Jane Fonda’s secrets to ageing gracefully
It’s hard to believe that film and TV legend Jane Fonda is 78 years old. The former aerobics queen is definitely the authority when it comes to looking and feeling great in your 70s. Here are her secrets to ageing like a movie star.
Exercise
Would you expect any less from the woman who brought us Jane Fonda’s Workout, the highest selling fitness video of all time? These days she’s slowed things down a bit, swapping jazzercise for walking, cross-country skiing and yoga. Despite suffering osteoporosis and having both a knee and hip replacement, Fonda says, “the most important thing is to keep moving, to stay active. That’s what I do and that’s how to stay strong.”
Diet
Most would agree that as you get older, your body tends to gain weight a lot easier. Because of this, Fonda believes that every calorie you eat should count. In her recent fitness DVD Prime Time, she explains, “it is very important what you eat because your cells regenerate more slowly.” Fonda suggests avoiding refined sugars, opting instead for complex carbohydrates, fruits, colourful veggies and lean meats.
Meditation
At the age of 70, Fonda decided to learn how to meditate, saying it helps her “focus, become clear and calm.” She has even credited the relaxing practice with giving her renewed confidence. It’s also a great natural remedy for depression and anxiety – a recent study showed that meditation can be just as effective as antidepressants. Fonda, who suffered depression in her 60s, says she wishes she had learnt how to meditate much earlier in life.
Love and friendship
Fonda, who has been married three times and is currently in a relationship with music producer Richard Perry, told ForbesWoman she believes love is even better later in life. “When we can walk into a relationship as a whole person, that’s where intimacy comes.” She also credits her girlfriends with bringing her happiness. “To stay young at heart, you have to have love in your life.”
Accepting yourself
Like many young women, Fonda says she struggled in the search for “perfection”. She admits to dabbling in plastic surgery, but says she is not proud of it. “I was taught to think that if I wanted to be loved, I had to be thin and pretty. That leads to a lot of trouble.” Having fought bulimia when she was younger, Fonda believes “we’re supposed to be complete and whole, and you can’t be whole if you’re trying to be perfect.”
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