Not everyone can be thin, but everyone can be fit.

If your goal is good health, you don't need to train for marathons. You just need to look for opportunities to be more active throughout the day.

The principle is simple -- medical science indicates that even small amounts of activity, when done consistently, provide big benefits for health, longevity and quality of life.

Folks who thought exercise only worked if they lost weight were encouraged to learn that the benefits are independent of weight. (Genetically speaking, not everyone can be skinny, but everybody can be fit.) Former couch potatoes have developed a more "activity-based" mind-set, doing things like gardening or cleaning the house, which get the heart pumping.

It's been said that your health can be judged by which you take two at a time -- pills or stairs. How will you be judged?