You Can Grow Younger

7 Very Doable 2011 New Year Resolutions

Here are seven very-doable New Year Resolutions for 2011. With any one of these simple steps you could easily get in better shape and slow the aging process THIS year for a younger, more vibrant you. Let's see if one or more of these 2011 resolutions appeals to you.

1. The Chewing-Gum Approach to cutting calories -- Resolve to take smaller-size bites of food and keep the food in your mouth and chew it until all the flavor is gone. With this little technique and watching your portion sizes, you get to enjoy and savor all the flavor in your favorite foods and satisfy your hunger -- all while consuming substantially fewer calories.

2. The Top 10 -- Several times each day, such as right before meals, snacks and bedtime, take a minute to mentally list ten things, people, happenings ... you truly appreciate. These can be friends, family members, some quality you like about the individuals, or small things (e.g.,that pair of shoes that look particularly good on you AND are comfortable, too); in this case, size really doesn't matter. What does matter is that you experience feelings of gratitude while thinking of the aspects of your life that are worth appreciating. Nothing lowers stress and slows the aging process as do thoughts of appreciation.

3. Exercise Your Mind -- Decide that in 2011 you will enjoy a mentally challenging game each day. It could be a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, KenKen or one of several other puzzle choices. If you don't have time to devote to solving one of these time-consuming mental games each day because of your very busy schedule, then take two or more days to complete the game. Just make sure to put in at least five minutes each day in working toward the solution. Your dendrites and axons will thank you with a sharp mind in the decades surely to come.

4. Breathless in Seattle or _______ -- Decide that every day you are going to enjoy an aerobic activity that gets you out of breath, or at least breathing deeply at some point. During your walk, for example, make sure there is a hill or steps in the middle of your session that makes you huff and puff as you climb them. When we perform a physical activity for as little as 10 seconds that gets us out of breath, it signals the release of human growth hormone (Hgh) from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream to start the process of repair and regeneration of cells to fight free-radical damage and reverse the general aging of the cells of the body and the brain. IMPORTANT: Always check with your health-care professional to make sure it is safe for you to perform strenuous exercise.

5. Up the Dietary Ante Little By Little -- Completely revamping one's diet all at once is seldom sustainable unless the individual is extremely motivated. For most of us, making small changes, one at a time, is more likely to result in a lasting improvement in our diet. Decide on one improvement you are going to make to your diet in 2011. It could be as simple as adding a daily dark leafy green vegetable, putting the salt shaker away or substituting water or tea for your afternoon soda.

6. Keep in Touch -- Each day, send a note or an e-mail to an old friend you haven't been in contact with for quite a while, just to say, "Hi!, how are you, I'm thinking of you, remember when we...?" By the end of the year you'll have brought a smile to the face of several friends, acquaintances and family members -- to the tune of 365 re-connections. It is well known that staying socially active is one of the ways to stay youthful and well as we age.

7. Try Something New -- Do something new and different each and every day. It could be as simple as driving a new route to the store, visiting and exploring a new website, or trying a new food or recipe. On the other hand, it could be something more comprehensive, like taking up a new sport or hobby or traveling to a country or state you've never visited. In this last scenario, you could plan time each day to learn a little bit more about the places you're about to visit, including the customs and language.

There you have it. Seven simple steps you can take to make 2011 your best year ever. Any one of these resolutions can be easily achieved -- a resolution you can keep for the whole year for a younger, more vital you. Or maybe you have your own idea of an easy-to-do New Year's Resolution that's just right for you in 2011. Happy New Year!

  And now I'd like to invite you to claim your FREE Fitter After 50 / Fitter for Life e-newsletter when you visit http://www.FitterforLife.com

From Ed Mayhew -- the author of Fitter After 50, Fitter For Life and other books, CDs, videos and articles on how you, too, can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate. Why not make the rest of your life the BEST of your life? http://www.FitterforLife.com and  http://www.amazon.com/Age-Blasters-Steps-Younger-You/dp/1598589083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276528674&sr=1-1 (click here for paperback or Kindle editions of AGE BLASTERS)

Can You Believe Anyone Can Change So Dramatically, So Quickly?

