How to Age Gracefully in Your 20s, 30s, and Beyond (Part One) !

When it comes to aging, it’s fair to say that most women wish to do so gracefully, which really means, gradually or not at all in girl talk. Everyone ages. But in order to age gracefully in your 20’s, 30’s, and beyond, the secret is to be consistent, to keep striving to make healthy choices, and especially, to be proactive. What was it I said?

BE PROACTIVE!

As shown in the images below, I have maintained a consistent appearance throughout my 20s, 30s, and currently at near 40! Of course there are many changes and differences that can be seen in these images. I wouldn’t have it any other way; I’m proud for the time I have on this Earth and it’s a blessing to age. Please note that I have never used any filters on these photos, as most were taken before that became popular! Additionally, I have had zero plastic surgery, injections, or fillers. These photos were taken before and after having my four children—yes, you read that right: I am a mother of four! In this post, I will share all of my secrets with you!

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Furthermore, in this post we will go over these secrets:

HERE ARE THE SECRETS TO AGING GRACEFULLY (part 1) IN A NUTSHELL

1. Staying the same weight
2. Breastfeeding
3. Developing skin care routines
4. Yoga
5. Sweating often
6. Balanced diet
7. Reading regularly

Secret #1

Staying the Same Weight

Again, these photos were taken before and after having my four children— and I have always stayed within the same weight range, give or take 7-12 pounds before and after each child and all throughout life’s ups and downs.

During and After Pregnancy:

During each pregnancy, I gained the recommended weight of 20 to 36 pounds. The key to this was following my doctor’s guidelines for healthy eating rather than indulging in everything I wanted in excess. It’s easy to rationalize overeating while pregnant as a way to nourish your unborn child. If you are expecting or plan to be pregnant in the future, I recommend reading books on pregnancy and healthy eating, and following your doctor’s guidelines. I also want to emphasize that I didn’t stress about my weight during pregnancy. I knew that as long as I was eating a balanced diet and providing essential nutrition for both myself and my baby, we would both remain healthy during and after the pregnancy.

Furthermore, I adhered to the same principle after my pregnancy, understanding that my body needed time to heal and recover. They say it can take a full year to return to your pre-pregnancy weight, although it sometimes takes longer. As long as you maintain a balanced diet and stay active—under the guidance of your doctor—you will be just fine.

I recommend using body oil and lotions for massaging the skin regularly before, during, and after pregnancies. This helps your skin’s elasticity and can help your skin bounce back and tighten while healing. Massaging the skin regularly also helps lymphatic draining (releasing toxins in skin and breaking down fat cells).

Maintaining a Healthy Weight During Life’s Ups and Downs:

Pregnancy aside, life’s ups and downs can cause your weight to fluctuate for numerous reasons. Some of these reasons include hormones, stress, mindlessness, a sedentary lifestyle at work, injuries, immobility for any reason, medical conditions, and more. If you feel that any of these might apply to you, seek medical advice.

Keep in mind that my insights are based on what has worked for me throughout my life, including my experiences as a teenager, during multiple pregnancies, in my 20s, 30s, and now as I approach my 40s. Additionally, my secrets have worked for me while I am still deeply immersed in motherhood with children of varying ages at home.

Because this post is not about weight, I will briefly touch on what I do to maintain a healthy, consistent weight.

Exercising regularly, and in different forms of exercise, is what I believe make the most beautiful bodies. So move often and engage in various types of movement. I don’t typically stick to just one or two styles of exercise; instead, I enjoy switching things up to avoid boredom and to create a well-balanced body that stays within my natural frame .My favorite activities include indoor rock climbing, canoeing, biking, running, walking, dancing, yoga, Pilates, weightlifting, hiking, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), martial arts, kickboxing, and the list goes on and on.

Secret #2

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of life’s weight maintaining secrets for me. Not only does it relate to the topic of pregnancies, but it also played a significant role in my 20s and helped me lose weight after each pregnancy. As you can see, breastfeeding and weight loss often go hand in hand after giving birth. This is not always the case, but for me, it was. Every time you breastfeed, your uterus contracts. It’s your body’s way of repairing itself and healing.

I recognize that this secret may not apply to everyone, so I’ll keep it brief. Essentially, breastfeeding helps a new mother’s body shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size. When I was breastfeeding, I always kept a snack nearby because I would often experience a drop in blood sugar and needed the nutrition. Breastfeeding boosts your metabolism, which aids in weight loss, it’s also important to eat enough so you and your breastfed child receive enough nutrition. So there you have it, breastfeeding can help a woman’s body shrink back down close if not past a pre-pregnancy weight, as long as you are eating balanced and moving your body regularly. *consult your doctor. I am not a doctor.

