The idea that exercise helps the brain isn’t new, but the science behind it keeps getting richer and stronger.
“Exercise is No. 1 when we’re thinking about the biggest bang for your buck,” Dr. Gregg Day, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic, told The New York Times.
Read MoreFunctional fitness focuses on building strength, balance, mobility, and coordination needed for everyday activities—like standing up, carrying groceries, or safely getting up and down from the floor. It’s essential for older adults because it helps maintain independence, reduces the risk of falls, improves joint health, and enhances our confidence and capability.
Read MoreWhen it comes to improving our overall health and reducing our risk of chronic disease, many experts are encouraging people to abandon the “all or nothing” approach to exercise and incorporate exercise “snacks” throughout the day.
Read MoreIt’s not either or! Both types of training improves our balance, reduces the risk of falls, and supports healthy weight management. This combination also boosts our mood, sharpens cognition, and promotes overall longevity and quality of life.
Read MoreHere are some of the questions we’re most frequently asked about exercise and fitness after 50.
Read MoreThere are simple tests that have been shown to be predictors of longevity. Grip strength and sit-to-stands are assessments that we do with all our clients in their first session.
Read MoreThe study reports that any increase in walking appears to help with back pain. Just walking a little more each day — even 10- to 15-minute blocks — can make a difference over time.
Read MoreWhat if we told you about a miracle drug that would help you lose weight, manage your blood pressure, and improve your bone density and strength? What if this drug also helped prevent falls and memory loss?
Read MoreJuaquita Gray is a 59-year-old champion athlete who can’t even imagine slowing down.
“I think, ‘I cannot get slower and jump less far if I maintain my body,’” says Juanita, an Air Force veteran, Defense Department contractor, and leading masters track competitor.
Part of her secret comes from strength training and dynamic mobility exercises. And even if you never want to compete in track and field, you need to focus on strength and mobility, too – just to enjoy your health, quality of life, and activities of your choice.
Read MorePeople used to say you could learn about someone’s character by the firmness of a handshake. Now, research tells us that grip strength can also be an indicator of how long you might live. And it’s not the only everyday way to get a glimpse into longevity. Studies also say we can learn about our future health by measuring...
Read MorePeople are living longer than ever before. They’re also working longer, too, with many maintaining jobs after 50 that keep them traveling on a regular basis. That can make fitness extra-challenging for active adults still enjoying their demanding careers. Steady business travel can mean long days; restless nights; little incentive to exercise; and eating heavy meals in restaurants or lousy ones at conferences. In short, it can be a quick route to weight gain and other unhealthy outcomes.
Read MoreSelf-care is important throughout life, and especially after age 50 or so. From having a “happy place” like a lake cabin to exercising regularly and eating right, it’s vital to love yourself every day through taking positive steps to enjoy life, stay in good health, and thrive at any age. Take a look at this checklist to see how you’re doing and where you might “level up” a bit.
Read MoreHere’s a common exercise question, followed by a helpful explanation. “Why do you sometimes have us twist our bodies while we’re also moving forward? Or lift our arms in front while lunging to the side?” You see, fitness isn’t just about doing one thing at a time, like lifting a weight now and then running ahead in a straight line later.
Read MorePeter likes to run the trails in his neighborhood and work out on equipment in the park. Maria is crazy about hiking with her weighted backpack. And Joe rides his bike as often as possible, even to the grocery store and his favorite watering hole. These are just three of the responses received recently when asking people what kinds of activities they enjoy outside of the gym.
Read MoreHere’s a “hot take” on a common bit of advice that tells us to “Never look back – you’re not going that way.” Yeah, sure. But here’s the deal. If you don’t look back sometimes, then how can you review where you’ve been – and feel great about how far you’ve come? If you’re always looking ahead to a goal off on the horizon, then you’re always going to be unsatisfied – because that goal, and the horizon, will constantly move farther away from your grasp.
Read MoreMillions of people struggle with depression, and lots of those take medicine or talk to a therapist for treatment.
But did you know physical exercise is just as effective, according to research?
Read MoreNew research in the journal JAMA Neurology shows that living a healthy lifestyle protects the brain from cognitive decline even if it already shows signs of Alzheimer’s hallmarks or other brain pathologies that can occur long before dementia.
Read MoreIt’s the time of year when everyone wants to build new habits, and “getting in shape” is always one of the most popular New Year resolutions. I love it, of course, and welcome everyone who’s starting this month – and all the returning friends who are back for more strength, endurance, and agility.
Read MoreYou’ve heard of low-carb diets and low-fat diets. But you’ve probably never heard of anyone telling you to avoid eating protein – especially after age 50 or so, when we need to double our efforts to get enough of it. You need protein to grow and maintain muscle mass, which we naturally lose as we mature, causing frailty, falls, and more problems.
Read MoreIt’s easy to think of aging as a steady decline. But fitness proves it doesn’t have to be that simple and dreadful. If you exercise regularly, you’re more likely to maintain physical abilities. Period. So think of it as a sliding scale – with physical dependence at one end and being an elite athlete on the other. Nobody wants to be physically dependent, of course. And while most of us don’t aspire to be an elite athlete, everybody wants something in the broad middle there. We want to be fit so we can stay independent and avoid becoming frail for as long as possible.
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