50 is the new 30!

I read an article last week in the New York Times about the elderly population wanting and having cosmetic surgery.   In the past, more often than not, we would not perform cosmetic surgery on patients older than 70.  It is a different time now than it was 10 years ago.   I have performed cosmetic surgery on 65, 75 and 80 year olds.   I am doing a facelift this week on a 78 year old woman who is super fit!

 

Baby boomers like me are now getting into their fifties.  They are successful, sophisticated, upwardly mobile and want to continue their youthful life.   We want to age as gracefully and slowly as possible.   We are entering our 50's and we don’t feel old. We accept the maturity of aging but not the biological fact that we are older.  Coming out of our 40’s is like leaving our 20’s, and therefore turning 50 is like turning 30. We understand that we are aging, but feel more like we are entering our 30’s rather than 50’s.   

Baby boomers are more active, vital and involved with their health and fitness than their parents were.   The boomers are cycling, running marathons, taking spin classes, hiring trainers, running  triathalons, swimming, exercising like gym rats....all to keep looking young and fit.  All to turn back the clock and trying to stop father time from marching on.   Think about what my generation is eating: Whole foods, organic meats and vegetables, all believing that these are healthier and better.   How many people my age are Vegans?  Vegetarians?  Fruitarian? Pescatarians? Yes the 60's saw a break from traditional values, yet those that are now 60-70 are not as active in their 50's as those in their 50’s today;  the later baby boomers.  

So....

 

Did I ever think in a million years I would take a spinning class?   I was clearly not the only 50 year old in the class.  There were mostly women ages 25-45.  But a few men like me were in their 50’s.

See the attached photos.  Me, yes me, in a spin class(I loved it!) and a friend of mine who is 51 wearing a “30” jersey.  I think I heard him first say it…“50 is the new 30!”