Lady Astor of Hever, at 76, has revealed the nine steps she follows to maintain her youthful appearance and manage her weight. A mother of three, stepmother to three, and grandmother of three, she recently launched her first fragrance line and continues to pursue various interests, including writing her second novel.
Lady Astor emphasized the importance of curiosity and an interest in life to staying young, stating, "Life is not over till you’re dead." She shared that she did not begin formal, regular exercise until she was 50, prompted by a health scare involving her brother. Currently, she participates in hour-long Zoom classes three times a week, including strength and HIIT on Mondays, Pilates on Wednesdays, and functional strength training on Fridays, all with her trainer of over 25 years. Due to a recent diagnosis of slight osteoporosis, she has incorporated skipping into her routine.
Her dietary approach focuses on eating well, prioritizing organic ingredients like chicken, vegetables, and line-caught fish, while minimizing sugar. Breakfast typically consists of Greek yogurt with berries and seeds, toast, and marmalade, accompanied by Earl Grey tea. Lunches often include salads with chicken or quail eggs, and evenings feature ample greens. She notes that they avoid late dinners to prevent discomfort. Despite advice that alcohol may be detrimental to bone health, she still consumes white wine.
Lady Astor also places significant importance on her hair, considering it crucial to her overall feeling of well-being. She has been a client of the same colorist and cut stylist for approximately 25 years. For personal care, she visits a beauty salon for threading, facials, manicures, and waxing, and has been using a specific French skincare brand for over four decades. While she wears nail polish on her toes in the summer, she prefers well-kept, bare nails on her hands. She wears makeup daily and uses a particular foundation, eyeshadows, and mascara that she reorders regularly.
Weight management is a daily practice; she weighs herself each morning and adjusts her food intake if she exceeds her target weight by a few pounds. She attributes weight control to portion management and avoiding snacks between meals, sometimes opting for a banana or skipping lunch if necessary.
Regarding her style, Lady Astor believes many people neglect their appearance and prefers tailored clothing. She shops at brands like Reiss, Zara, and Uniqlo. She also mentioned doing "anti-batwing" exercises to maintain the ability to wear sleeveless attire, but has also considered adding sleeves to dresses for warmth or versatility.
Her regimen includes numerous supplements taken each morning with tea, such as those for bone strength, Vitamin D, collagen for skin and hair, and joint health supplements. She finds that travel and new experiences, such as visiting museums in Cairo, Pompeii, and Vienna, or cycling in Rwanda, contribute to her sense of youthfulness.
Lady Astor's passion for fragrance began in childhood, inspired by her mother. Her new fragrance line features scents named after significant places and experiences in her life, including her childhood village in Norfolk, travels in the Middle East, and an incident where she drifted at sea for 12 days in Indonesia. This life-threatening experience in 1973, she said, made her realize the preciousness of life.
