Dan's Book Review

Healthy & Fit After Fifty

By Karma Hope

Obesity is quickly becoming the nation's number one health issue. Some have even projected that by 2013 50% of all Americans will be obese. If you walk into any bookstore, you will find shelves upon shelves of books that promise weight loss, health makeovers and natural answers for medical issues.

With baby boomers reaching a "mature" age, Steve Fisher's book Healthy & Fit After Fifty should have wide audience appeal. Fisher is a doctor of naturopathy (a medical doctor who focuses on natural cures and preventative measures). He received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University and his Doctor of Naturopathy degree from Clayton College. He has been working in this field and helping people achieve increased levels of fitness and health for over 35 years. He is also a firm believer in his methods and practices them fully.

Fisher's book is a fairly all-encompassing guide to health. He explores nutrition - lots of water, organic foods as often as possible, 50% of one's diet should be fruits and vegetables, supplements, etc. He strongly advocates eating absolutely no refined sugars or carbohydrates, and goes on to describe the importance of exercise, getting enough sleep and focuses on the importance of emotional and spiritual well-being regarding overall health.

Fisher has mastered the skill of making complex physiological and medical terminology easily understandable and relevant to everyday health practices. He gives very thorough descriptions of how to exercise using pictures and comprehensive instructions for weight machines, stretching, cardio workouts and even walking. If you are a novice when it comes to healthy eating and exercise, this is the book for you. If you have any experience regarding appropriate eating and exercise habits, you may find this book redundant and tedious. Fisher goes so far as to describe appropriate clothing choices when working out in varying weather situations, like we wouldn't know to put a light jacket on when the weather is cool.

Fisher utilizes small bios on individuals over fifty years old who have practiced healthy living and how it has impacted their lives. This is a very motivating approach, as he uses normal people living normal lives that happen to have achieved great success in healthy living, making it feel very doable for the rest of us. He also includes several larger bios on himself, detailing his personal health and fitness practices.

Fisher also makes his book more readable through use of enlightening quotes including, "You cannot open a book without learning something," and, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." This was a great touch to the book, contributing greatly to the motivation factor. Fisher also felt the need to include jokes randomly throughout the book. This was not a great touch! Please, we are begging you Dr Fisher, NO MORE JOKES! "Doctor: You're in good health. You'll live to be eighty. Patient: But, doctor, I am 80 right now. Doctor: See, what did I tell you." (See what I mean?).

To sum things up, Fisher takes health and fitness to a whole new level (that of a kindergartner). If you have been living under a rock, you will find it very useful, but if you have ever turned on a morning news program, you have already heard what he is telling you. To Dr. Fisher's credit, he does make healthy living appear to be an accomplishable goal. For this reason alone, this book has earned its place in society. Too many people think that after a certain age (maybe 70 instead of 50), a person should accept the ill health often associated with old age. Fisher makes continued health and fitness a realistic accomplishment. Most of his recommendations are applicable to everyone of every age. The most functional section of this book is at the end. Fisher gives a detailed description of many injuries and health issues that could be faced. He describes symptoms, possible diagnosis and home treatments available. He focuses on areas more relevant to the aging including menopause, prostate issues and digestive disturbances. Although not a highly recommended read, Fisher does make aging and fitness interchangeable concepts. The most important message - eat your vegetables and get off the couch!

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