Heart Choices: How I Try to Age Gracefully -->

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How I Try to Age Gracefully


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Our culture celebrates youth.  I still feel young inside but when I look in the mirror, I see changes that I prefer not to see. :)

I try to do the best I can with what I've been given. My mom was a good example for me.  But I do believe keeping weight down through proper eating and regular exercise is vital for me.  After all, I need lots of energy working with 3 and 4 year old children all day.  And they help keep me young.


For this Weigh-In Wednesday, I thought I'd share a few tips I learned along the way.

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I love to cook.  I have many of Giada de Laurentiis' cookbooks.  Her recipes are so yummy.  But I always wondered how she stays so slim with all those temptations around her.  So I pre-ordered her latest book and have been reading it.

Here's a quote from Giada about her number one philosophy on eating:

Eat a little everything, but not a lot of anything.  It's such a simple idea but it took me a long time to embrace it fully.  I don't believe in deprivation; it just fuels cravings and creates a vicious cycle of negative feelings.  On the other side, overindulgence with any one thing just dulls your taste for it, leaving you eating more of it, trying to get that same pleasure, which isn't a good thing.

I used to be able to afford lots of expensive creams for my skin.  I'd buy them through my dermatologist ...but no longer.  Skin Script is a local company and when I can I purchase their line of skin care.  They aren't as expensive as some other brands and are very hydrating for aging skin.  I think you can order it online. And when I run out I often use good old Neutrogena skin cleanser for dry skin. I never leave home without sun screen.  This light Norwegian skin burns easily and nothing is more aging than that.

In Giada's Feel Good Food book, she offers some advice for skin care.  I tried one of her suggestions.  I exfoliated my face with a homemade paste of three tablespoons of white rice flour mixed with two tablespoons of an inexpensive olive oil.  I applied it to my face and left it on for a few minutes.  Then I gently scrubbed in a circular motion with my fingertips and rinsed it off with warm water followed by cool water. My face felt very hydrated and smooth.  It wasn't very easy making it stick so I probably washed it off sooner than she recommended. But it still seemed to help. She does this every night.


I'm blessed with lots of hair on my head.  At my age, most women are starting to get grey but I've been fortunate to not have grey.  Watch, now that I wrote that, I'll probably start.  :)  But my mom went grey in her 30's so I'm surprised I'm not.  I do like highlights and low lights.  I only get them done twice a year though but I probably need them more frequently.  It always gives my hair more body.  I sometimes use good old Alberto VO 5 oil treatment.  I had to order it online as I couldn't find it in the drugstore.  But it does hydrate my dry hair.  Today I even tried using olive oil and wrapped a hot towel around my head when I took my shower.  I had to wash my hair well to get the oil out completely.


I try to exercise every day.  If I think about it when I wake up, I know I won't do it. But if I have everything ready before I go to bed, I awaken at the first sound of the alarm and ...simply do it.  No if's, and's or but's. This is what works best for me. No engaging my brain about this at all.

I'm sure you have many more tips on how to age gracefully and I welcome your advice.  But I also want to say that smiling and having a positive attitude keeps you looking young.  I had to laugh when my pastor joked about making sure our faces knew the joy and hope we have inside.  There should be no sour Christians.  Let your light shine!

I'm linking up with Kim of Just for Clicks for Weigh-In Wednesday.

Blessings and love,

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Debbie Petras
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14 comments:

  1. I love this Debbie. I'll have to try some of your tips - especially the facial one. I agree, to stay young-feeling, it's so important to keep our bodies healthy through (mostly) good diet and exercise, and I've gotten better at eating less of each food. That does seem to be the trick. Also, I love the quote from your pastor. Doesn't that seem to make such a difference, not only in that we tend to feel better when we smile, but in how others feel and react around us? Have a great week!
    Linda

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  2. I needed this today as I'm feeling a bit down about how I'm aging. I feel much older than I should, so I'm going to check out some of the things you recommend.

