To hear inspiring stories to help motivate you along your fitness journey, download podcast episodes from Stuck in the Middle or check out their blog. 

While some people tend to fear the aging process, it’s far better to take control of your health by practicing daily routines that will help you look great and feel strong with each passing year. You can even get fit, be healthy, and take care of yourself inside and out without ruining your budget.  

Focus On Nutrition

As you begin to improve your diet, remember this simple yet powerful quote from the Greek physician Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” Food has the power to make you feel younger and look incredible, but it also has the power to make you sick and overweight. Keep Hippocrates in mind as you rework your diet to help you boost your well-being.

 Focus on eating foods that come from plants and grains, and avoid food that is highly processed or that contains high amounts of sugar or salt. Another great tactic for feeling younger and healthier is intermittent fasting, which research shows can help you lose weight and maybe even live longer. 

Intermittent fasting can work in different ways: some people choose one day per week to fast completely, while others abstain from food on a 16-hour basis every day. For example, someone who does it every day might stop eating at 7 pm and fast until 11 am the following day.  

There are also foods you can eat that are believed to help slow down the aging process. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, helping clean your system as you drink it. Berries can help with skin health, and salmon is loaded with Omega 3, which is great for brain health, heart health, and even hormone production.

Get Moving

To feel young and mentally healthy, be sure to exercise on a regular basis. Exercise can help you de-stress and lower your anxiety, which in turn will help you look and feel years younger.

Rather than joining an expensive gym, you can start an exercise routine at home for free. Begin with simple, low-impact workouts such as yoga at home—online virtual classes are plentiful. Or, if you prefer cardio workouts, head out on a run at least a few times per week to get your heart rate up and to release beneficial mood-enhancing endorphins.

Along with your workouts, be sure to spend some time in nature to help clear your mind and lower your stress. Take a hike in the woods or stroll along the beach at least once a week to soak up the healing qualities of the outdoors.

Tips For Looking Great

As you begin to elevate your mood and energy levels, think about ways you might also improve your physical appearance to feel younger. This can be in the form of a new haircut, regular self-care time, and even time devoted to your skin.

For example, to help ward off skin cancer and wrinkles, skincare is crucial, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Find a skincare routine that works for you and that you can commit to daily. You’ll want a cleanser that works for your skin type, a daily moisturizer, a vitamin C or retinol serum, and sunscreen. You can always add more to the list, but these are the basics. And no, you don’t have to spend a fortune. You can turn to drug stores like CVS or department stores like Sephora for top-rated products, and most of these retailers regularly have discounts and promotions. 

Feeling younger requires a combination of efforts, many of which stem from self-care habits. Eating well is vital to look and feel young, and exercise will help you lose weight along with boosting both your energy and mood. Beyond exercise and nutrition, use skincare products to help elevate your skin health and help you feel more confident overall. 

Are you looking for stories that inspire you? Listen to the Stuck In The Middle Podcast which features stories, ideas, and experiences from entrepreneurs, innovators, and movers-and-shakers of African descent.