Lucy and Me

I spent ten days in Colorado visiting my son Peter and his family for the Xmas holidays. I'm now in my 76th year and still able to travel with ease and spend fun time with Lucy and Oliver my grand kids. Not that this is such a great accomplishment but so many of my contemporaries have a difficult time doing something as simple like traveling to see their families. I attribute my ability to enjoy traveling, including biking trips to Europe and South America, by staying fit through exercising every day and eating a healthy diet.

Keep it Simple. Consistent and Fun.

Feeling the strain of tough times...Exercise!!

When you get up in the morning and see your 401K sliding into oblivion or your savings account dwindling or you need to repair you car urgently or the house needs a new roof .......these things can ruin your whole day. I can't help you with financial advise but I can advise you on how to feel better as you begin to tackle this issues.

JUST GO OUT THE DOOR.

Take a brisk one hour walk or jog or go for a bike ride a hike in the mountains or go play some tennis or golf or a little swim if possible. Getting you blood flowing quickly through your body and your heart beating a little faster does wonders for the way your going to feel for the rest of the day. The issues that you left behind will still be there but you'll deal with them in a more positive way. That's my experience.

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun.

Try touching your toes lately!!

Ever watch a baby lying on his or her back take their toes and put them in their mouth. Now that's flexibility!!

That's how we all start but as the years pile up we begin to lose that ability to be so flexible. My experience is if one continues to do some form of stretching every day that flexibility diminishes at a much slower pace.

Simple stretching exercises can be done anywhere or anytime; when taking a brisk walk stop for a moment and touch your toes, when finishing a bike ride do a simple squat to help loosen your lower back, when waiting in a line reach for the sky with both arms up pulling upwards and you will feel the tension flow from your body. There are so many easy ways to stretch. So remember:

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun.

Exercise and the Brain

Can exercise make the brain more fit? We've known for years that exercise remodels muscles, making them more durable and fatigue-resistant. Without getting into all the details and academic explanations of the density of mitochondrial cells, etc. etc., instead let's talk about the end result.

Like muscles, many parts of the brain get a robust workout during exercise. "The brain has to work hard to keep the muscle moving" and all of the bodily systems in sync. Epidemiological studies show that long-term runners have a lower risk of neurological disease.

Isn't this enough to make you want to get up off the couch and take a brisk walk or run?

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun

I treat myself like I would a 1936 ford!!

Carefully maintaining your health after you turn 50 is a must. No more, I'll take care of it next week, or you'll pay the price. You have to get into the habit of health just like getting into the habit of brushing your teeth, it's done everyday. Exercise is the single most ingredient of the habit of health.

The major health problems in the U.S. are chronic, long term illnesses in middle age or later. Cancer, heart disease, emphysema and liver cirrhosis cause nearly 85% of all deaths. About two thirds of these diseases can be prevented with a consistent routine of exercise, eating less and more healthy.

It's really as simple as that for most of us. You wouldn't let your 1936 Ford go without proper maintenance, now would you? I was born in 1936 year, so I know!

You need a plan for your good health which I look forward to sharing with you just how that can be accomplished when my website is finished in January 2012.

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun.

Don't wait to get sick!!

Neither health insurance companies or visits to your doctors office are going to keep you healthy.

You're going to keep you healthy by getting exercise each day and eating less food. This must be a priority as you pass 50 years old.

The way you eat and the amount of exercise you do will determine how healthy you are. If you do one hour a day of exercise and keep the quantity of food that you eat to a acceptable minimum then your doctors visits will only be for an annual checkup, which we all need.

As for health insurance they exist in case of emergency only!!

It's not hard to do and remember,

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun.

Your gym is everywhere!!

I took my friend to a pharmacy last week and what was to be a few minutes wait ended up being 1/2 hour. After seating in the car for ten minutes I got restless and decided to do some stretching in the parking lot, so for the next 20 minutes I did some stretching, squats and push-ups. Some people going into the pharmacy thought I was nuts but most gave me a thumbs up. By the time my friend came out of the pharmacy I was ready to get back into the car and head home feeling physically great.

My point is the following: No matter where I am I can be exercising. When having my car serviced instead of seating in the waiting area I take a walk, when going to the grocery store on a nice day I walk and take a backpack and I always ride my bike to anything within five miles weather permitting. So............

Keep it Simple, Consistent and Fun.