I make a living by making women feel more beautiful, more healthy, and by making them fall in love with themselves.
Thorbjörg Hafsteinsdottir is Scandinavia’s Anti-Ageing queen. Aged 54, her best-selling book, 10 Years Younger in 10 Weeks reached cult status in Scandinavia by advocating a natural approach to health and beauty for women of all ages. Whether you’re in your thirties wondering how to future-proof your body, or in your 40s or 50s, worrying that bikinis and flirty fun are over for ever, you’ll find inspiration in 10 Years Younger in 10 Weeks, now available in English for the first time.
Thorbjörg, a trained nurse and nutritional therapist, offers fresh advice, backed by hard science. Vitality comes from the inside out, she says. She aims to help her readers understand how the body works, and how to work with it. Her anti-age programme includes delicious recipes, invigorating exercises and clear guidelines on nutritional supplements. It provides natural alternatives to injectables and advice on skin care, and describes cleansing and relaxation as the sources of eternal youth. And being Scandinavian, there’s also a section on the anti-ageing effects of sex!
Full of inspiring case studies, 10 Years Younger in 10 Weeks gives you the secrets to avoiding sagging skin, flabby bits and mood swings. Better still, it demonstrates how menopause needn’t be hell; by understanding our hormones better, women can avoid many of the symptoms.
In 2012 Thorbjörg tested her programme publicly on Danish TV. On ‘Botox versus Broccoli,’ Thorbjörg coached the broccoli team with her programme of nutrition, lifestyle and exercise (the other team went under the needle). After a mere 8 weeks the broccoli team matched the botox team for looking youthful – and far outreached them in health, vitality, and well-being. They had a lot more fun, too.
Thorbjörg’s own interest in health and vitality began in her thirties when she realised how dependent she’d become on sugar – especially Danish pastries. Hit by mood swings and energy dips, she resolved to learn more about nutrition. Her personal interest became a professional one, and she has coached thousands of women through her system – and her books have sold over 200,000 copies in Scandinavia. She has three daughters, and has worked in Danish schools for children with learning difficulties, helping to improve their diet and well-being – and with it their social and educational performance.
10 Years Younger in 10 Weeks is a demanding programme – but an inspiring one too. Full of Nordic common sense and humour, Thorbjörg’s message is that women of all ages can take their health and vitality into their own hands, and live life on their own terms. It will be followed by a video course. Try her free test to test your biological age.
I followed Thorbjörg’s 10 Years Younger Program, and was truly delighted with the results. Her deep understanding of nutrition, as much as her motivating personality, made the experience a complete success; and I am certainly not alone in my belief that Thorbjörg’s work has the power to make a huge impact on today’s culinary and fitness culture.
– Tamara Rappa, Senior Accessories Editor, Oprah Magazine
About Thorbjörg
The 54-years-young, Icelandic Thorbjörg and her magnetic personality and ideas have spread across Scandinavia, engaging women in a naturally healthy and beauty-filled lifestyle. She is a trained nurse, nutrition therapist and certified coach with 25 years of experience in nutritional therapy. Thorbjörg is an expert in lifestyle changes and specialises in anti-ageing and how it’s hot to be vital for life. She is a sought-after lecturer and teacher working in hospitals, sports academies, and with national health projects in Iceland and Denmark.
10 Years Younger in 10 Weeks was released in English on April 1st 2014 in US and April 21st 2014 in UK. It is also available on Amazon, kobo, iBookstore and all other major e-book platforms. The e-book ISBN is 978-0-9912609-3-5, price £5.99 and ISBN for the printed version is 978-0-9912609-2-8, price £24.99.
The book is the second book in the ‘Your Best Self’ Series coming out of the global-minded Scandinavian Publishing House Pine Tribe.
Thorbjorg has changed the lives of people (particularly women) around the world, motivating them to transform their lifestyles to achieve a true and lasting sense of well-being.
– Anne Catherine Faergemann, Clinical Dietician, Nordic Clinic
I have witnessed lifestyle coach and writer Thorbjörg leave a mark on the international scene as one of Scandinavia’s most trusted and beloved authors and television personalities, and can recommend her in the strongest possible terms.
