I was fortunate to be born with athletic talents; you could say fitness is in my bones.  As soon as I could walk I was doing flips off the jungle gym in the backyard and practicing “flying” from the top of a small play house. Every spare minute you could find me playing with jump ropes, pogo sticks, stilts and hula hoops.

Years ago, a friend encouraged me to try running.  She made it sound so invigorating to gear up and be out in nature, jogging along the reservoir path in Central Park, under a beautiful canopy of trees that change with the seasons.  It looked easy enough, until the first time, when 1.6 miles stretched out before me like a marathon. Plugging away, I made it, and, over time, it gradually became easier to run around the reservoir.

Strength training sculpts the contours of your body and strengthens the bones within.  By building lean body mass, it boosts your metabolism and your energy levels, making you resistant to the slow down that occurs with age.   A well-designed exercise program that includes weight training will impact your weight, health, fitness and well-being for decades to come.

What does every woman want for the holidays?  Easy!  Shapely, toned arms to reveal feminine definition in sleeveless cocktail dresses or under skinny knits. While appearances may be the motivating force, sculpted arms are not only for showing off, but also to help you lift and carry with ease, reach overhead onto the top shelf without strain, and pull your wheelie effortlessly at the airport.