Hey baby boomers, here's some good news for you (or bad news, depending on your perspective): It's never too late to get your butt off the couch and develop a regular fitness routine. But there's a catch -- you have to keep it up for 10 years for it to make a difference in your lifespan. Don't let that put you off, though -- it won't take you long to figure out that it's totally worth it.

If you're well into middle age and thinking of getting fit, don't sign up for a full marathon right off the bat -- it takes time to get into fitness. Start slow with a gentle activity, like:

• Walking. Go a bit faster and further each time, and enjoy the time to yourself.
  
• Swimming. Start with just a few laps and increase that once you feel up to it.
• Yoga. Just remember to go into child's pose when your arms start shaking.
• Wii Fit. Hey -- no one said you had to join a gym to get fit!

Aim for two or three days a week -- and enjoy it!

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I'm a lady who is happily turning 51 next week and am finally ready to get into shape. It seems like I went from a skinny-as-a-rail teen to a weighty 180 pound middle-ager. There are so many weight-loss programs, tips, recipes out there, and it gets quite confusing. I don't like to exercise per se, but I love to garden, wash the car, play kickball, and dance. For both weight-loss and aging concerns, I know there are some diet changes I need to make as well. For instance, I've had to cut out 2% milk and switch to 1% because the higher-fat just didn't agree with me anymore. But what's the next step? High fiber, low-fat, no carbs, or carbs for daylight hours only? I missed the point when my body was supposed to be racked, stacked and packed! I'm now hoping it's not too late to achieve that at this stage in my life. Can you help? Atia

A. Hello Atia! I love your question. Glad to hear that after 50 years you're ready to make a grand effort towards a fitter, stronger, and with no shyness ... a hotter looking body! Of course it's not too late; it never is. I also agree with you that the information put out about fitness is far too confusing. Being an "expert" in the field, it's nice that people give me credit for being somewhat brilliant about it. I'll let you in on a little secret though (promise not to tell a soul?): All my years of education and experience have taught me this: Fitness is ridiculously simple.

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There's something to be said for not allowing your age to slow you down. After all, if you've been alive for 60 years, but still feel like a 30-year-old, you should act the way you feel. However, Madonna is taking things a step further -- for her 50th birthday celebration, her guests are under strict instructions to not mention the number 50 in any way, shape, or form, because the singer believes her "spiritual age" to be 36.

The high priests of Kabbalah have calculated Madge's spiritual age to be 14 years younger than her actual age by channeling her energy. And, truth be told, she certainly has the energy and, dare I say, the aura of someone much younger. So if she feels like she's 36, that's great. But, I have a problem this refusal to acknowledge 50.

By doing this, Madonna is sending a message to women everywhere that it's not acceptable to turn 50, when we know that's far from the truth, especially these days. Instead of being a fitness inspiration to women hitting the big 5-0, Madonna is running away from it, yet still marking it with a big celebration.

What about you? Do you think Madonna should embrace 50 as fabulous, or would you follow her lead and go with the youngest age you can get away with?

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If you are over the age of 50, you need to consume 120% of the Daily Value (DV) for calcium. Not 100%. This is because you are advised to get 1,200 mg daily while adults ages 19 to 49 need only 1,000. Next time you read a food label, keep in mind that it's written for the 19 to 49-year-old age group.

An easy way to figure your calcium intake, says Publix Greenwise magazine, is to simply add a zero to the % DV. If a serving has 25% of the DV, then it contains 250 mg of calcium.

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Jamie Lee Curtis is turning 50 and reports that she feels better than she ever has. Perhaps it's the lessons she's gathered through her ups and downs that have primed her for this prized place in life. Here are some thoughts regarding her half-a century milestone.

• Turning 50 used to mean being put out to pasture, says Curtis. Not anymore. This leading lady feels more vibrant and is more active than ever.

• With age comes wisdom, and Curtis has wised up the the fact that she no longer needs to worry about how perfect her figure is. She encourages women to accept their bodies and the beauty of aging naturally.

• Baring her soul helps her come clean, and the now-sober Curtis says, "When you gain sobriety in the middle of your life, you're really reborn."
  
  

• As her big birthday approaches, Curtis, also an author of children's books, says she is happy to have "dropped the rock -- the rock of addiction, of family, of comparisons with other people." It's about being fit and focused and furious, she says.
  
  

Well said. And happy birthday to you.

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Shows like Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City have given the world a new way to look at aging. Turning 40 or 50 no longer necessarily means a party with an "Over the Hill" theme -- older men and women can be just as sexy as their much-younger counterparts. And that's a good thing. Right?

Well, yes and no. It's fantastic that we are shedding our stereotypes regarding middle-age, for men as well as for women. Most men would agree that Halle Berry and Heather Locklear are just as sexy as any 20-year-old actress, and men over 40 include George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Pierce Brosnan -- 'nuf said.

However, eating disorders for adult women are on the rise. We see celebrities like Teri Hatcher, Demi Moore, and Kim Cattrall and while we know that the way they look simply isn't attainable for everyone, it doesn't mean many women don't try by resorting to anorexia or bulimia. Check out our gallery of super sexy celebrities who've celebrated 40 or more birthdays, but use these as inspiration, not for comparison. And, head over to AOL Body to see who they think is over 40 and still smokin' hot!

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Larry the Cable Guy, also known as Dan Whitney, has happily shed 50 pounds on the NutriSystem diet. On celebrating this huge milestone, the comedian says: "I immediately took my wife out to eat and had everything I'm not supposed to."

The Blue Collar comedian, whose new big-screen comedy, Witless Protection opened on Friday, works out twice a day and travels with a personal trainer while on tour. His workout routine includes weight training, 50 minutes of cardio early in the day and 50 minutes of cardio later in the day.

The once 282-pounder blames his wife's recent pregnancy for his weight gain.

"She'd crave a double cheeseburger, order two bites of it and then I'd eat the rest," he says. "I couldn't let it go to waste!"

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I just took a spin through Fitzness.com, the website belonging to my friend and fellow That's Fit blogger, Fitz. While there, touring all the hot spots, a scrolling news listing caught my eye. Today's featured news includes a notice from Fitz that she has one training vacancy available, a reminder to a check out her low-fat desserts and for those seeking quick and easy exercise tricks, a fitness tip for the day.

"Do 50 push-ups throughout the day," writes Fitz. "All at once, or ten at a time. It will tone your entire upper body!"

Simple, isn't it? If you want a fit upper body, drop and do 50. Every day. I'm game. Are you?

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It's just as important to exercise when you're in your golden years as when your in your 20s. You might not be able to work out as hard, but don't let that keep you from being active. Preventing injuries is important, but maintaining proper form and following a few easy tips can help. Here are some tips from Everyday Health:

• Do stand on one leg to improve balance and strength in that leg
• Do warm up for at least 10 minutes before every workout
• Do also do a cool-down
• Don't always doing the same exercises -- switch up your routine every now and then
• Don't just do cardio -- lift weights a few times each week.
  
• Do check with your doctor

How do you prevent injuries?

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