Issue Date: July 10, 2005
Maybe you're NOT so fit
Think you're fit? Michigan State University researchers say only 3% of people lead a healthful lifestyle, even though about 75% of respondents in a study for an insurer called themselves healthy. Seems Americans are a little deluded. A healthful lifestyle includes a nutritious diet (five fruits/veggies a day), no smoking, a healthy weight and at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.
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Want to take the next step? The Cooper Institute's "12-Minute Test" is a good tool for measuring cardiovascular fitness. Grab a stopwatch and hit a local track (one lap = 1/4 mile). Cover as much distance as you can in 12 minutes. Your fitness level is "fair to good" if you reach this mileage for your age and sex:
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Age
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Men
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Women
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20s
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1.49-1.68
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1.30-1.52
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30s
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1.45-1.63
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1.25-1.43
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40s
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1.38-1.58
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1.19-1.37
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50s
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1.29-1.47
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1.11-1.26
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60s
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1.19-1.37
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1.05-1.18
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Do you fall short? If so, practice and then retest in one month. (Check with your doctor, too.)Henryk T. Kaiser, IndexStock
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Buying a vacation home: Beware of hidden costs
Do you find yourself on vacation, poring over local real estate ads for cottages or condos, playing "should I"? Prices have escalated in the double digits in many resort areas, making a second home a tempting investment. (After all, the major stock averages are in the red so far this year.) But proceed with caution: A vacation home isn't a get-rich-quick deal.
"Hidden" costs can dramatically reduce a home's potential value to you: Besides paying a second set of utility and phone bills, you may have to hire a property manager or pay for lawn care and snow removal. And property taxes could be significantly higher than those on your primary home if the second home is in a hurricane or flood zone.
If you're looking at a vacation home as a tax write-off, remember you can deduct mortgage interest only on your primary residence and one other home, up to a principal loan amount of $1 million (or $100,000 for a home equity loan).
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Coffee can protect, too
Researchers credit caffeine and antioxidants in coffee.
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Drinking coffee to sober up is an old wives' tale, but science says coffee may lessen liver damage from, among other things, too much alcohol. New Japanese research shows that drinkers of one or two cups of coffee a day are 30% less apt than non-coffee drinkers to have liver cancer. A new National Institutes of Health study finds that Americans at high risk of liver damage who drank more than two cups a day showed half as much liver damage as non-coffee drinkers. People in the study drank excess alcohol, had viral hepatitis or iron overload, or were overweight.
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Take the lug out of luggage
The latest bags can accommodate travelers of all types.
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Luggage isn't simply a means of transporting clothes anymore. Today's suitcases are complex packing systems with features for every type of traveler. Some recent innovations:
Briggs & Riley
(briggs-riley.com, 888-462-2247)
The new Briggs & Riley @work collection ($119-$549) solves the problem of carrying more than one rolling bag at a time by making the bags easily stackable: Side panels on the smaller bags secure them to the handles of the larger bags. The luggage also features custom pockets for everything from toiletries to tickets to tech gadgets.
Samsonite
(samsonite.com, 800-547-2247)
Samsonite's new Spinner technology features wheels that rotate 360 degrees for easier handling on smooth surfaces (right). The company also has introduced an X-Pander system that expands and contracts to help bags accommodate various load sizes without losing their shape. Bags with Spinner technology run $130 to $420.
Travelpro (travelpro.com, 800-741-7471)
Travelpro bags that expand up to 30% give you considerable packing flexibility, but expandable luggage has a tendency to tip over when it's stuffed to capacity. That's why Travelpro developed a No-Tip foot that travelers can pull out when needed to steady a wobbly bag. When not in use, the foot is barely visible. The feature can be found on a wide range of Travelpro products, $129 to $399.
Swany (ezswany.com, 800-237-9269)
Invented by a polio survivor who wanted an easy-to-haul bag strong enough to lean on, the lightweight Swany Walkin'Bag glides smoothly and has a sturdy frame that can support up to 700 pounds. It's perfect for elderly or infirm travelers who don't want their luggage to hinder their travel plans. The company's Stick Chair Cart models ($149 to $230) even come with built-in chairs that fold out for portable seating.
Travel writer Kimberly Lisagor is the author of "Outside Wilderness Vacations."
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