Barbara's personal plan for staying young and energetic naturally includes exercise. Her bedroom doubles as a home gym with a treadmill, which she calls one of the greatest things she's ever purchased, a stepper and all manner of weight-training equipment. She makes the rounds at least three times a week, spending about 30 minutes on an aerobic workout and another 30 on muscle strengthening. The trick is to eat little, but make it count. I feel much better when I eat less.
Breakfast tends to be eggs, fruit, toast and plenty of vitamins washed down by a soy concoction.
Barbara's standard dinner is homemade oatmeal, garnished with ground flaxseed, a drizzle of honey and soy milk. Indeed, soy products, including tofu, miso, flour, chips, nuts, soy milk and soy burgers are a dietary mainstay. Low in fat and high in fiber and protein, soy helps strengthen bones, may help fight cancer and even produces some of the same traits as a mild estrogen dosage, avoiding the need for hormone replacement therapy. Throughout the day, Barbara drinks glass after glass of water, usually a gallon in total, which not only helps take the edge off her appetite but also stimulates general good health. Supplements and vitamins have been an integral weapon in Barbara's battle against aging for at least 40 years.