You Can Grow Younger

Where To Find What You're Looking For

Want to know how to slow the aging process? YOU'LL FIND IT HERE. Want to know how to recapture energy levels you thought were the exclusive domain of the young? YOU'LL FIND IT HERE. Want to lose the weight AND keep it off? YOU'LL FIND IT HERE. Want to meet folks just like you who've done the above and can show how you can easily do it, too? YOU'LL FIND THEM HERE! 

There are more than 127 articles and inspiring stories here to challenge any self-destructive and self-limiting beliefs you may have about aging. Reading these entries/stories will make room for new, more empowering beliefs. These new tenets will inspire you to take action steps resulting in your enjoying robust well-being and energy levels heretofore thought to be the exclusive domain of the young.

Starting with the January, 2008 story of how Bill Anderson developed the endurance and strength to peddle his bike the 2,000-mile perimeter of rugged Arizona in just over two weeks to celebrate his 81st birthday to the more recent article that revealed the "secrets" to the World's Oldest Man's longevity and excellent health -- you'll find one potentially life-transforming and inspiring idea after another. Find out how New York's Sheila Isaacs went from a non-athletic sedentary full-time working mother of two at age 53 to Ironman and an impressive triathlon first at age 67 (Feb, 2009). Get excited as you follow the story of how Michael Tasman found a single thought that rocketed him from 225 pounds of inertia to Ironman triathlete at age 50 (April, 2008).

Congratulations to Fitness Legend Dr. Bob Delmonteque, ND

Earlier this year the National Fitness Hall of Fame honored Dr. Bob Delmonteque with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Find out how this lifelong elite bodybuilder got in "the best shape of my life at age 78." (April, 2009) For more on Dr. Bob Delmonteque, you'll find a 16-page chapter devoted to his techniques for staying young in the book, Fitter for Life: The Secrets of 25 Masters of Fitness www.FitterForLife.com

274 Pounds to ULTRA Runner in Less than 2 Years

Susan Jennings, 48, lost nearly half her weight in less than two years and then had the newly-found energy to run a jaw-dropping 64 miles in a 24-hour race. Find out how she did it and how you can completely transform yourself, too, in this tell-all interview. (Aug., 2009)

 
Here's Susan in 2007 and the new 2009 version.

What's the Secret to Dancing in a Chorus Line at 85?

Find out where Dorothy Dale Kloss gets the energy and stamina to perform in 240 three-hour shows a year with the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. Includes a video of Dorothy dancing ... and audio of a very entertaining radio interview she did last Spring. (Aug., 2009)

Going Strong at 73 -- The Ernestine Shepherd Story

Learn how a sedentary, well-padded school secretary, at age 56, transformed herself into a professional model, personal trainer and award-winning competitive bodybuilder at 73 gorgeous years. You'll be amazed by Ernestine's fit and youthful appearance in two photos and a video. Put her age-blasting techniques to use in your life. (Sept., 2009)

Tony Handler Turns Mega Excuses Into Reasons

Since age 43, Tony Handler has: fought off six different cancers (prostate, thyroid, liver ...), had 16 operations, including an aortic valve replacement, endured chemo (ongoing for the rest of his life) AND successfully completed more than 220 triathlons over the last 27 years. When this article was penned, Tony was looking to complete a half Ironman -- 70.3 miles to celebrate his 70th birthday. (May, 2009)

The Weaker Sex?

Norht Carolina's Ruth Ann Calais entered a gym for the first time in her 50s just to get strong enough to care for her invalid parents. From this inauspicious beginning and despite some health issues, Ruth Ann went on to become a World Champion PowerLifter at age 61. Find out how she greatly slowed the aging process and how you can, too! (May, 2008)

Great Gifts for that Special Someone

  Is there someone in your life in their 40s, 50s or better whom you want to stay well and have robust good health for years or decades to come? If so, there are age-blasting books and CDs by author Ed Mayhew that make excellent gifts for them -- available at www.FitterForLife.com  

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

 

Lose Weight Without Changing Your Diet or Exercising

What if there were a way for you to lose weight without giving up the foods you love, counting calories or living on weight-loss shakes? What if this involved no exercise, pills, patches or the latest highly hyped, but ultimately under-delivering potion? In other words, no added expense or uncomfortable detour from your accustomed lifestyle. Would you be interested? Depends? Let's see!

According to recently reported research out of Holland, there is a simple technique we can use to easily lose weight or keep from adding adipose tissue. The Dutch nutrition researchers had subjects take smaller or larger bite sizes combined with faster or slower bite speeds. More specifically, consuming a yummy chocolate dessert (my choice of words -- not theirs), some participants took teaspoon-size bites and kept the food in their mouths for 9 seconds, while another group consumed tablespoon-size bites and swallowed the tasty morsel after having it next to their taste buds for just 3 seconds. After having measured the difference in the amount of food each group chose to consume, the researchers concluded that having more sensory exposure to a food "...significantly decreases food intake."

