5 fitness tips for those 50 and older

1 KEEP UP WITH CARDIO

Heart disease is still the No. 1 cause of death for American women, and maintaining heart health is a must. No, you don't have to run in the next marathon. Keep it simple with daily walks, taking the stairs or daily dancing.

2 EAT SMART

Women 50 and older should really make an effort to eat healthy by sticking with the basics, like calcium-rich foods, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and lean proteins, and avoiding processed foods.

3 STOP CRASH DIETING

Now that you're 50 or older, the crazy crash diets you tried in your youth probably don't work the way they once did. Over the years, those crazy diets wrecked your metabolism, and worse, you've probably lost a lot of muscle as well.

4 NO SPOT REDUCING

Spot reducing has never worked, and wrapping yourself up in plastic, exercising in the sauna or wearing sauna suits is not going to do anything, except dehydrate you. As soon as you drink, that water weight comes right back.

5 YOU NEED MORE THAN CARDIO

Many women enjoy cardiovascular exercises above everything else, and many women erroneously believe that cardiovascular exercise will produce the shape they desire. Nothing could be further from the truth. Muscle is what gives the body shape, and weight training is the best way to strengthen and shape the muscles.