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  3. Enjoyed this, Debbie. There's nothing like a good brisk walk to "pink up" those cheeks and make us feel good. Also prayer works wonders in lifting our spirits and causing our minds to think young. As far as beauty tips, I have virtually no wrinkles and I think it's due to inheriting my mom and dad's skin which tended toward the moist oily side. Hated it when I was young, but love it now. Also a coconut oil mixed with fine grain sugar works wonders to take away dead skin anywhere on the face or body. I also love it as a hair conditioner. And, eating lots and lots and lots of veggies and some fruit make for healthy happy aging. That's my formula. ;o)
    Love,
    Sandy

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  4. It's amazing how your body changes with each decade. I think we can really let it get us down but if we eat right and exercise, it makes a big difference both in our attitude towards ourselves and in how we feel physically. We can't expect to look as we did when we were in our 20's but we can feel as good as we did. I have struggled with this but started an exercise routine and right now I am following WW diet - haven't lost a ton of weight but my body is changing and shaping differently so I am happy. Debbie, you are an inspiration.

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  5. Great and informative post. I love the part about eating a little of everything. I've always done that. I cannot stand to deprive myself of anything but just a bite or two will suffice. I think portion control is the key for sure! My Hubby has been on a diet for 2 months and portion control is all he is doing and he's lost 20 lbs so far. He has 20 more to go but he is retraining himself on how much he eats and hopefully he will keep his weight under control from here on.

    Your skin is so pretty so obviously whatever you have done is working. I can't believe you do not have any gray. Lucky you!

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  6. It's great to know all these tips and especially having a positive attitude and lots of smiles. There's nothing that can beat the true inner beauty...It's easier for me to admit that I am "91" years old...so then, people always say..."Wow! You look good and so young for your age!"

    I agree with Giada, there is no room for deprivation. I buy "sweets" still but my family and I try to eat just a little piece instead of bigger ones. However, I believe sugar does contribute easily to gaining weight. Have a great week ahead sister Debbie. God bless.

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  7. This was all quite interesting...Melody has ALWAYS been slim and still is after two babies ~ 122 and she is 5 foot 7! ~ and she tells me "Mom I eat EVERYTHING I want, just NOT a lot of it! I have tried and tried to do this...sometimes I pull it off for weeks or even months, and then I end up going back to old habits....I guess I am just too undisciplined. And for years and years and YEARS exercise was something I actually enjoyed and I did SOMETHING every day. Looked forward to it! Maybe I did TOO much....my doc implied that once as the reason so much of me is wore down now. But in other words it took NO discipline, I found ways to be on it. Now between my knees and my back I hobble and do the best I can just to get around. I started going grey in my mid twenties...can't believe you don't have any! How fortunate you are...covering up this grey head is a constant battle. As for my skin I seemed to have inherited smooth pretty unwrinkled skin from my mom...I don't do much at all and it stays really nice..YAY! So as a result of the skin ~ which was just good fortune, not anything I did or do ~ I am almost always mistaken for younger than I am. I DO soo admire your effort and diligence on keeping slim and in shape. And you look GREAT!

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  8. Debbie:
    I had to laugh when I read this. Everything you said was so good, but today I was at Target and saw Giada's book, but instead of picking hers up, I picked up Pioneer Woman's new blue cookbook. The colors just drew me. Now I need to go back and make Giada's recipes while thinking of Ree's fun blue cover!! (Does that make sense??)

    I'm still hard at it, and I can tell you are too. I was in LaMadelleine today and bought a tiny lemon tart for Joe, not for me. One choice at a time. I am also finding new tricks to enjoy things I like, but in a healthier way.

    Good going Debbie! I like all of your ideas here.

    xo

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  9. Great inspiring post. Now for me to do them! I use coconut oil for my face with baking soda for a deep clean. I am soooooooooooo bad about taking care of my skin and my wrinkles are proving that. Oh grey...been there for awhile! Go girl, you inspire me to do better. Now to go clean a house and get some exercise.

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  10. Beautiful friend... Thank you for sharing your wisdom & ideas.

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  11. PS: something happened to the rest of my comment! Haha. Love that quote from giada

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  12. Shoot! Did it again. So I'll sign off. Love you. :). Jen

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  13. Hi Debbie,
    I love your tips and positive outlook. It definitely makes a difference not only in how we look but how much we are willing to invest in our self care.
    I was amused to see you post this because I started writing a post on aging as well. I'll have to add another decade to mine, though :) But you showed me how to put a positive twist on it. I have a new approach now, as I touch on different things we deal with as we get older. You have at least 10 more years before you have to worry about this, though.
    Always good to drop in here.
    Blessings,
    Janis

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  14. Hi Debbie! I'm slowly getting back into a groove and visiting all my friends :) I love this post, and do everything in my power to age gracefully! One thing I've found: a smile is the best facelift around. I want to have one of those sweet old lady faces as I age :)
    Hugs from VA!

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I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

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