In May of 2007 a 274-pound Susan "SuSu" Jennings, 46 at the time, started yet another weight-loss program. This August, 135 pounds lighter, Susan, now closing in on the big 5-0, ran the equivalent of 15 marathons in 15 days. In just over three years, this very busy home-schooling mom had miraculously transformed herself into an ultra-distance runner who could run 400 miles (Winchester, Virginia to Washington, D.C. to Richmond to Charlottesville to Lynchburg, Virginia) in just over two weeks.

This, however, was not merely an attempt at self-improvement. Susan took on this monumental challenge to promote the Teens Opposing Poverty (TOP) program and to let others who are going through tough times, as she did with her weight struggles, know that with God all things are possible. To do this, along her bunion-busting journey, she stopped at churches to speak about how she lost nearly half her weight, how she became an utlra-marathon runner (in her very first year of running, she ran 7 ultra-distance races -- races longer than a 26.2-mile marathon) and to ask for support for the TOP program.

Susan "Su Su" Jennings ran this marathon of marathons, August 13 -- August 31, during one of the hottest Virginia summers on record. Despite the heat, the daily pounding on her feet and the extreme nature of this undertaking, she suffered no ill effects, including not a single blister. And, all this running obviously didn't sour her on running long distances, because in October, just over a month removed from her summer run, she ran yet another 26.2-miler -- the Freedom's Run Marathon in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

Susan has taken herself from struggling to be able to walk a couple of miles, from deteriorating health due to the excess weight, and, after losing the first 75 pounds, just being able to run a few steps at a time a couple of years ago, to being an exemplary model of what is possible by running 50-, 62- and 100-mile races AND 15 marathons in 15 days! She hopes her running will inspire you to overcome your challenges, whatever they might be, and be a catalyst to your becoming the person you can be.

 
Susan Jennings at Umstead 100 Mile trail race, in March 2010 -- her time was 26 hrs. 31 min.

To learn more about Virginia's Susan "SuSu" Jennings and how she completely transformed herself in such a short time, visit her very detailed blog: http://www.SuSuTopChallenge.com/

And now I'd like to invite you to claim your FREE Fitter After 50 / Fitter for Life e-newsletter when you visit http://www.FitterforLife.com

From Ed Mayhew -- the author of Fitter After 50, Fitter For Life and other books, CDs, videos and articles on how you, too, can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate. Why not make the rest of your life the BEST of your life? http://www.FitterforLife.com and  http://www.amazon.com/Age-Blasters-Steps-Younger-You/dp/1598589083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276528674&sr=1-1 (click here for paperback or Kindle editions of AGE BLASTERS)

Is Bill Gates Doing More Good When He Keeps His Money Or Gives It Away?

The question of whether Bill Gates is doing more good when he keeps his money or when he gives it away, is an interesting one. In which of these two scenarios does mankind benefit more? Before you dismiss this as a clearly ridiculous query, one not even worth considering, ponder this.

When you are worth tens of billions of dollars, where do you keep your stash?  Do you hide it under your mattress? That would make for a very lumpy sleeping surface; as a billionaire, it's not very likely you would put up with such discomfort.

How about burying your fortune in the backyard? With all that loot, you're not going to be doing any digging. After all, you didn't get rich digging holes in the ground, but rather by using your noodle, and you're not about to start with the manual labor now. You could, however, get the gardner to plant the funds in the Azalea bed, but this might not be such a good idea, either. Not to cast aspersions on landscapers everywhere, but what's to keep her (don't want to be sexist here) from digging up the treasure when you are not around and heading for the South Sea Islands?

