{"id":48605,"date":"2025-09-28T11:05:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T11:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/48605\/"},"modified":"2025-09-28T11:05:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T11:05:11","slug":"how-i-shaved-seven-years-off-my-biological-age-and-why-im-sleeping-better-and-am-fitter-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/48605\/","title":{"rendered":"How I shaved seven years off my ‘biological age’ and why I’m sleeping better and am fitter than ever"},"content":{"rendered":"

By SARAH FITZMAURICE. <\/p>\n

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

As I hurtle towards turning 40, I’ve started to become obsessed with longevity.<\/p>\n

Although I’m entering my fifth decade in just a few months time, according to my fitness tracker<\/a>, my ‘Whoop age<\/a>‘ is currently 33 years old and my pace of aging is slowing down.<\/p>\n

The Whoop MG band<\/a> and the new updates as part of the Life membership<\/a> has helped me ‘bio-hack’ my habits, tweak my routine, improve my lifestyle and I’m feeling all the better for it. In fact, I’m the fittest I’ve ever been.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I began wearing the latest piece of wearable tech<\/a> in May, and since then I’ve seen my VO2 max creep up to 43, my HRV (heart rate variability) is elevated and my sleep has been dramatically transformed, even with two little night time bandits in the house. That’s no small feat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following Whoop’s guidance<\/a>, I’ve increased my step count, spend more time weight training, as well as pushing into my max heart rate zone for longer during high intensity exercise, and I now go to sleep when Whoop tells me to, ensuring I recover sufficiently and get enough rest. Reading my\u00a0Kindle<\/a>\u00a0before bed is now a firm habit after I noticed the correlation between reading before bed and better sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The menstrual cycle insights have proved invaluable, I don’t just track my cycle, the Whoop app<\/a> helps me understand how my body changes during each phase and this helps me decide when when to push my body and when to rest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There’s no more guesswork and if I have a question, I can ask the Whoop Coach, an\u00a0AI<\/a>-powered tool, for an answer that’s tailored to me, whether that’s what specific foods I should try incorporating more of during the luteal phase, to when I can go all out with effort in training.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Sarah <\/p>\n

Sarah nearly 40 has a ‘biological age’ of 33<\/p>\n

With the prospect of perimenopause on the horizon, knowing what is normal for me and being alerted to any changes in my skin temperature, cycle length or sleep patterns during my period gives me confidence I’ll be able to identify the time when it comes and be prepared.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Healthspan, menstrual cycle tracking and the sleep monitors are features that I utilise the most but there is considerable data to analyse based on what your goals are.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I’ve become meticulous about filling out the journal on a daily basis tracking how certain habits affect my overall wellness and it can be quite confronting seeing just how that late night glass of wine manifests as extra stress on my body during sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Whoop MG band<\/a> and the new updates as part of the Life membership has helped me ‘bio-hack’ my habits, tweak my routine, improve my lifestyle and I’m feeling all the better for it<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Whoop MG band\u00a0<\/p>\n

I’m well aware that the Whoop<\/a> isn’t a medical device and the markers aren’t scientific like you could get if you consulted specialists analysing your DNA for a true biological age, but there’s no doubt I’m fitter than I’ve ever been by following its guidance and tweaking my routine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whoop unveiled two new updated pieces of wearable tech earlier this year in what was labelled ‘a new chapter’ for the brand incorporating ‘medical grade’ features.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The latest evolutions of the band are the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG<\/a>, featuring new, in-depth tracking metrics like the Healthspan feature, menstrual cycle tracking and step counter to name a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What helped me lower my ‘Whoop age’
\"The <\/p>\n

The Healthspan feature shows how different habits affect ‘ageing’<\/p>\n

– Aiming to get more sleep and improve my sleep consistency<\/p>\n

– Improved sleep hygiene<\/p>\n

– Upping my daily steps & strength training (3-4 times a week)<\/p>\n

– Spending more time in HR zones 4&5 during cardio training (twice a week)\u00a0<\/p>\n

– Tuning into my cycle for training\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

– Drinking more water and less alcohol<\/p>\n

– Rest when I need to in order to recover fully\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The MG function band <\/a>boasts an ECG monitor and it also has a blood pressure tracker, although you do need to manually put in the initial reading.\u00a0Both functions are interesting and innovative, but after recording an initial ECG reading with no red flags I haven’t used it again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The updated bands boast an impressive 14 days battery life and as you can charge it while you wear it you don’t miss a moment of the 24\/7 tracking. Maybe I’ve become too obsessed, but I challenge you to try the band and not become fascinated with the insights. For the competitive, you can join different teams with other users and track your performance or goals against other members in the Whoop community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The faceless health tracker initially launched in 2015 has exploded in popularity in recent years and bands have been spotted by sports stars like footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and golfer Rory McIlroy as well as Prince William.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

