Written by Rick Maltin

Business fitness - 'no pain no gain' - does this sound like fun?

While I was strolling on the beach in Laguna last night, I passed a new fitness spa with a huge sign – "No Pain, No Gain!" This seems to be an accepted mantra for fitness – it hurts, it's boring, it takes a long time, you need coaching, it's what the pros do and it helps in the long run! Does this sound inviting? Or do we need to accept the basic premise?

Here's my premise – sure athletes, fitness junkies and extreme outdoor types need and flourish with extensive exercise systems and perform miracles of human performance in every category. But is this the model for Youthing Essentials, business performance, longevity and lasting wellness? Recent research suggests a different program – physical activity, flexibility and focus on vitality.

Now this is a very broad subject and I will continue to research and blog the results...but one thing is clear – there is an alternative to grunt and sweat and pain!

I been reading a lot recently about surveys and studies that reflect positive results are obtained from regular activity such as walking and general outdoor conditioning. Of course because it's classified as 'causal' specifics are hard to pin down. But time and again the same conclusions are found – active people are healthier, live longer and deliver higher levels of wellness. And you don't need to suffer.

Here are some simple, day to day things we all can do to get there – walk more and walk faster – (Fitness News). And I'm not talking about a daily 1 hour power walk either. Consider parking across the lot from Nordstrom's and take a brisk walk several timesto load and unload the packages. Or, walk instead of a short car ride. Stop using escalators or elevators (at least sometimes). And when you do walk, pick up the pace a bit and breathe.

I plan to comment more but wanted to outline my basic premise about good health and business, longevity and fitness on the road. In addition stay tuned for the 'remarkable Swiftrick business fitness system."

Written by Harriet Diamond

A Business Women's Health and Wellness Essentials Guide is Born

Good health is a business tool essential to high performance in the professional world. I founded my company, Youthing Essentials, on the idea that improving wellness improves performance. It is a direct cause-and-effect relationship that I have seen work many times over my career. I have also seen talented people fail because they didn't invest in their health, resulting in a loss of focus and productivity. That is why I am passionate about helping other women benefit from a renewed emphasis on easy, consistent attention to integrated health.

Now, I am happy to announce that I have created a one-stop guide that brings together some of the best information from modern science about clear thinking, multi-tasking, energy, better sleep and better digestion -- all essential ingredients to business success. And I am giving you, my readers, access to this new guide "Invest in Your Health to Accelerate Your Career and Business: A Youthing Essentials Guide for Business Women, " free. Yes, free.

As a nutritionist, I have long studied best practices for maintaining health. When it came time to create this Essential Guide, I researched the most effective options for busy women today and included tips on:

• How to work smarter rather than harder on your health
• How to develop a deep, lasting sense of achievement
• How to make your health a priority
• How an integrated approach in the right combinations can allow you to do more with less
• How to exercise your body to shape up your brain
• How getting enough sleep can help you get more done

I hope this guide will help you take charge of your whole health - mental, fitness, nutrition and skin to improve clarity, focus, performance and well-being. Once you have looked over the guide, please share in the comments section below your own tips for taking care of yourself to get the most out of life. And feel free to sign up for our newsletter so you will be notified as I share more Essential Youthing secrets in the months to come.

Passion and good health - business and pleasure

Written by Rick Maltin

Today's blog is more about passion and interest than brains or youthing. I read somewhere (or was told more likely) that a blog is more interesting if it's about something I'm passionate about and let the cards fall where they may. Well I'm sure passionate about several things – nature, youthing, health, fitness, Ducati motorcycles, history, science, good living, cooking and flowers. So pick one – OK its spring – that's FLOWERS.

I grow several hundred (150 actual count plus many out in the field) potted flowers in pots on 3 decks of my home. I've been out there on Sunday's (after that fast and rubber burning spin on several mountain roads) in the afternoon working on my botanical friends. I have about a 60 % return rate for the plants. That means that 60 % of the annuals and perennials keep blooming so I only need to replace 40 % each year. This is not scientific as each year the number of new plants should approach zero.

This year my emphasis is Roses! I have 12 medium to large Roses including 4 Double Delights – if you are not familiar with them – well you just haven't lived! Just glorious! It's a 'double' because in addition to a brilliant flower their smell is the essence of Rose.

I do have one unique Rose – It's a climbing rose (yellow) that is having a passionate affair with an Oak tree. I get 100's of blooms 70 feet off the ground. Pictures to follow.

All this does a few youthing things for me – Activity – I haul, carry, push, bend, stretch, walk up and down stairs (2 at a time) and do lots of hand eye coordination. I make it a point to THINK (brain exercise, brain fitness) and STRESS (exercise) as I work and do nothing that is a short cut.

I drink lots of water and sometime tea (brain food) and have my iPod with Mozart (for the Roses) playing loud! I'm sure this helps me in business and wellness activities and adds to my fitness for the road. I know I get up on Monday in full spirit and know that good health is a business tool.

Mature Brains are different

Written by Rick Maltin

Grown Up-Brains is top on my reading list - and I will review when done.

There is an excellent interview with Barbara Strauch in today's New York Times and the on the article blog has many good comments and additions. Barbara was also interviewed recently on NPR (Fresh Air - Terry Gross) - all very good stuff. And these discussions open some new doors about mature brains.  

Brain food, brain fitness and brain exercise are comming of age. It (brain health) has become a focus of Youthing Essentials - it's one of those myths that is changing (i.e. 'senior moments'). We seem to have accepted that our brains age negatively and the truth is more that our brain don't age but MATURE and brain power is applied differently.

Yes our brains do age like our bodies age but there are things we can do - if your interested see the Times and get involved. As a first easy step understand the links for exercise, diet, nutrition and attitude have on your brain fitness.

Good posture is good health

Written by Rick Maltin

'Sit up straight and stop slouching!' I know these words from across the table. It's Mom pestering advice. At the time it just annoyed me and I thought this admonition had a lot more to do with appearances than anything else. Well now guess what – it really did something for me! According to a recent study in the October 2009 issue of European Journal of Social Psychology researchers discovered that how we sit and stand influences how we feel and behave. Now good posture is good health – we all know that. But not slouching may make us feel better. Me – I sitting up straight and my mom is proud!

Salt Control

Written by Harriet Diamond

Salt-good or bad for your health?

Here we go again about listening to health reports that are advocating “reduce your salt intake”.

Well, I agree with that because daily intake of products laden with salt will cause problems, for example, you will see swelling in your legs and retention of water. Not to mention the effect on stress and blood pressure, it’s a good idea to consider in an integrated wellness program.

Unfortunately, when salt is consumed, sometimes women take medication of water pills

which play havoc with your system and sometimes cause you to feel dizzy and unbalanced. The flip side is that you then have some weight loss because of the water pounds.

But let’s make a change. Buy “lite salt”. A big improvement and it still contains important iodine for your body. I’ve been using it for years. It’s part of my healthy aging strategy.

Once again, if we only use salt in moderation we are fine. And getting used to less salt truly makes no difference in taste after a week of doing it. You will actually prefer the difference.

But again, this is a new habit, and it is one step at a time. Bottom line, be mindful. Pay attention. Think about what you are eating throughout the day.