They Got it Together! Researchers have discovered Blue Zones, where people enjoy long, healthy lives, and identified the factors contributing to their longevity: consumption, movement, purpose, and social connection. More important than the number of years is the quality. Blue Zoners are generally free of the commonly expressed concern, “I do not want to outlive my good health.” Blue Zoners do...

This message is not entitled “exercise” because it is only part of the movement needed for well-being and to overcome the harmful effects of our sedentary lifestyles.  The Recommendation We obtain substantial health benefits by following the recommended 75-150 minutes (depending on intensity) of weekly aerobic activity and more benefits by adding twice-weekly muscle-strengthening sessions.    ...

Consumption Today, we address consumption - what we put into our bodies.      Strict eating programs like keto, intermittent fasting, vegan, or Daniel are effective but unnecessary.  The revered Mediterranean diet lacks a rigid structure or prohibition against any particular food.  Even Michael Pollan’s famous declaration is imprecise - "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." “Balanced” or...

No, I am not channeling my inner Olivia Newton-John anthem, but physical well-being is a necessary part of 52 messages on a fulfilling life.  Its importance is evident but not adequately pursued given our country’s obesity epidemic and declining life span. Writing on this subject is challenging when your audience spans the entire spectrum from the Pillsbury Doughboy to Adonis.  Nevertheless,...

Never Good Enough This summer, I rode a bike up Alp d’huez, the most famous mountain in road cycling’s most famous race, the Tour de France.  After pedaling on the same roads as my cycling heroes, reaching the summit in a better-than-expected time, and achieving something only a fraction of cyclists can do, my thoughts immediately turned to how I could have ridden faster.  Rather than revel in...