I understand that sometimes things happen and not every mother can, or chooses to breastfeed. I’m simply informing you about what worked for me and contributed to a healthy weight and therefore helped me to age more gracefully.

Secret #3

AGING GRACEFULLY WILL REQUIRE A GOOD SKINCARE ROUTINE

Okay feminine lifers, if you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know I’m a huge advocate for developing, and sticking with skincare routines! Day or night, your skin needs to be nourished. Furthermore, you will need to continue to experiment with different products and be willing to change your routine based off your current age, lifestyle, and even your environment.

As we age, our skin loses some of its elasticity and our collagen production slows. Collagen is a protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the hydration and elasticity of our skin. It is also vital for joint health. And, it is the most abundant protein in the human body. Collagen is present in various tissues such as skin, bones, muscles, joints, and tendons.

During your routines (day and night) you should be cleansing, moisturizing, exfoliating, massaging (and or rolling) and supplementing. There are so many products out there, keep experimenting until you find what works best for you! Whatever the brand, I will always recommend choosing products that are free from unnecessary chemicals and non-animal tested.

Here is a post where I talk all about my favorite collagen supplement for glowing, ageless beauty. READ HERE: https://afemininelife.com/you-need-this-number-one-product-for-glowing-skin/

Secret #4

YOGA

Yoga has specifically helped me age gracefully. The slow and controlled movements bring peace to my day. It also strengthens my body and keeps my muscles long, lean, and flexible. Yoga promotes overall body circulation, which enhances blood flow to the brain and throughout the entire body. This can lead to supple, healthy, and glowing skin. Improved circulation also helps improve the appearance of veins and capillaries beneath the skin, a common sign of aging.

Many reasons why aging can became difficult or even a danger to your health, is being able to lift your own body weight up should you fall. When you practice yoga, you are practicing holding your own body weight. This reason alone is why I will always do bodyweight workouts.

Here are some more reasons why yoga helps you age gracefully…

1. reduces stress
2. promotes better sleep
3. increase strength
4. improve mental wellbeing
5. reduce the risk of depression
6. improve heart health
7. reduce risk of cognitive decline
8. reduce risk of osteoporosis
9. reduce or reverse the shortening of telomeres (DNA sequences and proteins that caps the ends of chromosomes)

Secret #5

Sweating Often

We will keep this secret short and sweet since we have already covered exercising regularly and doing yoga. Sweating regularly can help promote healthy blood circulations to your skin which will help drive healthy nutrients and oxygen. Thus, you will have n increase in collagen production, and healthy skin cell turnover. If you’ve ever heard the term post workout glow, know that it is a real thing! By sweating regularly you are improving the blood flow to your skin and face which will give you that healthy glow after an intense sweat-sesh. When your face is glowing, and your skin looks healthy, it can take YEARS off your face and body. At least appear that way. That’s why seating makes my list of secrets to age gracefully.

Secret #6

Balanced Diet

It’s well-known that maintaining a healthy weight (which leads to aging gracefully) requires a balanced diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, proteins, and healthy fats. While this post isn’t about specific diets, I’d like to share what works for me.

I don’t believe in cutting out food groups for weight loss unless there’s a severe allergy. I recommend talking to a doctor about your diet, as I’m not a healthcare professional. I don’t follow trends that suggest cutting out foods like eggs, dairy or gluten and even the occasional sugar. Instead, I found that my health improved when I eliminated processed foods. To feel my best, I focus on eating as close to the source as possible, with about 80% of my kitchen consisting of whole ingredients, otherwise known as an ingredients only kitchen.

I can’t say what works for everyone, but I choose fresh produce, meats, dairy, and maple syrup and honey over processed sugars. Making my own food, including baked goods, helps me maintain my well-being. After giving up nut milks for whole-fat dairy and avoiding seed oils found in many alternatives, I’ve felt much better. The exception to this is whole fat canned coconut milk. It is so delicious in my morning coffee. Coconut milk is an anti inflammatory and contains healthy fats (I don’t go for the boxed stuff, it has too many additives for my liking).

Secret #7

Read Regularly

Aging gracefully isn’t just about your appearance or physical strength; it also involves mental wellbeing. I truly believe that reading can play a significant role in helping us age gracefully. My favorite genre is fictional novels. I love being transported to new places and meeting new characters. The spark of imagination that reading these stories ignites makes me feel much younger than I am.

Additionally, reading helps reduce stress and anxiety. It serves as a mental gateway to new possibilities. Through books, we can open new windows to peek through or doors to step through into different experiences. Reading is simply good for the soul.

There you have it, 7 secrets on how to age gracefully in your 20s, 30s and beyond! Be sure to check out part two of this post to discover more secrets that may help you feel your best at any age! I’d love to hear from you, please leave me a comment at the bottom of the page.

See you next time.

XoXo ~Britt Gal

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