Alejandra Labastida-Shapiro, 55, began to live a healthy lifestyle when she was just ten.

The grandmother-of-four from Chicago starting running with her father as a child and grew up with healthy parents who would use natural remedies and medicinal herbs.

The Pilates instructor now avoids processed sugar and consumes mainly raw and organic food and says the impact of her healthy choices and natural living has left her with youthful looks.

Alejandra says she feels "healthier and smarter" than she did in her twenties and is often mistaken for her daughter's sister.

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Not only that, but her youthful figure has prompted many flirtatious advances from men, who give her compliments on her appearance.

She said: "My dad introduced me to exercise when I was a little girl. From a very young age I was aware of the power of natural living. My parents used medicinal herbs, traditional remedies or homeopathy most of the time to cure our early years sicknesses and injuries.

"I always was involved in sports and believe our body is the temple where our soul resides, so I had been for years studying and practising better and more effective ways to reach that goal."

Alejandra, who was introduced to Pilates in 2000, added: "My lifestyle always had been healthy but has been improving by knowledge and experience and also by observation of my clients' results.

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"I teach with my knowledge and by example that the statement 'age is just a number' is true if you have the right care in your lifestyle and with positive thoughts."

The mum-of-three also believes in balancing active training and recovery time, understands the importance of developing muscles with age and practises good posture.

She said: "I also learned how with age it was important to develop our muscles to prevent osteoporosis and keep hormonal balance by keeping active workouts with recovery workouts.

"Good posture and mobility play an important part of our energy level and ability to rid us of toxins in the body.

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"Balance in your nutrients is a very important part of overall, but with a positive mind, all of these components combine to create a healthy body.

The grandmother says her lifestyle means she can manage stress better and enjoy activities that some people her age can't.

She said: "I can still do activities that most people of my age can't and enjoy life doing things with my loved ones. I have to admit that today I need to take care more about what to eat than before, otherwise I can gain weight easier.

"You are what you eat, so I avoid the most that I can processed food and sugar. Mostly I eat raw and organic and avoid putting chemicals in my body.

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"I try to avoid medication. I prefer to use herbs, natural remedies or homeopathy than any other medication. Our bodies have amazing power to heal."

Since becoming a Pilates instructor, the 55 year old has received loads of compliments and is often mistaken for her daughter's sister.

She added: "I feel healthier in general and smarter than I did in my twenties and thirties. I've even learned to stay away from toxic people or situations that drain my energy. When you do that, the right people appear in your life.

"Men are really surprised when they see me. Whenever I teach classes or I'm in different places, guys will give me complements. Even on social media, I receive complements about how I look on Instagram.

"A couple of times I've received flowers from strangers; I'm married so I right away say my status. Many times, people think my daughter and I are sisters.

"Start changing one bad habit for a good one at time. If for some reason you fall, be nice with you. Start over and be more aware.

"Eat the more natural possible and less process. Every time you eat you are fighting or creating a disease.

"Drink a lot of water, be positive; l always try to find the good side in everything and more importantly, be yourself, be authentic."

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