I'm going to take better care of my body and health in 2009 - what's most important?

[Anonymous]

I'm 40, and my skin is starting to dull, I have no energy, etc. So, I am going to start improving myself and my health now and into 2009. For starters, I'm going to start taking a multivitamin and baby aspirin daily, increase my water consumption, get 3.5 hours of exercise per week ( I know this won't be daily, so I'm adjusting my goal to weekly), and try to eat more vegetables and fruit.

I would also like to start using a new skin system that really helps your skin glow and be radiant again. Right now, I'm getting okay results from Oil of Olay Regenerist Serum, on top of Body Shop's Tea Tree Mattifying Gel, on top of some brand of glycolic AHA gel in the shower 3x week. I think it's 10% strength so I'm going to bump up to 20% next.

I'd love to hear what others are doing to age beautifully and improving your health/ quality of life. What other things could I be doing now for long term benefits?

[Anonymous]

Vogue just had an article about this: http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2009_Jan_The_Good_Life/

[Anonymous]

get more sleep.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. moms getting more sleep.

I wouldn't do the aspirin unless your doctor has told you do to do so.

[Anonymous]

If you've got the space and money, invest in a treadmill and mini-weight machine. I bought both as a single gal - used to use them frequently. I've slowed down quite a bit with young kids, but I do use them at least 3X/week - totally worth it!

[Anonymous]

add fish oil to the regimen.

eat a wide, wide variety of fruits and vegetables over the course of a week. I find this one particularly hard to do, esp in winter. How many people really eat 9 or 10 a day? Not me!

Limit processed foods.

Treat meat more like a condiment and not the "main event." ie, a little beef on the side of a stir fry of vegetables and brown rice noodles, vs. a huge honking slab of ribs with a tiny side of cole slaw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:get more sleep.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. moms getting more sleep.

I wouldn't do the aspirin unless your doctor has told you do to do so.

That's exactly what I was going to say.

[Anonymous]

great smoothie:

frozen blueberries
wheat germ
splash of pomogranate juice
half a banana
non fat yogurt.

and soooooo good for you.

[Anonymous]

Proper diet, exercise, sleep, and definitely don't do aspirin without talking to your MD or DO. I can tell when I do surgery on someone who's had apirin within the past 10 days or so - they bleed horribly - not big gushes but a nasty, pernicious sort of oozing.

[Anonymous]

OP again... thanks for all the updates. I will def talk to my MD about the aspirin. I figured since my mom and her mom both had strokes, maybe I should thin my blood.

I noticed my face the past couple of days is actually starting to GLOW... like luminescent. Which is unusual for me for the past, oh 3 years. I really haven't changed my facial regiment, nor started drinking more water. I do notice my skin is so soft after I slather on all the facial products under my makeup (and I use tinted moisturizer on top of all that). Anyway, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?

[Anonymous]

I like Dr. Weil's origins skin care regimen. I take fish oil and a multi. I eat lots of antioxidant foods/drinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:get more sleep.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. moms getting more sleep.

I wouldn't do the aspirin unless your doctor has told you do to do so.

You read my mind on sleep. Haha.

Getting back to basics is a great start. Sleep, water, exercise, vitamins, healthy food.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids and I take Omega-3 pills every day. We all have great, thick, shinny hair and good skin. They are both great kids. I think the benefits of Omega-3 (make sure it is pharmaceutical grade. Whole Foods carries a good brand, Nordic Naturals) are impossible to fully count .

[Anonymous]

how old are your kids? mine won't even consider the kid's omega supplement i gave her (age 3). she spit it out and i understand why. it is fishy...

how much do adults take v. how much do kids take?

[Anonymous]

Buy the nicest work out clothes you can, get new sneakers if that is what is needed, get your hair cut WELL, go get some new makeup, new shoes, something like that. If you start feeling better RIGHT away, it makes it easier to keep it going. My rule I started four years ago (when I had first DC) is NO GYM clothes outside of the gym, ie park, NO running shoes with jeans, makeup every day, and cute bras and panties every day. Hard at first, but now always look better, more confident, keeps me going for fitness etc.

[Anonymous]

I take Carlson's lemon-flavored Cod Liver Oil daily. The kids like it (we call it their "lemon juice"), so no problem getting them to take it. I buy it online from Needs, and its much cheaper than at Whole Foods. I took CLO as a child, but it smelled and tasted terrible. I noticed a definite difference in my skin when I started taking CLO as an adult. Also, I cut out coffee and tea completely, which helped my skin (but yes, I'm tired) and cut back on chocolate, which also has a lot of caffeine. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and 30 minutes of walking or biking every single day, rain or shine.

Looking good used to require little effort, but as I get older, I notice I have to pay attention every single day. Enough sleep, enough water, good food, CLO, exercise. That's the minimum. If I had time I'd swim, jog, lift weights, play tennis, but at the moment, it's all I can fit into my life.