Age Smart : Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond

by Rosensweig, Jeffrey; Liu, Betty

• ISBN13: 9780131867628
• ISBN10: 0131867628
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: FT Press

Summary

"I encourage everyone who reads Age Smart to look at the examples of individuals who have not only defied the traditional definition of aging, but embraced a new definitionhellip;one that does not limit our physical and mental abilities simply by the advancing of years." From the Foreword by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D. "This is a fun book, with great examples of how to age the way you want." Henry Lodge, M.D., co-author of the New York Times Bestseller Younger Next Year "I read books on aging often but recommend them seldom. Irs"m glad to make an exception for Age Smart. It is exceptional in its rangefrom body and mind to pocketbook and soul, and I recommend it highly. The interview quotes from "smart agers"former presidents, athletes, business leaders, and othersare remarkable, instructive, and delightful to read." Robert L. Kahn, Ph.D., author of Successful Aging and Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan "This is a wonderful, easy-to-read book for everyone who wants to create a better future for themselves and their families. Highly recommended. Buy a copy today and share it with your friends." Major General Perry Smith, Military Consultant to CBS TV and CBS Radio News Now therers"s a fun, quick-read guide to aging well. Learn how to stay productive, active, fulfilled, and happy well into your sixties, seventies, and beyond! In Age Smart, Jeffrey Rosensweig and Betty Liu share strategies for bringing together all the elements for a long, happy, fulfilling, and connected life. Yours"ll learn how to take advantage of the latest scientific research to boost your health and increase your longevityhellip;leverage todayrs"s most powerful tools to enhance and protect your financeshellip;find a job you lovehellip;and pursue a path to deepen your own personal spirituality, whatever form that may take. Learn why a happy marriage will add years to your life. Find out ways to eat the right stuff and exerciseand to keep at it! Learn techniques to sharpen your mind beyond doing New York Times crossword puzzles. Tap into your inner passion to find the career thatrs"s right for you, no matter how old (or young) you are! Age Smart is packed with easy-to-use tips and guidelines for everything from putting together a winning financial portfolio to making yourself over into a happier, more productive person. The heart of the book: intimate interviews with individuals who have proven that life gets better with agepowerful role models ranging from Jimmy Carter to Helen Gurley Brown, Robert Mondavi to Dr. C. Everett Koop. Learn from their experiences, then use this bookrs"s easy advice and worksheets to take control of your own future! Take aging into your own hands Stay in c

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xv
Introduction	p. xvii
Just Say No to Pink Pants	p. 1
Your Body	p. 23
No Excuses! Exercising Is Key to Staying Young	p. 25
Eat the Right Stuff	p. 43
Your Mind	p. 69
Taking Care of Your Brain	p. 71
Staying Curious	p. 81
Practice Optimism	p. 97
Your Soul	p. 113
Nurturing Your Soul	p. 115
Socialize Your Way to Health	p. 121
Having Purpose	p. 133
Your Money and Your job	p. 147
Dont Let the Money Control You: Saving Smart for Lifelong Security and Success	p. 149
Growing Your Wealth: Investing Well	p. 159
To Defer (or Not to Defer) Taxes	p. 173
Get Out of the Dilbert Syndrome: When a Second Career Just Might Be the Answer	p. 181
Conclusion	p. 205
The Baby Boomer Factor and Life Expectancy	p. 211
Index	p. 223
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Foreword Foreword I recently received one of the best compliments. A long-time member of our fitness center and Cooper Clinic patient, Fan Benno, wrote me a note after she won a 3,000 meter walking event for women over 85 years of age (she is 87). She wrote, "Because of you, Dr. Cooper, I forgot to grow old." Wouldn't it be nice if we could all forget to grow old? Not a day goes by when we don't hear about another anti-aging strategy, or a new product or idea that claims to have found the "fountain of youth." No, there is not a magic pill that will instantly make you young, but there is a powerful weapon that when used consistently will let you live a long, full, healthy life--exercise. A favorite phrase of mine comes from legendary pitcher and humorist Leroy "Satchel" Paige: "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" I could fill pages with examples of people just like Fan who disregard the candles on their birthday cake. One is a 91-year-old man who performs frequently at Cypress Gardens in Florida, waterskiing barefoot on one foot while holding the handle in his mouth. It is impressive to see him whizzing by in all yellow, but even more amazing is that "Banana" George Blair did not start waterskiing until he was past 40 years of age. He even took up a new sport at the age of 75--snowboarding. "Banana" George is a perfect contradiction to the old adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Research shows that even moderate activity, when done regularly, can yield major health benefits at any age. The benefits include a reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved mental health, and enhanced physical functioning. Most sedentary people, at any age, who add 30 minutes of physical activity to their day will decrease their body fat and see improvements in their blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood cholesterol. Exercise can counteract muscle weakness and frailty in older individuals, and it delays the onset of disabilities and life-threatening diseases. I encourage everyone who reads Age Smartto look at the other examples of individuals who have not only defied the traditional definition of aging, but embraced a new definition. . . one that does not limit our physical and mental abilities simply by the advancing of years. And remember, it is fascinating to know that one can grow healthier as one grows older and not necessarily the reverse. Who determines that? You do! To slow down the aging process, eliminate these things: cigarette smoking, inactivity, obesity, and (as much as possible) stress. Finally, I wish you a long, healthy, and active life, and if you follow these recommendations, I can almost guarantee it. Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.HFounder, President, and CEO, Cooper Aerobics Center Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.