Truly golden at 50
May 1, 2005 | 12:00am
Germaine Greer wrote in her book, The Second Half of Life, the human female is the only animal that can, after her reproductive function is over, build her own life.
This is so true. Women approaching their fifties or are fifty already are very different from those of previous generations. Many pursue careers, becoming even more successful, finding ways and means to combat the aging process.
Some women at this age may look like grandmothers, yet others still almost look like young women. Sometimes it’s the result of heredity, of temperaments, but always more of effort.
The aim is not to become young again but to work every day at keeping yourself as you are now for as long as possible.
To combat the aging process is not a difficult chore but a discipline that affects all aspects of life. You’ll need to change your habit, manage your spare time differently, your food, your beauty care, your clothes, your physical exercise and so forth.
Here are some tips Greer suggests to help combat aging. I’m including here, too, an excerpt from 60 Tips, Anti-Aging by Nathalie Chassériau-Banas.
• Get a good night sleep.
Have a light meal at least two and half hours before sleeping. Digesting a late meal might disturb your sleep.
Invest in a good bed. Your mattress must be firm. It should be able to accommodate the natural curve of your spine.
Scatter a few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow. It will help you go to sleep.
Avoid everything that causes worry or excitement in the hour before going to bed. No TV, no reading, no work or payment of bills.
Avoid all drinks with caffeine after 4 p.m. and try to drink warm milk with honey before sleeping.
• Smile.
A genuine and spontaneous smile is an asset. It reflects your responsiveness to others and your self-confidence.
A smiling face is a gift not only to others but to ourselves. By lifting up the corners of the mouth, which naturally tends to curve downwards, smiling not only stimulates the facial muscles but prevents the lower part of the face from sagging as quickly as it might have done otherwise. Once past 50, our facial appearance depends largely upon our expressions.
• Keep your face in good shape.
Put cream on your fingertips and, in a rising circular movement, apply it on your face. To tone up the area around your lips, push your lips forward as if blowing into a trumpet and then purse them as if playing a flute.
Keep your toning lotion and mineral water spray in the ref so they will have a better effect on you.
Avoid overheated rooms and sleep with a window open.
Gently massage above and below the eyebrows, working from the nose outwards. This is guaranteed to drain the skin and relieve stress.
• Don’t neglect your neck.
Women tend to neglect their neck. It’s a pity because the neck, more than the face or body, shows more tell-tale signs of aging.
Always hold your head up high. This will firm the muscles of the neck and also prevent having double chin.
Exercise every day. Every morning, try keeping your shoulders still, turn your neck as far as you can see behind you (six times to the left and same on the right).
Tip your head backwards as if studying the ceiling. Hold the position for two seconds, the lower your head to touch your back the better. (Do this 10 times).
Massage and moisturize. Use a facial cream rather than a body cream especially for the neck. Apply it with your fingertips using firm, circular and upward movements.
• Keep your breasts looking beautiful.
At about the age of 50, everyone’s breasts, big or small, lose some tone and shape.
Tone up and nourish your breasts. Spray them with cold water under the shower for two minutes twice a day.
The skin on the breasts has very few sebaceous glands so it should be nourished with moisturizing cream every day. There are creams made for your breasts.
Strengthen your pectorals. You can do exercises in the gym or at home.
When sitting or standing, put the palms of your hands together as if praying. Push your elbows out to level with your breasts and push your hands together hard as if trying to crush something (10 times in succession, twice a day).
Lie on your back, with your knees bent and feet on the ground. Cross one foot over the opposite knee and lift your outstretched arms above your face while holding a large plastic bottle full of water. Breathe in and stretch your arms out behind your head. Breathe out and bring your arms back to the starting position above your face. (Do this 20 times).
Always wear a suitable bra.
These are just some of the still many tips to combat aging.
They say being 50 is an opportunity – an opportunity to change the way you look at life just at the moment others are changing the way they look at you.
