We wanted to share this interesting tidbit of information that we found in Real Simple - one of our favorite magazines!

What aging can bring to your muscles: Decreases in strength and muscle mass, loss of flexibility, loss of balance.

What the research shows: “Maximal muscle strength is achieved in the 20s and 30s,” says Roseann M. Lyle, Ph.D., professor of public health at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana. “If you’re sedentary, you will start losing strength after age 50 at a rate of 2 to 5 percent per decade.” But if you keep using your muscles, through activities like weight training, you can maintain strength and flexibility even into your 90s. It’s also important to work on balance, which falters with age, and to keep muscles agile so you can react quickly.

What you can do: Add resistance moves to your workout, and mix in some fast, dynamic exercise as well―dance classes, tennis, volleyball, anything that gets you “moving fast in different directions,” says Lyle. Good balance builders are one-legged squats, yoga poses such as “tree,” and even something as simple as standing on one foot and then the other while you brush your teeth or do the dishes.

For football fans, the season is just getting into its prime. But for baseball fans like me, we are lamenting the end of another season.

In baseball and life, we often hear, “Keep your head in the game,” and “Keep your eye on the ball.”  We all intuitively know what that means but, how do you combat the distractions and adversity of everyday life to do that?

First, you must understand that you are the only thing and/or person in your life that you can control. Second, confidence in yourself to achieve your goals is critical.  If you believe you can accomplish the goals you set for yourself, you can combat the mental chatter that tells you the goal is impossible.

In order to achieve your highest potential, you have to create a plan.  Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Create a Clearly Defined Mission:  A mission defines why you are setting the goal, how you want to be perceived, and what you want to accomplish.

Focus on the Process:  Break down your mission into bite sized pieces.  Focus on only one piece at a time.  The process can be broken down into the form of a timeline with milestones, a to do list, or by steps.  Use whatever format feels right to you however, it is critical that you write down your mission and the process.

1. Wash your hands
2. Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep a night
3. Drink plenty of fluids
4. Consider taking supplements such as Vitamin C or Zinc
5. Don’t touch your face or head with your hands
6. Get fresh air
7. Do aerobic exercises
8. Don’t smoke
9. Limit alcohol consumption
10. Relax