Positive attitude will help you achieve workout goals

DAYTON, Ohio — Katie Dierkers is a woman who lives life to the fullest. Recently honored at the Kettering, Ohio, rec center with a 90th birthday party given by daughter Susan Haught, she was greeted by the mayor of Kettering and council members, and Susie Stein, owner of Up and Running, who presented her with a new pair of walking shoes.

Katie regularly works out at the center and has been walking about two miles, five days per week for nearly 10 years. She also celebrated her 80th and 85th birthdays at the rec center, and continues to inspire everyone around her by proving that age doesn't have to slow you down.

Her daughter tells me, "She remains active both physically and socially and has a positive attitude, all of which contribute to her good health. She still drives, plays cards once or twice a week, eats well and, of course, exercises regularly. And, I might add, she proudly showed off her brand new tattoo at the party, four hearts entwined to symbolize four generations of happy, healthy women in our family. Pretty amazing at any age, but remarkable for 90."

The message is clear: Having the right attitude is everything when it comes to reaching your goals. With the wrong mindset, exercise is thought of as too difficult, too stressful, too time-consuming, too uncomfortable, too something. With a positive mindset, each day is celebrated as another step to success. Staying physically active can be looked upon as a chore, or as a pathway to a better quality of life.

When you are physically active, your body's natural feel-good chemicals are elevated, relieving tension and stress. Research has repeatedly shown that exercise combats depression and improves mood. As anyone who stays active will tell, once it becomes a habit you wont want to quit because you'll recognize how much better you look and feel.

Increases in strength, bone density, flexibility and balance can be achieved at any age. If we don't use it, however, we lose it. Daily exercise strengthens the most important muscle in your body -- your heart. Inactive individuals are nearly twice as likely to develop heart disease than those who engage in regular physical activity.

Along with a healthy heart, exercise improves posture and stability, lessening the risk of falls and injury. Without regular use, muscles atrophy and bones weaken, leaving us frail and weak as we age. By doing something every day to help offset potential loss, everyday tasks are easier to manage and greater independence achieved.