FEAR OF AGING: It Hits Us All

There comes a point in our lives that we become obsessed with aging. For some of us, it happens when we see those first tiny wrinkles in the corners of our eyes, or when we just can’t shed those extra pounds we packed on over the holidays.

With the passage of years, these early fears bloom full out. As we approach our forties, many of us become really frightened of becoming old. Forty is awfully close to fifty…and very few people think of fifty as young. Fifty starts sounding like old fogey or, even more dreaded, Senior Citizen.

I have created RetroAge to bring to you a totally transformed way of experiencing aging. Have you ever considered that the negative stereotypes that bombard you daily strongly impact how you will actually age? With enough negative feedback, it’s no surprise that we all fear the aging process. We’re programmed to fear it!

Certainly, it seems we are justified in dreading aging. As we look about us, we see unappealing, hunched-over older people. We see diseases, wheel chairs, halting gait, poor memory, sluggishness, sadness, false teeth, nursing homes. It’s frightening. Sad to say, many people’s lives do become awful as they age. But I believe that this happens because of negative conditioning, and poor self-care. If you choose to have a different future, you can change those dreadful images into hopeful, appealing ones.

And… the agent of change is RetroAge!

RetroAge provides you with a choice for your future. Either you can, quite literally, stand by and wait for your face to wrinkle, your joints to ache and your memory to fade, or you can take action to reverse almost all negative aspects of aging.

Yes. How you age is in your hands. Grasp it, respect it, and you’ll transform an inevitable decline into an exciting uphill climb. Yes, it’s a climb. But it’s surely worth it!

See you on the mountain!

WRINKLES: Are You Afraid of Them?

It seems that almost everyone, both women and men, are terrified of getting wrinkles.

TV commercials and magazine ads bombard us daily with totally line- free faces, making the

rest of us mortals feel like there’s something wrong with us.

What’s the message here?

I believe it’s an invidious attempt to make us so discontent that we become impelled to feverishly run out and purchase their advertised products. After all, who doesn’t want a face without any wrinkles?

Well, for one, I DON’T! Naturally, I don’t want my face – or any other part of me – to be dry as cowhide, and saggy. No one would. Advertisers attempt to convince us that without their products, aged, ugly skin is our inevitable destiny. But that is definitely not true.

The face, like the rest of our body, needs constant care – nutritious food, and EXERCISE! Yes, exercise. You wouldn’t expect the rest of your body to be in great shape without exercise, so why would you expect your face to “shape up” without it? You need to include daily facial exercises when you wash and moisturize your skin at night and in the morning.

I have been doing my “Lift Your Face” exercises for years…and also vigorously massaging my facial muscles using a chemical-free moisturizer. I even dry brush my skin to remove dead skin to reveal the glowing, fresh skin underneath. I want to emphasize that I do all this without any commercial products that contain SLS, parabens, or anything I can’t pronounce!

It’s not the crèmes and lotions that make for youthful skin…it’s the care you give it. I urge you to try facial massage, exercise, exfoliation with a natural fiber brush or loofah, and moisturizing twice daily with totally natural, chemical-free product.

With continuous attention and focus on the needs of your skin, the results will delight you. They have certainly surprised me.

Do I have some wrinkles?

Yes I do.

Are they part of a healthy, glowing, cared-for face?
Yes they are.

Give it a try. Your face will thank you.

AGING AND SATISFYING SEX: CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE?

One of the most haunting fears of young people is that aging will take away their sex drive. Or worse yet, they’ll still have the desire, but won’t be appealing or desirable.

Well, I’m in my 70’s, and I want to assure you that this needn’t be the case.

Think about it. Who doesn’t know many young people who appear to be so unattractive that sexuality seems to be as unlikely as a snowball surviving in the tropics?

And contrast that with the many older individuals who have actively maintained a healthy, vibrant, productive life. They look, and act sexy. It’s all about energy and focus.

Personally, that very fear of losing my looks and appeal is what has kept motivating me to eat less and exercise more!

When you get down to it, being sexual is not about age. It’s about desire and discipline. If you truly wish to be desirable at every age, you have to work at it. Yes, the “w” word – work! But when you acknowledge the long-term gains from taking superb care of your body, the work becomes second nature…. even enjoyable.

