As she’s got older, Liz Earle has revealed that she has outgrown several habits, including exercising with the aim of being thin.
‘There are lots of things I did in my 20s, 30s and 40s that I simply would not do now that I’m in my 60s,’ the WH cover star said in a recent Instagram post.
The beauty entrepreneur and wellbeing expert said she has found ageing liberating, as it has allowed her to let go of the pressure to meet other people’s expectations.
‘One of my favourite parts of getting older is just how freeing it can be,’ she reflected. ‘I’ve spent so much of my life worrying about what other people think, and now I realise what a waste of energy that all really was.
‘I know what works for me, and I’m far less bothered about endlessly trying to please everyone else,’ she added.
5 things Liz Earle no longer does at 631. She no longer exercises to be thin
Liz insisted that working out to become smaller is now a thing of the past.
‘These days I train to be strong, to protect my muscles, my bones, my brain and my independence,’ she explained.
‘I’ve become far less interested in the number on the scales and much more interested in how strong I feel,’ she said in another Instagram post. ‘It’s about…staying mobile, feeling confident and having the energy to enjoy life for many more decades to come.’
She advised that strength training was the ‘single best thing’ for building muscle after 40, recommending compound exercises and progressive overload separately on Instagram.
‘[Do] squats, lunges, push-ups, rows, because they work lots of muscles at once,’ she said, adding that they don’t need to be performed in a gym, but can be done using ‘dumbbells, resistance bands, or…your own bodyweight’ as long as ‘you lift something heavier over time’.
2. She no longer obsessively avoids sunlight
Liz makes a point of getting natural sunlight early in the day.
‘Of course, I’m sensible about not burning, but I actively seek out morning daylight to support my body clock, my energy and my sleep,’ she continued.
She advised getting 10 minutes of morning light.
‘This supercharges our mitochondria for improved energy throughout the day,’ she said on Instagram.
That’s also her window for vitamin D absorption.
‘Yes, the sun can be very damaging. There’s no question,’ she told WH. ‘[But] it’s not enough just to have [vitamin D] from supplements.’
3. She no longer tolerates one-sided relationships
Whether it’s friendship or love, Liz noted that relationships should be reciprocally fulfilling.
‘These should bring warmth and kindness and mutual support. Life is simply too short for emotional drains.’
Good friendships can also be a hallmark of healthy ageing – something she was keen to point out.
‘Research suggests that the quality of our relationships are just as important for our health,’ she said in another post.
‘Good friendships are linked with lower stress levels, better mental well-being, healthier ageing, even a longer life.’
Reflecting on the importance of her own friendships, Liz shared how friends had quietly supported her through difficult periods.
‘I’ve also had times when my friends have just quietly been there, carried me through some of life’s biggest challenges. That’s something I will never take for granted,’ she said.
Now, she considers spending time with friends a cornerstone of her wellbeing.
‘I don’t think friendship is a luxury. I think it’s one of the foundations of ageing well. I treat seeing my friends now as an investment…in relationships [and] in health.’
4. She no longer has lengthy product routines
A recent dinner make-up routine involved just a handful of products rather than a full face: concealer – she had skipped foundation in the heat – blush stick for a quick flush of colour on her lips and cheeks, and a subtle shadow stick and a coat of mascara ‘for making my eyes pop’, she said on Instagram.
She’s also embraced a more natural approach to beauty, steering clear of over-plucking her eyebrows.
‘I don’t attack my eyebrows with tweezers. These only just survived the 80s,’ she shared.
5. She no longer wastes mental energy worrying about what other people think
‘I always listen to those I trust, but I have learned that you can’t please everyone and nor should you try,’ she said.
She’s also become more mindful of where she directs her time and energy, learning to set boundaries rather than taking on too much.
‘One of the most powerful things we can do for our health as we age? Learn to say no,’ she revealed on social.
‘Chronic stress and overcommitment take a real toll on our bodies over time. Protecting your time and energy isn’t selfish – it’s part of ageing well.’
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