What Keeps Me Youthful and Trim at Age 72

I am seventy-two years old. I eat healthy, workout everyday, and as a result I still wear a size 2 or 4.

I began a regular exercise program in my late twenties and early thirties, starting with yoga during my first pregnancy; in the ‘80s I worked out with Jane Fonda on video; I played tennis almost every day for years; I ran my first 10K at age forty. Exercise became a habit and a way of life.

I also found it a lifesaver after the death of my oldest son in 1999. But even so, almost every year I go through the same self-questioning: Should I keep on with this routine? Isn’t it time to quit already? Aren’t I too old for this? Shouldn’t I take a day off once in a while? Wouldn’t I be more comfortable in a muumuu, rather than worrying about pouring my girlish figure into tight jeans? And every year, I say, “nah.”

I really don’t have any reasons to slow down. I like the benefits. I’m fit. I don’t need high blood pressure or cholesterol-lowering medications, I don’t have aches and pains, I have good balance, my weight is normal, and my body fat index is ideal.

My workout routine includes cardio, usually on the elliptical trainer, treadmill, or in a spinning (stationary bicycling) class. I participate in Pilates at least once a week, Yoga stretching after each cardio session, and weight training once or twice a week.

But no matter how much I work out at the gym or how many walks I take along the beach, I can’t get rid of my sagging skin. No matter how many weights I lift, my inner thighs jiggle, I have kimono upper arms, and even the skin on my otherwise bony lower arms just hangs there with no place to go. I have just learned to live with it.

In addition I’m a firm believer that pampering helps keep me feeling and looking young. I have facials, botox injections to take away frown and forehead lines every four or five months, and I make regular appointments for manicures, pedicures, and massages. I use lots anti-aging creams and moisturizers and always wear sunscreen when I’m outside. Plus I still wear high heels and dress youthfully. My husband likes it.

My hair is another story. About five years ago I decided to go natural. I stopped full dye-jobs many years ago, but for a long time I had low lights streaked in to show off some of my gray. Now, I’m more gray than dark and I wear my hair long – either naturally wavy or blow-dried and ironed flat. I’ve decided I don’t like the look of other gray-haired old ladies with coiffed thinning short hair. My long hair has versatility.

My diet consists of lots of greens, fish, nuts – I love peanut butter – and berries. Since I have digestive problems, I cut out dairy many years ago and took away gluten products a few months ago. Plus I haven’t eaten red meat for over thirty years. I think these dietary restrictions have helped keep my body in shape along with keeping my digestion under control. I am a firm believer in taking daily vitamins to give me the nutrients lacking in my diet. Calcium helps me remain free of osteoporosis.

I think one more thing keeps me youthful both physically and mentally: I take daily hormone replacement in very small dosages. My doctors agree that this regimen helps me feel and look better. It feels good, helps me look good, and boosts my mood. I believe I’m doing the best I can to combat the effects of my aging body.

Madeline Sharples is an author, poet, and web journalist. her memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On: A Mother’s Memoir of Living with Her Son’s Bipolar Disorder and Surviving His Suicide (Dream of Things), is the harrowing but ultimately uplifting tale of the course of years from her son Paul’s diagnosis with bipolar disorder, through his suicide at her home to the present day. It details how Madeline, her husband, and younger son weathered every family’s worst nightmare.

She also co-authored Blue-Collar Women: Trailblazing Women Take on Men-Only Jobs (New Horizon Press), a book about women in nontraditional professions and co-edited the poetry anthology, The Great American Poetry Show, Volumes 1 and 2 (Muse Media). Her poetry accompanies the work of photographer Paul Blieden in two books, The Emerging Goddess and Intimacy as well as appearing in print and online on many occasions.

Please welcome her as an ongoing contributor to AgingBodies!