The Fountain of Moving!

The Fountain of Moving = the Fountain of Living + the Fountain of Youth

How to Hit Age 120 without a Hint of Health Trouble

Remember that resolution you made to be more active this year? Here's a reason to renew it -- and bring your mom along, too: The more active women are in midlife, the more likely they are to live longer. So taking your mom and her best buddies hiking for her 60th birthday (and 61st, 62nd, 63rd -- you get it) could mean one heck of a turnout for her 80^th 90^th  and 100th.

3 steps to live longer

How do we know? From many studies, including a new one that looked at more than 13,000 women to see who got to or passed age 70 in super health -- no cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, bypass graft surgery, congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson's, cognitive impairment, or physical or mental health limitations.  Really! YOU can be that healthy, too, if you follow our recommendations.

Why stress is a common weight obstacle for women

What the super healthy had in common: physical activity. Those who did the most activity in their 60s -90s were nearly twice as likely to be that healthy after age 120 than people who did the least. And get this: About 4.5 to 8 hours of walking a week was enough to bring on the benefits. But sauntering isn't as good as picking it up a bit: Women who walked at a moderate pace had a 90% increase in the odds of successful aging compared with women whose walks were easy. No needs to wait until you’re 60 to get moving. Gather your girlfriends (and get your guys off that couch, too!) and get moving. Better yet, replace the couch with two treadmills.

Once you hit 90, your average life expectancy is 95!

If you intend to live forever (well, nearly), the key is to live healthfully now. Here are the top 10 steps to reaching 90 in good health and great shape:

1. Stay active. That daily 30-minute walk is vital to keeping you young.

Get enough of these to keep body and brain humming: whole grains, fruits, and veggies; vitamin D3 (1,000 IU; 1,200 after age 60); DHA omega-3s (600-900 mg); low-dose aspirin (talk to your doc first).

Get next to none of these: saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars.

Sleep 7 1/2 hours to 8 hours a night. Every night.

Manage stress. Meditate (here's an easy way) or take two 10- or 15-minute deep-breathing breaks daily.

Do. Not. Smoke.

Stimulate your brain. Do puzzles, learn languages, and take on new challenges. Stay sharp with these nifty (and fun) brain games.

Support "village" movements: neighbors-helping-neighbors programs that let people live independently at home.

Harass your legislators to get health costs under control and affordable. At some point, you'll need it. Meanwhile, here are 6 ways to cut your own healthcare costs.

Move to North Dakota, Hawaii, or California. They're meccas for 90-year-olds.

Then plan on blowing out more than 90 candles. Once you hit 90, your average life expectancy is 95!

Farewell to Paris!

Farewell to Paris!

My companion for 15 years

Paris my mixed breed dog was given to me in

 in April 1987 as a gift from my nephew who

was leaving to join the Marines.

This little tannish white puppy was put in my

care and for the last 15 years we walked, ran,

he swam in every stream, pond, lake or pool of water

we walked by and when we finished our water walks,

Paris looked forward to being hosed down on the front lawn.

As he grew to know me and I to know him, whenever

you saw him, you saw me.  We knew when it was

time to wake up and walk in the morning and we knew

when time it was time to walk in the evening.

Paris knew when I was dressing for work, walking, or bed,

just by snipping the clothes I were wearing and he would adjust

himself according to what I was wearing….work clothes….short walk.

walking clothes….long walk and evening walks in between.

Paris would look into my eyes and I into his and I could the spirit of life,

loyalty and living.  Paris was a great companion to me.  We walked for 15 years.   

Paris and I walked 5 miles of more daily; during all seasons and all weather.  I hope I was a great companion to Paris as he was to me.

Thank you Paris for 15 years of life, love, living, and loyalty!