Improving your quality of life requires a high level of self-control and discipline. Numerous diseases and conditions can be prevented by practicing healthy living. Joint stress, heart disease, diabetes, bone stress and high blood pressure are among conditions and diseases that can be kept at bay by practicing healthy habits.

ü Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables

Seniors can include a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables daily. When choosing fruits and vegetables, go for color and variety to ensure you have a mix of nutrients. Keep fruit where you can reach it. Look for dark leafy greens and cook them in a manner that ensures no loss of nutrients. Enjoy fruits and vegetables during meal time or as a snack. The odds of aging gracefully and successfully can increase drastically with daily consumption.

ü Drinking alcohol in moderation

The study also shows persons who consume alcohol in moderation are likely to meet the successful aging criteria. Those who consumed alcohol heavily or didn’t consume alcohol at all were surpassed by those who drank moderately. If you don’t drink any alcohol, you don’t have to start just to enjoy some benefits of alcohol consumption. Seniors who drink should moderate their intake. Men can consume 1 to 21 units of alcohol while women can drink up to 14 units of alcohol weekly.

ü No smoking

Smoking is a NO NO if you want to live a healthier life. Persons who have never smoked in their life are likely to have a healthy old life compared to former smokers and those that smoke. Smoke has no health benefits whatsoever to your heart or body for that matter. If you want to increase your odds of a longer healthier life, quit smoking and if you don’t smoke, don’t start.

ü Engaging in intense physical activity

Participants who were physically active raised the odds of healthy aging. A moderate but intense weekly workout improved the participants’ health. Physical exercise improves moods, boosts energy and helps to control weight. You can indulge in an activity that you enjoy to ensure you maintain a good routine.

• Passion

A passionate man can be quite a catch to most women. A man who wants to live a full life as he gets older can have a bright future. Men with great intensity towards life or work can be a big turn-on to women.

• Integrity

A man over 50 can be considered sexy if he shows a certain degree of integrity. Integrity is sexy in a number of ways. Being honest and open can make the relationship more loving. Furthermore, one who is not afraid of being vulnerable may be ideal to many women.

• Quick wit

A sexy man can be one who is mentally alert, quick in perception and understanding. One with a quick-witted mind can be more alluring. If you are quick witted, you may come across as a person who is also intelligent and smart.

• Takes charge

One of the qualities that women may consider sexy in a man is when a man is being a MAN. Male seniors over 50 who act manly by taking charge, being bold and making plans over passive male are more likely to be considered sexy by women.

• Fun

What’s life without some fun? Sexy men over 50 can still have fun. Being fun with your partner can make the relationship more pleasurable. It can also make the relationship sexy and alive.

• Self- confidence

A confident man is a sexy man. You can show your confidence with body language. How you walk, talk, dress or sit can say a lot about you. Show off your self-confidence by avoiding slouching and fidgeting. Keep your eyes level and stand up straight to project confidence. Being self-confidence can also include having the ability to self express in more ways than one.

• Takes care of himself spiritually, physically and mentally

Women are likely to appreciate a man who takes care of all of himself. This trait can make a man irresistible to most women.

If you are on a diet, you may find it difficult to keep up with your healthy meals. The holidays can easily sabotage your goals to remain healthy. To stay healthy and fit for the holidays you can exercise the following tips:

Focus your attention on company and not food

If you have company over to celebrate the holidays, you may want to enjoy the company more than the food. Being with those you love and spending time with them can distract you from indulging in copious amounts of food. Moreover, seniors should avoid being alone since they can unconsciously shovel food down their throats to fill the void.

Don’t forget to exercise

Just because the festive season is here doesn’t mean you should skip your exercises. Ensure you make appointments to exercise at least 3 days a week if not everyday. You can run, walk or go to the gym to burn the calories. Play games with families to keep fit as well.

Shop healthy

If you have to eat a lot then shop healthy. Stock your kitchen with healthy snacks and foods. This eliminates the constant thinking of what to eat and what to avoid and ensures the convenience of eating healthy.