However, this is not exactly new knowledge. Another study, this one out of the University of Rhode Island, had previously shown a correlation between eating slowly and decreased calorie consumption. Research conducted at Nagoya University in Japan found that eating fast is a factor that promotes obesity in middle-aged men and women. In yet another study, a handful of almonds chewed 40 times quelled hunger better than 10 or even 25 chews. The Journal of the American Dietetic Association (July 2008) reported on a study where 30 women were instructed to eat as much as they wanted --until satisfied. Over the course of several meals they were asked to eat quickly or slowly. The slower eating resulted in an average of 67 fewer calories being consumed per meal and greater satisfaction with the meal. Multiply 67 times three meals plus snacks and you have a reduction of well over 200 calories per day. That's equivalent to about a pound lost every two weeks, or 26 pounds a year, by merely taking smaller bite sizes, chewing the food a little longer and savoring it more.

There are several advantages to adopting littler bite sizes and chewing our food more thoroughly:

• First, the food stays in contact with your tongue's taste buds longer. This results in more enjoyment of the flavors of our food for a longer period of time
• Second, the food is better mixed with the saliva (starting the digestive process) and masticated more thoroughly for better digestion -- as a result, we get more of the nutrients in the food to our cells for improved well-being
• It takes about 20 minutes for the sensation of fullness to register in the brain and stomach. When one practically "inhales" his food -- not an uncommon practice -- it's easy to eat beyond satiety before your stomach has had time to say, "I'm comfortably full -- please, no more food."
• We end up with all the pleasure of eating our favorite foods without overeating
• There's nothing to buy and nothing to lose by trying this, except maybe some unwanted pounds

What we're talking about here is conscious eating, savoring your favorite foods more and feeling more appreciation for them. You don't need to count your number of chews, either -- just take smaller bite sizes and chew the food (or let it linger in your mouth longer in the case of puddings, soups and such) until you've extracted all the heavenly flavor and enjoyment that that bite of food has to offer you. We're betting this way of eating will give you more pleasure with less food -- fewer calories -- consumed. It does for me.

Of course, we're not advocating not getting the exercise your body and brain thrive on or not choosing nutrient-dense foods over empty-calorie ones. We're just saying that here's a way to get more pleasure (and more nutrients to your body) while enjoying eating less food. It's worth a try, don't you think? Let us know how it works for you. Losing weight or maintaining your current weight without increasing your exercise, dieting, spending more money or turning your life upside down -- what could be better?

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

 

How Amazing Is Montana's Bob Hayes?

WARNING: This article will cause some people to get defensive, to get their hackles up, while others will find hope in it. Proceed with caution.

If I were to tell you about a runner in his twenties who sometimes runs 20 miles in the morning and then 20 miles that same afternoon, you'd be impressed. Correct? How about if I said he was actually 41! That would be even more impressive because we all know that athletes in their forties are well past their prime. Right? Then what would you say if this runner turned out to be twice as old, or 82-years-old!? That's right! According to Runner's World magazine's Gail Kislevitz, Evaro, Montana's Bob Hayes, 82, from time to time takes two 20-mile runs in a single day! But that's not all.

Bob runs nearly every day and likes to "race every weekend" he can. This ruggedly fit octogenarian races in everything from 5Ks to marathons to ultra-marathons (anything longer than 26.2 miles). Since, with the encouragement of his son, Thomas, he ran his first 5K at age 60 and found out  he liked it, he's run six marathons (two just this last year), 36 ultras (including 8 or 9 100Ks/62 milers), and countless shorter races.

Last month Bob, now 83, completed his 12th LeGrizz 50-Miler (his first was at age 70); his time of 10 hours 47 minutes, or a little less than 13 minutes per mile, was 17 minutes faster than he ran it three years earlier when he was just a youngster of 80. This last LeGrizz was no easy race, because the temperature at the start was record low, for early October -- zero degrees, FARENHEIT! Brrrrr. One might assume that at his age Bob would come in a distant last in such an ultra-long footrace, but actually he came in 63rd out of 91 competitors; that means that Bob had the stamina and endurance to outperform 28 much younger runners.

