That's Fit

Actress and children's book author Jamie Lee Curtis is all for aging naturally. To prove it, the almost 50-year-old bared her body and soul for the May-June issue of AARP The Magazine. Flaunting her gray hair and topless top, Curtis shows she's a fan not of glamorous bodies, but healthy ones.

Curits's latest health endeavors include dropping 20 pounds by ditching crackers, bread, granola, and other floury, sugary, fatty stuff and giving away all of her uncomfortable shoes and most of her jewelry. She just doesn't wear these flashy, fancy items, so why keep them? They also weigh her down on the scale, she says.

Curtis, who posed for More Magazine in 2002 with no makeup, no touch-ups, and nothing more than a sports bra and briefs, says she is more confident than ever about they way she looks.

"I think I have finally found what I hope beauty is, or at least, beauty as it applies to me," she says.

Being fit is important, no matter what your age. So if you're thinking that once you get your AARP card you're off the hook, think again. It's just as important to stay in shape when you're in your golden years.

That's why there are a whole slew of fitness centre designed for the 50+ crowd popping up. Nifty After Fifty in Salt Lake City is one such fitness centre -- where loud, hip music and 20-somethings in spandex are a thing of the past, replaced with an easy-going atmosphere and lots of classes designed with aching joints in mind, like water aerobics and Tai Chi. There's also a driving simulator for seniors who want to practice their skills safely.

I think this kind of fitness centre is a great idea ... do you agree?

Part of being fit is the pursuit of a long and healthy life, and no one likes to think about where they'll end up when their days come to an end. But if you've spent a lifetime walking gently on the Earth and doing your best to be an eco-conscious consumer, the thought of being buried in a coffin that's built not to biodegrade, or that may leech chemicals into the Earth might give you pause.

That's why many green consumers are making plans to be buried in green graveyards. In a natural burial ground, the deceased are buried in biodegradable coffins (or sometimes, no coffin at all) and the practice supports the principle of "dust to dust." In addition, say green graveyard supporters, by creating this kind of space in natural areas, they are essentially preserving land from development as well. Funds that would typically be used to pay for lawn services and repairs are instead funneled into land preservation.

This may be one of the most personal choices a person can make, but if you're interested in learning more about natural burial grounds, check out this article from AARP.

According to recent news, America's definition of old age is changing. With 78 million adventurous and independent Baby Boomers now reaching 60, this age -- once considered nearing retirement -- marks a new beginning, not the beginning of the end.

It's not just a state of mind; there are also medical reasons for it. Preventive medicine, advances in drug development (including sex-enhancing drugs like Viagria and Levitra) and innovative medical technologies are literally turning 60 into the new 45. The proof is in the numbers. The world's oldest man -- Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro -- turned 115 last week. And Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador, the oldest woman, died this past Monday at 116.

On some days, I view the opportunity to live longer as great news (my healthy habits now will pay off later!). Other days, when I feel every bit my 30-ahem-something age and I can't imagine working another 35+ years, that good news? Yeah, I'm thinking not so much.