Count Down Your Age: Look, Feel, and Live Better Than You Ever Have Before

"Count Down Your Age" takes a personalized and wholistic view of health, from an everyday perspective. First, there's the "antiaging test" in the beginning of the book [...] Then the book offers thoroughly researched and practical plans on lifestyle, nutrition, exercise and medical care. The plans speak to both vegetarians and nonvegetarians. For me, the most difficult part of the diet plan is that it recommends eating no refined sugar, which would mean no ice cream and cookies. The easiest part of the diet plan is that it recommends eating whole grains, veggies and fruits, which we love. It also recommends eating fish, and YES there is a thorough evaluation of the issue of mercury contamination in fish. One interesting idea about the exercise plan is that we should take up new exercise classes or routines once in a while, in order to keep our minds and bodies sharp and learning new things. Then there are detailed instructions about how to get really effective sleep each night, what affects our sleep, and how to eliminate things which interfere with good sleep. I love about the book that it emphasizes how important it is to laugh, yes LAUGH. Ha, ha ha!!! The books authors first reveal their own past mistakes and bad habits, and the fulfillment of becoming healthy and strong and shedding those bad habits (and shedding pounds and years!). I like this part, because Dave Bunnell is my father, and I have seen the positive changes in his lifestyle and attitude which inspire me to live better and take better care of my family. You don't have to know the authors to be inspired by the section on their personal lives, but if you have worked in the computer or publishing industry, you can read how Dave used to live during the MacWorld days, and how he's changed. It's inspiring to see how a man approaching sixty can knock off 15 years of his life, but moreso how he changed his definition of success from "having it all" to living well, peaceful and in good health.

Count Down Your Age is a very practical and down to earth guide written by two health experts who haven't lost their sense of humor (very important!) on the most important ways that we need to take care of our bodies, our minds and our souls. It is packed with information about everything from how to get better sleep, stay connected with others, maintain a life purpose, what supplements should I take, how to interview your doctor, and exercise and nutrition. The point of the book is that all these aspects combined can help you live longer. I particularly enjoyed the section about the importance of sleep and social connections for physical and mental health since I think these areas don't get enough attention. Many health books simply talk about what to put in your body but this book talks about how to manage your life in addition to what to do with your body. I also found the section on supplements helpful since I often go to the health food store and don't know where to begin. Also helpful was the section on what to look for in a doctor, how to interview them and what questions to ask. Most importantly, CDYA helped me put together a personalized plan that worked for me and didn't have a lot of unnecessary steps, expense or time investment.

This book is incredibly handy as a ready-reference for getting and staying on track with being healthy. It's easy to read and digest the information and takes a refreshing (and inspiring) point of view from two authors (one of whom is a heart surgeon, the other is a famous tech guy) who were overweight and out of shape at the peak of their careers. They turned their health around later in life, which reinforces the fact that it is truly never too late to start (it's intimidating in my late 30s, much less when you're 50+!). I found the section on nutrition especially helpful as a guideline for the best anti-aging foods and supplements to take. I plan to rip that page out of the book and keep it on my fridge as a handy grocery shopping list. The other section I really liked is on medical care. I am a firm believer in being proactive about your health, and the authors give excellent tips on conversations to have with your doctor, when to take which tests, how to keep track of your medical records, etc. What I liked most overall is that this book is easy to understand and the health tips are easy to do. To me, most health books read like a high school biology class (I'm bored and nothing sinks in) or are too stringent (I feel set up to fail by cheating on Day Two). This book is realistic, in that it educates and empowers you to make better lifestyle choices over the long haul, and the authors are honest in what it took for them to change--what a breath of fresh air that is. In a nutshell, I highly recommend it for anyone of any age with the desire to get or be healthy ... the added bonus is feeling and looking better than ever. Got compliments one week after starting the plan :)