Some readers at this point are asking themselves: "Why would anyone, especially someone in his eighties, put himself through the pain and exhaustive effort that must be a requisite component of running 50 miles?" Here are some of the reasons this octogenarian willingly competes in these races, knowing full well the struggle and suffering he's about to endure each and every time:

• The Social Aspect -- Hanging out and conversing with fellow runners of all ages and abilities before, during and after a race is much more fun than spending time at the senior center
• The Feeling of Accomplishment after a race -- the high -- the feeling of satisfaction in having completed a very difficult task sticks with Bob for "days and days and days."
• Being in Great Shape -- Because of this vigorous activity of choice, running and ultrarunning, Bob Hayes in his 80s is in better shape than he was at 60, before he started running. This former logger, who was always in excellent shape due to his physically challenging job, at age 80 is quoted as saying, "I'm in the best shape of my life." How many individuals in their 80s or 60s or even their 40s can say that?

At this point there are those who are feeling threatened by Bob's accomplishments, who are feeling like he is showing them up by virtue of his being so outstandingly fit at such an advanced age. These people are busy mentally making excuses (reasons, if you will) why Bob can do all this running ... and they can't. I trust that this is not you, because this account of Bob Hayes, runner extraordinaire, is meant to give the rest of us hope -- not to make the rest of us look bad. It's written with the single purpose of proving, or at least helping us to believe, that by making some adjustments to our lifestyles or continuing to take good care of ourselves we, too, can stay or get in great shape no matter our age. It's to show that we don't have to deteriorate at the same accelerated rate that seems to be the norm for so many in today's society. Bob Hayes shows us by his example that we can be vibrantly alive no matter how many years have come and gone.

We can feel that Bob is showing us up, that his good health is just a lucky genetic freak of nature, and make excuses for our own failings, or we can use his story to give us hope -- use it as the impetus to make some changes for the better. The choice, as always, is up to us!

Bob Hayes, 82, shows his winning running form.
 

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

Bill Bell Shows Us How

California's Bill Bell shows us how he transformed himself from ordinary to extraordinary. Bill went from a typical golf-playing executive with some excess poundage and a borderline health problem in his early fifties to an age-group champion Ironman triathlete in his sixties and seventies. While you and I may not be looking for quite this drastic a change in our lifestyle, there's much for us to take away from Bill's fascinating journey. Here's a little of his story.

Bill never played any scholastic sports due to his father's insistence that he maintain a couple of paper routes during his high school years for financial reasons. As a young adult he was classified as 4F by the armed services due to heart irregularities. The turning point in his life came in 1974 when a stress test showed that the then 53-year-old had a slightly irregular heartbeat; this prompted his doctor to suggest that he take up jogging three days a week. Bill enjoyed the running so much that after a couple of weeks he asked the doctor if he could run every day. With his doctor's blessing, he gradually increased his running over the ensuing months until in short order, in 1975 to be precise, he was ready to tackle a 26.2-mile marathon. You could say he was off and running: running -- in one year -- a leg-wearying 14 marathons.

In 1980, Bill saw the Hawaiian Ironman triathlon on TV and came across an article about triathlons in Sports Illustrated which peaked his interest. In 1981, he had a chance encounter at an airport with an Ironman triathlete who encouraged him to try the sport. That's all he needed. Bill, now 59, signed up for swimming lessons at a local community college to prepare for the swimming portion of the triathlon. At first he could barely complete six lengths of the pool, but he stuck with it. By February of 1982 Bill was ready for his first Hawaiian Ironman (ALL 2.4 miles of swimming -- ALL 112 miles of biking -- ALL 26.2 miles of running) -- finishing in 15 hours, 57 minutes, 48 seconds. He was hooked. In his sixties and seventies Bill completed an impressive 32 Ironman races -- 17 of them being the extra-tough Hawaiian event.

All, however, was not clear sailing for Bill. He couldn't compete in the Hawaiian Ironman in 1989 and 1990 due to a fatigue-causing thyroid problem. After a year or so of looking, he finally found the solution in a very inexpensive thyroid medication. Then in 2001, at age 78, he became the oldest person to complete the Hawaiian Ironman; but right after the race, his heart rate wouldn't return to normal. He was subsequently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and had an ablation procedure done to temporarily eliminate the high heart rate and then in 2002, he had a pacemaker implanted. Bill has also recently had to deal with bone rubbing on bone in his right knee and a little exercise-induced asthma. None of this has stopped him.

Bill's last completed Ironman was in California at age 79. At age 81, he did attempt to be the first octogenarian to successfully tackle the Ironman in Hawaii, but, though he was on schedule to make the 17-hour cutoff, he was forced to abandon the effort due to recurring leg cramps and a flat tire during the cycling portion of the race.

Bill is now 87 and still competing in the shorter triathlons. Since June of this year, he has completed no less than seven sprint triathlons. In one of these races, the September 12 Malibu Nautica (500-meter swim -- 9-plus-mile bike ride -- 5K/3.1-mile run) -- his time of 3:03:39 beat 12 men and 32 women competitors; three of these men were in their 20s and two were 30-somethings and the women he outperformed were mostly in their 30s and 40s with the oldest being 61. AND, of course, by default he beat the great majority of much younger adults who are not in shape to complete a triathlon in any time.

