Life Fitness is a process of continuous growth: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Need motivation and guidance to facilitate positive changes in your life? Ask Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis!

Dear Laura:

I am a woman in my 40s, married and have two kids in high school. I try to work out but my diet isn't the best. But I am doing better than others I know. My question is what do you think is the most important thing to focus upon if I want to live a long time yet feel and look great too?

Deborah K., Lexington, KY


Dear Deborah:

Great question! In other words, what is the fountain of youth? Remember the movie with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn entitled "Death Becomes Her?" The comedy focuses upon the two rivals obtaining a youth elixir from the eternally beautiful Isabella Rossellini's character. They end up being beautiful on the outside while their bodies decay on the inside. Funny yet thought provoking movie. Does a fountain of youth exist? Maybe. It appears residents of a particular community in Europe seem to have found it.

Andorra is the sixth smallest country in Europe and is located between Spain and France in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and whose citizens are known to have the highest living life expectancy for humans of 83.3 years of age. They even have a byline on the country's official website that says "Welcome to the country of wellness." If only we Americans could claim such a truth. It turns out these vivacious residents seemed to have figured out the recipe to living a long life. What are the key ingredients? Read on:

• Staying fit. The country has many "state of the art public leisure centers" and free transportation to and from the facilities, some with buses that have pick up times every 15 minutes from town squares. The presiding government of Andorra has made it easy for residents to work out by making facilities readily available. Staying fit is considered a normal part of everyday life.
  
• Lean meats, fresh vegetables and plenty of olive oil. Eating healthfully is the norm.
  
• Fresh air. Hiking is a natural activity for these mountain residents: to exercise, to enjoy the natural beauty, to gather mushrooms and even to herd sheep.
  
• Red wine. Anthocyanins are the source of high antioxidants that fight free radicals and are found to be plentiful in my favorite scarlet beverage. Andorrans drink a lot of it. And they even have red wine available to patients in their hospitals. Red wine is also great for the heart. No wonder their "tickers" keep on ticking longer than the "average Joe." Or "Jill" for that matter.
  
• Attitude. A good attitude apparently goes a long way. Andorrans are happy, fit individuals who appear to be passionate about life. As they age it is important for them to continue doing the things they have done for many years. These include enjoying the outdoors, working out, convening with friends and family, eating wonderful food, drinking wine, laughing and more. All these activities "feed" a positive outlook on life. A positive attitude can decrease stress hormones, boost immunity and facilitate optimal health.

To read more about the Andorrans, go here. And you might want to read this post on four ways to stay younger, longer.

Deborah, I am all for living a long, health and happy life and I'll be sure to keep some of these keys to the fountain of youth in mind. You should too. Be sure to take care of your body on the inside as much as you do on the outside. That includes, in my opinion, the most important ingredient to living a wonderful life: maintaining a positive attitude. If you don't have it then you are losing out on life in more ways than you can imagine.

Healthfully Yours,


Laura Lewis, Life Fit Expert, www.thatsfit.com

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