People with obscene (as some might think) amounts of money (the perspective many, who don't understand capitalism, cling to) don't hide it -- they invest it. They reinvest it into their businesses so it can grow bigger, stronger and give their customers better value for their money. They also invest it in other peoples' companies, resulting in these other entrepreneurs having money to expand their businesses; in the process, they take advantage of the miracle of compounding interest and as a result, make even more money.

What is the result of all this wealth in the hands of a single capitalist? In Bill Gates' case:

• His company, Microsoft, and the extensions thereof, have spawned an estimated 12,000 millionaires and four Billionaires
• As of 2009, there were 93,000 employees receiving a very good income and excellent benefits for themselves and their families
• Many other companies which do business with Microsoft, et al, flourish and are able to employ untold numbers, and many start-up and existing businesses have access to the capital they need
• All these well-employed folks and their families have money to spend in their local communities, plus nationally and worldwide 
• As a result, there is plenty of money available to be given to any number of worthwhile causes and charities -- if these people wish to do so
• The Gates Foundation, as of 2009, has an endowment of 33.5 billion, from which it has given a minimum of 1.5 billion to worthwhile causes annually

Now let's look at the other side of the coin. What if, after making his first million or two, Bill Gates had decided that having a couple million dollars was as much as any one individual should have or needs to have and took his small fortune and closed up shop? What if he had decided to retire early and live off the interest on his first one or two-million-dollar earnings? Let's say that he decided to take $500,000 of his money to start a foundation to give grants to those in need. Giving away the interest on the half-million dollars each year, at an average of 10% interest, he could give away about $50,000 per year. In 20 years he would have given about a million dollars to worthwhile causes -- not bad. Of course, he wouldn't have created 12,000 millionaires who, if they gave just a miserly $1,000 each to charity, would be donating 12 million PER YEAR -- twelve times as much as Bill could give, under this early-retirement scenario, in 20 YEARS!

Of course, we all know that Bill Gates didn't take his first piddly little two million and run. He did what many successful entrepreneurs do each year; he risked it all by reinvesting the money he had made back into the business with the hope and belief that he could make even more money and better serve his customers with ever better products and services that would make their lives better.

As a result of his keeping the vast bulk of his money through the early years, Bill Gates now has a foundation that can, with matching funds, give away billions of dollars here in the U.S. and around the world -- improving the quality of life for countless people. And this doesn't even include all the money given to charities by all the billionaires and millionaires resulting from his business acumen. Keep in mind that each little billion is a thousand million or a thousand times as much as Bill Gates could have given to those in need in 20 YEARS, if he had gone philanthropic too soon or too full bore.

We see that when a wealthy person such as Bill Gates keeps his money for himself, he is not really keeping it for himself, because this money is kept in circulation, growing the economy, creating countless jobs in innumerable businesses across the country and the world. Even when a rich person spends his money on food for parties, for a yacht or clothes, it helps to keep the party stores, yacht stores and clothing stores profitable so they can continue to employ their staffs. The truth is that the more rich people there are and the wealthier they are, the more there is for everyone else in that economy -- unless the wealthy one "puts it under his mattress."

Does this truth hold for one's health and fitness as well as for financial matters? Here is my question for you: When it comes to your health and fitness, is it better to take care of yourself first or your loved ones? If we allow ourselves to become rundown and sick because we ignore our own well-being while helping our loved ones, how much help will we be to them then? Making our own well-being our top priority creates more energy, strength and vitality  with which to care for those we love. When we have taken the time to make ourselves ultra-healthy and fit, we are also good role models and a positive example for all in our circle of influence -- including strangers we pass on the street. 

Bill Gates kept the bulk of his money (invested it) for decades and we are all the beneficiaries of this choice. As a result of his taking care of business (taking care of himself and his "family" FIRST), he and those he helped to become rich can now help many, many more. We can learn from this model, whether we're talking about finances or health.

