I have to prove that I'm approaching 50, unlike a lot of men my age, who can't look any younger even if they use the best anti wrinkle cream that money can buy. When people see me in person for the first time, they can't believe I'll be 48 in a month or so. Whenever my age is guessed, it's always within the 30 bracket (30-39), although I have a receding hairline.

Factors Which Slow Aging

Before I say which factors (I think) have slowed my aging process, I have to mention the things that can make you look as old as you are or even older:

• Too much sun. It's a proven fact that too much time in direct sunlight can cause permanent skin damage. Liver spots and wrinkles are the most common side effect.
• Not enough exercise. Being a couch potato will make you feel older than you are, not to mention the fact that the muscles you don't use will become atrophied quickly. Proper exercise, even mild exercise, will do wonders for the way you feel and look.
• Improper nutrition. Besides making you fat, eating the wrong foods won't help you fight age in any way. Consuming the wrong food and drink can do more harm than good, especially to your internal organs.

Although I spend 80 percent of my waking hours sitting in front of a computer keyboard, I still manage to find time to do the things I think are necessary to keep feeling better than I should. Certain foods and drinks, high in antioxidants and flavonoids, are a part of my diet. Almost everything I eat contains enough fiber to keep me regular. Here are three things I consume regularly, which contain antioxidants and flavonoids.

• Coffee and tea. I drink several cups of coffee every single day. I drink iced tea when it's just too hot to drink coffee. Some will say the caffeine isn't good for me, but I sleep like a log and have no trouble sleeping. A freight train rolling over my house could barely wake me up. Both contain antioxidants and flavonoids.
• Beans. I eat beans with chili. I can't stand plain beans, even if meat is added.
• American goulash, or hamburger goulash if you wish to call it that. I make goulash with lots of tomato paste, which is also contains antioxidants and flavonoids.

Of the things I'm not listing, most foods I eat contain vegetables, fruit or grains. I stay away from breads and cakes, including muffins. They're just too fattening. I usually have two or three slices of toast for breakfast, unless I'm having oatmeal or pancakes. Only some of my dinner meals are eaten with rice, and not much rice at that. My diet is what I attribute to most of my weight loss (without being on any kind of weight loss program) for the last year, especially the reduction of my big, fat belly.

Things I'm Slow At Because of Age and Practice

I spent 20 years on active duty in the US Marine Corps and I believe it added at least 10 years to my life. I was forced to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet. It doesn't help me now, of course, more than 10 years after retiring. Due to post-military injuries to my left leg (knee, ankle and shin), I can't run at full steam anymore — I'm lucky if I can jog a short distance.

I'm really slow at writing, programming and other computer-related activities. Five years ago, my latest scripting project would have taken me less than a day. It took me more than two days this time. I'm out of practice and I can't remember everything I thought I'd learned years ago. If it wasn't for the remaining memories, it would have probably taken a month. I had to remember MySQL and PHP coding experiences to make sure I didn't make the same newbie mistakes all over again.

I last posted on this blog four days ago. If I wasn't so slow at finishing my scripting project, I would only be a day behind my normal routines. As it is, I'm behind on the three blogs that I've finished setting up and I yet to start working on the fourth. I'm getting slow. Age is part if, of that I'm sure. I don't have the stamina to continue working on one project at a time and see it through to completion. I have to take a lot of breaks and this something I didn't have to do a few short years ago.

All in all, I'd say not bad for a guy of 47, who looks like he's 39, but feels like he's 70. At least, in my own humble opinion.

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