YOU'RE ONLY AS OLD AS YOU LET YOURSELF BE!

It's not how old you are that's important, but how old you feel. In my case, the calendar says I've just celebrated the big 5-0, but I feel at least 30 years younger.

My secret? Well, it's no secret. In fact, it's actually pretty easy ... I eat a sensible diet, get plenty of rest, and exercise regularly.

You too can look and feel years younger than you actually are, provided you don't get sidetracked by these 7 common exercise myths...

Myth #1:
If you're over 40 and out of shape, it's too late to start an exercise programs.
Although our bodies change as we grow older, our muscles (including our heart) never lose their ability to grow stronger. That means you can look and feel great at any age, even if (as you'll see later in this news letter) you're not in the best shape.

Use the Walk'N Out audlocassette for a brisk 45-minute walk three days a week. On three other days, exercise for 30 to 60 minutes, using one of the videos. (Alternate among them so you'll have plenty of variety.) Exercise for 6 days ... the seventh is your day of rest. A proper exercise program can change your life. Here's exactly what you need to get started ... MYTH-BUSTER PACKAGE #1 Perfect 10 two-video set (Vols. I & 2) $55.90 Walk'N Out audiocassette............... $9.95 Total Combined Price.................. $65.85 Special Package Price $59.95 YOU SAVE................ $5.90 Order now! NOTE: These items can also be purchased separately. See order form.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association provides amazing proof that the right kind of exercise, done regularly, can give everyone a new lease on life.

This breakthrough study involved two groups of women in their 90s. The first group led a sedentary life typical of people that age. The second consisted of women who exercised with weights twice a week. At the end of a year, researchers compared the two and discovered that the women who exercised:

• were 15 to 20 years more youthful;
• increased their muscle strength (in some cases becoming stronger than they had been in their youth!);
• regained bone density (if you don't already know why this is so important, be sure to read "The amazing truth about exercise and your bones!" below);
• became trimmer, even without a change in diet;
• improved their balance and flexibility; and
• saw their activity level leap 27 percent!

e've known for a long time that exercise with weights helps sculpt muscles and provide the sleek look we all want. But new research proves that the very same exercises also help stimulate bone formation and ward off osteoporosis, one of the most devastating diseases affecting women today. Bones contain two kinds of cells. One breaks down damaged bone tissue and releases calcium into the blood. The second draws calcium from the blood to create new bone tissue. The balance between these two types of cells shifts as you age: Under age 25 your body creates more bone tissue than it loses From 25 to 35, most people maintain a constant bone density From age 35 to menopause you lose about half a percent of your bone tissue each year, unless you take steps to prevent this from happening During the first 5 years after menopause you'll lose 1 to 2 percent of your bone mass each year, unless you take steps to prevent it From age 55 to 70 bone loss slows down to about 1 percent a year After age 70 the loss of bone mass drops to about half a percent a year Although the loss of bone mass is a natural part of aging, it can be prevented! The tug of muscle against bone, which occurs during toning exercises, not only sculpts the muscles, it helps promote bone formation. In a recent clinical study, women who didn't exercise lost about 2 percent of their bone density during a one-year period, while women who trained with weights gained 1 percent. A regular exercise program using videos can help you avoid the devatating effects of osteoporosis, without any harmful side effects. Order your favorites by calling 1-800-788-5865 and get started right away.

Recently, I was in therapy for tendonitis in my hip, and as part of the therapy, I've been doing about 7 or 8 different stretches twice a day ... I never realized how important stretching is to muscles! I'm slowly getting more flexible, workouts are a little easier because it seems the muscles want to work more, and everything seems a little tighter and stronger! - Diane Pappas, Dracut, MA

I started with your program 3 years ago. Now 50, 1 look and feel better than ever ... Thanks for an enjoyable program that really works. - Karen Mueller, East Alton, IL

Myth #2:
Stretching is a good pre-exercise warm up, but it doesn't provide any benefits of its own.

I wish I had a penny for every time I heard somebody refer to stretching as a warm-up for "real" exercise. What most people don't realize is that stretching provides valuable benefits in its own night and should follow every workout!

You can stretch any time during the day to relieve muscle tension, promote better blood circulation, and make your entire body feel more relaxed. This is especially important after you work out.

I know from personal experience that stretching provides almost instant relief from stress or from the minor aches and pains caused by sitting at a desk all day. You can stretch just about anywhere (even at work!) without anyone realizing that you're secretly giving your body a refreshing pick-me-up.