And now I'd like to invite you to claim your FREE Fitter After 50 / Fitter for Life e-newsletter when you visit http://www.FitterforLife.com

From Ed Mayhew -- the author of Fitter After 50, Fitter For Life and other books, CDs, videos and articles on how you, too, can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate. Why not make the rest of your life , the BEST of your life? http://www.FitterforLife.com and www.Amazon.com 

What Can We Learn From San Francisco's Ray Piva About Aging Well?

At age 54, San Francisco's Ray Piva struggled to run a single lap around a quarter-mile track. Twenty-three years of aging later, as a 77-year-old, Ray RAN 109 MILES at the 2003 USA 24-Hour National Championship in San Diego, California.

Watch the entertaining video that follows to find out how this ex-smoker so successfully transformed himself -- how he slowed and reversed aging -- and how you can, too! This is NOT about running, but about how to have the energy, stamina and vitality to fully enjoy life; to be able to continue to participate in the activities you love -- no matter your age. It's all about you aging WELL. (You can do this! You really can.)

 

And now I'd like to invite you to claim your FREE Fitter After 50 / Fitter for Life e-newsletter when you visit http://www.FitterforLife.com

From Ed Mayhew -- the author of Fitter After 50, Fitter For Life and other books, CDs, videos and articles on how you, too, can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate. Why not make the rest of your life , the BEST of your life? http://www.FitterforLife.com and www.Amazon.com 
 

Age Blasters Push-Up-Your-Age Fitness Challenge

To prove that falling apart as we age really is merely an option -- not a mandate, yours truly recently took the Age Blasters Push-Up-Your-Age Fitness Challenge. That is, I attempted to perform 64 push-ups in 64 seconds or less as my age is 64. It will only take two short minutes to see the results. Wish me luck!

 

IMPORTANT:

Should you decide you'd like to take this challenge, or any other physical-fitness-related test or challenge, make sure that you train appropriately and adequately so you can perform the activity safely. Always check with your doctor or other healthcare professionals to get medical clearance before even starting the training. This is especially true if you haven't been physically active (working out) for a while, have a limiting medical condition, have questions about your health or have a lot of years under your belt.

My results show that it is quality, not quantity that counts most. The training consisted of just two 15-minute or less sessions a week of push-ups or work on strength-building machines (i.e., pushing exercises). For balance, there are also two 15-minute of less sessions of pull-ups or curling/pulling exercises. That's a total of four 15-minute (or less) strength-building sessions. The key is the quality or intensity during thise brief intervals. Of course, much of the 15 minutes is resting between sets; so actual exercise time is much less than 15 minutes.

I, also, run, walk and bike, but those cardio activities have little to do with building strength. They do help keep my weight in the normal range to make push-ups and pull-ups much easier than if I were overweight.

Ed Mayhew is the author of Fitter After 50 and other books, CDs, articles and now, videos that profile men and women who show how you, too, can make falling as you age merely an option -- not a mandate. Check out http://www.FitterForLife.com or www.Amazon.com and type in "Ed Mayhew" or "Fitter After 50" to find out more. 

 

Top 100 Age Blasters #1 Dr. Bob Delmonteque

Dr. Bob Delmonteque is an elite lifelong bodybuilder who got himself into the BEST SHAPE of his life at age 78. In the video that follows, you'll hear a little bit of his story and see shockingly Age-Blasting photos of  Bob Delmonteque at age 80. We learn from him that falling apart as we age really is merely an option -- not a mandate.

This is the first in a series of videos that will challenge any self-limiting, self-destructive beliefs we may have about aging. Watching these videos will make it easier to grab onto more empowering understandings of what is possible as the years add up. Enjoy these videos often for maximum benefit -- a more youthful, invigorated you!

Top 100 Age Blasters #1 Dr. Bob Delmonteque
Uploaded by edmayhew11. 

  And now I'd like to invite you to claim your FREE Fitter For Life newsletter when you visit: http://www.FitterForLife.com

From Ed Mayhew -- author of Fitter After 50 and other books, CDs, articles ... on how you can make falling apart as you age merely an option, not a mandate.