And let’s not overlook the importance of mastering a positive mental outlook. Let’s face it. Our minds are constantly delivering all sorts of negative messages to us.

“Who will want you anyway” You’re too old!” “There’s no one out there for you.”

“Stop expecting great sex. It’s over, girl.”

Yes, we “hear” this stuff a lot. Some of it comes from society’s cruel judgments, but much of it comes from inside of ourselves. It takes constant practice, but if you truly wish to change from negative to positive, you can achieve that goal.

I’ve created a list of “Hattietudes” that inspire me.

My favorite is:

The opposite of old isn’t young…it’s new!

Don’t give up. Keep renewing your life, your thoughts, your surroundings, and, as a natural consequence, your sexuality is sure to follow.

COLONICS: Do They Really Do The Job for Chronic Constipation?

Years ago, very few people concerned themselves with toxins and how the body stores them in the large and small intestines. In fact, who ever spent much time thinking about intestines altogether? When people were constipated, they kept it to themselves and their doctors. It was hush-hush. But not any more!

Sure, we all knew some hardy individuals that followed strict eating regimes and monitored their bowel movements. But they were in the minority, and we called them “Health Food Nuts.”

Now, with nationwide obesity and the many serious health problems associated with overweight, we are forced to pay attention to our gut – excuse the pun, but we now have a gut reaction!

As a health professional, I am often asked what I think about colonics as a way of cleansing and detoxifying the body. Here’s my counsel.

The large intestine is separated from the small intestine by a valve, called the ileo-coecal valve. This valve insures that fecal matter from the large intestine never backs up and re-enters the digestive tract, as this would poison the body. As a result of the protection from this valve, a colonic is only able to clean the lower portion of the intestines.

For sure, any non-chemical intestinal cleansing is better than no bowel cleansing at all. Hardly a person alive hasn’t experienced the discomfort of a congested large intestine. But I believe that colonics alone are too temporary a solution to chronic constipation.

In my view, it’s essential to choose a cleanse that you ingest through the mouth, that then continues to work it’s way down the body, clearing and cleaning along its nine yard journey. Yes, that’s where the phrase “the whole nine yards” originated!

And, don’t expect it to be a one day job either. Good cleanses take about 7-10 days to be truly effective. Check out good ones at your local Health Food store, and get ready to feel lighter and cleaner.

Personally, I like the ‘Master Cleanse” which consists of fresh lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. That, plus 10 days of super-discipline, works like a “roto-rooter” for your digestive tract.

Happy cleansing!

WRINKLES: CAN YOU MAKE THEM GO AWAY?

These days everyone seems to be complaining about wrinkles and aging. Both men and women are worried about what they look like, and they are filled with questions as to what to do about their concerns.

Naturally, this makes for a very fertile field for cosmetic and skincare companies. Television and print ads are appearing regularly with promises to keep us young forever.

Well, the bad news is that, like linen, skin is guaranteed to wrinkle. BUT, there’s good news to counter that awful prediction:

Anyone, at any age can smooth and soften those inevitable lines and wrinkles!

Yes, daily moisturizing and periodic ex foliation can assure a face that is not punctuated by dry, unsightly wrinkles and lines. And once you get into the habit of truly taking care of your skin, the results will astound you.

Here’s my personal regime:

1. I use only creams without chemicals, colorings or perfumes. All are ultimately damaging to the skin. I purchase my face and body care products from my local Health Food Store and from Ardath Aromas. Then my skin “knows” that it’s getting the purest and finest ingredients, with no toxins.

2. I wash with Dr. Bronner’s Lavender soap….yes, SOAP! Our skin excretes oils, and atmospheric pollutants are often oil-based. Since all oils get rancid, which is aging, they must be washed completely away every day.

3. Post-washing it’s important to rinse thoroughly with cool water before applying moisturizer.

4. As to ex foliation, I NEVER USE commercial products that promise to remove dead skin. Instead I vigorously brush my skin with a natural fiber buff pad or brush. This removes dead cells, increases circulation, and stimulates the skin to a glowing freshness and brightness.

Want a totally wrinkle-free face? I say, no way.

