Oh, the attack of age. We spend our younger years thinking we will always look flawless and flat-bellied only to be proven wrong as we slip into our mid 30's and on to our 40's. We try to be philosophical and vow to age gracefully. Meanwhile we check ourselves out in the full length mirror and see our physical youth slipping away. We don't want to admit it, but it happens. In western society we are taught by the media that the best and most desirable women are young and wrinkle free. What does that mean for those of us in our 40's and older?

My first sign of aging was a little pot belly I started to develop when I was about 36 or so. It wasn't bad, but I noticed it and wondered where it was coming from. I hadn't changed my eating habits or exercise habits (there's a clue). But I failed to realize that my metabolism was probably slowing. Frankly, I thought I'd be OK with the aging process. It's a natural part of life - why get bummed out about a couple crow's feet? And personally, I don't believe in using medical intervention to keep myself looking younger, so why am I succumbing to feeling a bit less confident where my physical beauty is concerned? And it's not just beauty. Now I need reading glasses! And sometimes I feel sort of stiff when I get out of bed in the morning! Oh, the horror!

I've finally decided that I can't just sit back and let my self-confidence slip away over a creaky knee and some gray hair. I have also decided that I am not going to go over-board and try to turn back the clock in order to look 20, or even 30 again. Sorry, but that's just silly. So, here's what I am going to do, and I invite all beautiful, wonderful, luscious grown women to join me. It's time to stop letting the media and society tell us that we have to be young in order to be beautiful. Where's the confidence that we should have as women who have survived raising children and maybe a divorce or two and having to move from string bikini to tankini? We're smart and we've accomplished things and by-golly we can still be beautiful and sexy!

These are my guerrilla tactics to fight aging and the waning self confidence that may come with it (in no particular order, and all subject to change and tweaking as time passes):

1) Exercise - Quit with the excuses. Regular exercise including cardio, strength training and stretching will increase muscle tone and definition, improve your health and mental well-being, and increase your confidence. There is such a variety of things that anyone can do for exercise, there are no excuses for not exercising your body on a regular basis.

2) Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate - Exfoliation gently removes dead skin cells and leaves skin feeling and looking softer and smoother. Scrubs, masks, peels and even a good clean wash cloth can do this, and it makes a big difference.

3) Sunscreen - This should be a no-brainer, but every summer some women still insist on frying themselves in the sun so they can have a deep tan. I used to do that in my teens and twenties. At 44 I am developing age spots. Trust me, we can do without age spots. Use a sunscreen every day. You can still get some natural summer color and then supplement that with a self-tanner if you really want a deep tan. Some natural sun is good for you, especially if you live in the northern climates, but too much will cause your skin to age more quickly and you also are running a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

4) Moisturizer - Another no-brainer. Even if you already have some wrinkles and crow's feet, a good moisturizer every day will help with slowing the aging process of your skin. Besides that, moisturizer just makes the skin look better because it gives you a smoother and dewier appearance. And, you don't have to use the ultra-expensive stuff! You can, but it's not necessary. Find what works best for you and use it every day. Head to toe. There are of course moisturizers for certain areas such as the eyes and I have used some of these with a bit of success. Bottom line - just moisturize.

5) The Right Make Up - As we get older, less is generally more. Go to a make-up counter, read articles, try stuff out. Find what makes you feel good, and gives a classic healthy look - forget the trends. If you want to be trendy, try one thing - not everything. This goes for clothes too (the trendy part, not less is more!).

6) Teeth - To me, the ultra-white, glow in the dark teeth that are seen on some people is a bit unsettling. But so is a set of coffee, tea and cigarette stained teeth. Visit your dentist, practice good dental care and use whitening strips.

7) A Great Cut and Color - If you are wearing the same style that you were 10 years ago, you probably need a change. Everything changes, and so do the styles that look good on us as we get older. I am not suggesting that you can't have fun, youthfully styled hair. But it might be time to play with some ideas for something fresh. If you are going gray, you have a decision to make. Either let it go naturally, which looks fantastic on some women, or color it. If you decide to color, go with something close to your natural color and try playing it up with some highlights or low lights.

8) The Right Clothes - Some of us love to shop. Others, like me, hate it. I just can't be bothered to wander the mall. However, I have taken the time to find out what styles look good for my figure, and you should too. This saves time and frustration, and you can be confident that you will look good when you leave the house.

9) Adventure - What's this got to do with beauty? We're talking inner beauty here. Adventure will put a flush in your cheeks and quicken your heartbeat, even when you're telling your friends about it afterwards. What would be an adventure for you? Bungee jumping? Mountain climbing? Travel? Running a marathon? Taking a dance class? Reading War and Peace? Volunteering to help with a new cause? Adventures don't have to be big. An adventure just has to be something that challenges you a bit and gives you a sense of fun accomplishment when you do them.

10) Learning - Another inner beauty thing. We don't shut our brains down at a certain point and coast the rest of the way. Learn something new. Doesn't have to be huge, just keep doing it.

11) Relaxation - Stress will age a person quicker than anything. And today's world is stressful. Find what helps you relax and have a sense of calm well-being. Whether it's meditation, exercise, playing with children, cooking or sitting by the water. Make time for relaxation amid your busy, busy days. This is a very important guerrilla tactic because we tend to neglect this, but it is one of the best ways to fight feeling old.

12) The Right Attitude - By this time in our life, we have seen it all (or a lot of it). We can either become cynical or we can become open to what we've learned, what we still can learn, and the many, many things we have to share with the rest of the world. Just having this kind of wisdom should really boost confidence.

13) Correct Diet - Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, antioxidants, water, a good multi-vitamin, low-fat dairy, easy on the salt and sugar. Go vegetarian if you're so inclined - good for you and good for the environment. A healthy diet shows up in our skin, our emotional health, our body, our hair - the list goes on.

14) Quit Smoking! - I don't smoke. Nobody should - it's bad in many, many ways.

15) See Your Doctor - Have those regular check-ups. Nobody enjoys them, but paying attention to your health will help keep you feeling young and vibrant.

I bet readers could come up with many more excellent ideas. Aging doesn't have to be a terrible thing, but it seems in the western world, we have learned to dread the inevitable changes it brings. This isn't necessary. I will admit that I struggle with my own ever-nearer induction into AARP. I wish I could say that I view all of this as a blessing. That's really what I endeavor for, but I'm not there yet. Until then, I will commit myself to health, happiness and un-altered beauty come what may!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Ann_Lambert

©2006

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