1. Preventive care is always more effective and is generally much less costly than medical treatment. Instead of rehab after illness or an injury, do "prehab" … exercise, follow good nutrition, practice stress management and get adequate sleep.
2. Any exercise has health benefits, but the best exercise is whatever you will do. A simple walking program can help control blood pressure, body weight, blood sugar levels and can significantly reduce the risk for heart disease, the #1 health risk of women.
3. A small strength program can positively impact osteoporosis and can prevent sarcopenia, the age-related or disuse-related loss of muscle mass. Studies have demonstrated that it is never too late for women to reap the benefits of weight training.
4. Balance and agility are the forgotten components of a fitness program, and late in life they become the most important. Good balance reduces the risk of falls. Tai chi, dance, boating, bicycling, even standing on one foot while brushing your teeth… all can improve balance function.
5. Your healthy weight is not some number from a table or prediction formula. Rather, it is the weight at which you balance after 6 months to a year of eating as well as you can reasonably eat and exercising as well as you can reasonably exercise. Anything lighter would require unreasonable eating and unreasonable exercise and would be, by definition, an unreasonable weight.
