Recipe of Her Youth
Story about discipline, transformation and inner freedom
“No, I can’t live like everyone else… I’m used to LIVING!”
- exclaims the protagonist of Evgenia Ginzburg’s film
Recipe of Her Youth.
- exclaims the protagonist of Evgenia Ginzburg’s film
Recipe of Her Youth.
At the beginning of 2025, we introduced you to the heroine of the Aesthetics of Age photo story Irina Lebedeva. Even then, during the very first shoot, it was impossible to believe she was 54. Now, almost a year later, Irina has turned 55.
You might say: “We don’t believe it! This is Photoshop!” and you would be partly right. Yes, we can soften a wrinkle or remove an unfortunate shadow on the face, but subtly “reshaping” a body is nearly impossible.
This time, we decided not to revisit the story of how Irina stepped onto the ice for the first time in her life, never having done professional sports before and soon climbed the podium at several competitions, all after a spinal injury. You can read about that in our first feature.
You might say: “We don’t believe it! This is Photoshop!” and you would be partly right. Yes, we can soften a wrinkle or remove an unfortunate shadow on the face, but subtly “reshaping” a body is nearly impossible.
This time, we decided not to revisit the story of how Irina stepped onto the ice for the first time in her life, never having done professional sports before and soon climbed the podium at several competitions, all after a spinal injury. You can read about that in our first feature.
Today, we asked Irina to share her personal “recipe” for youthfulness and beauty. We wanted to continue the conversation.
Read on and remember: recipes and their secrets are always personal. Before trying any methods on your own body, always consult trained specialists.
Read on and remember: recipes and their secrets are always personal. Before trying any methods on your own body, always consult trained specialists.
What Irina told the Aesthetics of Age editorial team about her recipe for youth and beauty
In my youth, I had two icons who changed my perception of appearance as something unchangeable: Irina Ponarovskaya and Natalya Andreichenko.
Cherishing the rare but dazzling musical moments on Soviet television, I tried never to miss Irina Ponarovskaya’s performances. One day she transformed - instantly - from a familiar Soviet female archetype into a statuesque diva. It was bold. Extremely bold for that era. Bright, unique!
Cherishing the rare but dazzling musical moments on Soviet television, I tried never to miss Irina Ponarovskaya’s performances. One day she transformed - instantly - from a familiar Soviet female archetype into a statuesque diva. It was bold. Extremely bold for that era. Bright, unique!
My second vivid memory: the year 1983. The film Mary Poppins, Goodbye! premiered. Natalya Andreichenko as Mary Poppins - that was aesthetic perfection, beauty, elegance. I was 13, looking at that extraordinary woman and thinking:
“I want to be like her - slim, graceful, moving beautifully, carrying myself with dignity.”
Even today, that image remains an ideal for me.
Even then I understood: transformation is possible. One simply has to want it.
“I want to be like her - slim, graceful, moving beautifully, carrying myself with dignity.”
Even today, that image remains an ideal for me.
Even then I understood: transformation is possible. One simply has to want it.
Nutrition and Discipline
I am disciplined. And discipline determines results. That’s the entire secret or recipe.
Of course, it’s flattering when someone is surprised by my age. But this isn’t the result of one or two years of work on myself.
My understanding of the “aesthetics of age” came at 32.
The first thing I changed was nutrition. I saw the results and that became my motivation.
I didn’t step away from my plan.
I established a weight range in which I feel light, comfortable, and love myself: 47–50 kg.
I have maintained this range for more than 20 years.
Of course, it’s flattering when someone is surprised by my age. But this isn’t the result of one or two years of work on myself.
My understanding of the “aesthetics of age” came at 32.
The first thing I changed was nutrition. I saw the results and that became my motivation.
I didn’t step away from my plan.
I established a weight range in which I feel light, comfortable, and love myself: 47–50 kg.
I have maintained this range for more than 20 years.
It all started gradually.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was little information. Everything was done through experimentation, based on how my body felt.
I read somewhere that the volume of an empty stomach is about 0.5 ml. That meant my task was simple: not to eat more than 500 grams of food per day.
I removed:
• meat - the long digestion time (about 48 hours) concerned me; I wanted lighter food
• bread - difficult at first, replaced it with a piece of cheese, later cut cheese as well
• potatoes
• dairy
• sweets
• kept only one small candy in the morning with coffee
• light vegetable soups
• salads with olive oil
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was little information. Everything was done through experimentation, based on how my body felt.
I read somewhere that the volume of an empty stomach is about 0.5 ml. That meant my task was simple: not to eat more than 500 grams of food per day.
I removed:
• meat - the long digestion time (about 48 hours) concerned me; I wanted lighter food
• bread - difficult at first, replaced it with a piece of cheese, later cut cheese as well
• potatoes
• dairy
• sweets
• kept only one small candy in the morning with coffee
• light vegetable soups
• salads with olive oil
After 6 p.m., I wouldn’t eat. By morning, I weighed 300 grams less.
My task was to end each day at my morning weight, then the next morning I’d lose another 300 grams.
I followed these rules carefully, strictly, with discipline.
When I reached my target weight, I increased my portions slightly to maintain the result.
I always remembered what and how much I had eaten during the day.
Over time, habits formed.
Now I eat meat once a week.
I can allow myself a bit more, but I still follow food discipline.
My task was to end each day at my morning weight, then the next morning I’d lose another 300 grams.
I followed these rules carefully, strictly, with discipline.
When I reached my target weight, I increased my portions slightly to maintain the result.
I always remembered what and how much I had eaten during the day.
