If you are over 45 and feel you are aging well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 49 and whenever I meet new people and age comes up, I usually get 10-12 years younger.

Genetics help, I am Greek, but my younger sister is addicted to Botox and it has definitely aged her/made her look weird.

I eat an animal based whole food diet and cook at home. I would rather fast than eat out. I have never been a drinker and pretty much stopped a few years ago. I drink reverse osmosis water at home and coffee, raw milk and maybe a sparkling mineral water from time to time.

My cycles are regular and due to clean eating and enough good fat to support my adrenals and hormones, I am on zero medications.

Workouts are heavy weights, walking, sprinting and gardening. I do something everyday. Also part of a recreational pickleball league with my husband but we have also played cornhole and kickball recreationally. Both for physical health and the connection to community that these clubs provide.

I make my own tallow face and body cream with added castor oil and essential oils (sparingly). I wear hats outdoors and make sure my eyes get morning light. I avoid sunglasses unless I am driving or on the water and need to avoid glare for safety. I don’t wear sunscreen, I am just smart about shade and coverage.

I volunteer throughout the year in various local and state parks. I sing in a choir.

I make good money in a position that is low key. This has taken me years to find after many high stress positions. My husband is the main breadwinner and I manage the household so it’s a great trade off. We have been together for 30 years and have great sex - that love is probably the best fountain of youth. We have four kids, two in college and two teens at home. Best people in our lives.

We hike and camp as a family and don’t care about what the Joneses do.

All of this and moving away from the toxicity of the DC area has contributed to our overall youthful looks compared to our high school and college friends and family who live toxic lives chasing the dollar.

So sex really does keep you young!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good skincare and lots of water and good genes. I’m about to turn 50 and when I tell people that no one believes me. Exercise. And you have to lift weights. Not just cardio.

I’m sure you look great but people just don’t know what a certain age looks like anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all fun and games until menopause.

Truth! The title of this thread should read over 55, not 45. It is a striking difference in ten years.

Aging well isn’t not aging though. You can’t compare a 55 to a 45 year old but that doesn’t mean a 55 year old can’t look fantastic for her age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 49 and whenever I meet new people and age comes up, I usually get 10-12 years younger.

Genetics help, I am Greek, but my younger sister is addicted to Botox and it has definitely aged her/made her look weird.

I eat an animal based whole food diet and cook at home. I would rather fast than eat out. I have never been a drinker and pretty much stopped a few years ago. I drink reverse osmosis water at home and coffee, raw milk and maybe a sparkling mineral water from time to time.

My cycles are regular and due to clean eating and enough good fat to support my adrenals and hormones, I am on zero medications.

Workouts are heavy weights, walking, sprinting and gardening. I do something everyday. Also part of a recreational pickleball league with my husband but we have also played cornhole and kickball recreationally. Both for physical health and the connection to community that these clubs provide.

I make my own tallow face and body cream with added castor oil and essential oils (sparingly). I wear hats outdoors and make sure my eyes get morning light. I avoid sunglasses unless I am driving or on the water and need to avoid glare for safety. I don’t wear sunscreen, I am just smart about shade and coverage.

I volunteer throughout the year in various local and state parks. I sing in a choir.

I make good money in a position that is low key. This has taken me years to find after many high stress positions. My husband is the main breadwinner and I manage the household so it’s a great trade off. We have been together for 30 years and have great sex - that love is probably the best fountain of youth. We have four kids, two in college and two teens at home. Best people in our lives.

We hike and camp as a family and don’t care about what the Joneses do.

All of this and moving away from the toxicity of the DC area has contributed to our overall youthful looks compared to our high school and college friends and family who live toxic lives chasing the dollar.

I've been thinking about this. Everyone in my family has an amped up nervous system. I sometimes wish we had moved from the DC area when the kids were young. In my heart I believe this area and it's stressful, busy mentality had a negative impact on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all fun and games until menopause.

Truth! The title of this thread should read over 55, not 45. It is a striking difference in ten years.

Aging well isn’t not aging though. You can’t compare a 55 to a 45 year old but that doesn’t mean a 55 year old can’t look fantastic for her age.