Skip baked foods

Baked products are culprits to being unhealthy during the festive season. You can avoid the baked products by not baking any food items to avoid the temptation of rushing to the kitchen and taking a bite of a piece of any baked goods.

Hydrate

Stay hydrated throughout the festive season. Elderly people can stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids such as water and juices. Eat juicy fruits and limit alcohol, sugary and caffeinated drinks.

Say no

Simply say no to unhealthy foods. People generously offering you food can lead to overeating. If you don’t really want it, just say no.

Be strategic

Do not eat spontaneously. Instead, strategize your meals intake. Outline your meals with some ready strategies. Old individuals can plan ahead to take control of the situation and take on temptations.

• Minimize excessive stress

Excessive stress can have advance effects on your body. You can damage your mental and physical health just by being stressed. Your mouth may become dry and even have bad breath. The eye muscles may bulge and your eyes can become fatigued. Excessive stress can also affect your hair, skin, heart and even lungs. Mental dangers can include mood swings, memory loss, depression, panic attacks and inability to concentrate.

• Increase your physical exercises

The lack of physical activity may accelerate aging. You may find it difficult to maintain a good posture when walking, sitting or standing. In addition, absence of physical activity is associated with majority of chronic diseases. You can stay active by walking, cycling, taking deep breathes and any other exercises that do not involve vigorous movements.

• Stop excessive alcohol

Drinking moderately may have some positive effects such as promoting bowel movement, some sense of happiness and appetite. However, too much alcohol is not good for you. There are numerous negative effects of alcohol which include breathing disturbances during sleep, cognitive dysfunction and insomnia.

• Avoid smoke

Smoke of any kind, whether direct or secondhand may make you look older. Avoid smoking and stay away from secondary smoke at all costs. If you are living with persons who smoke you may ask them to respect your no-smoking boundaries.

• Mental stimulation

Keep your brain active by engaging in cognitive stimulation activities. Such activities can include learning a new hobby, tackling a puzzle, reading a book and playing chess. You can try out any activity that challenges and engages your mind.

• Improve your diet

“You are what you eat” is a popular saying that gives the idea that to be healthy and fit you need to consume food that is good for you. Improve your diet by eating lean proteins, fruits, whole grains and vegetables. Ensure your diet is well balanced as well.

To have some time to yourself to do your fun activities, you may ask a friend or a family member to help you out for a few hours weekly. You can choose activities that do not seem like a chore or a boring routine so that you can follow through.

Learn a new skill

You can learn how to play tennis, horseback riding, canoeing, yachting, kayaking or golf. Look for a lesson that is also fun to do other than being a lesson. You will be able to construct your memory and keep fit while having fun.

Dance

Different types of dances can be good exercise. Latin, Zumba, ballroom and square dancing are some excellent ways to stay healthy and keep you moving. You can enjoy a fun and effective workout session that will enhance your cardiovascular and your whole body.

Play games

Games are not only fun. Fitness games are also good for exercise. Purchase a variety of fun games so you do not get bored with only one. The benefits of exercise games include improving cardiovascular health, managing weight, all-weather activity and accessibility.

Find an exercise buddy

To keep you motivated while enjoying fun exercises, you can reach out to a friend. Find a friend who is more enthusiastic about exercising so you don’t feel alone or get bored easily. An exercise buddy will also help you coordinate your schedules, prevent you from cancelling a workout session celebrate your success and can make you more committed to your exercise routine.

Spend time with the kids

Spending time with kids can be great. You can hang out with them by playing games such as basketball, baseball or soccer. To make it more interesting, you can hold competitions and reward the winners.

Enroll in group programs

Attending group programs is a good way to meet other old people. Fun activities such as water exercises, yoga, step aerobics and kayaking, biking, hiking and climbing are good activities in a group program.

