Alzheimer's

I went to a Red Hat Luncheon this afternoon where the Creekside Line Dancers performed. While watching them I thought of the recent conversation I had with my primary care physician who I've nicknamed "the Russian chick" as her last name is so difficult to pronounce.

When I had my annual physical we discussed how to prevent Alzheimer's. It's one of the biggest fears facing us Boomers as we age. We all know of someone who has suffered from this debilitating illness. We've heard the horror stories of loved ones who have driven down the wrong side of the highway or answered the door without their pants! None of us want to end up like that, so we're all looking for ways to stay sharp.

The dancers reminded me that my doctor said there are 2 things that will definitely help us:

Structured dancing -- Not freestyle like when we were young and did the twist. But structured dancing, like learning a line dancing routine is great because it helps you both physically and mentally.

Crossword puzzles -- Working a daily crossword puzzle with help your mind stay alert. Go to http://www.eons.com/ for a daily crossword puzzle as well as other brain games.

Let's hope you don't need it for a long time -- but if you want additional info on Alzheimer's, go to http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_diagnosis.asp?gclid=CKKhn7egspgCFRlcagodDDV_Vg

I Hope You Dance

With the holidays here, you've just got to exercise or those 5 to 10 extra pounds will jump on you before you know it!

If we're honest with ourselves, we have to admit that it's gotten much more difficult to lose the weight and maintain a good shape as we've gotten older.

(Why do you think they invented elastic waistbands?)

I love to dance and like that song - I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack. (lyrics at http://www.elyrics.net/read/l/lee-ann-womack-lyrics/i-hope-you-dance-lyrics.html

Tonight for exercise I went to a line dancing class. It was a lot of fun - we practiced the Electric Slide which I knew how to do and then I learned the Chocolate Hustle. I had never tried that dance and it was a little confusing to learn, but our instructor did a great job of breaking down the steps. She's done an excellent job of shaping a group of amateur dancers into a fine-tuned troupe as the HTC Line Dancers took 1st Place in June 2008 in the Line Dancing Category in the Greeley CO Senior Games.

So, eat all the turkey, fixings and pumpkin pie you want on Thursday, but get back to exercising on Friday! According to the MAYO Clinic there are 7 primary benefits of exercise:

• improves your mood
• combats chronic disease
• helps you manage your weight
• strengthens your heart and lungs
• promotes better sleep
• puts the spark back in your sex life
• can be fun

No matter what your preferred exercise is -- JUST DO IT! Don't use the holiday season as an excuse to let yourself go!

Need more encouragement? Pick up a copy of the book "Growing Old is not for Sissies" by Etta Clark. The book is an excellent pictorial display of older athletes and proves you can stay in shape no matter what chronological age you've hit.