Aging WELL: Same Information -- Drastically Different Results

While we are all getting the same basic information on how to age well, individually we are getting drastically different results. Back in the Fall of 2009, this humble correspondent wrote about Montana's Bob Hayes. Bob had recently run the LeGrizz 50 Miler in 10 hours 47 minutes -- at AGE 83! This time placed him 63rd out of 91 extremely fit runners (you don't run 50 miles unless you are in great shape); in other words, he outran 28 significantly (decades) younger runners.

Interestingly, although one might assume that Bob's amazing display of endurance at such an advanced age would universally inspire and inform, not all people see it that way; AND, the differing ways folks react to stories such as Bob's tells us all we need to know about why people are getting such extremely different results as they age.

Some, when they hear Bob Hayes' story, ARE inspired. They see hope for themselves. They want to know what Bob does to stay so fit and vibrant and to have such boundless energy so they can follow his lead. These individuals use his achievements and story as impetus to take the steps that will slow the aging process for them, too.

Others do not take such a positive tack. They get defensive; they get their hackles up and see the Bob Hayeses of the world as making them look bad in comparison. They search for and come up with reasons (excuses?) as to why some others can be extremely fit and vital past age 50 and why they can't. In essence, these people are arguing for their own demise, for their decline.

Some just dismiss Bob Hayes' achievement as an interesting story, but merely an exception to the rule -- just the result of a lucky roll of the genetic dice.

Then there are those who see Bob's story as a great exaggeration or a complete fabrication. They think that we've got our facts wrong or that we're telling a BIG ONE. It doesn't make any sense to them because it doesn't fit with their world view -- their view of REALITY -- and so they dismiss it as unreliable information. 

In which group do you reside? The hopeful and inspired? The defensive? The deniers? The real question is: Which reaction to the accounts of the age blasters, such as Bob Hayes, will serve you best?

We are all creatures of habit, which includes habits of thought. Our reactions to what we hear and read are the result of habitual patterns of thinking. By regularly reading and listening to stories of the Bob Hayeses all around us, we can change any self-limiting, self-destructive beliefs (i.e., habits of thought) we may have about what it means to age. Then, and only then, can we be inspired to take the action steps that will give us the energy, vitality and fabulous fitness of a Bob Hayes -- no matter our age.

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging naturally, 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 

Jack LaLanne Continues to Inspire and Lead By Example

Back in the early 1950s, through the magic of television, Jack LaLanne was regularly leading tens of thousands of housewives and at least one small boy -- me -- through a series of exercises. By virtue of his long-running (1951-1985) The Jack LaLanne Show, he inspired a whole nation to eat better and exercise. Well, maybe not an entire nation; many didn't heed his advice and follow his lead and hence, our current pandemic of obesity and chronic disease.

Today, now 95, he still inspires folks of all ages through occasional TV appearances, at least eight books and various other products to take better care of themselves so they can "look better, feel better and live longer."

Until a recent setback (a heart-valve-repair procedure in December of 2009), the Godfather of Fitness, as he is known, was still making personal appearances, maintaining his two-hour daily workouts (1 1/2 hours of strength training and a 30-minute swim) and sticking to his strict eating regimen that includes only eating two meals a day and no snacking. Jack ,however, doesn't expect the rest of us to follow his Spartan-like exercise routine or his near-perfect diet. He simply suggests that we cut 'way down on our white flour and sugar products (fewer processed foods -- more natural fare) and get in just three or four 25- to 30-minute workouts a week. He says this will make all the difference in the quality of our lives. 

Over the years, Jack, through a series of mind-boggling feats of strength and endurance, has shown what exercise, an excellent diet, and a positive, can-do attitude can do for us:

• In 1955 a 41-year-old Jack LaLanne swam from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf while handcuffed
• At age 60 he repeated the Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf swim in handcuffs, only this time his feet were shackled and he was towing a 1,000-pound boat
• In 1984, now 70, he upped the ante even more: Again in shackles and handcuffs, Jack, fighting strong winds and currents, swam 1.5 miles with 70 boats, carrying 70 people, in tow -- from Queen's Way Bridge in Long Beach to the Queen Mary

Jack LaLanne at age 72 -- Not Bad!

