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SAVVY OVER SIXTY: AGING IS DIFFERENT AT SEVENTY-FOUR

By on May 2, 2014
oldcouple

By Madeline Sharples

In one month I’ll be seventy-four years old. But if I were to ask myself how old I would be if I didn’t know my age, I’d say not more than forty-five. I eat healthy, workout at the gym everyday, and still wear a size 2 or 4.

As I’ve aged I’ve learned not to fret about stuff I used to obsess over when I was younger:

  • Dying my hair
  • Putting on makeup first thing in the morning
  • Plucking my eyebrows every day
  • Shopping for something new to wear to the next event

The things I do stress about are:

  • How my son and daughter-in-law are doing
  • My husband’s health
  • Making time to write every day
  • Avoiding foods with dairy and gluten
  • Taking my daily vitamins
  • Keeping my skin moisturized

Read more about what your skin says about your health

Also, doing my daily workout is very high on my priority list. I began a regular exercise program in my late twenties and early thirties, starting with yoga during my first pregnancy; in the ‘80s I worked out with Jane Fonda on video; I played tennis almost every day for years; I ran my first 10K at age forty. Exercise became a habit and a way of life. Exercise was a lifesaver after the death of my oldest son in 1999. 

Even so, almost every year I go through the same self-questioning: Should I keep on with this routine? Isn’t it time to quit already? Aren’t I too old for this? Shouldn’t I take a day off once in a while? Wouldn’t I be more comfortable in a muumuu, rather than worrying about pouring my girlish figure into tight jeans? And every year, I say, “nah.” This year is no different.

I really don’t have any reasons to slow down. I like the benefits. I’m fit. I don’t need high blood pressure or cholesterol-lowering medications; I don’t have aches and pains, I have good balance, my weight is normal, and my body fat index is ideal. My main health concerns right now are tinnitus and my lessened ability to hear.

My workout routine includes cardio, usually on the elliptical trainer, treadmill, or in a spinning (stationary bicycling) class. I participate in Pilates at least once a week, Yoga stretching after each cardio session, and weight training once or twice a week. I also recently hired a personal trainer. The best thing about her is that she’s aging like me – she’s in her late sixties and the perfect trainer for someone my age. She knows what moves I should do so as not to hurt myself.

But she’s no miracle worker. No matter how much I work out at the gym or how many walks I take along the beach, I can’t get rid of my sagging skin. No matter how many weights I lift, my inner thighs jiggle, I have kimono upper arms, and even the skin on my otherwise bony lower arms just hangs there with no place to go. I have learned to live with it. 

I’m also a firm believer that pampering helps keep me feeling healthy and younger than I am. I have facials, botox injections to take away frown and forehead lines every four or five months, and I make regular appointments for manicures, pedicures, and massages. I use lots of anti-aging creams and moisturizers and always wear sunscreen when I’m outside.

Read more about natural sunscreens

My hair is another story. About eight years ago I decided to go natural. I stopped full dye-jobs many years ago, but for a long time I had low lights streaked in to show off some of my gray. Now, I’m more gray than dark and I wear my hair long – either naturally wavy or blow-dried and ironed flat. I’ve decided I don’t like the look of other gray (or blue)-haired old ladies with coiffed thinning short hair. My long hair has versatility.

I also constantly watch my diet, which consists of lots of greens, fish, nuts – I love peanut butter – and berries. Since I have digestive problems, I cut out dairy many years ago and took away gluten products about two years ago. Plus I haven’t eaten red meat for thirty-five years. I think these dietary restrictions have helped keep my body in shape along with keeping my digestion under control. I am a firm believer in taking daily vitamins to give me the nutrients lacking in my diet. Calcium and exercise help me remain free of osteoporosis.

I think one more thing keeps me youthful both physically and mentally: I take daily hormone replacement in very small dosages. My doctors agree that this regimen helps me feel and look better. And it boosts my mood. I believe I’m doing the best I can to combat the effects of my aging body, so there’s no reason to stop now.

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