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Its getting more and more common to see people that are in their 50s, 60s and even 70s do things that keep them extremely fit and healthy.

More and more senior citizens are waking up to the fact that living long and happy lives requires that you implement a regime of regular exercise and good food. (Those of you that happen to have illnesses such as kidney disease should implement a solid renal diet plan.

It will not only help you stay healthy but it will help to keep your disease in control.) Believe me just because you may be older it doesn’t mean that you can’t stay fit and healthy. In fact if you want to be fit and able when you are older it is imperative that you do get involved with diet and exercise.

While we are not suggesting that anyone in their 60s and 70s prepare to do a 30 mile marathon it doesn’t mean that you can't implement some simple exercises that will help to keep you in shape and promote your health and well being.

The best way to remain fit and healthy is to do a variety of different exercises that will help you reach your goals. This way not only will you never get bored but you will get fitter and fitter as you get older and older.

We have heard of countless methods for weight loss, from the traditional ones (exercise, diet, lifestyle change) to the not so conventional ones (hydration therapy, botanical slimming, use of appetite mitigating agents, etc.). Despite the growing number of these weight-loss methods, obesity rates have still doubled and adults whose weights are tipping off the scale are still exceeding the 25% mark. The statistics are plain and simple; there is definitely a loophole in how we manage our weight.

Frozen desserts – sweet, cold, delicious treats – who can resist them?! Though your options may be many, how do you choose the right kind to serve your family? Homemade or store bought? Ice-cream or frozen yoghurt? Sorbet or frozen custard? We look at what is healthy for you and your family and what is not; we also look at other aspects such as convenience.

Buying frozen desserts

Ice creams are delicious and their hundreds of different varieties are highly enticing. But we also know that they are not the best for health – and for those of us trying to lose weight they are an absolute no-no. So do we need to give up on frozen treats? Luckily the answer is no – there are many healthy alternatives to ice-cream. People are more health conscious now and prefer not to eat ice-cream for its high caloric content and also because many contain harmful ingredients such as transfats etc.

Fruit sorbet is a good option for those who are health or calorie conscious. Sorbets can be delicious, refreshing and can be healthier than ice creams or soft serves because they are fruit and water based rather than cream and milk based. However, it would help to avoid the ones with added artificial coloring of any kind. Many peoples' throats today, especially children's, react badly to artificial coloring. 

When my son called and began raving about his newest high-tech toy, the Nike+ FuelBand, I was excited for him.  The demands of his job had caused him to neglect the needs of his body, and the result was a substantial and unhealthy weight gain.  He was now beginning to watch his diet and was trying to fit in more exercise.  According to him, the FuelBand was a great motivational tool.

Ninety percent of popular diet regimens fail according to studies and health experts. The latest data on weight-loss and diet reveal that almost a third to two-thirds of overweight individuals regain the weight they have lost after a year dieting, and go back to their full weight in a span of five years. According to experts, this indicates a loophole in the current approaches to weight-loss, and that includes diet. What are the reasons behind this failure?

We Might Be Believing Too Much

According to a review done for the Scientific and Technical Council in Turkey, weight-loss programs might be deviating away from the hands of true experts. The review described how specialists such as endocrinologists are rarely called to give their expert views about obesity, while non-physicians and non-specialists often appear in the media, talking about obesity issues. The review also described how people are greatly influenced by the media, and how quickly people believe a claim without examining it if appropriate evidence is indeed available.

As a woman who has seen her body dramatically change following child birth and her body confidence plummet at rocket speed the first post-partum year, due to lack of sleep and time to exercise, I am always on the lookout for viable solutions that will help me get back into shape. I am also a book worm, have I mentioned that, and love to work out from the privacy of my own home so books that promise mean exercises and consequent lean body parts would always present a strong appeal to me.

For whom has 101 Workouts for Women been written?

A compilation of workouts inspired by the Muscle and Fitness HERS magazine, the book promises to be a complete go-to, one-for-all fitness program with full illustrations for the 101 workouts featured. The book is bound to attract a wide range of readers from shy mums like me who need constant at-a-glance reassurance that they are doing the right moves and fitness professionals looking to diversify their workout routines; the detailed color illustrations are valuable to both novices and fitness trainers.

Photo: Content from 101 Workouts from Women book

When New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a ban on large sugary drinks earlier this year it caused a minor local uproar, that soon became a media frenzy, which eventually escalated into a global conversation. Aside from the hefty legal dilemma (is it a violation of constitutional rights for any government entity to tell us what we can and can’t consume?), the health question is a no brainer.

How Unhealthy is it?

Without exception, soda is always a bad choice. Sorry caffeine lovers, there’s no way around the facts. A widely cited study, lead by the Harvard School of Public Health and published in The New England Journal of Medicine has linked heavy soda consumption to increased rates of obesity. If it seems like the world is soda obsessed it may be because consumption has more than doubled since 1977 and shows no signs of slowing down. 

Let's face it - none of the meals we consume on a daily basis has gained more notoriety and praise from all the health and fitness outlets out there than breakfast has.

In fact, if I were to go right now and ask 100 different people, including seasoned athletes, what their thoughts were on the importance of breakfast in terms of leaning out and avoiding fat gain, I'm willing to bet that 95% of them would say that it's one of the most crucial factors.

Based. On. What. - I ask? Really. Is anyone capable of responding without using generic answers such as "because you need more energy after a whole night of fasting to prevent muscle catabolism" or "because it gives you more energy for the rest of the day"? Can anyone actually offer proof? Because I'd love to see it.

Well, I happen to have proof of the opposite being true. I'm going to tell you exactly why skipping breakfast is a good thing (or at worst - neutral), and how it can help those who are looking to shed body fat while maintaining as much of their precious muscle mass as possible. And yes - I'm going to produce evidence.

Being an entrepreneur is tough– busy days filled with phone calls, appointments and a lot of late nights trying to stay focused and motivated. This creates an environment where cooking healthy meals and making sure to hit the gym are the last priorities of the day. Well, it has been shown that working out on a regular basis actually provides many benefits that will make you a more successful entrepreneur. Check out the 5 reasons below, and I guarantee you’ll want to stop putting off a trip to the gym.

1.  Energy and Productivity

Maintaining a regular exercise routine has been shown to increase energy levels throughout the day. When you exercise, you are increasing your heart rate, blood flow and oxygen transport to your muscles. All of these factors result in a much higher energy level that will last for hours after your workout has ended. Being an entrepreneur requires being focused and self-motivated to get things done. Working out on a regular basis will ensure you have the energy required to face the challenges of the day aggressively and confidently.

Nutritionists often suggest that, as part of a weight-loss program, dieters and other individuals who are trying to lose weight should cook and bake at home as much as possible. This allows them to monitor the ingredients that go into creating a meal. Restaurants and other eateries frequently use high levels of fats, sugar and sodium in their dishes -- ingredients which create good-tasting food but add pounds and reduce the nutritional value of a meal.

In my experience as a weight loss coach I work with a large range of people who enjoy their familiar home-cooked foods but are stymied by the difficulties involved in turning calorie-ridden dishes into healthy, nutritious and low-calories meals.

Switching to whole flours and other grains

I've developed several strategies that aid individuals in turning their favorite high-calorie recipes  into wholesome and nourishing feasts but one of the most important approaches that I present, and the one that has had the most significant effect to help people lose weight and maintain their weight loss, involves switching to whole flours and other grains.

In my coaching work I always introduce the idea of switching to whole grains early in our sessions. Moving to a whole grain-based diet takes getting used to but, ultimately, ensures a healthier and less caloric intake.