On a lesser scale, at age 42 on a TV show, he set a World Record for push-ups by completing 1,033 in 23 minutes; another time he performed 100 handstand push-ups in less than six minutes. That's what we call leading by example.

It should be noted that Jack wasn't always fit. In his early teens Jack had a penchant for getting into serious trouble both at home and at school. He was a scrawny, underweight teen, who was chosen last if at all in schoolyard games, who had serious emotional issues which he later would blame on his being a "sugarholic" and a "junk-food junkie." At age 15, after hearing a lecture by the legendary nutritionist and fitness promoter, Paul C. Bragg, he was inspired to drastically change his diet and start exercising. Within days he was a new person and went on to be a star high school athlete in several sports, including football and wrestling.

Part of Jack's wide appeal and a secret to his longevity is his quick wit and sense of humor. In recent years, when asked what his next great feat will be, he quips about towing his wife, Elaine, across the bathtub. He also likes to say that he can't afford to die because "it would ruin my image." 

Jack's health and fitness TV show and his Herculean feats were not his only accomplishments. Among many other firsts and various achievements are the following:

• In 1936, at age 21, he opened his own health spa
• Jack designed the first leg-extension machines
• He is also credited with designing the first pulley machines using cables and the first weight selectors (both staples of the current health and fitness clubs)
• In his late thirties he won a professional Mr. America contest and was awarded "Best Chest." At age 69 he still boasted a 47-inch chest to go with a 27-inch waist
• He was the creator of the popular Smith Machine (used in most gyms today to make doing squats with heavy weights safer)

 

Jack LaLanne, age 90, doing his signature and extremely difficult extended fingertip push-ups

Jack LaLanne continues to inspire people of all ages to take better care of themselves through his high-energy public appearances, books and videos. And, yes, he still performs inspiring feats. He celebrated his 95th birthday this past Fall, for example, by doing 95 push-ups. Jack expects to be back on the TV circuit this month and to continue to lead by example and inspire for years to come. Which brings us to this: Did you get in your three or four 30-minute exercise sessions this week? How about last week? Next week? Really?

For more information about Jack LaLanne and to see vintage footage (VIDEOS) of his TV show and more recent appearances, visit: www.JackLaLanne.com An excellent, comprehensive article (Outside magazine online site -- Nov. 1995) about Jack can be found at: http://outside.away.com/outside/magazine/1195/11f_jack.html

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging naturally, 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 

A Stunningly Successful New Year's Resolution

Last week we looked at why most New Year's Resolutions are doomed to failure. Today let's look at a resolution that was stunningly successful and see if we can figure out why.

Let's face it, by the time we hit our forties, many, if not most, of us have had so many failed New Years' Resolutions that, for the most part, we've given up even setting them anymore. What's the use, we think. Even if we can "be good" for a few months instead of the usual weeks, days or "What was it I said yesterday [New Year's Eve] that I promised myself I'd do this year??" -- it's still another failure to change. "Besides," we think, "why should I change anything? I've never felt better, if you don't count all the preceding decades." But we digress ...

California's Karen Queally presents us with the New Year's Resolution's flip side -- an actual ultra-successful NYR. We will recount her achievement in hopes of finding out why she succeeded. This physical therapist / health-services administrator, wife, and mother of three decided, for her New Year's Resolution, to run every day. That was January first, 1997. That's right, she not only succeeded in running every single day in 1997, but she hasn't stopped yet! Karen hasn't missed a day of running at least one continuous mile (almost always several miles) for a little over 13 years or 4,757 days (if my calculations are correct and she didn't get up one morning recently and say, "Aw, the heck with it).

