 |  Me, bare faced after the gym |
How to look 'younger'. It's a tall order but a question I've started to ask myself as I start to approach my fifties. I'll be 47 this year so 50 doesn't seem that far away. Not that I'm overly worried about reaching the half century benchmark but I'd like to preserve what I have, and do so as naturally as possible.
So after reading a book review my interest was piqued by the new publication from New York Times bestselling author, Dr Sara Gottfried, 'Younger'. The tagline? 'Turn back the clock 10 years. The Breakthrough Programme to Reset our Genes and Reverse Ageing'. I went into Waterstones and promptly ordered 2 copies!
I'm always flattered and accept the compliment gratefully when people comment that I look younger than my years or look good for my age. Until now I've believed it's mainly down to being blessed with good genes, my mum doesn't look a day over sixty, but she's in her mid seventies. However Dr Sara Gottfried claims the 'scientific reality is that 90 per cent of the signs of ageing and disease are caused by lifestyle choices, not your genes'.
I've just picked up my order so can't give you my own book review but I can tell you more about my own fitness and skincare regimes since hitting my mid forties, for anyone that's interested, and then tell you what adjustments, if any, I make after reading it.
Exercise:
I'm lucky enough to have the time and income to invest in personal training sessions. My personal trainer and I have been building up my muscle and lowering my metabolic age, rather than focusing on weight loss since I read somewhere that women in their forties should concentrate on weight resistance, HIT (high Intensity training) and core strength exercises. Read more articles below.
https://www.topfitnessmag.com/workouts/best-workout-women-40/
http://www.earlytorise.com/fitness-over-40/
I've found I need a personal trainer as I'd still be pushing the same weights that I did 3 years ago instead of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I try not to look at the LBs on the dumbbells, as I'd be inclined to exclaim 'how much?', and mentally refuse to pick them up.
My PT just subtly increases the weight and now and again will applaud me for lifting/pushing a personal best, whilst I'm sweating, oblivious to the achievement. Also it's amazing the extra incentive you have to train when you're paying some else to be there with you.
I train twice a week and finding the right trainer is essential. I'm not a serious fitness fanatic, so don't want a sergeant major type, but I do like to know the science behind certain exercises and what muscles I'm working on. I'm not training for anything in particular and definitely won't be signing up for half marathons or 'tough mudders'. Therefore I want someone I can chit chat to easily, laugh with and who makes me feel relaxed, understands my limits whilst also stretching me, so the gym isn't a chore.
I'm also very lucky in that my mother in law is a Pilates teacher and we get together once a week for a one to one session ever since my core strength was shot after undiagnosed abdominal separation, during pregnancy, too common and not highlighted enough by midwives, then having my eldest by emergency C section. Apart from the obvious, building up my core strength, pilates has made me more supple and I recommend it to anyone and everyone, especially if they complain of any back pain.
Skincare:
My skincare regime is fairly standard, cleanse and moisturise. I find toner too strong, but I have switched up my night cream to Estee Lauder's Resilience Lift Night, and swear by the L'Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew range, now on offer at Boots with 1/3 off selected products, and use both the super serum and day cream. In the Summer I also like Avene Light Hydrating cream with SPF 20. See links below.
I also like the Superfacialist facial oils and exfoliators by Una Brennan and am religious about using suncream on holiday, using a minimum SPF30, to gradually build a sun kissed look, rather than a deep bronze.
So after reading a book review my interest was piqued by the new publication from New York Times bestselling author, Dr Sara Gottfried, 'Younger'. The tagline? 'Turn back the clock 10 years. The Breakthrough Programme to Reset our Genes and Reverse Ageing'. I went into Waterstones and promptly ordered 2 copies!
I'm always flattered and accept the compliment gratefully when people comment that I look younger than my years or look good for my age. Until now I've believed it's mainly down to being blessed with good genes, my mum doesn't look a day over sixty, but she's in her mid seventies. However Dr Sara Gottfried claims the 'scientific reality is that 90 per cent of the signs of ageing and disease are caused by lifestyle choices, not your genes'.
I've just picked up my order so can't give you my own book review but I can tell you more about my own fitness and skincare regimes since hitting my mid forties, for anyone that's interested, and then tell you what adjustments, if any, I make after reading it.
Exercise:
I'm lucky enough to have the time and income to invest in personal training sessions. My personal trainer and I have been building up my muscle and lowering my metabolic age, rather than focusing on weight loss since I read somewhere that women in their forties should concentrate on weight resistance, HIT (high Intensity training) and core strength exercises. Read more articles below.
https://www.topfitnessmag.com/workouts/best-workout-women-40/
http://www.earlytorise.com/fitness-over-40/
I've found I need a personal trainer as I'd still be pushing the same weights that I did 3 years ago instead of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I try not to look at the LBs on the dumbbells, as I'd be inclined to exclaim 'how much?', and mentally refuse to pick them up.
My PT just subtly increases the weight and now and again will applaud me for lifting/pushing a personal best, whilst I'm sweating, oblivious to the achievement. Also it's amazing the extra incentive you have to train when you're paying some else to be there with you.