4 TIPS TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING Don't stretch too far, particularly when you first start. Stretch to a point where you're comfortable. As the muscles relax, increase the stretch. Hold the stretch ... don't bounce! Bouncing tightens the muscles instead of loosening them. Breathe slowly and deeply. Don't hold your breath. If the muscles being stretched start to hurt, ease off to a position that you can comfortably hold. Stretching should be peaceful and pain-free. Remember, this isn't a competition!

Stretching helps maintain the length of your muscles and the range of motion in your joints. And because tight muscles are one of the leading causes of injuries, doing stretching on a regular basis improves your overall health. It's also an effective way to get relief from lower back discomfort.

Because stretching is such an important, but overlooked part of a healthy lifestyle, I decided to devote an entire video to it. It's the second half of my just-released Muscle & Grace two-video set. The first video contains two 30-minute workouts to exercise all the muscle groups of the body. The second video, called Stretching (which I recently filmed on location in Acapulco), can be used as a 30-minute program or as six different 5-minute programs after all your workout sessions.

I've teamed up these new videos with a Frelonic Exercise Mat to create this special package that saves you money and gets you started on this terrific way to relieve stress and discomfort, promote better circulation, improve posture, and make your whole body feel more relaxed ...

 Muscle & Grace two-video set $44.95
 Frelonic Exercise Mat        $34.95
 Total Combined Price         $79.90
        Special Package Price $74.95
        YOU SAVE              $ 4.95

Myth #3:
Exercising with weights builds large, unattractive muscles.

"The main reason most people slow down as they get older is that they lose about a third of their muscle mass between ages 35 and 80 and inactivity is a major factor. The good news is that this can be reversed." - Dr. Miriam E. Nelson, author of the forthcoming book, Strong Women Stay Young

People have many misconceptions about muscles. Perhaps the most common is that women who exercise with weights will get bulging muscles like body builders.

Not true! All you have to do is decrease the amount of weight and increase the repetitions, and you'll end up with muscles that are firrn and contoured, rather than big and bulging.

Another thing most people don't realize about muscles is that starting at about age 40, our bodies naturally lose almost half a pound of muscle each year and replace it with the same amount of fat. If you don't do something to stop this fat-for-muscle substitution process, by

After complaining to each other for months about all our various aches and pains, [my friend and I] began exercising with your program this summer. Now we are faithful followers! We have both noticed how our bodies are beginning to firm up, and we both (age 48) have lost weight! - Marilyn Fessel, Mattoon, IL

Even though I have always been physically active and athletic, I feel I am in better shape now than at any time in my life. When people ask me if I exercise, or how I stay in shape (I'm 43), 1 tell them about Body Electric and how well your program fits into my life. - Judith Dixon, Orleans, IN

I just want to tell you how very much my husband (67) and I (63) enjoy your exercise program. I have fibromyalgia. Exercise really helps strengthen my muscles and bones. - Lois Malivuk, Pittsburgh, PA

the time you're 80 about a third of your muscle mass will have been replaced with fat!

Now here's the good news: exercising with weights doesn't just stop this process it actually reverses it! In addition to looking better, you'll feel better. (Later in this newsletter, you'll find news of a Tufts University study that proves this.)

If you've never tried muscle toning exercises, now is the time to start. To help you get started on the road to a sleeker, more youthful physique, I've put together a special package consisting of:

• my Sculpture I and II exercise videos, each containing a 50-minute muscle toning session, complete with a warm-up and cool down. The first video concentrates on sculpting the muscles of your upper body, from pectorals to abdominals, while the second helps you tone lower body muscles
• corduroy-covered Willowear Leg Weights that have "one size fits all" elastic stretch bands for a custom fit with maximum comfort

MYTH-BUSTER PACKAGE #3 Sculpture videos (Vols. I & 2) $55.90 Willowear Leg Weights (two 3 lb. weights) $34.95 Total Combined Price $90.85 Special Package Price $84.95 YOU SAVE $ 5.90 Order now! NOTE: These items can also be purchased separately. See order form.

Myth #4:
Doing abdominal exercises on a regular basis will flatten your stomach.

Turn on the TV or pick up a magazine and you're sure to see an ad for some gizmo that claims to be able to magically flatten your stomach in no time at all. What the people selling these things fail to tell you is that no abdominal exercise, by itself, will give you the results you're seeking.

