Opening my new Life Center has actually given me more time to focus on my exercise-training program. Now my fitness goal is to do another photo shoot by year's end-and look even better than I did in ones taken in the past few years. And although that's near my 71^st birthday, I truly believe it can be done.

What will that mean? More training, less stress, eating clean. That adds up to 4 hours a day of workouts. Yes, that sounds plain nuts to the average person. But I feel it's part of my destiny to embody and exemplify the age management medicine approach. You only have to do a fraction of what I do to get/stay fit and prevent or delay age-related disease.

Working out an hour a day, six days a week will shift your fitness to healthier levels-20 minutes daily for cardio, 20 minutes for resistance training (stretches in between resistance exercises). The key is to find what you like to do-what will motivate you-then keep doing it at the time you like to do it. Go outside to walk or jog, play racquetball, cycle, swim, etc. You also could do resistance training just 3x per week, but with 45-minute sessions that combine body part workouts.

Everyone needs a trainer to start because there is an art and science to lifting weights. You just can't go and do it. There's a proper form, correct breathing and safety issues to learn. Ask a trainer at your local gym or fitness center for advice.

That said, my goal is to lose 10 pounds, about 1 to 2 pounds per week, and get down to 10% body fat. Right now, my training program stacks up like this:

Every weekday morning, 6:30 am - 7 am.  I work out with my trainer, Rod Stanley. Mondays are for my least favorite, legs. They are the weakest part of my body and need the most work. So to help me psychologically, I decided to move them to the beginning of the week and get them out of the way. Then Tuesdays are for my chest, Wednesday for my back, Thursdays for shoulders (hour-long brutal workout) and Fridays for arms, biceps and triceps.

Generally, each workout has 4-5 exercises of 4 sets each. My goal is 16 sets a session, about 8-12 reps each. Exercises are changed weekly to keep it interesting and beneficial. For example, I don't do the same routines each leg day. It might be squats, leg extensions, curls, leg presses or calf exercises. Chest days might be flat dumb bell bench presses, warming up with 2-3 sets, followed by 4 working sets. Then I might move to a machine for incline press, flys, decline bench presses.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday afternoons. One-on-one taekwondo training challenges me and continually moves me to new fitness levels, as I work toward my blackbelt. And it affects every area of my health program, reinforcing clarity, focus and self-discipline.

Evenings, 4-5 times a week. I ride my exercise bike because hands-down, cardio exercise is the only way I can burn body fat-making it the most important workout of the week. Truth is, cardio is the "deal breaker" for most people. They don't mind going to the gym for resistance training, but cardio is another matter.

The key is find tricks to keep your interest level peaked. I've tried music, but it didn't keep me motivated. What did keep me on course was saving my favorite TV series for cardio workouts. I plug in a "hills" program on my exercise bike, hit the DVD to play shows like "24" or "Shield" that captivate me.

My golden rule: I can't watch an episode unless I'm on the exercise bike. Period. As a result, there's a shift chemically in my mind and I no longer agonize over cardio workouts. Instead, the focus is positive, looking forward to the next episode of my favorite shows.

Of course, you've got to watch you don't over-exercise!

Pilates, 5 nights a week, 7 pm - 8 pm. Okay, I'll admit it. Before I started Pilates, I had no clue what it was-whether yoga or some kind of weird dance. Happily, I discovered it an amazing approach when used with a skilled Pilates trainer and well-designed equipment. Pilates really helps you stretch and become more flexible . . . important as you age and the key to successful taekwondo for solid, high kicks. Gaining flexibility changes your posture, gait and movement and creates a more youthful appearance. Pilates is helping me take "flexibility" to new heights-and has become a vital component of my workouts from here on out. 

Future takes. Now will I continue to exercise 4 hours a day for the rest of my life? No. What about cardio? I hope so because it's that important to heart health and impacts every aspect of my life-energy levels, sexual life, ability to climb steps well, etc.

But I will keep my morning resistance training workouts? I think so. I enjoy it and like the positive energy it creates when I get with my trainer. It's a stress reliever and sets the tone for the day.

The bottom line is this: The age management medicine approach has saved my life. Had I not started this fitness/nutritional program 10-11 years ago, my life would be completely different and my health span definitely shortened.