10 Questions to Ask When You Look in the Mirror

You've used your bathroom mirror to help you comb your hair and straighten your tie for years. And while catching a glimpse of yourself can no doubt help you improve your outward appearance, your reflection can also reveal key insights into the life you've been leading-and the one that still awaits you. So before you blow by that handsome devil across the sink, take a pause to ponder these 10 doctor-approved questions. The insights from your answers can help boost your self-confidence, sharpen your workouts, improve your sex life, and turbo-charge your career.

1. How many pills are you popping?

Mark Moyad, M.D., who holds a patient-funded chair of preventive and alternative medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center, argues against any medication unless it specifically treats a disease or medical problem. If you have trouble falling asleep one night, don't reflexively reach into the medicine cabinet for a sedative. Rather, think about the reasons you're awake and worrying instead of asleep and dreaming. "I ask my patients two questions," says Dr. Moyad. "One: If you're taking six pills a day when you're 43, how many do you think you'll be taking at 53? And two: Is that what you want your future to look like?"

2. Do you look — and feel — rested?

Mehmet Oz, M.D., a professor of surgery at Columbia University and author of You: Being Beautiful , sticks to a 10:30 p.m. bedtime and clocks 7 hours a night. Why is sleep so important? Between the ages of 20 and 60, levels of human growth hormone (HGH) drop 80 percent. However, HGH replenishes during sleep — especially rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. "HGH is a key hormone in maintaining overall vitality," he says. Lack of sleep also challenges the immune system. "No sacrifice you make for your family is going to be more valuable than thinking of sleep as a craft and getting the proper amount." Find out how to rededicate yourself to your craft and make sleep one of your top priorities.

3. How big is your belly?

When it comes to food, less is more, says Mark Liponis, M.D., medical director of the Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and author of Ultraprevention. "Overeating is the driver behind most age-related disease processes," he says. And don't expect to solve the problem with a vitamin pill: "No vitamin is an antidote to a crappy diet." For an accurate barometer of wellness, calculate the ratio between your waistline and height. If your waist measurement, in inches, is half your height (or less), you're probably in good shape.

4. How firm are your muscles?

Healthy, active men in their 20s have about 13 to 17 percent body fat. By age 60, body fat composition rises, on average, to 19 to 26 percent. According to researchers, this happens because our muscle mass begins to decline 1 to 2 percent a year after age 30-and for every pound of muscle a person loses, he will typically gain a pound of fat. But studies show that you can stop that inevitable slide with just 30 minutes of daily resistance training. Follow this 4-week program to get back in shape — and stay fit forever.

5. Do your gums bleed when flossing or brushing your teeth?

Doctors now know that inflamed, bloody gums can signify body-wide wellness issues. Dr. Liponis and Stephen Lamm, M.D., an internist at the New York University School of Medicine, recommend adding an annual blood test for C-reactive protein levels to your standard ones for about $30. The test measures the degree of inflammation throughout your body. "A normal measurement of less than 2 milligrams per liter indicates the absence of disease, but a better goal is to test under 0.7 mg/L," says Dr. Liponis.

6. Do you have dark circles beneath your eyes?

As we age, subcutaneous tissue (a.k.a. "fat pads") beneath the eyes gets thinner, making the blood flowing beneath the eyes more visible. The solution is hydration. "If you replenish the skin with water, you can thicken the area, delay drooping, and mitigate the appearance of dark circles," says Bobby Buka, a New York City dermatologist who keeps a variety of TV and film stars ready for their close-ups. After taking a shower or washing your face, apply moisturizers containing peptides — tiny strings of amino acids — to decrease wrinkles and promote new collagen and elastin growth. Moisturizers containing kinetin have also been shown to slow the aging process of skin cells, reducing wrinkles and smoothing out skin texture. Stock your bathroom with more of the best new grooming products for men.

7. When did you last shave?

Clean-shaven men look 5.5 years younger than their bearded counterparts, according to a recent study of 60 women conducted at Northumbria University in England. "The low-grade friction from shaving stimulates collagen production and smooths the skin," says Kenneth Beer, M.D., a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, Florida. "That's one of the reasons men typically have fewer wrinkles than women have." But consider keeping the Clooney treatment for Friday nights — the same women preferred stubble for short- and long-term relationships because it indicated that men were mature, but not overly masculine or aggressive.

8. Is your hair thinning?

A 2005 Mayo Clinic Proceedings review cites multiple studies showing that male pattern baldness negatively affects men's feelings of attractiveness and body image. If you're starting to thin out, befriend a barber. In the early stages of hair loss, you can actually make your hair appear fuller by having it cut short, according to John Allan, the founder of a chain of grooming and lifestyle clubs. Upright and feathered hair tends to look thicker, while longer hair will part and reveal the scalp you're trying to hide. Check out the latest treatments for reversing your hair loss and learn more styling tips to hide thinning hair.

9. Is your skin wrinkled or discolored?

Years of UVA and UVB rays damage collagen fibrils, causing the skin to droop and discolor. "The number one thing you can do for your skin is wear sunblock with an SPF of 30," says renowned laser surgeon Cameron Rokhsar. Start applying it every morning. The best is Anthelios; it's the only sunscreen that contains mexoryl, a powerful compound that won't degrade as quickly in sunlight. But if your skin has become so loose that you begin to resemble a bulldog, it's likely a consequence not only of sun damage, but also dehydration, collagen depletion, and gravity. Save yourself from the blade with an over-the-counter cream such as retinol. "Study after study shows that using Retin-A for 6 months creates new collagen under the skin," says Dr. Rokhsar. Learn more easy ways to look and feel younger, longer.

10. Do you like what you see?

Another low-tech tool for gauging your overall wellness is to simply take an honest look at yourself. "Never underestimate the importance of looking pretty," says Dr. Oz. "We look for beauty because thousands of years of evolution have taught us that an attractive mate offers the best biological shot for prolonging the species."

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