In his 30-some years of racing Bill has:

• Completed 32 Ironman events and an equal number of Half-Ironman races
• Run 159 marathons and ultras (races longer than a marathon)
• Completed the Ultraman 3-Day Triathlon (a 6-mile swim -- 250-mile bike race -- 52.4-mile run) in 1983 and 1985 when he was in his sixties
• Biked across the USA as a member of the 4-man 70+ team (2,473 miles in 7 days 5 hours and 23 minutes)
• Swum in 1-mile, 3-mile and 10-mile open-water swimming races
• Done much more
• AND had the time of his life

Bill Bell has shown us how much more the human body, mind and spirit can accomplish than is generally assumed. It's not, however, about trying to match Bill stride for stride, accomplishment for accomplishment, but rather a wake-up call for us to not settle for the crumbs of life. Bill Bell shows us that while age may slow us, it doesn't have to stop us -- AND we can summon all the energy we need to enjoy life to the fullest no matter our age. Bill's advice to anyone willing to listen is simple: "Keep moving." No matter what obstacles life throws in your path, just keep moving. Bill did and it's made all the difference.

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

Three To Inspire

Here are three individuals whose recent exploits are inspirational. They have overcome major obstacles and advancing age to thrive and show us what's possible when we put our mind to it.

Tony Handler

Back in the Spring we posted an article entitled, Tony Handler Turns Mega Excuses Into Reasons (see Archives -- May, 2009). This told the story of Tony's completing 220 triathlons, including two Ironman events, despite several battles with cancer. More specifically, this now 69-year-old had, since age 43,  suffered through six different cancers (liver, thryroid, prostate ...) and 16 operations, including the replacing of his aortic valve in recent years.

It was also revealed that he had set a goal to complete a half-Ironman -- 70.3 miles of combined swimming, cycling and running -- to celebrate his turning 70. Since that article was first written earlier in the year, we are pleased to announce that Tony has achieved that monumental goal. On May 17, 2009 this six-time cancer surviver successfully completed the Ford Ironman 70.3 in Florida with a time of 8:33:29. And he wasn't yet ready to rest on his laurels, as he has completed at least 10 other triathlons as of August. Tony Handler shows us that we can thrive no matter what obstacles life throws in our path, if we stay focused on what we want.

Dale Hull, M.D.

In 1999, Utah's Dale Hull became a quadriplegic as the result of a trampoline mishap. Through intense rehab over the years, he was able to regain the ability to walk. In June, using a special underwater treadmill, this 55-year-old ran an underwater marathon in 5 hours, 56 minutes. In doing so, he raised $10,000 for charity. To achieve his goal of running 26.2 miles, Dale trained for 5 months, 6 days per week. Despite not being able to run on land, with some creative thinking and modern technology, Dale was able to accomplish the "impossible."     

  Colleen DeReuck

On September 7th Boulder, Colorado's Colleen DeReuck won the USA 20K Championships in New Haven, Connecticut. What makes this of interest here is that she is 45 years old, which makes her the oldest woman to ever win a major U.S. championship. Her obstacle? She was competing against elite runners decades younger than she. Her time of 1:07:21 beat the second-place finisher, who was nineteen years her junior, by 17 seconds. To win this race and title, Colleen had to run 12.5 miles at a 5:25-per-mile pace. So much for our having to slow down as we get older.

Tony, Dale and Colleen have shown us once again that falling apart as we age is an option, not a mandate. By reading about these age blasters and the obstacles they had to overcome, our own self-limiting, self-sabotaging beliefs about aging and our relatively minuscule excuses are challenged -- which encourages more empowering beliefs.

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

World's Oldest Man Reveals His Secrets

In September Montana's Walter Bruening became the verified World's Oldest Man. Through his recent interviews, the speech he gave at his 113th birthday bash, and articles written about Walter, we can now piece together the "secrets" to his longevity and amazingly good health.

While many, if not most, super centenarians appear to be painfully holding onto the ledge of life by their crippled arthritic fingertips, unable to even begin to explain why they've survived so long, Walter enjoys robust health and superior mental clarity. His mind is sharp, his memory is accurate and he still derives pleasure from his daily strolls through the halls of his assisted-living home. He never gets sick and takes no medication other than a daily baby aspirin, whereas it's unusual for folks half his age not to be on daily medications and nearly half of Americans 65 and older require three or more prescription drugs, according to the CDC. Walter's only concessions to his advanced age seem to be his giving up his job as manager/secretary of the local Shriners' Club at age 99; the addition of hearing aids at 111; no longer being able to see well enough to read; and the use of a walker and scooter to help him get around.