Getting an attractive, sculpted stomach requires two things.You have to tighten the abdominal muscles with toning exercises, and you have to use aerobic exercises to decrease body fat. Just do the toning exercises and you may get firmer muscles, but you won't see them! That's because the abdominal muscles may be hidden by body fat. For your newly toned abs to show, you have to reduce this fat.

Because this problem affects so many people, I've put together a special package that combines muscle toning with aerobic exercise to give you "showoff abs" that, all by themselves, could make you look and feel 20 or 30 years younger.

The aerobic part of the package consists of my unique Walk'N Out audiocassette. Start by using the cassette in your walking program. For the muscle toning component of the package, I selected Muscle & Grace, my new two video set that combines muscle toning with stretching. Use it with the Body Electric Body Bar, Willowear Leg Weights, and Frelonic Exercise Mat and you'll start seeing results faster than you ever imagined possible.

 Muscle &-Grace two-video set              $ 44.95
 Walk'N Out audiocassette                  $  9.95
 Body Electric Body Bar                    $ 44.95
 Willowear Leg Weights (two 3-lb. weights) $ 34.95
 Frelonic Exercise Mat                     $ 34.95
 Total combined price                      $169.75
                     Special Package Price $159.75
                     YOU SAVE              $ 10.00

Myth #5:
People with osteoporosis, arthritis, or cardiovascular problems shouldn't exercise.

Some exciting new research by Dr. Miriam Nelson of Tufts University proves what many of us have known all along: muscle toning exercises are good for people suffering from a wide range of medical conditions, including:

4 Facts about OSTEOPOROSIS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW FACT: Each year about 300,000 people are hospitalized with hip fractures because of osteoporos. FACT: Half of these victims never go home again, and one in five dies from complications within a year. FACT: A woman is more likely to die as a result of a hip fracture than from breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer combined! FACT: Osteoporosis can be prevented -- and even reversed! -- with a combination of proper diet and exercise. Muscle toning exercises not only strengthen muscles, but the bones to which they're attached -- and they do it without harmful side effects.

• Heart Problems. Patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program who added muscle toning to their regular walking regime were 90 percent stronger after 12 weeks, while those who relied on walking alone were only 9 percent stronger. And their aerobic improvement was even greater!
• Arthritis. Patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis were not only able to lift weights, they reported both pain relief and improved range of motion. Additionally, the exercises helped counteract the effects of muscle-depleting drugs commonly used for the treatment of arthritis.
• Osteoporosis. Women who exersed twice a week enjoyed increased bone density equal to what can be achieved with hormonal therapy, but without the risks or the expense.

If you've put off starting an exercise program because you thought it would complicate an existing medical problem, this new university study will hopefully change your mind. It proves once and for all that the riskiest thing you can do is to not exercise! Get your doctor's approval, then send for this special money-saving package so you can get started right away...

Getting Better video          $29.95
Walk'N Out audiocassette      $ 9.95
Frelonic Exercise Mat         $34.95
Total Combined Price          $74.85
      Special Package Price   $67.50
      YOU SAVE                $ 7.35

I am a 48 year old woman and I have been exercising with Body Electric since I turned 40. 1 find your program to be excellent for my injured lower back - and you are recommended by my physical therapist as an excellent form of low impact body toning. - Paula Vogt, Lake Lillian, MN

After having been diagnosed with arthritis in both my knees and bursitis in my right shoulder, it is very difficult to do any type of aerobic activity, but I have found that working with you is strengthening my knees and shoulder. - Cindie Burdick, Parker, CO

Myth #6:
You can eliminate cellulite from your thighs with creams.

Let me make something clear right off the bat ... there is absolutely no scientific evidence that the cellulite creams you see advertised do anything but make money for the people who sell them.

You see, cellulite is just another word for fat. And it's been scientifically proven over and over again that you simply cannot "spot" reduce body fat. So if you've been rubbing these creams on your thighs and wondering why you aren't seeing results, now you know why.

Of course, that doesn't mean you have to live with flabby thighs. You can make them firm by combining aerobic workouts (to reduce fat throughout your body) with exercises that tone the muscles.

If you would like more toned and shapely thighs forget the creams and send for my Myth-Buster Package #6. It contains my Sculpture (Lower Body) video that's packed with 50 minutes of non-impact muscle sculpting for your thighs and the other muscles of your lower body. I've also included my Walk'N Out audiocassette and a Frelonic exercise mat.

I think you'll find this special package costs a lot less than what you'd spend on cellulite creams. And I know it will produce better results!

