10 Ways Denise Austin Stays Fit at 67

Denise Austin defies the laws of aging. At 67, she still manages to look half her age. The fitness pro recently shared a swimsuit photo with her followers, wearing a crop top and swimsuit bottoms that highlighted her fat abs. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care to make 67 look like 37? Here are 10 ways Denise Austin stays fit and sexy at 67.

Positive Attitude

"It's really all about your positive attitude," she tells First for Women. "And if you can keep your attitude positive when things get you down, you'll bounce back quicker from anything."

Resistance Training to Hack Your Metabolism

"As we all age, you really need to do some light strength training or any type of resistance training, even more so, to save our bones, to help our muscles work, work miracles on your metabolism," Denise reveals about her ultimate fitness hack. "Metabolism is so important because it slows down naturally as you age, so one of the best ways to combat that and fight the drooping, and the aging is muscles. We have 640 muscles and these muscles will help your posture and your muscle tone — they will help keep everything fit and firm. And it's healthy to have strong muscles for your bones as well as for your joints!"

Stretching

Denise also emphasizes the importance of stretching. "Flexibility after 50 is so important. I just don't think we stretch enough! I would love more women to stretch to feel better. The one area that is important to stretch is your hips. Women's hips can hold stress and tension and that could lead to tugging on your low spine. And if your hips and your hamstring stay flexible, it keeps your back healthy. So it all works hand in hand and head to toe," she says.

Walking

Austin makes sure to get her steps in. "Walking is good," she says. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer in terms of exercise, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day led to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.

Breathing Exercises

Denise also recommends "just standing up with the best posture ever and doing three deep breaths while doing back arm circles (like you're swimming backwards)," she tells the publication. She maintains the "deep breathing" exercise "will open up your chest naturally."

Body Positivity

The "definition of body positivity," according to Denise? "You are able to do what you want for your own reasons. If you feel better losing weight, that's okay—do what makes you feel like your best self. That's the point. If someone does want to change their body, the coolest part about life and fitness is that you can," she tells Women's Health.

Lifestyle Over Diet

As for diet, Austin encourages looking at it as a lifestyle. "Way too often, people start a diet, get excited about it for a few days, and then return to their normal habits when it gets in the way of their lifestyle. The major problem here is that a diet shouldn't be a fad or an inconvenience — it should fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, so it is easy to adopt and adapt to! Because if a diet is going to work for you, it's got to be something you can keep up with day in and day out," she writes in a blog post.

Tracking Calories

Also, she recommends knowing how many calories you are taking in. "By sticking to a plan that already does the work for you, you will be less likely to stray off course," she says, recommending her own plan. "If losing weight is truly a goal for you, it takes a combination of regular exercise and eating a certain number of calories. My Plan makes this simple – you choose your calorie level (you can change it at any time!), and you get all your daily meals (plus snacks) recipes delivered right to you! My recipes are equal parts tasty and simple – and always filling, because no one wants to be hungry when dieting! You can start a free trial and check out my eating plan, recipes and workouts today."

Hydration

She also stresses the importance of hydration. "Quench your thirst—even when you don't feel like it. When you're drinking enough water, you won't confuse thirst with hunger and accidentally overeat. Plus, staying hydrated is great for so many other health and wellness reasons, as dehydration can have detrimental effects on your health," she writes.

Making Diet and Exercise a "Team Effort"

Making diet and exercise "a team effort," is also key. "I can't emphasize it enough: Being a part of a community can be so huge for your goals. Find an exercise/diet buddy at work, in your neighborhood, in your group of friends, or even online!" And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster.