Start Reading Labels

The FDA requires that manufacturers put food labels on the foods that they produce. However, if you do not take the time to educate yourself on how to read the labels then you have no way to really understand whether or not something is actually good for your consumption. Take the time to educate yourself about the proper nutrients that you need for optimum health. Check out Dr. Weil's book.
Each one of us requires different amount of calories and other nutrients in our food intake program. It is up to you to educate yourself. Unfortunately, in my opinion, not all of manufacturers make their labels straight forward and easy to understand. I am not saying that they are lying, but what I am saying is that it is up to you to make sure that you truly understand how the information is derived.

I do not believe in counting every percentage, gram, or calorie. That is not what I believe reading labels is all about. However, you do need to be able to look at a label and decide if it is something healthy or not. Unless your doctor, nutritionist, or other health care professional has given you specific guidelines on what numbers you can have then I don't think you need to count.

Just use common sense, for example if you know your blood pressure is high, then you know that you need to be careful of your sodium intake. If you get too caught up in watching every number for every time you eat something, it can become very cumbersome and time consuming. Then it makes it possible for frustration to come in and cause you to stop.

Here is a short video to teach you how to read labels.

Exercises For The Elderly

Just because you have reached a certain age doesn't mean that you can't exercise. All it means is that you have to make specific modifications in order to keep your body at its optimal level.

It is critically important that you have a detailed conversation with your doctor prior to beginning any sort of exercise program. Follow doctor's orders. I am not a doctor, but I do know that there are some elderly people that are still full of life, healthy looking, and still extremely mobile. Then there are others that seem the complete opposite. If you are elderly or know someone that is, make the decision that you want to be in the first group that I described.

When you don't use your muscles or take care of yourself, you will slowly lose function. If you are already elderly, you can start very slowly. Even if you sit in a chair and do shoulder raises, roll your neck side to side, calf raises, bicep curls with absolutely no weight it is something. Something is always better than nothing.This is a great resource to help encourage seniorsin exercising.


If you are not yet elderly, then start now so that when you are elderly you can have a life of vitality. Once again, I remind you of my 85 year old cousin that runs marathons. She started when she was much younger and now she is definitely in the first group and so can you.