Numerous anti-aging products are available in the market to give various skin treatments. Some anti aging problems can be prevented by doing simple basic skin care remedies whle some require more drastic procedure. These tips include various lifestyle changes to obtain optimal health and maintain vitality. Please take note that skin care should also come from within so it is very important to be very conscious of the things you take in and introduce to your body.

Quit smoking

Smoking dehydrates your skin and accelerates the skin aging process. You may experience uneven skin coloring, develop wrinkles and broken blood vessels. You can also develop a grey or orange complexion therefore you should also avoid second-hand smoke.

• Exercise regularly

Exercising could involve walking, dancing, skating, skiing and yoga. These activities can improve how your skin looks by either helping in weight loss or toning your body. Your skin can benefit from maintaining its firmness and preventing it from loosening further.

• Use creams, ointments and lotion to cleanse, then tone and moisturize your skin.

While using skin products to improve your skin’s appearance and feel, you should avoid products that can dry the skin more if used excessively such as perfume, soap or taking many unnecessary baths.

• Avoid excessive alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate your skin leading to loss of elasticity. Furthermore, alcohol can deplete the skin of nutrients that help in keeping it looking young and healthy.

• Sleep well

Good sleep can boost how your skin looks and feels. Sleep removes dark circles, improves complexion, protects against wrinkles and makes the skin glow.

• Eat a healthy diet

A healthy and balanced diet provides the necessary nutrients needed by the skin to glow and maintain its youthful appearance.

• Drink plenty of fluids

Keep your body hydrated at all times. You should avoid drinking caffeinated drinks instead drink fluids such as water and juice. Hydration can give seniors a beautiful skin by making it smooth, plump and bouncy.

• Avoid extreme sun exposure

UV rays are dangerous to the skin. If you have to spend time in the sun you should use sunscreen with good protection level. The sunscreen can protect you from harmful sunrays as you enjoy your time outdoors. The rays can damage collagen leaving your skin rough, uneven and loose.

Anyway, when I started working out with an instructor and he realized that the problem was my food intake, he made me start a food journal or a food diary. At first, I told myself, since I keep a blog and a personal diary, a food journal shouldn’t be hard. Boy, was I wrong!

It was not easy to write down everything you eat as well as the correct time you actually did it – truthfully. My instructor even urged me to “describe” portions there and to use a calorie counter or calorie calculator. It took me about three months to actually get the hang of it and a year to be able to confidently do without the food journal but it made a whole lot difference in how I see my food and how it affects my weight.

So yeah, I was able to lose weight and actually keep it down after that, but of course, it should be coupled with proper exercise. Food diary will help you be more conscious of what you eat and can help you eat your food at their proper times. Then there’s portioning and snacking; this all go to your food diary. No cheating. I think the best way to make it work is to have someone go over your food journal every single day. This way you’ll think twice before you attack a bag of chips for snacks.

As long as you are honest, accurate and consistent with your food diary, it will work. It was hard lugging a small notebook around back then but I found applications that can be installed on your smartphones now that work similarly, if not more. Food diary will not only help you keep track of what you put in your mouth but it will also instill good eating habits in you in the long run. A food journal also helps doctors in being able to care for you appropriately and suitably.

Mindful eating involves being fully aware of what you are giving your body. The process of adapting to mindful eating is one that cannot be rushed. It may not be easy to change but small changes can gradually bring lasting change. You will be able to have a healthy relationship with food which in turn keeps you healthier.

Benefits of Mindful Eating

a. Decreased food intake

This practice stops the consumption of too much food that leaves you feeling over stuffed or bloated when you go to bed. The strategy for eating less can help your body work normally and not overwork.

b. Improved digestion

Since you are consuming meals in small amounts you help reduce the work for the digestion system. Food that is chewed properly is digested well. Furthermore, because of not eating every time, you are giving your body time to fully digest your food and absorb the necessary nutrients.

c. Weight loss

If you are an older adult and suffer from weight problems, mindful eating can be of great help. Because you are no longer distracted you can carefully watch what and when you eat to lose weight eventually.

d. Better food enjoyment

Mindful eating involves getting intimate with food. You will be able to discover what you like by enjoying what you eat. Finding pleasure in food is respecting the food. You can increase your food enjoyment by trying more varieties of foods.

