In my 40s, I can't afford to ruin my health

To be honest,
for a while after I started this job, I barely thought about what I was eating.

Hello, I'm Akito Sarashina.

In the morning, just a sweet bun.

For lunch, usually something from a convenience store.

During work, due to time and location constraints, convenience stores are often the only things open.

It wasn't so much that I was choosing them, but rather that I had no other choice.

It felt more like that.

I'd have a cup of noodles and add about three rice balls.

I just needed to fill my stomach.

That's how I would shovel it down between drives before sitting back in the driver's seat.

Thinking back on it now, I'm sure my blood sugar levels were skyrocketing.

And even though I was eating all that, I would still eat a normal meal after getting home.

Eating while working, and eating again after getting home.

Now I think, 'Well, of course I gained weight.'

But back then, I didn't think there was anything particularly strange about it.

It's probably just like this. It's normal, just normal.

In that way, I had become somewhat resigned.

It's a job that requires physical strength, after all.

And the times I eat are all over the place.

As long as I'm out and about, it's inevitable that my diet will become sloppy.

That's how I kept lining up convenient excuses for myself.

It was about a year ago that I started paying attention to my diet.

Before that, I would eat portions for two people without a second thought.

Or rather, that was my normal.

There wasn't just one trigger.

A few small feelings of unease piled up.

First, it became difficult to button my trousers.

This hits you in a subtle way.

Clothes are more unforgiving than the numbers on a scale.

No, this must just have shrunk in the wash.

I wanted to think that.

But there are no clothes that conveniently shrink only around the waist.

Next, it was when I was walking down the street.

Suddenly, my own silhouette reflected in the shop window caught my eye.

I stopped in my tracks.

"Wait, who is this fat middle-aged guy?"

No, of course it was me.

I know that.

I know it, but I didn't want to accept it.

You think you see your own figure every day, but you don't really look at it properly.

In front of a mirror, you unconsciously look at yourself from a flattering angle.

But the glass in the city has no such reservations.

It confronts you with reality, head-on.

The final straw was a comment from someone I hadn't seen in a while.

"Did you gain weight?"

I couldn't find a comeback for this.

No, I've just been a bit busy lately.

It's because my clothes are thick.

I'm just bloated.

I tried to find such excuses, but they wouldn't come out of my mouth.

That was because it hit the nail on the head.

Because of my job, I do walk a fair amount every day.

Even though it's a driving job, I actually walk quite a bit.

I go to pick up cars.

I walk to the station.

I walk to the site again.

There are even days when I think, 'I walk so much, even though this is a driving job.'

And yet, I still gain weight.

★By the way, you can find out how much I usually walk in this article.

In other words, I think I was simply overeating.

And my basal metabolism is different from when I was younger.

I walk, so I'm fine.

I have a physical job, so I'm fine.

That wasn't the point.

It was only then that I finally started to gradually rethink my diet.

The first thing I changed was breakfast.

I stopped eating sweet breads and switched to natto and miso soup.

Honestly, it was a hassle at first.

Compared to sweet breads that you can just open a bag and eat, natto and miso soup take a little extra effort.

But when I think about it, I am Japanese.

My own body is an extension of the bodies of my ancestors who lived their whole lives eating Japanese ingredients.

There is no way that wouldn't suit me.

Of course, I'm not knowledgeable enough to talk about complex nutrition.

I don't intend to act like an expert and talk about things like protein or fermented foods.

It's just that natto and miso soup seem better for the body than just getting by on sweet breads for breakfast.

At first, that was about the extent of my thinking.

Also, since starting my current job, I make sure to get enough sleep.

This wasn't born out of some grand resolution, either.

Since my job involves physical labor, I simply can't keep going if I don't sleep.

And above all, driving is not a job you should do while sleepy.

A moment of carelessness can involve not just myself, but others as well.

In an instant, things can become irreversible.

That is why sleep became the bare minimum preparation for doing my job, rather than just for the sake of my health.

A year later, my physique has changed significantly compared to back then.

I walk quite a lot for work.

In addition to that, I have also gradually reviewed my diet.

Now, I pay attention to how much nutrition I am getting in a day.

I check how many calories I am consuming.

I have started to be mindful of these things in my own way.

If you asked my past self, I would find it hard to believe.

I never thought I would become the kind of person who checks calorie labels.

If it were the old me, I probably would have said this:

"Who has time to worry about such trivial details?"

But now that I'm in my 40s, I understand.

The body is more honest than you think.

If you treat it poorly, it will pay you back in kind.

Lack of sleep, overeating, and lack of exercise are harder to get away with than when I was younger.

When I was young, I could push myself and bounce back the next day.

But now it's different.

Whatever I do to my body, it leaves a mark.

It shows on my waistline.

It shows in my fatigue.

It shows on my face.

It shows so honestly that it's frustrating.

That said, I'm not living an ascetic life.

I haven't quit drinking. Well, I can't quit.

When I eat with others, I enjoy myself without overthinking the details.

There are days when I eat fried food.

I haven't completely cut out sweet breads either.

I think that's fine.

If I stayed on edge all the time, it probably wouldn't last.

It would be counterproductive if something I started for my health ended up becoming a source of stress.

What's important is not doing things perfectly.

It's about not letting things stay broken.

I believe that is the key.

In the past, even when my diet became sloppy, I would make excuses like this.

"It's a driving job, the hours are irregular, so it can't be helped."

But I don't think that way anymore.

Precisely because it's a driving job, I must not treat my body carelessly.

Precisely because it's a job that involves walking, I should think about how I eat.

Precisely because it's a job where drowsiness leads to danger, I shouldn't take sleep lightly.

To continue this work, I believe that taking care of my own body is also part of the job.

I am still in the middle of rebuilding both my work and my way of life.

I have failed at side jobs before.

There were times when I couldn't keep a job.

I have taken detours as well.

There were many times I felt pathetic.

Even so, I am somehow working now.

I am somehow trying to rebuild my life.

That is exactly why, if I were to break my body now, it would all be for nothing.

This isn't some flashy story about turning my life around in one go.

I stopped eating sweet breads and switched to natto and miso soup.

I reconsidered my habit of eating cup noodles and three rice balls.

I started making sure I get enough sleep.

That is all there is to it.

But, turning things around in your 40s probably starts with something that simple and understated.

The day my clothes felt tight.

The day I was a little taken aback by my reflection in the glass.

The day someone asked, "Did you gain weight?" and I couldn't say a word back.

I'm glad I didn't pretend not to notice those small moments of discomfort back then.

Taking care of my body is also part of my ability to work.

That is how I feel now.

Next time, I plan to write about something a bit heavier.

About the aftermath of an accident I caused in the past.

It is not a fun story.

In fact, it is a story I would rather avoid if I could.

But for someone like me who still works as a driver, it is a story I cannot avoid.

Taking care of my body.

Not underestimating the danger of drowsiness.

Make sure you are properly prepared before sitting in the driver's seat.

That is not just about health management.

It is also a preparation to ensure you don't hurt anyone.

I think I'll delve a little deeper into that topic next time.