Forget what you think you know about diet and exercise, all the fads, the latest pills and plans designed to help you lose weight and get fit. Thirty years ago at the beginning of the "aerobics revolution" we embarked upon a journey towards better health. Although we were taught that if we followed certain rules, engaged in specific activities, and ate in a particular way we would reach the desired destination of "optimum health and fitness," unfortunately with the research in, we are now learning the truth and are not only failing to reach that destination but much to our dismay are on a straight path in the opposite direction leading instead to the highest numbers of diet and weight related disease this nation has ever seen.

With the percentage of obese Americans rising to rates somewhere in the 30's, and two thirds of this nation measuring in as overweight, it's not rocket

science to figure out that maybe, just maybe what we've been doing over these last few decades might not be the best advice we could have been given. Of course experts will weigh in with this method and that and there is no shortage of diets, pills, machines, programs and thousands of books with the best way, the only way, the right way, the wrong way.....you get the picture, all designed to get you to spend your hard earned money and buy yet another product to make someone else very rich, because everyone's looking for the secret and is usually willing to pay the price in order to find it.

As a professional fitness trainer for almost thirty years now, believe me, I've seen it all. Yes, I was right there at the forefront of this fitness revolution which has set many in motion on the proverbial treadmill, spinning their wheels and going absolutely nowhere, spending way too much time, money and energy in their quest for health and fitness.

Not only are many of these ways useless and unsuccessful but the sad part is, they can also be dangerous and harmful, promoting hidden levels of internal inflammation leading to life threatening illness, rapid aging, and structural damage including bone and muscle loss, both of which can severely limit our ability to enjoy an active and exciting life as we age.

Getting older does not have to be like this. With some knowledge and insight we can begin to undo some of the damage of the last few decades and start over on a new path of true health and fitness which, by the way, does not include hours of boring exercise or starvation diets. In fact, by following my motto "less is more" when it comes to working out, you can learn how to work out less and increase your strength and stamina, keep off unwanted pounds, and best of all fight illness and disease and as you begin to make better, smarter choices regarding the kind of foods you eat, the positive changes in your physical and mental health will be the natural outcome of a better and smarter way of living.