Copyright 2006 Barbara Morris, R.Ph.

If you eat fast food, even occasionally, you must admire how quickly they crank out the stuff. A proven, time-tested system makes it possible. Every day, in every way, they prepare and serve every burger and every batch of fries exactly the same way. No deviation from the system allowed. It works perfectly except when humans goof up and dont follow the system.

The fast food system can teach us a lot about mastering the aging process. You can apply it to your own life.

You start with a product (you), develop a system or regimen (exercise and diet), then every day apply the system to the product (you). Simple, yes?

Of course, you must first develop the system or regimen that you want to put the product (you) through each day. Dont make it difficult or complicated, just decide on some simple baby steps to take, then start.

Lets assume you decide there are five basic actions you will take each and every day to keep you ageless. They could be:

You eat breakfast with enough protein to keep your appetite in check until the next meal. No sugary fake cereals or excess empty carbs to upset your blood sugar and create cravings.

You take vitamin supplements, even if you feel great and think you dont need them.

You make time to exercise, even if you think you dont have time. No need for trips to a fitness center; instead, invest in a treadmill or stationary bike, and put it in front of the TV. Walk or pedal away while you watch your favorite programs instead of sitting on the sofa drinking nasty diet soda and wolfing down a bag of greasy chips.

You spend 15 minutes reading books or newsletters that teach you about anti-aging living.

You drink eight full glasses of water during the day.

Its a no-brainer You do the five actions of your choice each and every day. You dont need to start all five at once. Start with one thing. Then add another after the first action becomes automatic. It doesnt matter if the sky falls, you do it anyway. It becomes a habit, a regimen or a system whatever you choose to call it. And it works.

If you are 30, 40 or 50 and you begin to invest in yourself with a dedicated system that makes sense to you, I guarantee that by the time you are 77 (my age) father time will have no claim on your ageless life. You will feel and function, mentally and physically as you did 25 years earlier.

Look, you cant stop the passage of time, but you can develop a personal anti-aging system that stops oldness dead in its tracks. Take the advice of that wise entertainer, Eubie Blake, who said, If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. You have to power to control the aging process. Stop putting it off. Start your own fast food system today! Remember, it works!