after age 50?

Welcome to the LenDentonThrive Letter, my weekly newsletter for busy 50+ guys who want to lose weight, get fit, and stay fit for life (without crazy diets or grueling workouts)!

This week, I’m experimenting with a shortened format. Let me know what you think of it by dropping me a reply to this email.

I came across some interesting research this week about the eating habits of American adults. This paper stated that our lifelong eating habits are generally established in adolescence and early adulthood (ages 18-25). This makes sense because this is the timeframe when young men begin making food choices on their own for the first time. Lifelong food preferences are set into place. 

This also implies that most American 50+ guys are eating like they did when they were teenagers or college students. That was true for me a few years ago, before starting my ThriveLife journey. It’s still true for most of my 50+ friends. 

I can see a few problems with this:

• As young men, most guys make food choices based on taste, convenience, and low cost. 

• This results in their diets being overly reliant on take-out and fast foods. 

• These are typically high-calorie, low-nutrient choices.

• Most of these choices include ultra-processed foods.

Over time, this teenager diet becomes our grown-up diet. As guys mature into their 30s and 40s, we become busier and more time-constrained. Marriage and family add to those demands. And even when busy families reduce their dependence on meals-prepared-outside-the-home (i.e take-out and fast food), their dependence on ultra-processed foods goes up! 

Today, the results of the teenager diet are becoming increasingly obvious:

• Obesity is increasing in every age group

• The incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancers are at all-time highs 

• More than 50% of American men have one or more chronic diseases (per the CDC)

So, are you on the teenager diet? And, are you experiencing any of the problems I just noted above?

The antidote to the teenager diet isn’t to start some other diet based on the latest fad or to start injecting yourself with a new weight loss drug.

The best alternative to the teenager diet is to eat more intentionally. 

Eat with purpose!

The purpose I’m referring to is to eat to improve your overall health and fitness. Food is the single most powerful tool in your fitness toolbox. It is more powerful than any exercise or supplement to help you lose weight and get fit. It is so powerful that…

…if you can change the way you eat, you’ll change the way you look, the way you feel, how healthy you are, and how long you're likely to live!

Food is that important!

Start by changing your mind to move away from the teenager diet. Then begin looking for ways to replace your factory-based foods with healthier farm-based foods. 

This isn’t about dieting or calorie reduction. It’s about Eating Smarter. I’ve written about how to do that here. Eating Smarter helped me lose 70 pounds in 7 months.

In the coming weeks, I’ll share some exciting news about new tools and resources to help you kick the teenager diet and create your own fitness transformation in 2025. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Smarter, not harder.

When you’re ready to begin your transformation, here are three ways I can help…

#1 - Sign up for this newsletter. Every week, you’ll receive tested, actionable tips and strategies to help you build your own customized version of the ThriveLife that fits your needs, preferences, and personal style. And, it’s free!

#2 - For the Do-It-Yourself approach to the ThriveLife, you can download your free copy of my new ebook: 6 Smart Moves To Your ThriveLife click the button below.

#3 - When you’re ready to join a community of other busy 50+ Guys building their ThriveLives together, check out my new ThriveLife Transformation course. The ThriveLife Transformation guides you through a 30-day transformation process that includes online video training and daily support and assistance through our online community. Join alone or bring your friends. To learn more about the ThriveLife Transformation, click the button below.

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Thanks for reading this week.

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