Recently on a cruise I went into the gym and took the body age test, as seen on Oprah. What did I learn? That my body actdually was 8 years older than I really was. Tears aside - this is what I learned to reverse my damage.
Signs of aging are not limited to the over-30 set. In fact, it is the habits that are established in adolescence that determine how quickly a person ages. And the sooner good habits are acquired, the more likely an age revelation down the road will elicit gasps of admiration. Who-man or woman -wouldn't like to hear someone say, "Really?! You're 40? You must be kidding-you can't be more than 31!" Here's how to get started.
• Avoid the sun. No one, male or female, should leave the house without sunblock of at least SPF 15.
• Moisturize. Skin dries out as it ages, so moisturizing your face on a daily basis will help prevent premature wrinkles and fine lines. L'Oreal Paris (www.lorealparis usa.com) and Clinique (www.clin ique.com) are just two of the skin- care companies with anti-aging products for both men and women.
• Don't smoke. At all. It leeches all the moisture from skin and leads to early wrinkling, especially around the mouth.
• Drink lots of water. Hydration prevents the shriveled look.
• Get lots of sleep. Sleep-deprived people are cranky people who frown a lot. Frowning leads to wrinkles.
• Eat sensibly. This doesn't have to be difficult. According to Nicholas Perricone, M.D., an author and expert on the connection between diet and aging, there's a direct link between eating too much sugar and too many highly refined foods and having prematurely wrinkled, sagging skin. Stick to lots of fruits, vegetables, low-fat or lean protein and whole grains.
• Eat reasonably. Portion control is a magic piece of the anti-aging puzzle, since excess weight can add years to your face. Restaurant servings and oversized dinner plates have tripled portion expectations. Fight back by serving meals on dessert/appetizer plates; the meat portion should be about the size of a deck of cards, the pasta or rice about the size of a tennis ball. Check the Internet for such nuggets of information as portion equivalents (e.g., a CD-sized bagel equals a full day's supply of grains!).
• Get moving. The best way to stave off aging is to keep fit and flexible. Select a fitness regimen that's easy to stick to regardless of climate. Home exercise equipment is a sound investment for those who are committed to staying fit. Some equipment is even specifically designed for the home. The new T-series treadmills from Life Fitness (www.lifefitness.com), for example, offer user-adjustable shock absorption to mimic running on various surfaces, and their design is as sleek as an Italian leather sofa, so they can reside in the den without disturbing the feng shui.
And speaking of feng shui, the final key to aging gracefully is a sense of serenity. Finding a spiritual center or place of peace will reduce stress and fill the half-full glass to overflowing. While yoga, meditation and other Eastern philosophies are well-known for their calming benefits, it's also easy to find peace through simple actions such as a walk in the park, a warm bath or just sitting and staring out the window. Blood pressure slows, brows unfurrow-and aging becomes something that happens to other people.
Posted by Constance Wherrity on February 11, 2006 6:22 PM
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