For me, that translates into increased awareness about what I’m putting into my body and how I’m taking care of it.  I think before I eat something, weigh whether I want it or need it (seriously, who’s ever needed a cupcake?), and if I do want it and it’s perhaps not such a clean eating food, I weigh what I’m willing to do to balance it out…like more time at the gym.  Simply becoming more self-aware goes a long way toward preventing chronic disease — increased self-knowledge leads to better choices and avoiding unhealthy behaviors.

Having recently lost a friend to pancreatic cancer who was only 50, I regularly think about how fortunate I am to be healthy with no major medical problems.  My friend Pam’s death was such a wake up call.  Before she got sick, she had a healthy lifestyle doing all the right things yet she still got sick.  Really, any of us can be susceptible.  When I step back and get some perspective, my slightly creaky joints, sometimes sore foot from doing too much cardio and little aches and pains are nothing compared to the several friends I have who are currently dealing with cancer or other illnesses, or who have sadly passed away.

I really believe that how we treat ourselves today, especially those of us in or nearing middle age, has everything to do with how our older years will manifest.  Do you want to age vibrantly and be energized or can you see yourself burdened with health problems that cause regret about your past self-care efforts (or lack thereof)?  Needless to say, I’m all about being preventative, eating clean foods, getting plenty of exercise and rest and taking the best care of myself that I can. 

Last week I opened up my friend Ginny’s bi-weekly newsletter and was struck by the content. Ginny, a life coach, is a pro at helping people shift perspective to get new insights into challenges they may be facing.  She mentioned how helpful it is to think about what you’re willing to do to solve a problem and why that’s so important.

I read her newsletter and immediately wrote back and said, “I’m willing to do a strength training workout 3 times per week so I feel great in a bathing suit this summer.”  I was struck by what an easy shift I had when I was able to articulate both what I’d be willing to do and why it was so important.   It’s only mid-April and I’m already focused on a summertime goal and excited about it (especially since I joined a new gym that’s motivating me).  I can already feel how I’ll feel when I’m on the beach this summer and feeling great in my bathing suit and about my body. And truth be told, in the end, it’s less about the physical manifestation (looking great in the suit) and more about how I’m taking care of myself  that really matters.

I find that when there’s a larger reason that’s inspiring me, it’s so much easier to get started on a goal and stick to it.  In fact, it doesn’t have to be so hard at all.

I’m curious to know what you’re willing to do to prevent chronic disease and feel your best as you age.  What’s your spark of inspiration to help you feel your best as your body changes?

So when I can across a story about Ernestine Shepard, pictured here, I couldn’t help but take note — and be inspired. Ernestine Shepard is a retired school secreatary with a penchant for great health. She eats well, runs in road races and inspires people around her to exercise, maintain a healthy weight, and get in shape — for good.

Do you know how old Ernestine is and what she does to be so healthy? Take a listen to this week’s audio tip and learn more about why I think she’s so grand.

Can you see the possibility of looking this great at her age? What’s your inspiration to get and stay fit? Share your thoughts below.

It’s pretty ironic though because growing up I was definitely on the shy side. Not with my family and friends of course, but in school I just hated public speaking. I still have some not so pleasant memories of more than one public speaking melt down.

But that was then, and now speaking to large groups or small, on radio or TV, is like second nature and I love it.

So I was ecstatic to be a guest on Metro Chick Radio during my recent trip to Detroit. I spent an hour with my ultra-cool colleagues midlife coach Karen Batchelor (in the middle) and branding expert and talk show host Jill Jordan.  We were talking about how to overcome the overwhelm we often feel in our lives as women and find more balance.  These days it seems like most of us are racing around at a breakneck pace and just getting the basic things of life done can seem overwhelming. Our conversation was about simple things we can do to calm down, get more centered and take a break from too much anxiety.

And not only did we talk about overwhelm, but how to figure out those midlife years when there’s all kind of changes going on (not the least of which is our body starting to shift in unexpected and often unsettling ways!). Karen is a midlife expert — she’s a pro at coaching women as they navigate the joys and challenges of midlife (menopause, aging parents, career changes, just to name a few) and we had a great time talking about how midlife can be downright extraordinary if we let it.