Many would be quick to attribute Walter's longevity and good health to luck and a good roll of the genetic dice. This, however, appears not to be the case, as his mother passed away at age 46, his father at age 50, and his two brothers and two sisters died in their seventies.

Here are the "secrets" to Walter's still enjoying life when all his peers and family have long since left the scene:

1. A Good Diet -- Walter believes that his diet and maintaining a constant weight over the last three-plus decades (125 pounds on a 5-foot 8-inch frame) are main contributors to his long and healthy life. For the last 35 years he's maintained the habit of eating just two meals a day -- a hearty breakfast regularly consisting of eggs and toast or pancakes, and a nutritionally-balanced lunch. One of his lunch-time favorites is liver and onions. His diet includes plenty of a variety of fruit, one of his favorite foods. He savors a cup and a half of coffee with breakfast and another cup at lunch, along with drinking plenty of water throughout the day. An advocate of pushing away from the dinner table while still hungry, he feels that this would help with the obesity epidemic.
2. Stay Active -- Walter is a big believer in staying active in body and mind. He keeps his body in shape with his daily walks around the home and his mind sharp by listening to the news on the radio and regular conversations with those who live and work at the home and with the many visitors who come to meet the World's Oldest Man (one of only 13 men EVER who have been documented to have reached age 113). Walter worked for the Great Northern Railway for 50 years and then the Shriner's Club for 15 more. He believes that "work doesn't hurt anybody."
3. Moderation -- Moderation in everything is one of the factors to which Walter attributes his longevity. Along this line of thinking, he embraces change and is very adaptable. Walter is good at rolling with life's punches -- emotionally, he never gets too high or too low.
4. Learn Something New -- Walter likes to learn something new each day. In his birthday speech he stated, "Life is a school to learn, not to unlearn" and that "the world is neither a prison nor a palace of ease, but rather for instruction and discipline."
5. A Belief In God -- A strong belief in God is one of the underpinnings of Walter's exemplary life. This is made clear by his several references to God in his presentation at his latest birthday party. As would be expected from this belief, he is very tolerant of others, as is pointed out when he says, "What is truth to one is not truth to another. What is true for one country may be false in another."

It would appear that these five truths of Walter's life, rather than dumb luck of great genetics, have led to his super-long and ultra-enjoyable life experience. The Question for us is: Are there any of these five revelations that we can adopt into our lives (your life/my life) for a better life quality (and maybe some additional years) now and in the years and decades surely to come? A look at the typical obituary page in your local newspaper will show that most everyone is living to his/her 80s and better. The only real concern is our quality of life in those later years. Here's a VIDEO if you'd like to judge for yourself Walter's quality of life at age 112 (shortly before turning 113).

 
Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

Going Strong at 73 -- The Ernestine Shepherd Story

One look at this stunningly attractive 73-year-old and we know there's much we can learn from Baltimore's Ernestine Shepherd about aging well. Although she is trim and ultra-fit now, this hasn't always been true and isn't the result of a lifelong pursuit of fitness.

 

Ernestine "Ernie" Shepherd, at age 73, is a personal trainer, a professional model, a competitive bodybuilder and happier and more fulfilled than she's ever been in her life.

In her youth Ernestine is said to have been a "prissy" girl with little interest in athletics or exercise of any kind. As a 56-year-old she was a sedentary, well-padded school secretary and "slug" who had never worked out a day in her life. The obvious question is: What happened to transform Ernestine into a role model for the rest of us, and senior women in particular?

What happened was that the 56-year-old version of Ernestine went bathing suit shopping with her sister, Velvet. While trying on the suits, they found themselves laughing at each other. Then and there they knew it was time to get in better shape. Ernestine and her sister joined a gym and started working out together. A short time later, Velvet died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Devastated, Ernestine stopped going to the gym. After some months of mourning the loss of her sister and on the advice of a friend that her sister would have wanted her to continue what they had started, Ernestine returned to the gym and her personal trainer, Raymond Day, with a reignited determination to get fit.

Starting slowly and building her body step by little step, Ernestine over time completely transformed not only her body, but her life, too. She is now, at age 73, a personal trainer, a professional model, an all-natural competitive bodybuilder and an inspiration to the rest of us. Ernestine has never been happier. She trains mostly senior women five days a week and "live(s) to inspire senior women to reach their physical potential."

Personally, she likes to compete in 5K and 10K races and run marathons. She's up at 4 A.M. to get in her 10-mile runs and puts in upwards to 80 miles a week when training for an upcoming marathon. Ernestine also strength trains four or more days a week and entered her first bodybuilding competition in 2008. In this first meet she took first place in her class at the National East Coast Tournament of Champions bodybuilding competition -- outposing women decades younger.

