10 Ways to Become a Stronger Woman

Maria's Tips 1-5

If anyone understands power, it's Maria Shriver. She's had a ringside seat to it, in the political sense. She is a force in her own right, professionally and personally. And she's married to the guy whose muscles launched the bodybuilding craze. So when the former news anchor, now First Lady of California, says that every woman is born with tremendous power, you can believe her. "It's in our souls and hearts," explains Shriver. "Within us all, there lies some unique and special light."

To help empower women, Shriver has transformed the California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women into a much-anticipated event that draws 14,000 people and sells out in less than 72 hours. Before the conference, held this year on October 23 in Long Beach, Shriver sat down with FITNESS's Caroline Hwang and shared her personal must-do list:

1. Do something that scares you every day, as Eleanor Roosevelt suggested. Fear gives us wisdom. It makes us work harder than we imagined we could.
2. Eat moderately; live bountifully. Enjoy healthy foods. You want your body to last a very long time.
3. Jot down in a journal one moment a day in which you felt powerful. Share your thoughts and ideas at californiawomen.org/forum/. The idea: We can all learn from each other.
4. Get a physical every year. You are worth it. Your health is a gift.
5. Use a pedometer to track how much you move around. Challenge yourself daily to take at least 10,000 steps.