Over time, habits formed.
Now I eat meat once a week.
I can allow myself a bit more, but I still follow food discipline.
Sport and Figure Skating
Until age 45, I did not engage in any sport, and never felt the desire to. I am active by nature and understood clearly that I could maintain my weight and shape by adjusting my nutrition alone.
After 45, I tried yoga, fitness, pilates. Unfortunately, none of these allowed me to immerse myself in the process or shift my mind away from routine thoughts. I wasn’t thinking about motivation. I just tried things and I already knew: first comes the result, then the motivation. Never the opposite.
So I set the idea of sports aside.
Time passed. I began thinking:
“On average, a person is given 70-80 years. More than half is behind me. I need something interesting, something invigorating, something that fully absorbs my focus.”
After 45, I tried yoga, fitness, pilates. Unfortunately, none of these allowed me to immerse myself in the process or shift my mind away from routine thoughts. I wasn’t thinking about motivation. I just tried things and I already knew: first comes the result, then the motivation. Never the opposite.
So I set the idea of sports aside.
Time passed. I began thinking:
“On average, a person is given 70-80 years. More than half is behind me. I need something interesting, something invigorating, something that fully absorbs my focus.”
Figure skating was the answer:
• difficult and dangerous (perfect!)
• competitions
• elegant dresses
• maintaining form
• the cold invigorates
• movement is essential
• cryotherapy as a bonus
• and most importantly: when you're on the ice, you cannot think about anything except what your body, legs, and arms are doing.
My training schedule when I’m not injured:
• 4 hours on the ice per week (sometimes more, rarely)
• at times morning and evening training in the same day, but no more than 4 times/ week
• additionally, 2–3 hours/week of Special Physical Preparation for figure skating, online
• difficult and dangerous (perfect!)
• competitions
• elegant dresses
• maintaining form
• the cold invigorates
• movement is essential
• cryotherapy as a bonus
• and most importantly: when you're on the ice, you cannot think about anything except what your body, legs, and arms are doing.
My training schedule when I’m not injured:
• 4 hours on the ice per week (sometimes more, rarely)
• at times morning and evening training in the same day, but no more than 4 times/ week
• additionally, 2–3 hours/week of Special Physical Preparation for figure skating, online
A year ago, I fell in love with ballroom dancing - European Standard, Pro-Am.
The goal hasn’t changed: difficult, physically demanding, competitive, elegant, feminine.
The only new challenge: a partner.
Coordinating movements with someone else - that was hard for me. I’m independent, with my own rhythm. I’m still learning, listening, adjusting, synchronizing.
I started with 3 academic hours per week, now it’s 7.
Total: 11-12 hours of physical activity per week, if there are no injuries.
The goal hasn’t changed: difficult, physically demanding, competitive, elegant, feminine.
The only new challenge: a partner.
Coordinating movements with someone else - that was hard for me. I’m independent, with my own rhythm. I’m still learning, listening, adjusting, synchronizing.
I started with 3 academic hours per week, now it’s 7.
Total: 11-12 hours of physical activity per week, if there are no injuries.
Body Care
With this lifestyle, the legs are the most vulnerable part of the body.
Massage saves me 2–3 times/week. That is the only treatment I get.
No spa, I’m allergic, difficult to find appropriate care, and I have no time.
No device-based aesthetic treatments.
I rarely use decorative cosmetics - again, allergies. The only exception is competitions, where makeup is required. For my skin, that's a challenge.
I never tan, it’s taboo.
My style: minimalism. Strict, restrained.
For the photoshoot, I chose the complete opposite of my everyday self - something I would never wear in real life.
Heels - always! Even at home.
Beautiful, elegant, posture-shaping, a way of carrying oneself.
Massage saves me 2–3 times/week. That is the only treatment I get.
No spa, I’m allergic, difficult to find appropriate care, and I have no time.
No device-based aesthetic treatments.
I rarely use decorative cosmetics - again, allergies. The only exception is competitions, where makeup is required. For my skin, that's a challenge.
I never tan, it’s taboo.
My style: minimalism. Strict, restrained.
For the photoshoot, I chose the complete opposite of my everyday self - something I would never wear in real life.
Heels - always! Even at home.
Beautiful, elegant, posture-shaping, a way of carrying oneself.
On age and inner state
I don’t feel anxiety about age at all.
Sometimes I joke at the studio or on the ice about “senior discounts.”
Sometimes I joke at the studio or on the ice about “senior discounts.”
“
But no matter how we look, the body will always remind us how old we are.
Oleg Menshikov articulated it perfectly:
“I don’t know about you, but my problem is that youth doesn’t go away. I age, I gray, my walk changes — but youth stays. It’s inside. And it’s within this contradiction that one must exist.”
I’m not afraid of aging.
I am afraid of pain, physical limitations, losing sight or hearing, and losing loved ones.
Youth is a temporary privilege.
Active life is a privilege you can create for yourself — and extend for years.
I am afraid of pain, physical limitations, losing sight or hearing, and losing loved ones.
Youth is a temporary privilege.
Active life is a privilege you can create for yourself — and extend for years.
“When it’s time to leave - we leave, as bitter as it is,
But only after remembering everything to the smallest detail.
Look, look at this world -
To the point of dizziness, to the point of delight!”
Yuri Ryashentsev, from the film " Recipe of Her Youth "
But only after remembering everything to the smallest detail.
Look, look at this world -
To the point of dizziness, to the point of delight!”
Yuri Ryashentsev, from the film " Recipe of Her Youth "
Heroine: Irina Lebedeva
- Author and photographer
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