Want a lovely, clean glowing, sexy face, at every age?

To that I say, “yes.”

Take good care of your skin, and it will take good care of you.

BAD BREATH: A Major Turn Off

Who doesn’t want clean, sweet-smelling breath? Certainly not your lover. Now’s the time to make sure that your oral hygiene is up to par so that you are, to coin a phrase, “kissing sweet!”

Bad breath can be caused in many ways. I’ll tell you about each way separately, but you may have more than one problem area to clear up.

TEETH – Most bad breath comes from food stuck between the teeth. Brushing alone won’t remove this odor-causing condition. You must FLOSS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, and preferably after every meal. Also make sure to floss before you go to bed. Then brush, and don’t eat anything else until breakfast.

Do you go to the dentist for a cleaning once, or twice, a year? If you haven’t recently seen a dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning, make an appointment right away. Not only will a good cleaning make your breath sweeter, it will save your teeth and keep them sparkling clean.

TONGUE – Believe it or not, the back of the tongue holds bacteria that cause bad breath.

You don’t have to buy a tongue cleaner (unless you want to). All you have to do is take a spoon upside down and scrape it down your tongue from back to front. When you look at the spoon, you’ll see how much “goop” was stuck on your tongue.

INDIGESTION – The last possible cause is poor digestion. When that happens the smell is coming from inside your body. Eating non-diet yogurt often helps digestion, and taking a good probiotic helps as well.

Then there’s mouthwash. I never use “regular “ brands like Lavoris or Scope. They usually contain alcohol and artificial color. It’s better to choose a natural brand, and check the label to make sure that it doesn’t contain alcohol, artificial ingredients, or artificial colors. TOMS is one the companies that makes a good mouthwash. Check out others in your Health Food store, and choose one in a flavor you like.

What about mints and gum? Well, though they don’t really take away bad breath, they at least cover it up for a while. The only really effective way to stop bad breath after eating garlic or onions, etc. is to take something internally. A good product is called, BREATHASSURE. Swallow a couple and rest assured that you won’t make anyone around you pass out!

Here’s to a sweet-smelling and a clean-feeling mouth!

ANTIBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS

Almost everyone is familiar with Antibiotics…but fewer people know much about Probiotics. The words most frequently used to describe them are Acidophilus and Bifidus. Several other strains exist, but these are the more familiar ones, and they are both super effective.

First, I’ll go into some definitions:

ANTI means AGAINST

PRO means FOR.

BIOTIC means LIFE. (As in the word, “Biology”)

So, what logically follows is: Antibiotics are against life.

Probiotics are for life.

Now, it’s not my intention to imply that antibiotics don’t play a vital part in healing serious infections. They are essential when used to fight off bacterial strains that are detrimental to health. When doctors prescribe an antibiotic, they want that medicine to kill the bacteria that is making you sick. After about 7 days, you’re usually all better. The antibiotic has done its job.

But, while the antibiotic has killed bad bacteria and germs, it has also killed good ones, the “friendly bacteria.” Killing them can lower your resistance to fighting off a new infection, and very often interferes with proper digestion.

So, it’s important to take remedial action right away to restore your body’s “friendly bacteria.” To accomplish this, just as soon as you finish your prescribed dose, start taking a probiotic. This is absolutely essential to bring your body back in balance …and it’s cheap and easy as well.

Go to your local Health Food store and purchase a product called PB 7. That stands for 7 different strains of ProBiotic (PB!). You may also purchase one suggested by an expert that works at the store…but be sure to get one and don’t put off taking it!

Also, eat yogurt every day. The only brands I recommend have the word “Organic” printed on the label – Stonyfield Farms is one example. All the commercial brands don’t work as well. Avoid buying them no matter what their slick advertisements on TV promise. Besides, Dannon and Yoplait and other commercial brands don’t assure you that the milk that makes up their yogurt is hormone and antibiotic free. Who needs more chemicals in our system?

There’s also a yogurt-like drink that comes in plain, and fruit flavors. It’s called, “Kefir” and it too is filled with good bacteria. As a bonus, it also contains protein for your muscles and calcium for your bones.

Organic yogurt and kefir – what delicious ways to stay healthy!