NEW YORK (WLNY) – Denise Austin has been helping America stay healthy for more than 25 years.

But the fitness legend admits it’s tough to keep the weight off as you get older — even for her.

In her new book, Side Effect: Skinny, Austin reveals the secret strategies that will help you stay healthy, trim and confident.

FIT MINUTE: The Chair Workout

You don’t need to look like a supermodel to look great and feel healthier.

“It’s all about being fit and being strong and moderation,” she said. “You gotta eat, but what to eat is important.”

As she points out, the aging process has an effect on your weight — it’s harder to burn off belly fat.

“Your body changes,” Austin said. “You’ve really got to target tone…It’s so important to get rid of body fat around the tummy because it’s closest to the heart, so we want to fight heart disease – still the number one killer in America.”

Solutions for on-the-go for busy women: learn how to burn extra calories whether you’re in the car, kitchen, or office, to whittle the middle and tone the muscles from head to toe.