Karen Queally (center) with two friends crosses finishing line at her 100th marathon. Besides setting a New Year's Resolution to run every day, Karen set a goal to run 100 marathons by her 60th birthday -- for more photos go to: http://jukebox.lohud.com/photos/refers/index.php?gallery=Yonkers%20Marathon%202009
 

Lest you think that this is some kind of record for a running streak, there are 129 others who've run every day for 10 years or more (see RunEveryDay.com for the complete listing). AND, Karen's not anywhere near the leaders, Jon Sutherland and Mark Covert, both 59, who have not missed their daily run in OVER 41 YEARS! The oldest streaker, as they are called, is Walter O. Byer, a 79-year-old with a 30-plus-year streak.

You may be wondering why someone would put themselves under this pressure (torture, anyone?)to run every day no matter what. What about sickness (we all get sick from time to time, right?), injuries, family emergencies or unexpected guests getting in the way of an occasional day's run? It seems that they don't let sprained ankles, the flu and even broken bones get in their way. In this regard, Karen had to deal with breast cancer in 2005, including chemotherapy and a mastectomy. At that point she had an eight-year streak going and she wasn't about to let cancer stop her.

You may be thinking that all this running is a bit obsessive, or even that it must be detrimental to one's overall health; however, focusing on whether running every single day, no matter what, is a good idea or not is missing the point. Let's stick to our purpose here, which is to see what we can learn from Karen about sticking with / succeeding with our resolutions or other goals. We should mention here that Karen also set goals to run 50 26.2-mile marathons by age 50 and when she accomplished that, 100 by age 60. She accomplished her second of the two goals ahead of schedule when she ran her 100th 26.2-miler, the Yonkers Marathon, in October, at age 57.

So what's Karen's secret? First, remember that habits are thousands of times more powerful than desires. A New Year's Resolution is merely a desire. A habit, on the other hand, is just a strong (a dominant) neural pathway in the brain resulting from repeatedly doing or thinking the same thing. A desire or resolution is a fleeting thought in the conscious mind (which has a very short attention span); a habit exists in the non-conscious / subconscious mind and is dominant 24/7, controlling our actions and thinking.

In January of 1997, Karen started running first thing in the morning, every morning. Scientists have found that it takes about 30 days of doing something every day to form a habit. This habit becomes even more strongly ingrained when the activity takes place at about the same time each day and, of course, the more days in a row this activity is engaged in, the stronger the habit's bond becomes. Over time the habit, "good" or "bad," becomes harder and harder to break. In other words, the desire to stay in a warm, comfy bed on a cold or rainy morning becomes much less compelling than the habit -- the pull -- to go for an invigorating run.

Karen sets specific goals, such as to run in the Yonkers Marathon this October, and these clear goals motivate her, whereas many New Year's Resolutions are more nebulous and destined for failure. An example of this would be if we set a resolution / goal to eat better in 2010; that's a weak goal in that it is not clearly defined and therefore is hard to develop into a habit and thus difficult to keep.

Karen's success comes from transforming her resolutions from mere decisions or desires (fleeting conscious mind activity) to do something, to developing strong neural pathways in her brain (i.e., habits) by taking daily action.  Her habit of taking a daily run is strengthened by doing this activity at about the same time each day. Finally, having clearly defined goals, measurable goals (e.g., running 100 marathons by age 60 and running each day) makes the successful accomplishment of her goals and resolutions that much more certain.

It does not matter what we think of Karen's goals / resolutions / her streak. What IS important for us is to learn from her. We all know how powerful habits are because of some of the "bad" ones  we've struggled to rid ourselves of through the years. The secret to enjoying successful New Year's Resolutions, as Karen has, is to harness the power of habits. Resolve to do your goal activity every single day, preferably at the same time of day, until it is firmly ingrained as a habit. If Karen Queally can use the power of habits to amazingly run every day for over 13 years and reach her goal of 100 marathons, then what can we enjoy by harnessing the power of habits to our dreams?

Ed Mayhew is a leading authority on slowing and reversing aging naturally, 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