I train twice a week and finding the right trainer is essential. I'm not a serious fitness fanatic, so don't want a sergeant major type, but I do like to know the science behind certain exercises and what muscles I'm working on. I'm not training for anything in particular and definitely won't be signing up for half marathons or 'tough mudders'. Therefore I want someone I can chit chat to easily, laugh with and who makes me feel relaxed, understands my limits whilst also stretching me, so the gym isn't a chore.
I'm also very lucky in that my mother in law is a Pilates teacher and we get together once a week for a one to one session ever since my core strength was shot after undiagnosed abdominal separation, during pregnancy, too common and not highlighted enough by midwives, then having my eldest by emergency C section. Apart from the obvious, building up my core strength, pilates has made me more supple and I recommend it to anyone and everyone, especially if they complain of any back pain.
Skincare:
My skincare regime is fairly standard, cleanse and moisturise. I find toner too strong, but I have switched up my night cream to Estee Lauder's Resilience Lift Night, and swear by the L'Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew range, now on offer at Boots with 1/3 off selected products, and use both the super serum and day cream. In the Summer I also like Avene Light Hydrating cream with SPF 20. See links below.
I also like the Superfacialist facial oils and exfoliators by Una Brennan and am religious about using suncream on holiday, using a minimum SPF30, to gradually build a sun kissed look, rather than a deep bronze.
I opt for monthly CACI facials, as the science makes sense, working to tone the muscles underneath. Also if Jennifer Lopez is an ambassador I'm there. Although she appears to have no frown lines, something more difficult for CACI to address, as those muscles need to be relaxed for the softening of furrows, not tightened. So whilst my therapist advises to tackle them with Botox I have not yet succumbed, as my sloping frown lines attest to, and I'm not sure I will.
Lifestyle and Diet:
Okay, so I admit to never, ever having smoked, not even so much a drag at college. That also goes for any recreational drugs, although I grew up in the era of house music and have been to my fair share of raves; even being asked at one such nocturnal affair what I was on, Coke was the reply, meaning the soft drink rather than the hard stuff!
Working in the fashion industry drugs were common place but again I resisted, having seen what damage addiction and reliance on substances could do from growing up near an affluent area and hearing of acquaintances being admitted to rehab at sixteen or writing off their first car under the influence.
So before sounding like the muse for Adam Ants number one hit 'Goody Two Shoes' I do drink. An odd glass of wine on a week day, several glasses of Prosecco when out with the girls, or gin based cocktails on date night. My rule of thumb now is not to drink on my own, as I went through a period of excess after my youngest was born, and knew I had to curb the habit of winding down with a few glasses of sauvignon blanc.
My diet could be improved. I try to eat fish 3 times a week and I've cut down on my portion sizes of bread and pasta and increased protein on my plate. I mainly eat dinner with the children so I'm eating my largest meal as early in the evening as I can and I don't skip any of the three meals a day, but can't ever manage to eat the recommended 5/6 times a day, as I'm just not that organised and the thought of chowing down on a peeled boiled egg makes me wince!
I supplement my diet with Centrum Women multivitamins and Seven Seas High Strength Cod Liver Oil and a regular Ferrous Sulphate tablet since a routine blood test confirmed I had anaemia, also common among women of child bearing age and beyond, but not always detected.
Okay, so I admit to never, ever having smoked, not even so much a drag at college. That also goes for any recreational drugs, although I grew up in the era of house music and have been to my fair share of raves; even being asked at one such nocturnal affair what I was on, Coke was the reply, meaning the soft drink rather than the hard stuff!
Working in the fashion industry drugs were common place but again I resisted, having seen what damage addiction and reliance on substances could do from growing up near an affluent area and hearing of acquaintances being admitted to rehab at sixteen or writing off their first car under the influence.
So before sounding like the muse for Adam Ants number one hit 'Goody Two Shoes' I do drink. An odd glass of wine on a week day, several glasses of Prosecco when out with the girls, or gin based cocktails on date night. My rule of thumb now is not to drink on my own, as I went through a period of excess after my youngest was born, and knew I had to curb the habit of winding down with a few glasses of sauvignon blanc.
My diet could be improved. I try to eat fish 3 times a week and I've cut down on my portion sizes of bread and pasta and increased protein on my plate. I mainly eat dinner with the children so I'm eating my largest meal as early in the evening as I can and I don't skip any of the three meals a day, but can't ever manage to eat the recommended 5/6 times a day, as I'm just not that organised and the thought of chowing down on a peeled boiled egg makes me wince!
I supplement my diet with Centrum Women multivitamins and Seven Seas High Strength Cod Liver Oil and a regular Ferrous Sulphate tablet since a routine blood test confirmed I had anaemia, also common among women of child bearing age and beyond, but not always detected.
So now I've written an essay I may actually get around to reading 'Younger' and keep you posted on any changes I adopt or the best 'take away' facts that make me reassess my current regime. You may even be inspired to grab a copy of the book yourself or fancy trying my tried and tested skincare links above and see if they indeed make you feel or look 'Younger', no guarantees given.
As always thanks for stopping by.
As always thanks for stopping by.
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