Sculpture (Lower Body) video $29.95
Frelonic Exercise Mat        $34.95
Walk'N Out audiocassette     $ 9.95
Total Combined Price         $72.85
     Special Package Price   $67.35
     YOU SAVE                $ 5.50

MYTH #7:
If you can maintain a constant weight by dieting, it's not necessary to exercise.

I have been working out with you for four years and I am astounded by the results. In three weeks I will be turning 40 and I am actually looking forward to it because I look and feel better than when I turned thirty-five, and it's all due to the Body Electric program. - Natalie Prendergast, Tonawanda, NY

I am 88 years old and can do all your exercises but the pushups. I have always exercised to some extent, but it makes me feel better to have a program to hear and watch, so keep up the good work. - Mae Edwards, Granite City, IL

Body Electric is the only conditioning exercise program I have found which caters to various fitness levels, including that of middle-aged females (including myself). For the past five years, I have benefited greatly in flexibility, strength, and general fitness because of regular participation. - Iris McMurtry, Tullahoma, TN

I was in my twenties when I first found you and Body Electric. In my 30s I gave birth to 3 daughters. And just last week, I became a Fabulous 40! Through all the many changes that occur in life, it is nice that there has remained one constant ... you and Body Electric. - Cindy Cohen, Cincimnati, OH

You cut out desserts, cut back on portion size, and generally drive yourself crazy by dieting. But, hey, it's worth it - after all, you weigh pretty much the same today as you did 10 or 15 years ago.

You're obviously succeeding in your quest for good health, right? Well, it may be hard to believe, but the answer is a resounding "no!"

You see, dieting reduces both muscle mass and body fat. while getting rid of fat is good, losing muscle isn't. Reduced muscle mass causes body parts to droop and is in what is commonly called "flab."

As we saw earlier, your body automatically loses muscle mass as you age. So by dieting you're actually speeding up the aging clock!

Now, I'm not suggesting you stop watching what you eat. A sensible diet that's high in fiber and low in fat is important. But to improve your health and appearance while you increase your stamina, you have to combine the night diet with muscle toning exercises. That way you'll lose only the fat, while firming the muscles that provide the slim, sculptured look everyone wants.

To ensure you're eating correctly, I recommend the Body Electric Guide to Nutrition and Weight Control, which I wrote with the help of my personal nutritionist, Dr. Freddy Kaye. It's just what you need to get started on a heart-healthy, low-fat lifestyle.

6 EXERCISE TIPS TO MAKE ANY WORKOUT MORE EFFECTIVE Keep your weights visible so they're always calling your name, urging you to use them regularly. Strive for proper form; endurance will follow naturally. When traveling, take a timer with you to ensure you spend about three and a half minutes exercising each muscle. Sounds silly, but it really works. Take a brisk walk (use the Walk'N Out cassette to set the right pace) at least 5 or 6 days a week, followed by five minutes of stretching with Volume II of my new Muscle & Grace video. Challenge yourself. Stay motivated and don't get in a rut. Vary the equipment and routines used to work each muscle. Some of my workouts can be done standing, sitting, or even reclining. When using the chair option in an exercise, choose one that's firm, rather than one you sink into. When domg exercises in the recling position, use the Frelonic Exercise Mat rather than lying on a hard floor

What should you use to tone your muscles? Well, all my exercise videos feature toning, so you can't go wrong with any of them. To give your program added punch, try my Knockout Workout video. It combines an aerobic workout with muscle toning and lets you dance-box your way to fitness.

To provide variety (which helps you stick with your exercise program), altemate your Knockout Workout with the exercises on my High Voltage! video. Filmed against a lovely bay-front background, these exercises work all muscle groups and can be used as two 30-minute sessions or one 60-minute program.

To save you money, I've put both videos, the Nutrition Guide, and the Walk'N Out cassette into a special myth-buster package that gives you everything you need to increase your ratio of muscle to fat -- and to look and feel better than ever.

Body Electric Guide to
  Nutrition & Weight Control  $ 7.95
Walk'N Out audiocassette      $ 9.95
Knockout Workout video        $27.95
High Voltage! video           $27.95
Total Combined Price          $73.80
     Special Package Price    $67.95
      YOU SAVE                $ 5.85

My heartfelt wish is that the information in this newsletter helps you immediately exercise your will power --

• I will be healthy!
• I will be fit!
• I will be strong!

Best of health, Margaret Richard

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