This membership includes the Whoop 5.0 band, and features available include menstrual cycle insights, VO2 Max, HRV, heart rate, Whoop Coach and you can journal 160+ behaviours to analyse impact.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

This membership tier includes everything in One as well as Whoop Healthspan which calculates your ‘age’ and pace of ageing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

As well as all of the benefits of One and Peak,\u00a0 Life membership also includes the Whoop MG band which includes advanced functions like the on-demand ecg readings to\u00a0detect potential signs of AFib and blood pressure insights once you’ve logged a baseline reading.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a><\/p>\n

Users can now purchase one of three 12-month membership tiers starting from $299, Whoop One, Peak and Life and receive the band for free. One and Peak users will get a Whoop 5.0 while the Whoop Life members get the MG device with the added features.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even the priciest membership of $629<\/a> is reasonable compared with other wearable tech options. An\u00a0Apple Watch series 10 is $679<\/a>\u00a0and I like that my Whoop isn’t constantly buzzing with text or email updates throughout my day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I like that it doesn’t have a face to show my heart rate while I’m working out, I’m present in the moment, not checking my stats but I can concede that if you’re a runner and want to know pace, this is where the Whoop falls short. There is no running or GPS tracking so without a separate watch you don’t know how fast you are going.<\/p>\n

To improve my running, I’ve been using the Garmin Forerunner 965 Running Smartwatch<\/a>, to keep tabs on my speed and push myself when necessary. I only wear this when I’m running or performing another trackable activity, like skiing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There’s no doubt that the Whoop has become an integral part of my daily life, and I as move into a new decade I look forward to continuing to use it to improve my fitness, sleep and overall wellbeing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

To shop the Whoop range on Amazon, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOP AMAZON WELLNESS BUYS\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/a> This super lightweight watch is an excellent training companion that I’ve used to improve my pace for running. The Garmin Run Coach is a brilliant tool to boost performance by suggesting workouts tailored to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The watch tracks a wide variety of activities and I’ve used it when playing netball, swimming and even skiing. The Forerunner captures how fast you’re travelling on the slopes and the GPS navigation system is impressive to help you find your way. This is particularly useful when following a trail or route when running.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It boats a bright AMLOED touch screen that is visible in all conditions and the health trackers are extensive and impressive. I particularly like the body battery metric which helps me decide whether to go for a long run, shorter sprints or to rest. If you’re looking to improve your running this is the watch for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

These trainers are insanely comfortable and feel like running on clouds. Very lightweight, the Pegasus 41 boasts\u00a0ReactX foam and the thicker heel is good for heel strikers. They’re supportive and extremely durable.<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

Track bodyweight, lean muscle mass, BMI and more with this Renpho scale. You can weigh yourself anytime without your phone and the data syncs to the app so you can track progress.<\/p>\n

Currently on sale with 40 per cent off.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound stored in muscles and used as an energy source during short, intense bursts of activity. This powder was easy to mix, flavourless, and convenient to add to water or a post-workout protein shake.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a>
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Getting to bed earlier has seen me spending more time on my skincare routine. This snail mucin essence is incredible for hydration and will leave you glass skin. It lives up to the hype and it’s currently on sale with 49 per cent off.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

Reading before bed is so relaxing and with the new Kindle Colorsoft I can pick my next read thanks to the paper-like colour display. It’s super lightweight easy on the eyes and has oodles of memory to download multiple books.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop<\/a>Elise Wilson: My Ultrahuman Ring Air review<\/a> <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit, I wasn\u2019t convinced I\u2019d fall in love with a fitness tracker, but the Ultrahuman Ring Air (in Air Gold $679<\/a>) has barely left my finger in the month I\u2019ve owned it.<\/p>\n

For starters, it actually looks chic<\/a> which is very important to me. I wear gold jewellery every day, so this blends in seamlessly and doesn\u2019t scream \u2018tech gadget\u2019 the way some bulky watches do.<\/p>\n

Comfort-wise, it\u2019s so light I forget I\u2019m wearing it, yet it packs some seriously impressive features.<\/p>\n

It monitors my sleep, stress, movement, temperature, recovery, caffeine windows and even my period, spitting out daily insights via the Ultrahuman app<\/a> (with no subscription fee, by the way).<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The ring looks chic and packs a series of impressive features<\/p>\n

Another great thing for the more forgetful-types like me is the battery – it lasts up to five days between charges, and it\u2019s water resistant to 100m meaning I never worry about showers or my regular sea swims.<\/p>\n

Made from space-grade titanium<\/a>, it\u2019s strong, but I have noticed a few small surface scratches which is slightly annoying but only because I love shiny things.<\/p>\n

It feels more like fancy jewellery than wearable tech<\/a>, but the data is keeping my competitiveness with fitness and sleep on track, so it\u2019s been worth every penny so far.<\/p>\n

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