Despite all the exercise, Ernestine says that she has no aches or pains whatsoever and has never been injured -- not at all -- in the 17 years of her new improved life. This 5-foot 5-inch, 130-pound dynamo sports 9 to 10% bodyfat; these single-digit percentages are usually reserved for elite-professional male athletes in their prime! She takes no medications. She loves her new life's work, enjoys more energy than those decades younger and has never been more successful. What's her secret? Let's look at some of what allows Ernestine to defy "normal" aging:

• Began slowly under the guidance of an expert personal trainer and gradually conditioned her body
• Ernestine, realizing early on the importance of good nutrition (including sufficient protein and supplements) sought out the services of a nutritionist
• Has the full support of her husband of 52 years, Collin, who prepares meals and makes sure the fridge is always stocked with her seven convenient small balanced daily meals
• Makes sure she gets the rest her body needs
• Tries to have a positive attitude about everything, views her workouts as fun and sees her work as being on a "long happy journey"
• Knows where she wants to go and what she wants to accomplish and do
• Believes in encouragement, inspiration and family support and lives by her mantra " Determined -- Dedicated -- Disciplined To Be Fit"

Ernestine Shepherd is having the time of her life at an age when many folks only see themselves as declining and getting old. She's in the best shape of her life by far, more successful than she's ever been and a supreme role model to senior women every where -- and to the rest of us, too. She has a lot to teach us about thriving at any age -- if we are but ready and open to learn.

Check out Ernestine's short, but potent, VIDEO.

 Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

 

Osteoarthritis May Have Met Its Match In David Shuey

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is a chronic condition which involves the destruction of joint cartilage, resulting in stiffness, pain and limited or loss of movement in the affected joint(s). Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can be caused by one's osteoarthritis; it has symptoms such as numbness and pain in the neck, back, buttocks, thighs or calves that can be worsened by physical activities, such as walking and exercising. It is not unusual for people with OA and/or spinal stenosis to limit their physical activity in hopes of reducing the pain with which they have to deal. West Chester, Pennsylvania's David Shuey took a different tack; he decided to take osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis for a bicycle ride across the U.S. this summer. Here's some of his inspiring story.

When David's mother was about to turn 60, her OA and spinal stenosis took a sudden turn for the worse. The result was a hip replacement, six spinal fusion procedures, and spending the last 15 years of her life in a wheelchair in a nursing home (the last two years bedridden) and of course suffering much debilitating pain. Upon receiving the diagnosis in his early fifties that he had the same two ailments, David resolved to do what he could to not suffer and end up like his mother. Recognizing that his mother's being overweight and sedentary had greatly aggravated her condition, he decided to stay active and keep his weight in check. One of his ways to keep moving was to become an avid cyclist.

As his 60th birthday approached, David decided he would honor his mother, raise awareness and funds for the fight against arthritis, and have the adventure of a lifetime by cycling across the U.S. His well-thought-out plan was to begin his epic journey in Seattle, Washington on June 5, 2009, and averaging about 60 miles a day, reach Cape May, New Jersey on August 9th -- his 60th birthday.

Having traveled through 14 states and the District of Columbia, climbed over the Rockies, endured endless storms, and shared the road with many motor vehicles (and their drivers) that didn't seem too keen on sharing the road with a biker, David arrived in Cape May right on schedule. There to greet him and help him celebrate his birthday and successful coast-to-coast trek was a host of family and friends. One of his goals had been to raise $50,000 for the Arthritis Foundation and for research to find a cure for OA; he raised $65,000 and counting.

David, despite his osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis, which require him to take anti-inflammatory medicine twice a day to make the pain manageable, was able to peddle his bike 3,606 miles to achieve his lofty goal. He averaged close to his planned 60 miles per day on his 64-day journey, made many new friends, saw the country up close and personal, and got his message out: "I may have arthritis. But arthritis doesn't have me!" -- and, arthritis can't stop you if you keep moving.

To see extensive photos of his journey and read David's daily blog entries and to donate to the cause if you'd like, visit: http://community.arthritis.org/David9/blog

Remember, whether you have (a) potentially-debilitating condition(s) such as David deals with on a daily basis or one that has you stymied like his mother's situation, check with your doctor or other medical professional to see if physical activity might help you, too. Who knows, muscular movement might just be what the doctor ordered (orders).

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging, who through his speaking engagements, books, CDs and newsletters, helps Boomers thrive! His age-redefining books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit him at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com   www.FitterForLife.com AND Ask for your F*R*E*E** Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

It's Never Too Late to Choose Commitment Over Excuses

This is the story of an average individual, not unlike you and me. This 48-year-old, noticing that too many of his peers were succumbing to serious health problems, decided to do something to see to it that he wasn't next. Not content to just cross his fingers and hope that the heart conditions, diabetes and  knee replacements that seemed to be becoming more commonplace didn't touch his life, he took up running.

