Deborah Szekely on the Secret to Longevity

At 92 years of age Deborah Szekely has revolutionized the way we look at wellness. She’s been involved in community activism for years, and launched Wellness Warrior in 2013, a non-profit dedicated to the improvement of American health—a feat she believes can be accomplished by preventing illness.

In 1940 she founded Rancho La Puerta, a spa in Mexico, a mere hour from San Diego. Today Deborah is still lecturing, and travels often. We were so impressed with her energy and enthusiasm and asked her what the future holds.

What are your goals in the next five years?
Get cracking! There's no time to waste, after all I’m 92. I came up with the idea for my Wellness Warrior website, which is the one-stop home for the latest health-issues and is also an advocacy tool. One of my favorite mottos is, "We can do together what we cannot do alone."
 
What do you want to accomplish personally and professionally?
The two are one and the same with me. People see me as a mentor-model and I have a moral obligation not to let them down. I have to stay healthy, exercise, not "be my age." When I lecture I say, "I have too much ego to allow my weight and overall health to be out of control. You keep me in good health."
 
Some people are not fitness minded. What simple steps can they take to become a wellness warrior?
Your health is your choice. How—and how fast—you age can be a choice as well. Choosing to change begins the moment after a good night's sleep. Resolve to get moving, be vigorous—in whatever way you like to do it. Also pledge to eat fresh and healthy foods.

The grounds at Rancho La Puerta.