Pp. Agreed. I was saying that at 45 most women can still coast on youthful hormones and look good regatdless of habits, with the exception of cumulative care like SPF. By 55, if you're still looking fantastic, then tell us what you're doing.

[Anonymous]

My mom still looks so good at almost 70! I wouldn't even say she looks younger than her years, as much as I'd say she looks fantastic for her age. She's never had alcohol, smoked, or tried any drugs (due to religion). She hasn't worked since she had my younger sibling, so life has been relatively stress-free for her. She tanned a lot until she knew better, but since the 90s she has been careful sun protection. She started HRT in her 40s and still uses it, plus a lot of supplements. She's a very healthy eater - she makes her food mostly salads with protein. She exercises 6-7 days a week, mostly lifting heavy weights and cycling. She's used tretinoin for as long as I can remember. She still has thick hair, which she colors. She has had only minor cosmetic procedures (light Botox and light fillers), which she pays for with cash, and my dad has no idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom still looks so good at almost 70! I wouldn't even say she looks younger than her years, as much as I'd say she looks fantastic for her age. She's never had alcohol, smoked, or tried any drugs (due to religion). She hasn't worked since she had my younger sibling, so life has been relatively stress-free for her. She tanned a lot until she knew better, but since the 90s she has been careful sun protection. She started HRT in her 40s and still uses it, plus a lot of supplements. She's a very healthy eater - she makes her food mostly salads with protein. She exercises 6-7 days a week, mostly lifting heavy weights and cycling. She's used tretinoin for as long as I can remember. She still has thick hair, which she colors. She has had only minor cosmetic procedures (light Botox and light fillers), which she pays for with cash, and my dad has no idea.

She's been taking HRT for 30 years ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom still looks so good at almost 70! I wouldn't even say she looks younger than her years, as much as I'd say she looks fantastic for her age. She's never had alcohol, smoked, or tried any drugs (due to religion). She hasn't worked since she had my younger sibling, so life has been relatively stress-free for her. She tanned a lot until she knew better, but since the 90s she has been careful sun protection. She started HRT in her 40s and still uses it, plus a lot of supplements. She's a very healthy eater - she makes her food mostly salads with protein. She exercises 6-7 days a week, mostly lifting heavy weights and cycling. She's used tretinoin for as long as I can remember. She still has thick hair, which she colors. She has had only minor cosmetic procedures (light Botox and light fillers), which she pays for with cash, and my dad has no idea.

She's been taking HRT for 30 years ?

Yes. I don't know exactly what she's on these days, but when she visits me, she has a mini suitcase full of pills for morning, afternoon, and evening, and she's still seeing the same doctor. I know she still takes thyroid, progesterone, estrogen, and high doses of certain vitamins. We went for a 2+ hour bike ride the last time I visited; I'm active and work out regularly, and I couldn't keep up with her on the uphill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I think it's a lifetime of clean living. You know how people say things catch up with you? Well, there's not much to catch up with me. I've never been drunk, never tanned, smoked, been a partier. I've always worn sunscreen and/or hats, mostly only drank water, flossed, moisturized, etc. I am 47 and last night someone said to me "we're about the same age - I just turned 38" and it was surprising to hear.

But your life doesn't sound fun! So there's the trade-off!
Serious question - does this make it worth it? You and the other lady who only drinks a "sip" of champagne or "shares a mixed drink with her husband"? Sounds so uptight and boring. I try to moderate my bad habits and eat well, exercise every day, and wear sunscreen, but a life without some fun sounds awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I think it's a lifetime of clean living. You know how people say things catch up with you? Well, there's not much to catch up with me. I've never been drunk, never tanned, smoked, been a partier. I've always worn sunscreen and/or hats, mostly only drank water, flossed, moisturized, etc. I am 47 and last night someone said to me "we're about the same age - I just turned 38" and it was surprising to hear.

But your life doesn't sound fun! So there's the trade-off!
Serious question - does this make it worth it? You and the other lady who only drinks a "sip" of champagne or "shares a mixed drink with her husband"? Sounds so uptight and boring. I try to moderate my bad habits and eat well, exercise every day, and wear sunscreen, but a life without some fun sounds awful.

