It's terrifying to turn 30. We've all heard the rumors about lengthier hangovers, graying hair, skin losing its youthful tightness, huge pressure to "settle down" and have kids (if you haven't already), and jokes about how you'll start gaining weight.
As you reach 30, you begin to feel that you are quickly approaching the end of your "peak." You begin to worry that your golden years are behind you or that men will no longer find you beautiful.
You feel it necessary to live a life of slow aging as a slew of ungrateful children drains the last of your power — but only after they've (gasp!) damaged your body!
I’m of course being dramatic, but that really is how some days seem as you begin to approach the dreaded 30.
It appears to be the last days of youth. The beginning of aging. That is technically correct. But, at the very least, this is the youngest of the aging stages.
This is only the beginning, sister. Prepare yourself and get comfortable!
But it's not all bad news. Age brings experience, confidence, and enough competence to know you've got this! Or, at the very least, you've gone through just enough difficulty to develop the proper "whatever" mentality (this is critical).
I'm not sure about you, but I'm much more confident at 27 than I was at 20. My 20-year-old personality was tightly wound! I mean, I'm still a stress ball, but I feel like I've accepted it. I'm one step closer to not being insane.
Furthermore, it is possible that sex might improve with age. So, honestly, things might get better from here.
So, when you approach your thirties, what do you have to look forward to?
Learn how your body changes beyond the age of 30 to prepare for your next journey.
1. Slower metabolic rate
This is a well-known modification, although it is not easily recognized unless you pay attention. As we become older, our metabolism slows down.
It follows that maintaining a healthy weight at this age is becoming more difficult. It genuinely necessitates a healthy and balanced diet as well as adequate exercise.
If you stick to the same diet you had when you were 25, you're going to gain a few pounds year after year and find your clothes getting tighter and tighter. Your beloved dress will no longer fit!
2. Your chances of getting pregnant decrease.
The question of fertility is one of the most pressing worries for people approaching 30 (particularly women).
Obviously, this is only an issue if children are in your future plans, but assuming they are, this is when the fear begins.
Many of us delay having children in order to spend more time on our work and enjoy being young and carefree for as long as possible.
But, with the dreaded three-O approaching, we're scared we're running out of time (and eggs). And, well, we may be right in being concerned.
According to Brian A. Levine, MD, a fertility researcher with CCRN, not all women's fertility is the same.
He also points out that "having a lot of eggs doesn't ensure your fertility is healthy."
Several factors influence egg quality; generally, as women age, their eggs are more likely to have defective chromosomes, which reduces egg quality.
This can influence whether or not fertilization occurs and is the major cause of miscarriage.
But, according to Dr. Levine, there is some hope for those of us in our twenties who aren't quite ready for children.
He claims that making good lifestyle choices in your twenties might help you stay fertile into your thirties.
Specifically, "avoiding foods like white rice and white sugar that trigger inflammation, as well as reducing harmful habits like excessive alcohol use, can all favorably benefit a woman's fertility in the long run."
3. Increased stress
To be honest, life stresses us out regardless of our age, but entering our 30s can bring a whole new set of difficulties into our daily lives that we haven't previously experienced.
We're learning to manage more serious relationships and marriages, we're having kids and raising children, we're purchasing houses, we're starting to think about our 401k and retirement savings plans, and we're probably going to have to deal with the realities of aging parents. I can feel my heartbeat quicken just thinking about any of those things.
Our need for self-care and learning to manage stress in healthy ways is an aspect of our 30s that is rarely highlighted. According to Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, you should set aside "time each day to minimize your stress levels." You must find what works best for you, which may include lacing up your shoes and going for a run, cuddling up with a cup of tea and reading a nice book, practicing yoga or meditation, or even going to the spa for a massage.
Because stress may appear in our bodies in a variety of ways, including migraines, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, sadness, anxiety, stomach upset, and even drug or alcohol addiction, it is critical that we learn to manage it in healthy ways when we are still young.
4. Your hair begins to thin and may possibly turn gray
I don't know about you, but I remember my mother getting her first gray hair when she was in her 30s, and I'm not fully ready! It's lower on my priority list, but it's still a problem. What really scares me is that all of your hair (yep, ALL of it!) might turn gray.
