Aging well isn\u2019t just about looking good.<\/p>\n
Everyday choices play a big role in how we age, and one longevity doc says a few bad habits may seem harmless \u2014 but are actually having a real impact on your body.<\/p>\n
The good news? You can still backtrack on these mistakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen in their 30s and 40s have something incredibly valuable that no supplement, drug or biohack can give them later: time,\u201d Dr. Robin Berzin<\/a>, founder and CEO of\u00a0Parsley Health<\/a>, told The Post. <\/p>\n Women make a few common mistakes throughout their lives that age them much faster than they may realize. Getty Images<\/p>\n Mistake #1: Sitting all day and thinking one workout cancels it out<\/p>\n The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity<\/a> a week, including two days for strength training \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t mean you should sit around the other 23 hours after a workout.<\/p>\n Many Americans\u00a0sit for eight to 10 hours a day<\/a>, which can age us faster by affecting heart health, body mass index, cholesterol and blood sugar.<\/p>\n A UC San Diego study\u00a0published in February 2024<\/a>\u00a0found that older women who sat more than 11 hours a day had a 57% higher risk of premature death than those who sat less than nine and a half hours a day.<\/p>\n While more movement is the correction to sitting all day, it doesn\u2019t have to be big.<\/p>\n \u201cBuild movement into your day: walk after meals, take stairs, stand up regularly and maintain strength,\u201d Berzin, a Columbia-trained physician and functional medicine expert, said.<\/p>\n Mistake #2: Chronically under-eating protein while over-exercising<\/p>\n Berzin recommends women stop focusing on the number on the scale and instead start thinking about muscle growth.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal in midlife should increasingly shift from weight loss at all costs to preserving lean mass,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n And eating less while spending copious amounts of time on the treadmill can work against that goal.<\/p>\n Instead, consuming enough protein can boost growth and maintain muscle mass, with a recommended daily amount<\/a> of 0.36 grams per pound of bodyweight.<\/p>\n Sitting around all day thinking a workout cancels it out can backfire when it comes to aging healthily. Getty Images\/Westend61<\/p>\n Muscle is a key asset for longevity, helping regulate blood sugar, support metabolism, strengthen bones and preserve balance, mobility and independence as we age.<\/p>\n It\u2019s never too late to start strength training either. A 2026 meta-analysis<\/a> covering 126 studies and more than 4,000 women with an average age of 50 found resistance training significantly improved strength in both pre- and postmenopausal women.<\/p>\n Mistake #3: Treating alcohol like it\u2019s neutral because it\u2019s socially normal<\/p>\n \u201cDrinking in moderation\u201d is the rule of thumb when it comes to alcohol, but even social drinking can play a role in aging.<\/p>\n