Bottom line — it was just pure fun, lots of laughs and great ideas. Take a listen to what we had to say and enjoy.

I don’t know about you, but finding out you’re younger than you think you are sure seems like good news to me. That’s why I love the Real Age test.

For those of you that don’t know, the Real Age test measures your biological age through a series of simple, multiple choice questions about all aspects of your health, vis-à-vis your calendar age.  With everything from your fitness and diet habits to relationship status and how many friends you have to physical markers like cholesterol levels and blood pressure, the test gives you a snapshot of how healthy you are and a plethora of ways to enhance your health and slow the aging process.

Back when I took it about three years ago, I was just getting familiar with Dr. Oz, now widely popular thanks to Oprah. He and Dr. Roizen, authors of the “You” books were just getting rolling in America’s consciousness.  I remember that Bruce took it too, not long after we started dating, and he was happy to find out he was also younger than his calendar age (And the fact that people often comment that we look “so young” or not more than our early 30’s definitely makes us feel good).

Now, over three years later, I was itching to know if I’m still biologically younger than my calendar age. So with great anticipation, I filled out the questionnaire, which takes about 10-15 minutes. And guess what? Although my calendar age is now 43.8, my real age is only 37.2. Looks like I’m being consistent in keeping my real age on the low side, and even better, I feel great, not even 37 years old.

So there must be something to be said for all my efforts to eat healthfully, get lots of exercise (even when I’m not inspired to go to the gym) and stay connected with family and friends. It DOES make a difference in creating optimal health.

What about you, do you know your real age? I encourage you to take the Real Age test and find out. It’s eye-opening! And then I invite you to come on back and share one small thing you’ll start doing to reduce your real age. 

Out of blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and heart rate, which one would you choose? If you have absolutely no idea, than you’re a good candidate to test your health IQ. And that’s what recently got me inspired when I was watching Dr. Oz talk about the quiz.

I’m mad about Dr. Oz, you know, America’s doctor. He’s the co-author of the “You” books like You: On a Diet and You: The Owner’s Manual. I bought a few of his books several years ago and found them really interesting.

And then I discovered that he’s a regular on Oprah, dispensing health information in a way that’s totally understandable and approachable. I love how he easily connects with everyone and explains complex things in a simple way. He’s fun, compassionate and oh so handsome too (hey, that never hurts).

So I was watching Oprah a few weeks ago and he had this very cool quiz testing your knowledge about some basic, and not so basic health information. I’d love for you to listen to this week’s audio tip and find out more about it. And you just have to take a few minutes to test your own health IQ.

I encourage you to check out the health quiz and test your own knowledge. This is simply about helping you achieve optimal health and feeling your best. Just taking a step as simple as this can give you some insights into simple things you can start doing to create a healthier lifestyle.  And when you’re done, come on back and tell us how you did and what you learned.

And as for the answer to the question I asked above, well, you’ll have to take the quiz and find out for yourself.

A dear friend of mine, Karen Batchelor, has a totally cool job. She helps women navigate midlife.

That may sound a little funny but midlife, as I’m beginning to discover, can be fraught with all kinds of issues I never imagined in my 30’s – aging parents, looming retirement, your body changing and resettling (oh dear!), deciding what you really want to do when you grow up – and other stuff that makes you marvel (and perhaps helps you get your head out of the clouds).

I like to think I’m on the periphery of midlife, approaching it at 43, but not solidly there yet. Part of it, I think, is that midlife is a state of mind, just like any part of aging. And we can go kicking and screaming or we can embrace all its possibilities and have a great time. I’m definitely of the mind that the latter sounds like a lot more fun.

Karen helps women like me navigate that sometimes bumpy, unpredictable road. What I love is that she’s fun, funny and authentic and being in midlife herself –  having changed careers, dealing with a sick parent and on her own journey - she totally gets it.

Check out Karen’s website and blog, Midlife’s A Trip,  and see what cool things she’s up to. Plus you can get her Interactive Wheel of Midlife.

And let me know how your own midlife is going. What are your biggest challenges and what do you love most about midlife?