Exercise is extremely important. The saying "Use it or lose it" certainly applies to the muscles of the body, as well as the capacity of the brain to function. To assist you in calculating how good your runs are, there is a calorie counter below.

And we certainly do need to exercise today, when the average diet is considered. A man lived a whole year one time by eating nothing but plain, cooked potatoes! One doesn't have to go to that extreme to be healthy. The point is that potatoes are nutritious, and we like to doctor them up to taste better. Consider this. By itself, the potato only has 140 calories. But, think about the things we add to it or make out of it. For example:

• with sour cream and butter 420 calories
• as hash browns it's 520 calories
• as french fries it's 530 calories
• as potato chips it's 1,200 calories
• and, as "Pringles" a whole potato is 1,360 calories!!

Figuring out why we gain weight isn't rocket science. If we take in a lot of calories and don't burn them off, they accumulate! Some changes need to be made to reach optimum health. Taking these health principles into consideration is an important first step.

Nothing said on these pages should be taken as specific medical advice for your particular situation. Before starting any exercise program a doctor should be consulted, particularly if you are over 40, or have a history of health problems.