It’s been sometime since I shared a Women of Grace. You may recall Jeannie of Gracefully 50 and of course, Liz. Please allow me to introduce my wonderful friend Cynthia. I provided some insight into my friendship with Cynthia when she and her hubby attended our annual black-tie event last month.
To remind you of what this series is about, I select a woman that is not afraid to share her faith while doing her best to age gracefully. Not only aging gracefully, but healthy, fit, stylish yet age appropriate.
I recently interviewed Cynthia and want to share with you her story with a few questions about her health, maintaing a health weight and her beauty secrets.
Once again, let’s get up close and personal. Cynthia is a wife, happily married for 25 years, mother of two wonderful grown children. I met Cynthia seventeen years ago when we both were hired by the same pharmaceutical company, she, in the Philly area and I, in the Central Pennsylvania area.
What is the one beauty product you can’t do without?
I think one of my beauty secrets is what you think of yourself and how it reflects on the outside is my best beauty secret along with a good concealer.
Has your beauty regime changed over the years? If yes, what is different since you turned 50?
Maintaining a healthy weight is so important. You have an amazing body that is a miracle with so many systems designed to keep us productive on earth. If you overdo anything especially gaining weight it causes a lot of consequences. When you fuel your body properly reducing sugar and processed fats you have more energy, making it easy to remain present it what life has to offer you.
Knowing that many women gain weight around their middle as they age because of hormonal changes, what tips do you have for staying slim?
Pay attention to your body. It is constantly sending you messages that are warnings and could possibly save your life. Last fall I had my first experience (other than child birth) of an unexpected emergency room visit. I was noncompliant with medication that was prescribed to lower slightly elevated blood pressure. I was also inactive and had just received some bad news. I noticed my pulse rate was beating between 95 – 100 beats/ min at rest and my blood pressure was elevated. I contacted my physician and she advise me to go to the ER. I drove myself there and upon my arrival I thought I was having a cardiovascular event. Once they connected me to do an EKG I was relieved that I was not having a heart attack. I was experiencing stress and they advised me to see a cardiologist, who put me on a statin, a beta blocker diuretic combo along with diet and exercise. That was my wake up call and I am now much better with my health.
What type of exercise regiment do you maintain?
I try to limit my sweets and walk for about 30 min, 5 days a week. If I fall off the wagon I get back on quickly. My body responds to exercise and the benefits are better sleep, weigh reduction, and a glow!
How has your faith contributed to your overall health towards life as you have grown older?
Faith plays a very significant part in who I am. Some of my favorite scriptures include:
- For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28
- The joy of The Lord is my strength Nehemiah 8:10
- A merry heart doeth good like a medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
- Most importantly I believe in Psalm 92:12-15 I claim that scripture everyday it is my life for the future.
I must add that Cynthia makes and designs her own line of bags and accessory items that are sold online at her 2ChicDesigns Etsy store, check-out her summer styles. In addition, Cynthia is a fellow blogger at 2ChicDesigns.
Thanks Cynthia! I would love to tell your story of how you are maintaing a health weight, warding off illness and your beauty secrets as you age gracefully! Please email me at eugenia@ageofgrace.com if you are interested in being featured in the Women of Grace series.