More Exercise as You Age

I finally had time to get caught up on the news and MSNBC has an article about exercise and aging. A study that was published in the American Medical Association found that women ( who did not diet) gain and average 6 pounds in the 13 year study.

Most women gain weight, especially in the tummy area, as they age. In order to maintain your current weight you will need to exercise at a moderate level for one hour a day. If you want to lose weight you will need to cut calories as well as exercise for 60 minutes and/or exercise for more than 60 minutes per day.

The increase in weight over time also increases the risk of many other health problems. Some of the suggestions were to cut down on snack foods. You don't have to starve yourself or never eat another candy bar again, you just need to choose a healthier lifestyle. Remember one candy bar has an average of 200 calories. To burn those extra calories you will need to walk at a moderate pace for one hour. So, eating a candy bar means you will need to walk for two hours in order to maintain your weight. Is that candy bar worth another hour of exercise? I will now think twice about eating junk. I don't have time to exercise for three hours a day.

This just means that I need to really get back into the gym. For some reason I have a hard time exercising for 45 minutes at home, but at the gym I have not problems getting in 60 minutes or more (if I have time) .

So, my goal is to get back down to 140 by the end of April. That means I need to eat more fruits and veggies and less ice cream and exercise for no less than 60 minutes a day.

Money Saving Blogs

I was going through some blogs that I use to read on a daily basis and found an article that I thought you would like on Money Saving Mom.

She has some really good tips on how to save money while eating healthy in the article "Healthy Eating on a Budget".

She also has a really good series "31 Days to a Better Budget".

Another blog that I wanted to pass along to you is Frugal Coupon Living. You can find some really good coupons for items in many different stores in your area.

The Simple Dollar has a great article about the real cost of fast food. I know that I have been caught up in grabbing something on my way home instead of cooking. But that is going to change, especially since I need to get back to pinching pennies and getting healthy.

How to Grow Old Gracefully

The more information that I gather the greater the pattern I see. All studies even the latest reported on MSNBC, gives a lot of the same answers. If you want to grow old gracefully, healthy, and look younger than you are do these things:

• Most important EXERCISE!! Even those who are in their 70s and 80s have benefited from exercise. So it is never to late.


• Take care of yourself by eating healthy food (not processed) and getting regular check-ups. Some people are scared to go to the doctor in case they find something. Well the sooner you find what is wrong the better the prognosis and the faster you will feel better. The longer you take to figure it out the less likely you will be able to be cured in some cases. Get those check-ups


• Have a "glass is half-full" attitude. Don't be stupid and think that nothing bad will happen to you, but you don't have to be obsessed about negative things either. Stuff Happens, you deal with it and life goes on.

Well, I guess that means I need to make some doctors appointments. I just realized that I have not done my yearly mammogram.