Author Archives: Natalie Hewitt

Let’s talk about Weight

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Studies show that about 4 out of 5 black women in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Oh my…this is way too high and we should not be ok with this. The scale used in in these studies is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by their height (in meters) squared (BMI Chart), and it provides a more accurate measure of obesity or being overweight than weight alone.

But what’s the reason for these high numbers? I have mentioned in a previous post that we have a genetic protection against aging skin, but let’s face it; we are working with a disadvantage when it comes to weight, and we further aggravate this with a poor diet and lack of exercise…not to mention the thinking by some of us that a little more weight is ok. It is not ok…compared with people of normal weight, those who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and certain cancers. So, we all should be concerned with maintaining a healthy weight as we age for our quality of life.

Whatever your present weight, it is absolutely essential that you manage your nutritional intake and stay physically active (if possible). I like movement so I have always enjoyed some form of exercise and since my late twenties, I have been concerned about what I eat; however, prior to turning 50, I had really never thought much about my daily calories. Weight is about what you expend versus what you intake, but I think people overestimate the calorie burn that a typical workout provides.

Though exercise is important to our health and it is a must for healthy aging, when it comes to weight control, I think it is more about what we are putting in our bodies and the calories consumed. There is a lot of information available on weight loss, but here’s my take on what you should consider at this stage in life:

  1. For your nutritional intake, think health first…a healthy weight will follow
  2. In thinking about health, know what you are putting in your body… is it helping you?
  3. Are you really hungry? Sometimes we just eat because food is available
  4. Count your calories…stay under 2,000 each day
  5. Water, Water, Water…those other drinks just add calories that you don’t need, so limit them
  6. Sugar is the enemy…it wreaks havoc on your body; keep it at a minimum
  7. Vegetables and more vegetables…fruits are good, but more sugar and not as nutrient dense
  8. Limit meat intake… you will avoid consuming too much fat and calories
  9. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep…it rejuvenates your body and helps it function better
  10. Give yourself a digestive rest…stop eating about 4 hours before bedtime

Stop Relying on Your Melanin

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There are external and internal factors that lead to aging skin, and since the ultraviolet rays of the sun is a major external factor that negatively affects skin, our melanin (reason for the rich brown/dark color of our skin) helps protect us. As a result, our skin looks more youthful as we age when compared to other races. For the most part, our skin holds up very well into our fifties. When we do start seeing the signs of aging, the changes most common to us are:

  1. Roughness – skin loses its smoothness and the texture feels rough
  2. Sagging – hollowness shows in the tear- trough area under the eye, cheeks, between the nose and outer corner of mouth (nasolabial folds), jawline, and neck
  3. Hyperpigmentation – darkness around the eyes or in patches on face
  4. Benign Growths – small brown or black bumps that are often mistaken for moles

Based on survey results, most of you are still on a cleanser with a moisturizer for your skin-care, so before I get into details about each of the issues above in coming weeks, let’s start with elevating your daily skin-care…your skin will need extra care for your decades to come.

Know your skin…In addition to changes in your skin due to your chronological years, skin is affected by nutritional intake, stress, medication, etc., not to mention the weather.  Pay attention to your skin to identify problems areas and what you would like to correct.

Get the “right” products…You don’t have to stick with one brand or use the same type of products all the time…it just depends on what your skin needs. If you pay attention to your skin, you can then search for products to address your issues. You can find good products in every price range, so manage to your budget.

Discipline…Just like other areas of your life, nothing beats good discipline when it comes to skin-care. You have to commit to taking care of your skin.

Daily Regimen:

  1. Cleanse (AM and PM)
  2. Tone (optional depending on skin type)
  3. Treat (AM and PM; different serum for AM and PM)
  4. Moisturizer (AM and PM moisturizer; optional depending on your serum)
  5. Protect/Sunscreen (AM; may be combined with your AM moisturizer)

On a weekly basis, add to your regimen:

  1. An exfoliator (helps keep skin smooth and will better absorb your treatment products)
  2. A mask (helps condition and provide additional treatment to your skin)

Here’s to 2015!

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I turned 50 in November 2012, but I started thinking about what it meant to be that age in January of that year. The milestone birthdays of 30 and 40 came and went and I did not think much about them, but turning 50 truly meant that I had likely lived more years than I had left to live. So, at the beginning of 2012, when I thought about my resolutions, I took a different approach.

As I was writing down my resolutions for 2012, I really thought about some of the goals I had on my list for several years that were not accomplished; it was then I realized that I was trying to accomplish some goals that I really did not care about. Two examples were dressing more fashionably (including accessorizing) and wearing makeup.

Here’s what I decided back then: I really don’t care about being a fashionista; I just want to wear nice, comfortable clothes that flatter my figure. I don’t care about accessorizing…I will accessorize when dressed for special occasions, but in my every day wear, my modest earrings, shoes and handbag will do fine. About makeup, well I will probably never be the woman who puts on a full face of makeup before leaving home, but at this age, I think my eyes look a little tired without some help, so I will try to define my eyebrows and wear mascara to give my eyes a lift, and I will also add a lipstick to complete the look. For now, unless it is for a special occasion, I will pass on everything else in the makeup category.

Fast forward, now that I am planning for 2015, I am much better at defining my goals and making sure that they are really meaningful to me. I also enlist my project management skills (I am a certified project manager) to help me get to my goals, and now I can look forward to checking things off my list because I have either accomplished them or have incorporated them into my life.

All the best for 2015!

Get Inspired

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My hope it that this blog will help you age healthfully and gracefully. Our bodies are amazing and have gotten us this far. I’ve heard that 50, even 60, is the new 40 and that “black don’t crack”, but to me, the biological age doesn’t lie (even if it is not as evident is our appearance). Even though I feel great and most might think I take good care of myself, after turning 50, I stopped to notice some changes in everything about me. So, I decided to check in with 20 black women I know personally who are 50+ on how they were feeling about their current state.

I asked these women to complete a survey on their physical, mental, and spiritual health and below is a summary of the feedback that I got. The information I received from these women will help me as I develop this blog and provide you with suggestions that you can use to age youthfully.

Survey Summary:

  • All seem satisfied with the way they are aging and are pleased with their overall appearance
  • Though some have health concerns, they manage stress well and most are happy with their lives
  • Most try to maintain good health by watching their nutritional intake, participating in exercise and maintaining a spiritual connection
  • Dark circles around the eyes and sagging skin are primary face concerns
  • Weight gain, particularly in the abdomen, is the primary body concern
  • Most have not been to a Dermatologist or Cosmetic Surgeon to address any aging concerns
  • All are excited about this blog and are looking forward to the suggestions I will provide

Stay Tuned!