And My RealAge Is…

By Cathy Poley

42.5

This is a good six years older than my biological age of 36 and some change.

For years now I’ve been joking that hanging out with my 42-year-old husband and his group of 40-something friends has been prematurely aging me. Turns out that I had the prematurely aging part right—but it’s not their fault.

I’m not entirely surprised that my RealAge is older than my biological age. When I took the RealAge test, I knew going in that a few things would work against me. I have higher-than-normal blood pressure. I need to lose a good amount of weight. My stress levels are too high.

But there’s something about seeing that 42.5 number on my screen that brought it all home to me. I am aging too fast, and I have to do something to slow down the process.

Luckily RealAge.com has suggested some simple steps for me to follow to get back on track to a younger, healthier me. Many of these are things anyone can do to get a little healthier.

Tweak My Eats
It’s time to ease up on the junk food and increase the amounts of whole grains, fruits and vegetables I eat. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has some great tips on easy ways to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Ditch The Desk
One thing working against me is the fact that I spend all day sitting at a desk. RealAge.com suggested I find a way to sneak in some activity at work, such as standing up when I’m on the phone or walking over to talk to co-workers instead of sending e-mails. Several Sharecare experts have also shared tips on how to fit in some exercise right at your desk, such as perching on a stability ball instead of a chair to strengthen your core muscles.

Meditate, Man
I can deep-breathe my way to a younger me. According to RealAge.com, even five minutes of meditation a day can go a long way to help me manage stress. I am a novice to the art of meditation, so I plan to follow RealAge’s advice on how to get started with meditation.

Soon I’m off to the grocery store to buy some carrots for snacks, and then I plan to download some nice meditation mood music. But first let me pace my cubicle while I take this conference call. I feel younger already. 

Do you know your RealAge? Take the test and let us know if you were surprised by the results

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