You’ve heard of those folks who don’t want to grow up. Why would they? It’s fun being young and carefree. What I don’t want to do? I don’t want to grow old.
I’m not too concerned with being an adult. I just don’t necessarily want to look old. I have young kids and I don’t want to be mistaken for their grandmother. I also don’t want to feel older than I am.
Obviously the aging process is not one that is stoppable, but it can surely be slowed down and to some extent, reversed. But why fight nature and try to reverse something once it has happened? Why not start with a little prevention? You’ve heard the statement: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s true.
Here are some ways to prevent yourself from looking older than you actually are.
Stop eating sweets: High sugar foods not only lead to obesity and diabetes, but they can also be as much of a wrinkle-causing agent as sun exposure and smoking. What? It’s bad enough sugar is making me fat. Now, it’s going to make me look old too?
A process called glycation causes sugars to attach to proteins in collagen and elastin, which makes your skin look older; one more reason NOT to have dessert. Sugar and I may have to break up.
Working too hard. Not enjoying your work or working too hard can cause huge amounts of stress on your heart, increasing your risk of heart disease and speeding up cell aging. Chronic stress over prolonged periods of time also impairs your frontal lobe function and shrinks the hippocampus, causing you to become forgetful.
So, basically, working at a job I hate is not only going to make me look old, it is going to jump-start the Alzheimer’s. Thank God, I love my job!
Add muscle to that body. Resistance training can help women reverse muscle mass loss. Strength training is good for bone density, increases the amount of energy you have, is good for your heart and boosts metabolism.
Using those free weights can make you feel better, look better and help you lose weight. How many more reasons do you need? Also, more muscle mass means less saggy skin and that means you will stay looking younger longer.
No rest for the wicked. It is proven that lack of sleep releases cortisol into the body, which ages us inside and out. Cortisol is also known for collecting around our middles, leading to even further heart issues.
To stay looking and feeling young, try getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I know it’s hard with little kids, but if you want to be a smoking hot grandma, I suggest you try to get some shut eye.
Make time for sex. Sex is not an option. Sex helps people be happier, have stronger immune systems, good circulation and it burns calories. It’s been said that it can extend your life span by 8 years.
It is also believed that orgasming boosts the production of human growth hormone, which improves muscle tone and keeps you looking younger. Next time your mister wants to get frisky, just say yes. You will be glad you did.
Don’t be overexposed. Stay out of the sun. Unless you want to look like the tanorexic mom or a piece of over tanned hide, protect yourself from the sun. Aside from the potential for cancer, exposure to the sun causes wrinkles, sunspots and dull, dry skin. Sure, that tanned glow looks attractive, but so does not having wrinkles and cancer.
What are your tips for staying youthful looking?
 Photo Source: Martha Butterfly Caught
