FIT FOREVER!

You might feel left out in this world if you don't use phrases like "Dude, let's hang!" or talk intelligently on whether Moby's latest CD is better than Radiohead's. Add a little thinning hair, stir in a few wrinkles, add a pinch of potbelly, and presto! You're OLD! Before you turn in your treadmill for a walker, know that there are ways to beat the 20-somethings at their own game. You can look 10 years younger, feel 15 years younger, and impress the young bucks at the company softball game. How? Dude, let's hang:

Gym Rejuvenation
If you don't know that regular exercise will help keep you fit, feeling energetic, and looking young, you've been living in a cave.
"To prevent burnout and make your workout smoother, always work your larger muscles first, such as with chest and back exercises," says Tomas Garcia, a personal trainer in Pheonix, Ariz. "Save biceps, triceps and shoulders for after the major muscle groups." For low-body exercises, he suggests, work the quadriceps first, the glutes, then hamstrings and calves. He also recommends doing a cardio workout one day and strength training the next, rather than both in a day.

Don't Over-train
If you find yourself pushing hard through workouts on a regular basis, feeling fatigued on non-workout days, and having a lot of aches and pains, give yourself a rest.
"Exercising appropriately and getting enough sleep every night will take you 50 percent there in looking and feeling younger," says Garcia.

Food Fuel
You can boost your energy by jacking up the levels of carbohydrates and protein in your diet, and reducing the sugar, salt and caffeine. "Changing your diet can help you build muscle faster, and it will also give you more energy," says Garcia.
You can improve your workday simply by having an ample breakfast with a combination of protein and carbohydrate. "This will give you a boost of energy all morning," says Garcia. "You won't be slumped over your desk, gulping coffee, trying to wake up. Plus, you'll be able to ward off the workplace doughnuts."
Keep the work energy flowing by having a carb-boosting mid-morning snack. A piece of fruit, such as an apple ar banana, is a great choice, or for convenience, you could have a low-fat energy bar.
Two other important factors are to eat more raw fruits and vegetables, and eating enough fiber. Telling everyone about your constant need for laxatives just isn't cool.

Skin Savers
The touted eight glasses of water a day is more than just good advise. It can help you look and feel younger. "Drink the right amount of water, even if you're thirsty," says Garcia. "It will help your workout, your skin, and elimination. Water helps clean out your system."
Since the body is mostly water, even slight, non-dangerous dehydration can be evident in dryer skin, less elasticity to the face, and it can fatigue you. While you're at it, protect your skin with sunscreen all the time. Sun damage is a primary cause of someone appearing older than they are. If you must have a tan, try the new bronzing gels. Many of them look natural.

 

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