If you spotted Sommer Shiels strolling down the street, you’d be forgiven for thinking she was in her twenties.
But the Aussie journalist and businesswoman is actually 42. Her youthful appearance isn’t the result of a strict diet or punishing workout regime – in fact, quite the opposite.
‘I exercise less and eat more these days, but it’s taken years of trial and error,’ Sommer, from Sydney, tells Daily Mail.
‘I’m in the best shape of my life, and I feel fantastic.’
Three full-body scans, each calculating her biological age at just 21 – shaving two decades off her actual age – prove it.
To achieve these impressive results, Sommer gave up her vegan diet, overhauled her workouts, and started placing greater emphasis on rest and recovery.
Diet overhaul
Throughout her 20s and 30s, Sommer followed a vegetarian diet for ethical reasons, but battled ongoing health issues.
Sommer Shiels (pictured) is 42 years old but her biological age is 21. ‘I exercise less and eat more now, but it’s been years of trial and error,’ she tells Daily Mail
‘When I was vegetarian, I could not get out of bed. I thought I was healthy – I wasn’t,’ she says.
Sommer suffered with menstrual problems, extreme fatigue, and struggled with energy and focus
‘I switched to being vegan in 2019 but the issues only got worse. I was completely unwell. No matter how much spinach, broccoli and beans I consumed, I never had good iron levels,’ she says.
By 2023, Sommer was tired of feeling sub-par and did a ‘complete 180’ with her diet and lifestyle.
She reintroduced meat to her diet and began eating more protein overall.
When Sommer was vegan, her diet consisted of fruit smoothies, plates of vegetables, legumes, fruit, rice, and bread.
But now she starts her day with a broth and three to six eggs, followed by berries with Greek yoghurt and protein powder. She finishes the day with 300g of steak or chicken, then more fruit.
‘I always found it hard to get to 100g of protein, but now I eat 150-200g daily. I eat everything,’ she says.
Throughout her 20s and 30s, Sommer (pictured age 21) suffered from ongoing health issues
Sommer has had three full-body scans that show her biological age is 21
After years of restriction, Sommer now ensure she includes an evening treat.
‘I’m not going to go without ice cream or chocolate,’ she says. ‘I’m not afraid of dessert.’
For Sommer, it’s all about striking the right balance.
‘It’s always 80 per cent wholefoods, 20 per cent treats,’ she says. ‘There’s barely a day where I don’t have a little sweet treat.’
A new training focus
When it comes working out, Sommer spent decades fixated on hours of intense cardio.
Now, her approach couldn’t be more different.
‘Everything we think we know is completely backwards, and other women should know,’ she says.
‘With the gym, lift heavy but less often. I lift weights three to four times a week for only 20 to 30 minutes.’
Sommer now centres each session around two or three compound exercises, targeting specific muscle groups.
She points out that when you’re lifting weights, a small bowl of ice cream at the end of the day ‘barely makes an impact’.
‘I’m probably in the gym for an hour and a half maximum a week. Your body likes to rest and have a day to recover to let the muscle grow,’ she says.
‘I exercise less and I eat more, and I’m in the best shape of my life despite spending minimal time doing it.’
But what about rest and recovery?
Well that’s just as important as diet and exercise, Sommer says.
Every night she takes a probiotic for optimal gut health and is in bed by 10pm at the latest to ensure she gets eight hours of sleep.
‘Without a sleep routine, I am out of whack for days. One night puts me back – the healthier the sleep routine, the better,’ she explains.
Sommer says her ‘body is like a clock now’ and she ‘hasn’t set an alarm in years’. She sleeps through the night before waking up at 5am.
‘When I was vegetarian, I had an alarm and hit snooze 15 times. Now my body wakes itself up and I jump out of bed. I can’t wait to go for a morning walk, be in nature or meditate.
‘I feel like I’ve been reborn, and sleep is a lot more important than people realise.’
Sommer also recommends magnesium as an effective sleep supplement.
Don’t forget skincare
When it comes to skincare and looking younger, there are several non-negotiables Sommer swears by.
The first ‘must’ is red light therapy daily, which helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin complexion and reduces inflammation.
‘My skin is better now than it was when I was 20. But it’s not a one-trick pony. It’s about habit stacking and doing a few things at a time,’ Sommer says
She used to exercise for an hour a day, now she lifts heavy weights three times a week for 20-30 minutes per session (pictured, left, when she was vegan compared to today, right)
Sommer invested in a red LED mask for home treatments, but weekly salon treatments can be just as effective.
Next, she takes a strong dose of Vitamin C (3000-4000mg) daily, much higher than the recommended dose of 1000mg.
‘This seems excessive but it works,’ she says.
Sommer also consumes collagen and 50g of bone broth daily. Three times a week, she uses a turmeric facial anti-inflammatory mask to reduce spots and inflammation, and exfoliates her skin daily to remove dead skin.
‘I’ve greatly reduced my smile lines and even eye lines without Dysport or Botox,’ she says.
‘My skin is better now than it was when I was 20. But it’s not a one-trick pony. It’s about habit stacking and doing a few things at a time.’
Now Sommer is sharing her knowledge in her new book, ‘The Anti-Aging Manual’.
‘Whether you’re 30 or 70, this book is for you. A field guide for returning to the wisdom of our ancestors while embracing the tools of the future,’ she said.
