At 91, Jack Lalanne is more fit than many men half his age. Continuing his half-century old mission to make America more fit, LaLanne appeared in New York City Saturday to declare a "war on child obesity". He also presided over an exhibition aimed at persuading parents and kids that America's fat problem could be solved if people would only exercise regularly, eat natural foods and stay away from sugary desserts: a message that hasn't changed much since 1951, when his TV exercise show began its 34-year run. "The food you eat today, you wear it tomorrow!" he told the crowd.

Where can you sit down, read a book, sleep or watch TV and STILL be getting a great cardio work out in the process?? In a far-infrared sauna, that's where! American College of Cardiology review: This study took 25 men with at least 1 risk factor for heart disease and treated them with low-heat far infrared sauna sessions. Results concluded that: "Repeated Infrared Sauna treatment improves impaired blood vessel functions in patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol. This suggests a preventive role for infrared sauna use for arteriosclerosis." Another reason to love your infrared sauna - it's the most relaxing workout there is!

Researchers report that four consecutive days of moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying, compared with mice that didn't exercise. This protective effect was more evident in mice greater than 16 weeks of age, an age at which they are immunologically more mature. The takeaway message: exercise regularly because you never know when you'll be exposed!

Journal of Neuroscience, Sept. 2005: Older mice that exercised on a running wheel developed new brain cells and learned a new task more effectively than older mice that took it easy all day, a study reports today. The study showed that regular physical activity helped spur the production of neurons in the memory region of the mouse brain. If the findings hold true for humans, they suggest that regular workouts might give older humans a boost in brainpower and might even help forestall the forgetfulness and confusion that can plague people as they get older

CBS America’s obsession with good health and exercise is leading to a boom in yoga. One man at the forefront of the movement is Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yogi with an all- American approach. Choudhury's turning up the heat with his "torture chamber" yoga method. Dressed in nothing but a Rolex and a Speedo, the 59-year-old yoga guru pushes his students to contort 'til it hurts in a room heated to well over 100 degrees. "I don't sell cheesecake, you know that?" asks Choudhury. "So you come there to suffer. If you don't suffer, you don't get anything. Nothing is easy in life."

Unfortunately, the trend nowadays at most gyms is put towards "cosmetic" workouts, where a person will simply try to acquire blown up biceps or a large chest without caring about the development of the legs, back, neck, or the functionality of their body. This article looks at the pros and cons of free weights vs. gym machines when developing a whole body exercise plan. Which is better for your goals?