I am turning 63 this year, and I still can’t believe I’m in my 60s, but here we are. Oddly enough, I’m acutely aware of my age. I never have been before. Age meant little to nothing to me.
It means an awful lot these days.
I’m not sure if it’s because I watched my mom get sucked into the hell of Alzheimer’s, and stayed there for 20 years before she finally died, or if it’s because my clock is ticking and I’m sure there are still tons of things I still want to do before I can’t.
Whatever the reason, I decided to do my best to reverse my age. Now, I don’t mean I want to be 25 again — nothing like that. Maybe reverse isn’t the word I’m looking for.
I want to slow it down or delay it for about 20 years. Am I dreaming? Possibly, but I’m going to see if I can pull it off. I want to share my exact strategy, and you’re more than welcome to join me or follow along.
But first, this…
Then there’s this guy
Bryan Johnson. Have you heard of him? While I applaud his determination, this guy is fucking nuts.
Here’s a tiny synopsis of who he is and what he’s doing.
- spends millions every year on anti-aging regimen
- gets blood transfusions from his teenage son
- takes hundreds of supplements daily
- follows a strict diet.
There was a documentary about him on Netflix — “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever”. I spent the majority of my time watching it with my mouth wide open and repeatedly saying, “what the fuck”?
It’s bananas and intriguing at the same time. But I feel sorry for him. I mean, he’s a rich, somewhat good-looking guy who will probably die alone. His entire life revolves around staying young forever. It’s kinda sad.
My simple regime
So, while I’m intrigued, in awe, but also feel kinda sad for Bryan, I won’t be going to such extreme measures to try to slow down or reverse aging. Besides, I’m not a millionaire like he is.
I’m a broke ass blogger.
So this is how I plan to do it — oh, and I’ve already started, but you’re free to start now and catch up! I did some research and will share some fun facts with you, too!
At the end of the article, you will find my skin care regime, too, that keeps my skin glowing and radiant, or something like that.
🟡Step 1 — Changed my diet.
This was a tough one. I quit sugar which is super hard for me (hello, junk food junkie, here) and I do not eat processed foods, bad carbs, (good bye, pizza, pasta and french fries) anymore, and drink more water now. You can check out this video on my YouTube channel about my quitting sugar journey.
Fun fact 1 — Sugar speeds up aging.
When asked does sugar age you, Dr. Nish says the short answer is, “yes.” Sugar ages us in many ways, both internally and externally, including our skin. Dr. Nish breaks down the science with a simple analogy. Read more here 👉 Source: Unity Point
Bye, sugar!
You might really like this article on my 30-day results of quitting sugar.
🟡 Step 2 — I quit smoking (and drinking).
Ok, I know. A no-brainer here, but you can’t tell an addict anything. I smoked for almost 50 years, quit once or twice in that time, and now am smoke-free again, hopefully this time for good.
If you don’t smoke, you can quit another bad habit, like drinking.
Fun fact 2 — Heavy or lifelong smokers often experience a whole litany of early aging symptoms.
When smoking is combined with drinking, these symptoms only increase in their severity. Source: Vertava Health
🟡 Step 3 — Walk more and exercise 5 days a week.
I’m not a fan of walking. I’m actually pretty lazy when it comes to walking. I’d much rather take my scooter to the gym. But I’m walking more and working out (strength training) seriously, 5 days a week.
Fun fact 3 — Walking and exercising can help you maintain a youthful appearance and feel by improving skin health, boosting metabolism, strengthening muscles and bones, and promoting overall well-being, which can help you feel and look younger.
You cannot change your chronological age, but exercising can help you feel and look younger. Some of the benefits of regular exercise include strengthening muscles and maintaining body weight. Source: Health
🟡 Step 4 — Brain exercises
I’m doing everything I can to keep dementia away from this girl, including brain exercises. I do about 10 minutes every night, plus I also do work online, so my brain is constantly in action.
I’m also taking Spanish lessons every day for an hour so my brain really never stops learning!
Fun fact 4 — Engaging in brain exercises and staying mentally active can help maintain cognitive function and potentially slow down cognitive decline associated with aging.
Cognitive training, which is designed to improve specific cognitive skills, appears to have benefits for maintaining cognitive health in older adults. Source: nia.nih.gov
🟡 Step 5 — Supplements for brain health
I started taking Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplements last year and what a difference those make. I have way more clarity, I’m more focused and relaxed, and I don’t get as anxious as I used to.
Fun fact 5 — It promotes nerve growth and can potentially improve cognitive function and prevent memory loss.
In one study of 30 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, those who took tablets containing Hericium erinaceus powder for 4 months showed a temporary improvement on cognitive tests. The mushrooms have also been shown to slow Alzheimer’s symptoms and brain changes linked to the disease in mice. Source: webmd
🟡 Step 6 — More positive thinking, less stress
For me, less stress means less putting up with bullshit and getting caught up in stupid drama, and more of just being thankful for my life, every day and starting my day with gratitude and thanking God for another day.
I also journal every morning, only positive things.
Fun fact 6 — A positive aging mindset might slow or even reverse the aging process.
For example, one longitudinal study surveyed 650 people about their views on aging. Researchers checked back with participants 20 years later, and those who had had more positive feelings about aging had lived an average of seven years longer than those with negative attitudes about growing older. Source: My Life Site
You might really like this article on how positive thinking can improve your health.
🟡 Step 7 – More beauty sleep
Hey, look, they don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing. I love sleep but my cats would prefer I wake up at the butt crack of dawn every morning and feed them. Trust me, they’re not starving. So, because of this, I’m usually in bed by 9.
That could just be an old person thing, though. But yes, sleep is crucial to slowing down aging.
Fun fact 7 – Sleep deprivation can negatively affect your facial appearance and skin health, leading to wrinkles, dullness, and dark under-eye circles.
Sleep deprivation can impact almost every aspect of a person’s physical and mental health. This includes the health of your skin. Consistently getting a poor night of sleep can lead to a wide range of skin issues from wrinkles and sagging skin to dark circles and paleness. Source: artofdermatology
My skin care regime
First of all, I haven’t used soap on my face in years. I use only all-natural products every day and also start my day with a skin nourishing mask made of a few simple ingredients.
- all-natural plain yogurt
- smashed papaya
- Carrot Seed Oil
- oatmeal
I’ve been using this mask for about a month now and will probably switch it up next month. I have a lovely moisturizing spritzer I use from Saje.com and often slather pure aloe vera on my face (at least twice a week) to give it a boost.
While I definitely don’t have the skin of a 30-year-old, I’m happy with how my skin looks and feels. You can see it in my videos over on my YouTube channel (link above).
You can check out this article for some ideas on natural skin care routines.
Will it work?
These are all the steps I’m taking to slow down the aging process and help me feel and look young. Will it work? Who knows?
But I do know one thing for sure: it can’t hurt!
This is the only life you’re given. You can sit on the sidelines and be a spectator, watching yourself grow old, or you can be an active participant and make the most of it.
Your choice. Choose wisely.
xo iva xo