It is not an eating plan with food restrictions or menus. This healing and healthy way of eating ensures you pay attention to temperature, smells, colors, sounds, textures and flavor of food. You will also be capable of paying attention to when the body is satisfied or hungry. In addition, you will observe your mind and notice when it is distracted. You can observe the above, plus how eating contributes to your emotions and mood without judgment or criticism.

You can shield yourself from harmful sun rays and keep your skin looking radiant all through summertime. Regardless of your skin there are many sun shields that can prove useful and all you have to do is find one for your skin.

• Get sunscreen

Sunscreens can shield your skin from not only sun damage but also dryness. Skin cancer is one of the many skin problems caused by the sun and protecting yourself can reduce the risk of the cancer. You should use sunscreen before you expose yourself to the sun and continue reapplication at least every 2 to 3 hours. SPF 30 will give you a little extra insurance since it deflects over 90% of sun-burning rays.

• Stay hydrated

As you expose yourself to the sun while carrying out your various fun activities, you lose water as well. Loss of water can lead to dehydration and your skin may feel the effects. To stay dehydrated, you can chow on water-filled fruits, drink juices, coconut milk and plenty of water. Stay away from drinks that can dehydrate you such as refined drinks and coffee for the negative effects on your skin can double.

Eat and maintain a healthy diet

A healthy diet full of minerals and nutrients that are needed by your skin can work miracles during the hot summer. A summer diet can include egg whites, leafy vegetables, antioxidants, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce among other foods.

• Sunglasses & hats

You can keep cool with sunglasses and hats all through the summer. Wear a hat with a brim to protect your face and sunglasses will protect your eyes from the direct sun and harmful UV rays. Protecting your eyes and skin helps to prevent premature aging and muscular degeneration which can be caused by the harmful rays.

• Use a moisturizer

When looking for good moisturizers look for one with sun protection factor. The level of SPF you choose should offer enough protection for your skin. Furthermore, look for one with natural ingredients such as aloe, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and sunflower oil inclusive of many others.

Your summer should be fun and you should be able to show off your radiant, youthful skin during summer and beyond.

• Caffeinated products

Coffee and soft drinks are some of the caffeinated items that when consumed, may make you look older than you really are. These drinks cause dehydration and too much consumption of caffeinated items can lead to premature aging of skin and irreversible damage. Caffeine can inhibit the skin’s ability to manage cell growth.

• Salt

A little salt is good since it makes your food tasty and it is good for your health too. However, when you consume too much salt you are at risk of premature or advanced aging. The salt will hold on to water making it unavailable to the cells thus inhibiting their normal function. Your skin cells may become dehydrated and your skin can begin to lose its youthfulness.

• Soda

The body’s collagen and elastin can be messed by hidden sugars in drinks such as sodas and others with excess sugar. Raised blood glucose levels because of consumption of refined carbohydrates and sweets can interfere with the repair of the two structural proteins. Therefore, your skin begins to sag and wrinkle, loosing the firmness and elasticity it once had.

• Alcohol

When too much alcohol is consumed, more water is depleted from the body. As the water diminishes the skin begins to weaken and shows signs of advanced aging. The skin loses its dewy appearance and skin irregularities such as wrinkles and lines appear. Your skin is as dehydrated as you physically feel in the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

• Saturated fats

Foods with saturated fats may increase skin inflammation and premature aging. You should cut back on foods that contain trans fats and polyunsaturated oils. The fats may promote the generation of age-accelerating radicals that can damage the skin resulting to wrinkling.

Moderate consumption of these foods or do not consume them at all to improve how your skin feels and looks. A hydrated body brings back balance to your skin leaving it looking healthy, firm and flawless- something that is really important especially when your body starts showing signs of aging.