10 Ways To Look 10 Years Younger
The good news is we are living longer than our ancestors. The bad news is if you don’t do something now to age well, your later years could be spent navigating many health issues.
Here’s 10 things to do to assure you age with good health, strength, mobility, and energy.
1 – Strength
Most physiologists agree that strength training is the true fountain of youth. If you can preserve your muscle mass, it will positively impact so many health variables including strength, endurance, posture, bone density and metabolism. Plus, there is nothing sexier than defined muscles!
2 – Posture
Having a kyphotic, hunch-back posture ages you tremendously. Spend time strengthening your back and lengthening tight muscles that pull you out of alignment, so you have an elongated spine and good posture.
3 – Sleep and Recovery
Sleep is when your body recovers and heals itself. If you aren’t getting enough solid REM sleep, you won’t be as rested and it will show in how you look and how your body functions.
4 – Flexibility
A youthful body is flexible and can move through optimal range-of-motion pain free. A tight, rigid body will age you. Incorporate yoga and/or stretching into your weekly workout routine.
5 – Manage Your Weight
Carrying excessive weight on your frame ages and deteriorates your joints more quickly. Not to mention, obesity has been linked to many disease and illness including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. It’s obvious that there’s nothing that will age you more quickly than death!
6 – Hydration
When you consider the importance of hydrated cells and tissues, think of the plum to prune effect and ask yourself if you’d rather be a plum or prune?! Your body does not function as well, and your skin isn’t as youthful in a dehydrated state. Try to consume at least 80 ounces of water per day.
7 – Stop Smoking
If you smoke, the most important thing you can do to improve your overall health, increase your longevity, and reverse the aging process is to stop smoking immediately.
8 – Skincare
It’s a multi-billion dollar industry and it’s hard to know exactly what works and what doesn’t. With that said, if you look at most aging celebrities, it’s clear that there are products and procedures that can be used to slow down the effects of aging skin. The question becomes how intrusive you want to be and how much you want to spend.
9 – Fashion
Figuring out your body type and how to dress to compliment your assets can easily make you appear 10 years younger. Finding a good stylist to give you fashion tips can be very helpful. The Difference in downtown Vancouver provides this service.
10 – Nurture Your Relationships
One of the keys to happiness and anti-aging is the strength and quality of your relationships, pets included! Spend time with those you love, especially if it is time spent laughing and/or participating in active adventures.
Yours in health & fitness,
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology and has been inspiring the world to adopt a fitness lifestyle for more than 33 years. She has received numerous industry awards including 2010 CanFitPro International Presenter of the Year, 2006 IDEA Fitness Director of the Year, 1998 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, 1998 CanFitPro Fitness Presenter of the Year and 2005/2006 ACE Fitness Educator of the Year - Runner up. She is a fitness trainer, fitness columnist for various magazines and newspapers, author of five books and manuals including "Go For Fit - the Winning Way to Fat Loss" and "Fit over Forty" and the featured presenter in various fitness DVDs. She has presented hundreds of workshops to thousands of fitness leaders throughout Canada, Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, New Zealand, Germany, England, Spain, South America, Asia and the U.S. She is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver, the founder of WHY Racing Events & WHY Community, participates in various community fundraisers and can be found running, biking, or hiking around the community. Find more information at nwpersonaltraining.com.