Dr. Sejal Shah, a dermatologist in New York and a RealSelf contributor, claims that even the brows are impacted! Not only may the hair on your head be thin and become gray as you age, but so can your brows. Additionally, they may also slightly alter position as a result of your skin's loss of elasticity.
5. Wrinkles begin to appear
According to Manhattan dermatologist and RealSelf contributor Dr. Joshua Zeichner, "skin cell turnover and collagen synthesis begin to slow down" in your 30s. As a result, Dr. Ziechne believes that now is the "perfect moment to add a topical retinoid to your anti-aging routine in the evening," which will boost collagen formation and help the skin resist wrinkling.
On the bright side? Acne, he claims, becomes less of a concern in your 30s. However, the skin continues to be oily.
Dr. Zeichner recommends starting an anti-wrinkle treatment as soon as possible. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum and CeraVe Facial Foaming Cleanser are his recommendations (to help with oily skin).
6. Joint stiffness and bone thinning
Say welcome to the beginning of joint discomfort. When you get up in the morning, everything seems extra stiff, you're exhausted from your workout from the day before, and you notice additional cracks and crunches as you walk, bend, or squat down.
Most of the time, joint pain is caused by inflammation caused by injury or overuse, but when we allow our bodies to rest and live a healthy lifestyle, our bodies recover rapidly and the inflammation heals. However, as we age, this repair gets more difficult. When we reach the age of 30, things change. What we notice are the consequences on our joints; we rarely detect what is happening to our bones.
Bone loss occurs in our 30s, and as we age and move through life, it can even lead to osteoporosis if we do not exercise consistently, eat calcium-rich foods, and stay active. A nutritious, balanced diet along with exercise is essential for continuing to walk as you become older; otherwise, you'll only be able to take 5-6 steps, which will barely cover your bathroom area.
7. You are at a higher risk of disease
As we age, something known as "inflammaging" develops, according to Raymond J. Tesi, MD, CEO and co-founder of INmune Bio (i.e. inflammation that happens as we age). This phenomenon is responsible for "age-related illnesses" such as cancer.
"It's because the accumulation of years of chronic inflammation results in pathologic biology," Tesi explains. "Basically, inflammaging begins early, but its consequences become clinically important as we enter our sixth decade of life."
There is yet time. Dr. Tesi advises completing the following as soon as possible:
- "Stop smoking. Tobacco use is a surefire way to cause inflammation."
- "Watch your weight. Obesity harms you in a variety of ways. One of the more subtle medical consequences of obesity is a higher risk of inflammaging."
- "Consistently exercise." Exercise promotes resolution biology or the biological process of reducing chronic inflammation."
- "I can also suggest getting enough sleep and reducing stress, but then I start sounding like your mother."
Furthermore, melanoma risk increases with age, according to Omaha Dermatologic Surgeon Dr. Joel Schlessinger. According to him, "melanoma is one of the most frequent diseases for young adults and the main cause of cancer-related mortality for women aged 25 to 30."
According to the Melanoma Research Alliance, you may avoid skin cancer by doing the following:
- Avoid being in the sun during the middle of the day.
- Protect yourself from the sun by wearing clothes that cover your skin and water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen.
8. You should examine your lumpier breasts
Sometimes lumpier breasts are caused by a totally innocuous alteration in hormones or breast tissue, such as during your period, or by a benign ailment such as fibroadenoma. However, you should examine your breasts on a regular basis, and if you see something unusual, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.
Slowing down the aging process
Be aware that there are things we can do to help slow down many of these awful and terrifying aspects of aging before you go to the kitchen, grab that pint of ice cream from the freezer, and drown your sorrows in an HGTV marathon. Making sure you consume a balanced diet that is high in nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, and low in processed foods is the first step.
You must then continue to be active. Find an activity that feels good in your body and that you can do regularly, whether it's going for a run on a nearby trail, joining a gym, going to frequent yoga sessions, or taking regular walks.
Finally, keep your alcohol intake to a minimum. I'm not suggesting completely avoiding alcohol, there's nothing like a glass of wine after a long day at the office, but keep it to a reasonable amount and understand that you may not recover as quickly as you used to.