Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 30)

B 30 Vim & Vigor • Sum m er 2 012 1 Better with Age Hailed as one of the few Hollywood actors who have forgone plastic surgery and other chemical procedures in favor of aging naturally, Firth at 51 is a stellar example of how letting nature take its course can be pleasant indeed. Following in the footsteps of fellow 50-something heartthrobs Denzel Washington, Pierce Brosnan, Hugh Grant and George Clooney, Firth appears comfortable in his older skin. And he’s reaping the benefits of that attitude both on and off the screen. “I don’t relish the idea of losing my faculties, but I do relish the idea of roles getting more interesting, which at the moment is what seems to be happening,” Firth told London journalist Simon Jablonski for his blog in 2010. With an irresistible, self-deprecating charm, a face that seems to grow more handsome with age, energy to spare and more movies, this uncommonly gracious actor is making us look at our 50s in a new light. Here, Henry S. Lodge, M.D., co-author of Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy—Until You’re 80 and Beyond, shares his insight into why Firth seems to be getting better with age, and how we all can look and feel our best into our 50s and beyond. 2 Make no mistake, Firth knows the effect the years can have. But when it comes to the physical realities of getting older, he doesn’t sweat the small stuff. In fact, he says, signs of aging may have been a mild improvement. “As a young actor I remember thinking I could do with a wrinkle or two just to get something interesting onto this face; I longed for a bit of texture. So a few lines worked quite well, as long as I don’t fall apart completely,” Firth told Jablonski. “There’s a cultural perception that aging is about making the best of a bad situation, but the reality is that people are steadily happier from 50 onward than they were in the earlier years of their life,” Lodge says. “It turns out there’s far more to embrace than we thought. But part of embracing your age means accepting the reality that you need to do things differently than you did in your 30s.” Embrace your age. Being intentional about eating right and making a genuine effort to be physically active on a regular basis are key to aging well naturally and to living a long and healthy life. “This is the time to take a good look at how you’ve been treating your body over the last few decades,” Lodge says. “Biologically, you have an infinite number of second chances to do it right. If you haven’t been making good choices, you can start now. “Being active at this point in your life is a nonnegotiable, not only for your physical health but for your mental health as well,” Lodge continues. “The risk of Alzheimer’s is 40 percent lower in people who exercise regularly compared to those who are sedentary. I recommend doing cardio at least four days a week and strength training at least two days a week.” For Firth, who found a new interest in the gym at age 49, the inspiration came in the form of writer and director Tom Ford as Firth prepared for his role in A Single Man. “He told me I Take care of yourself.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Good as New
With Open Hearts
The Breakfast Club
Arthritis Answers
A TV Guide to Radiology
Take Aim
It Might NOT Be Cancer
Colin Firth
Step Up to the Plate
Life After Cancer
Get Dad to the Doc
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Half the Man He Was
Have a Happy Birth Day
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center