Winning the Battle with Father Time

The year 2010 has arrived, and many of us are taking a long second look at those resolutions we made in the closing hours of 2009. How many will we keep, and which will be conveniently forgotten?

There's one resolution we all should have made, and if we didn't, it's still not too late to put it on the list: take steps to fight off the visible signs of aging in the coming year. We can't stop the march of time, but there are some relatively simple things we can do to maintain a youthful appearance.

Just follow these simple steps and in no time you'll have spring in your step, healthy looking skin, and you'll even feel younger.

Shoulders back, chest out: Remember when you were a kid and your parents always nagged at you about sitting or walking with a slouch. "Stand up straight!" They always said. There's a good reason for that. When you keep your spine straight, it helps to support your body better, relieves stress on bones and muscles, and makes you look more confident. Think about it: you see two people walking down the street; one is bent at the waist, sagging shoulders, and has a tentative shuffling step, the other walks erect, shoulders back, and with a confident stride. Which would you guess is older? The shuffler, of course; and in many cases you might be dead wrong. When the back goes, it's difficult to walk or sit erect, but doing it in the first place can keep your back stronger for a longer time.

Shave those wrinkles and furrows away: Let's face it, healthy, smooth skin looks younger. Few people really want all those furrows and wrinkles in their face. Keep your skin moisturized and it will stay smoother. Any good over the counter skin lotion will do the trick. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun. When you go outside, use a sun block, preferably one with an SPF of 30 or higher. Have you ever noticed that men tend to get wrinkles in the face later in life than women? Shaving is the reason. The scraping of a razor over the face promotes production of collagen which keeps skin more elastic. Lightly running a razor over your face every day can do wonders. It can even help minimize the furrows in the brow. Remember to keep a light touch, just a gentle massage daily with a disposable razor - even over dry skin, will reduce furrowing in as little as a week.

Trim the fat: If you're overweight - and there are few Americans who're not - try taking off a few pounds. Change your diet to one that is lower in fat and carbohydrates and higher in fiber and foods rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants stem the body's production of free radicals which cause destruction to cells and contribute to many of the more common signs of aging. Get regular exercise, with a focus on the lower back and midsection. Less belly fat will reduce strain on back muscles and make standing erect easier.

Reduce stress: You can never totally eliminate the little irritations in life, but you can reduce their impact. Set aside time each day for doing nothing but relaxing. Learn to ignore the petty irritations, and maybe even try meditation. If your mind is at ease, there is less stress on your body, and believe me, your body will show its appreciation by looking and feeling younger.