– Loreen Stevens, CEO Bel-Espit Creative
Q&A with Thorbjörg
1. That’s a provocative title! Can you really look and feel 10 years younger in 10 weeks? I feel like I’ve aged that over Christmas…
Is it? Yes you are right; some people might walk away from the book because they mistake it for being just about looking young forever. Of course that’s not the case, as they would realize, if they just were curious about the content and “the how”. But I’m glad that many women think the title is inspiring because becoming 10 years younger in 10 weeks is possible, if you follow my instructions in the book! It will take about three months for the body cells and organs to renew themselves and that is what it is all about. To give the body the very best tools to fix itself and optimize natural function. My tools are not botox or fillers because they will not fix anything in the long run, but the right food will, along with some supplements, of course exercise and the right mindset.
Winter is a wonderful time, because we have some days off and are with family, resting and eating. Unfortunately the winter food does not make you younger! All the sugar and carbs and unhealthy fats do add some years to your body and you feel tired and confused when it’s all over and you have to go back to work. Many of my followers, who know and live the 10 Years Younger lifestyle, do week 5 and 6 after the holidays. Those are the detox weeks. They give you a new start.
2. You look amazing at 54, but I’m only 30. Surely I can enjoy some more party years first?
Well thank you! I feel good because I take care of myself, most of the time very well. I was once 30, and maybe it is a cliché, but it feels as if it were yesterday. When you are in the thirties you never think that you will get old someday and you don’t think about how you want to feel when you are 50 or 60. Perhaps that is natural and one should not give it too much thought but live in the present. But on the other hand, today we plan everything in advance: work, education, pregnancy, holidays etc. So why not include your health? That is what I did some 25-30 years ago, when I was partying, eating junk and sugar and all “that fun stuff”. I pictured myself 20 and 30 years ahead and asked myself a very good question: if I just keep on doing what I am doing now, eating what I eat now, where will I be in 20 years? How will I feel and what will I think of myself? The answers to those questions were actually very scary. So I changed my life.
3. Hmmm, I think it’s a bit too late for me. Okay so I’ve given up smoking now but I still like a drink. Surely I’m beyond redemption?
It is never too late, and never too early! It is a great thing to give up smoking! Give yourself some credit for that. To quit smoking is a tough thing to do. If you can do that you can do anything! And what is wrong with liking a drink or two – as long as it is within reasonable control. It is the other things that really matter: The food you eat during the week, exercise habits etc. To be healthy is not about becoming a saint! It’s about being aware and taking responsibility. And that feels good, and is a part of being 10 years younger 🙂
4. It looks an awful lot of trouble. I’m not sure I can handle chopping up all these vegetables…
It is much easier than you imagine. Of course it depends on where you are. If you have never chopped or cooked it is going to be a challenge, there’s a risk that you might actually like it! But if not, there is always a way. Not loving to cook cannot stop you from being 10 years younger! I’m sorry! That excuse doesn’t work :). You can buy chopped vegetables. You can even buy healthy fast food. It’s going to cost you a bit more, but you can do it. Just make your own breakfast, take your supplements, do the exercise and let local healthy catering do the rest, if need be.
5. My friends would think I’ve gone completely dotty if I start doing all this!
Yes, maybe they will. And then they just have to deal with that, won´t they? I mean, that can´t be your problem! On the other hand, they might just think that you are cool and responsible. They might also become a bit jealous, because they want to start themselves but they just don’t have your guts and will power. I have always found that a smile and compassion is the best weapon against jealousy.
6. You’re the first health guru to advocate going to a male strip show…
Hah! Well I am an advocate for doing the unexpected and for changing perspectives. A male strip show is just one of many more or less crazy things I´ve done with my friends. It makes me happy, makes me laugh and that is good medicine. So is diving with sharks, and skydiving!
7. Okay, you’ve convinced me. How should I start?
Good! Read the book. Take the biological age test. It´s kind of scary but that is a part of it. To be courageous you have to be a bit scared, realizing that your body is much older than your chronological age. But that is just fine. You are exactly where you need to be-just start with the first week.
8. I’ve got teenage daughters. How can I get them interested in healthy eating and having a good body image?
By being their role model. It is as simple as that. Don´t preach! Just do! And stop having all the junk food and sugar in the house. Replace it all with better and healthier alternatives.
9. What are the 5 most important things I could do today to improve my health and vitality?
1. Eat a clean protein for breakfast, no bread.
2. Drink 8 ounces of waterat day
3. Eat cabbage in your salad
4. Make your own snacks with almonds, coconut flakes and cocoa beans. The recipe is 1 cup coconut flakes (can be roasted), 1 cup chopped almonds, 1/2 cup cocoa beans / nips, 1/2 cup goji berries or dried blue berries (no added sugar) or just plain raisins. Blend 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder. Enjoy!
5. Go to bed early so you will get 8 hours’ sleep.