This, however, is not about the running! Running is merely one of many choices he could have made to improve his health and decrease his risk of being struck down by an unwelcome disease condition. This IS about choosing commitment over excuses; it's about the realization that it is never too late to completely transform one's life from ordinary to extraordinary -- from merely surviving to thriving!

Wanting to reclaim robust health, Ed Wolfgram, 48, got up extra early one morning, as in 5 A.M. early, to go for his initial run. He made it about half a block. Undeterred, the very next day he gave it another try and ran the whole length of the block. Buoyed by his improvement, slight as it was, in the weeks to come he added five and ten minutes to his jaunts until his running sessions were 45 minutes, three times a week. Fifteen months later and 25 pounds lighter, he ran his first marathon.

Now hooked on running marathons, in his early fifties, fearing that all this running might lead to a premature end to his running due to breakdown of his knees due to overuse (since at age 15 he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear that ended his high school football-playing days), Ed started to alternate days of biking and swimming with his running days. This led to his taking up triathlons as a fun hobby.

In 2009, now 76-years-young, having completed 13 Ironman triathlons (2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and a 26.2-mile marathon) and having won the 70-74 age group in 2003 in 13 hours 25 minutes and 10 seconds at the Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, Ed is ready to take on the Ironman in Kona again this Fall. Making this latest attempt all the more astounding are the events of recent years leading up to October 10's Ironman:

• At age 73 Ed was treated for and overcame prostate cancer
• Now 76, he still holds down a full-time psychiatric practice in St. Louis, Missouri
• At the peak of his training for an Ironman Ed puts in up to 18 hours a week of training (25 miles of running, 150 miles of cycling and 4 hours of swimming)
• In 2002 he was diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis -- a condition where a narrowed valve limits blood flow from the heart -- a condition that worsened for Ed over the next couple of years
• Due to the aortic valve condition, he had a pacemaker implanted in December of 2007
• In January of 2008 Ed had open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve
• To qualify for Kona in 2008 (described below), a 75-year-old Ed had to complete the Louisville Ironman with its rolling hills while enduring 90-degree temperatures and high humidity

Due to his exceptional level of fitness developed over the years, Ed was able to handle his health setbacks with much more ease than most. On the day of his major open-heart surgery, for example, he ran the one-and-a-half miles to the hospital. Also, his rapid recovery from the morning surgery astounded his cardiologist, who had not seen anyone at any age heal so fast; it included getting out of bed that afternoon, walking the next day, a mere 3-day hospital stay, and a return to running just two weeks later. Nine months after the surgery, Ed completed the 2008 Ironman World Championships in Kona in 16:48:20, one of three Ironman triathlons he successfully completed in a three-month period.

Many (not you and I, of course) will hear a story like Ed's and feel threatened -- will feel as if he's showing them up. They will get defensive and search their mind for excuses disguised as reasons as to why their situation is different. They will argue for why their accelerated aging is justified, was unavoidable and is the normal course of aging.

Others will be inspired by Ed's story. They will see the hope for themselves in his age-defying achievements. Seeing the possibilities, they will commit to some simple steps they can take to improve their quality of life, as Ed did.

In his late forties Ed struggled to run the length of a block. Now he is reaping the benefits of having taken one small step at a time to improve his well-being.

As was stated at the beginning, it's not about the running (biking or swimming). It IS about someone showing us that we can completely transform our lives and that we can have all the vitality and energy we need to enjoy life to the fullest, no matter our current age or condition. What are we going to do? Are we going to make excuses as to why we are stuck where we are or are we going to commit to a few simple changes so we can enjoy the better life that Ed Wolfgram has shown us we can have?

Ed Mayhew is a professional speaker and the author of books, CDs and newsletters on how to slow/reverse aging. His books include: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You Visit Ed at: www.YouCanGrowYounger.com www.FitterForLife.com and Ask for your F*R*E*E* Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

Champion Swimmer Margery Meyer Honored

California's Margery Meyer had always wanted to be "really good at something." She didn't find that "something" until age 64, when she began swimming competitively for the first time. Now, on September 12, 2009, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after a little over two decades of masterful and record-smashing swimming, Margery is one of only four swimmers from around the world to be inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame. Let's look at what Margery Meyer has done to earn this most prestigious of honors.

During her 23-year swimming career, Margery has set 53 FINA Masters World Records (six of these in just the last year or so) in every freestyle event from the 50-meter sprints to the endurance-demanding 1500 meters. At one time she held the World Record for 11 of the 12 freestyle events in the 80-84 age group. At the USMS (United States Masters Swimming) National Championships at the Cleveland State University Busby Natatorium in August of 2002, at age 80, she swam the grueling 1500 freestyle in 29:35.03 to become the first woman 80 or better to break 30 minutes and she broke the former record by more than a minute. To add perspective, this is equivalent to swimming the length of your local high school football field and into the end zone 15 times -- in under two minutes per lap.