It is up to you to use this opportunity. If you do, you will approach the age of 50 in the best possible way, filled with new possibilities.
This is so true. Women approaching their fifties or are fifty already are very different from those of previous generations. Many pursue careers, becoming even more successful, finding ways and means to combat the aging process.
Some women at this age may look like grandmothers, yet others still almost look like young women. Sometimes it’s the result of heredity, of temperaments, but always more of effort.
The aim is not to become young again but to work every day at keeping yourself as you are now for as long as possible.
To combat the aging process is not a difficult chore but a discipline that affects all aspects of life. You’ll need to change your habit, manage your spare time differently, your food, your beauty care, your clothes, your physical exercise and so forth.
Here are some tips Greer suggests to help combat aging. I’m including here, too, an excerpt from 60 Tips, Anti-Aging by Nathalie Chassériau-Banas.
• Get a good night sleep.
Have a light meal at least two and half hours before sleeping. Digesting a late meal might disturb your sleep.
Invest in a good bed. Your mattress must be firm. It should be able to accommodate the natural curve of your spine.
Scatter a few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow. It will help you go to sleep.
Avoid everything that causes worry or excitement in the hour before going to bed. No TV, no reading, no work or payment of bills.
Avoid all drinks with caffeine after 4 p.m. and try to drink warm milk with honey before sleeping.
• Smile.
A genuine and spontaneous smile is an asset. It reflects your responsiveness to others and your self-confidence.
A smiling face is a gift not only to others but to ourselves. By lifting up the corners of the mouth, which naturally tends to curve downwards, smiling not only stimulates the facial muscles but prevents the lower part of the face from sagging as quickly as it might have done otherwise. Once past 50, our facial appearance depends largely upon our expressions.
• Keep your face in good shape.
Put cream on your fingertips and, in a rising circular movement, apply it on your face. To tone up the area around your lips, push your lips forward as if blowing into a trumpet and then purse them as if playing a flute.
Keep your toning lotion and mineral water spray in the ref so they will have a better effect on you.
Avoid overheated rooms and sleep with a window open.
Gently massage above and below the eyebrows, working from the nose outwards. This is guaranteed to drain the skin and relieve stress.
• Don’t neglect your neck.
Women tend to neglect their neck. It’s a pity because the neck, more than the face or body, shows more tell-tale signs of aging.
Always hold your head up high. This will firm the muscles of the neck and also prevent having double chin.
Exercise every day. Every morning, try keeping your shoulders still, turn your neck as far as you can see behind you (six times to the left and same on the right).
Tip your head backwards as if studying the ceiling. Hold the position for two seconds, the lower your head to touch your back the better. (Do this 10 times).
Massage and moisturize. Use a facial cream rather than a body cream especially for the neck. Apply it with your fingertips using firm, circular and upward movements.
• Keep your breasts looking beautiful.
At about the age of 50, everyone’s breasts, big or small, lose some tone and shape.
Tone up and nourish your breasts. Spray them with cold water under the shower for two minutes twice a day.
The skin on the breasts has very few sebaceous glands so it should be nourished with moisturizing cream every day. There are creams made for your breasts.
Strengthen your pectorals. You can do exercises in the gym or at home.
When sitting or standing, put the palms of your hands together as if praying. Push your elbows out to level with your breasts and push your hands together hard as if trying to crush something (10 times in succession, twice a day).
Lie on your back, with your knees bent and feet on the ground. Cross one foot over the opposite knee and lift your outstretched arms above your face while holding a large plastic bottle full of water. Breathe in and stretch your arms out behind your head. Breathe out and bring your arms back to the starting position above your face. (Do this 20 times).
Always wear a suitable bra.
These are just some of the still many tips to combat aging.
They say being 50 is an opportunity – an opportunity to change the way you look at life just at the moment others are changing the way they look at you.
It is up to you to use this opportunity. If you do, you will approach the age of 50 in the best possible way, filled with new possibilities.
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