We’ve reached that time of year where most of us start adding a winter layer to our waistlines. Leftover Halloween candy lingers until Thanksgiving, giving way to our Turkey Day favorites – pumpkin pie, gravy, and plenty of leftover turkey sandwiches. Then here comes Christmas – which brings not only gifts from Santa but plenty of snacks, every day too. Before we know it, we’ve eaten our way till the New Year, when we will firmly resolve to work out every day in 2017. Maybe even twice a day.
Before you reach for another treat, take a moment and think about the next few weeks of food. What we eat eventually shows up on our hips. It also shows up on our faces, because our diet directly impacts our skin quality. Diets high in sugar can zap your skin’s collagen and dull your appearance, foods high in trans fat can create blemishes, and too many bad carbs can cause inflammation.
Eating healthy this holiday season can help protect your skin from damages from a bad diet. You can else start kick start good skin by making End of the Year Resolutions to join the gym. From lifting weights to logging miles, regular exercise is not only a great way to tone and tighten to keep a fit and firm physique, but it is also an excellent way to keep your skin in shape. Dr. Peterson recommends all of his patients develop a routine exercise plan in combination with cosmetic treatments to help improve their skin quality and give themselves a beauty boost.
Cardio helps give you a healthy visage because it boosts collagen production. Collagen is a natural protein found in the body that serves to connect the skin. It is also what keeps your skin firm and prevents it from sagging. Working out can also cause the production of certain hormones that can improve skin quality and give you a healthy glow.
Collagen isn’t the only thing that increases as a result of cardio workouts. Your heart rate and blood flow also increase. Increased blood flow delivers more oxygen and vitamin all over your body. Your skin benefits from this, too, because these nutrients are critical to repairing skin.
Weight lifting and resistance training can give your skin benefits by boosting the production of growth hormone. This hormone is released from the pituitary gland and is also vital in cell repair and maintaining healthy connective tissues. Like cardio, weight lifting also kicks collagen production into high gear.
While a workout regimen is great for your health and does provide key benefits to your skin, you can’t just jump in the gym and expect to find an instant fix for skin flaws. Skin quality is at its peak during our early twenties and then begins to decline gradually as collagen production slows and our faces lose fat volume. Because of this, starting a workout routine in your forties isn’t going to help turn back the clock, and won’t be a panacea for your pores.
Your best bet is to pair a healthy diet and a regular workout routine to improve your facial fitness with skin rejuvenating services like Botox, fillers, or microdermabrasion. What are you waiting for? The holidays are approaching quickly! Book your appointment today with Dr. Peterson by calling 785-234-9000, and then call your personal trainer!