Instead of letting go, some seniors get going

By Judith Graham Chicago Tribune

He's an 84-year-old diabetic with one lung that doesn't work.

She's his 84-year-old wife, a survivor of a nearly fatal aortic aneurysm.

About a dozen years ago, they stared old age in the face and made a decision. Instead of letting themselves go, they would get themselves going.

Wearing a pedometer can be a big step toward fitness

By Lenny Bernstein The Washington Post

What if there was a small, inexpensive device that was proven to boost your fitness, help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure? Would you use it, especially if doing so was nearly effortless?

Kettlebell training rings true

What's round and has a flat bottom? You? If that's the case, grab a similarly shaped kettlebell and work hard as this old standby helps transform you into a lean, mean exercise machine.

Kettlebells resemble cannon balls with handles, and they can be used to do a wide variety of exercises that hit the entire body and work the cardiovascular system.

While bettering your body, you can better the world

Adrienne Spahr smelled something funny every time she worked out at Vida Fitness, a swanky health club in Washington, D.C. But the founder of Green Living Consulting wasn't laughing. She knew that the offending odor came from noxious chemicals in the cleaning products. "And that was not OK," she says.

Preventive strikes: Making health care about health

As a young cardiologist, Steve Devries noticed a disturbing pattern: His patched-up heart patients kept returning for repairs. It happened so often that Devries decided there must be another way to advance patients' health.

Ten ways to take control of your health

If you're ready to take control of your health, start by frequently washing your hands for 15 to 20 seconds .Doing this simple act, while avoiding certain behaviors - smoking, excessive drinking and eating too much - can dramatically improve your health, said internist William Meller, who specializes in evolutionary medicine in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Getting Fit: Should we get in step with those who say barefoot is best?

By Lenny Bernstein The Washington Post

It's time for an intimate discussion of a certain part of the human anatomy that doesn't get much coverage in a family newspaper.

Feet.