Swimming in the FINA World Championships in 1988, 1994, 1998 and 2006, Margery has won 11 Gold, five Silver and two Bronze medals. That's not bad for someone who in her early sixties had arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), a dangerously-elevated cholesterol reading of 385 mg/dl, and no inkling that one could begin a competitive swimming career so late in life.

Margery, however, is not being honored for a swimming career that has ended, but for one that is ongoing. Presently competing in the 85-89 age group, Margery is still going strong and continuing to produce record-setting performances. In 2008 alone, she broke 14 USMS National Records and has 11 more National Records pending based on other times she put up in 2008 and 2009. Included in these record swims is a 1650-yard freestyle swum in an astounding 31:15.55 (Note: 1650 yards is about 30 feet longer than 1500 meters). That means that in the six years since Margery swam her 29:35 in a 1500-meter freestyle, she's lost very little of her amazing stamina. As a testament to how competitive she still is, at the 2009 Tamalpais Aquatic Masters Postal 1650 (called a "pool mile"), Margery posted a time that was faster than 17 of the women masters in their forties could put up.

Margery in her early sixties had signs that her health was at risk and that her best days were behind her, and she had not the slightest notion that a successful, award-laden competitive swimming career was close at hand.  With, however, a little tweaking of her diet, the addition of intelligent and appropriate training, a very positive attitude and a laser-beam-like focus on her new-found goal -- to excel at swimming -- she was able, relatively late in life, to become a world-class masters swimmer. In doing so, Margery Meyer is a model for the rest of us. She gives us hope that we, too, can take the plunge into a new sport or other activity and either excel or at least have the time of our life. Yes, Margery Meyer will have the honor of being inducted into the very exclusive International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame this week, but we are also honored to be able to learn from her that it's never too late to go for the Gold. Thanks, Margery, and may you enjoy many more years of masterful swimming.

Ed Mayhew is a professional speaker and the author of books on how to slow and reverse aging, such as: Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life (with a chapter about champion masters swimmer Margery Meyer) and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You www.YouCanGrowYounger.com  www.FitterForLife.com  Ask for your F*R*E*E* Fitter After 50 e-newsletter

Controlling Your Weight May Be a SMART Move

A recent study by UCLA professor of neurology, Paul Thompson, found that obese and overweight seniors had less brain tissue and significantly older-looking brains than their lean peers. More specifically, based on the brain scans of 94 people in their seventies, the researchers found that those considered to be obese according to their BMI (Body Mass Index) had eight percent less lean brain tissue and their brains appeared about 16 years older than their lean counterparts. Correspondingly, it was discovered that the overweight subjects had four percent less brain tissue and their brains looked 8-years older than the brains of those considered to be within the normal-weight range.

The scientists found that the areas of the brain involved in planning and memory, attention and executive functions, and long-term memory were affected. This substantial loss of brain tissue was determined to put obese and overweight seniors at much greater risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer's, as well as the usual culprits: heart disease, type-2 diabetes, hypertension and some cancers.

Another study, this one published in 2008, also suggests that being overweight speeds up the rate at which the brain ages. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the brains of 50 middle-aged participants, it was found that those who were overweight or obese had lower concentrations of NAA (N-acetyl-aspartate), a chemical that serves several functions in the brain and is a good indicator of overall brain health. The conclusion was that being heavy in one's 40s and 50s lowers the levels of several brain chemicals needed for optimal brain function, putting one at significantly greater risk for suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia in later years.

Harvard Medical School associate professor, John Ratey, M.D., in his 2008 book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, based on his study of hundreds of research papers, espouses the importance of aerobic exercise and maintaining a healthful body weight. He writes, "... we know with certainty that having a normal body mass index and a robust cardiovascularlar system optimizes your brain."

Ever more research, much of it with new, ultra-revealing imaging techniques (not available until recently) is showing that maintaining a healthy-body weight is not only easier on your joints and beneficial for your heart and whole cardiovascular system, but is good for your brain, too! While it is obvious that the young can often get away with a few extra pounds with minimal damage done, older folks are too frequently not so lucky. It appears that keeping those excess pounds at bay may be one of the smartest moves we can make to stay mentally sharp as the years pile on.

Ed Mayhew is a professional speaker and the author of Fitter After 50, Fitter for Life and AGE BLASTERS: 3 Steps to a Younger You www.YouCanGrowYounger.com  www.FitterForLife.com Ask for Your F*R*E*E* Fitter After 50 e-newsletter