You can have a lot of fun in life without alcohol and other substances. Some of that fun may even come through exercising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom still looks so good at almost 70! I wouldn't even say she looks younger than her years, as much as I'd say she looks fantastic for her age. She's never had alcohol, smoked, or tried any drugs (due to religion). She hasn't worked since she had my younger sibling, so life has been relatively stress-free for her. She tanned a lot until she knew better, but since the 90s she has been careful sun protection. She started HRT in her 40s and still uses it, plus a lot of supplements. She's a very healthy eater - she makes her food mostly salads with protein. She exercises 6-7 days a week, mostly lifting heavy weights and cycling. She's used tretinoin for as long as I can remember. She still has thick hair, which she colors. She has had only minor cosmetic procedures (light Botox and light fillers), which she pays for with cash, and my dad has no idea.

She's been taking HRT for 30 years ?

That stopped me too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom still looks so good at almost 70! I wouldn't even say she looks younger than her years, as much as I'd say she looks fantastic for her age. She's never had alcohol, smoked, or tried any drugs (due to religion). She hasn't worked since she had my younger sibling, so life has been relatively stress-free for her. She tanned a lot until she knew better, but since the 90s she has been careful sun protection. She started HRT in her 40s and still uses it, plus a lot of supplements. She's a very healthy eater - she makes her food mostly salads with protein. She exercises 6-7 days a week, mostly lifting heavy weights and cycling. She's used tretinoin for as long as I can remember. She still has thick hair, which she colors. She has had only minor cosmetic procedures (light Botox and light fillers), which she pays for with cash, and my dad has no idea.

She's been taking HRT for 30 years ?

That stopped me too.

To clarify, she started in her 40s and is now almost 70, so less than 30 years. It may be uncommon for her to still take these supplements at almost 70. But she's still lifting heavy weights and willing to cycle hours a day on a busy road, so she's got some level of risk tolerance and a strong desire to continue to be physically active for as long as she can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom still looks so good at almost 70! I wouldn't even say she looks younger than her years, as much as I'd say she looks fantastic for her age. She's never had alcohol, smoked, or tried any drugs (due to religion). She hasn't worked since she had my younger sibling, so life has been relatively stress-free for her. She tanned a lot until she knew better, but since the 90s she has been careful sun protection. She started HRT in her 40s and still uses it, plus a lot of supplements. She's a very healthy eater - she makes her food mostly salads with protein. She exercises 6-7 days a week, mostly lifting heavy weights and cycling. She's used tretinoin for as long as I can remember. She still has thick hair, which she colors. She has had only minor cosmetic procedures (light Botox and light fillers), which she pays for with cash, and my dad has no idea.

She's been taking HRT for 30 years ?

That stopped me too.

To clarify, she started in her 40s and is now almost 70, so less than 30 years. It may be uncommon for her to still take these supplements at almost 70. But she's still lifting heavy weights and willing to cycle hours a day on a busy road, so she's got some level of risk tolerance and a strong desire to continue to be physically active for as long as she can.

I plan to stay on HRT until I die. I know the current medical establishment would be shocked by this but there actually is no randomized clinical trial considering outcomes when women get on HRT at or around menopause and stay on. The WHI study started women in their mid- to late-60s and then stopped the trial (based on results that were not clinically significant and now appear to be due to the type of estrogen used and the state of health of the control versus non-control group). The observational studies demonstrate a benefit (which has been dismissed as healthy user bias, but that only makes sense for the time period before the WHI trial was stopped). I am hopeful that the medical establishment will come to its senses on this one, but in any event I think staying on HRT is a completely rational decision.

[Anonymous]

I would say weightlifting has been a game changer for me. I have always been active, but the extra weights etc has really made a difference.

I guess genetics, exercising, and being happy also make a difference. However, as a Gen Xer, I hardly wore sunscreen growing up. I also like my wine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you doing to stay looking good? I am 46 and hitting the wall hard, like all at once. I’m open to any ideas! Every category. Haha.

I meditate every day.