10 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

The holidays can be a “good news, bad news” situation for some people. The good news: We get time off from work, we get to see families and friends, and we get to eat our favorite foods. The bad news: Disrupted schedules, busy calendars, and extra calories can throw us off our healthy tracks. It doesn’t have to be this way. You can enjoy the holidays AND maintain the commitments you’ve made all year to eating right and exercising regularly. 

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Exercise Helps Prevent, Treat Diabetes

Fifteen years ago, Alan Rosenthal was a fit 60-year-old who had just returned from a bicycle trip through France. Then a blood test revealed type 2 diabetes. His doctor gave him a three-day course on diet, exercise, and self-care. The doctor also recommended a local trainer. And even though Alan knew his way around a gym, he adopted a new perspective and learned workouts to keep him healthy.

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Fall Hiking: Accept the Invitation to Move

Do you hear Mother Nature calling? 

How can you resist the temptation to get out and enjoy the cooler temps and the mesmerizing transformation of fall foliage? Even if it means a short drive to reach the perfect spot, the rewards of nature are worth it.

But there's more to this than just a visual treat. With a fall hike or even a leisurely stroll outdoors, you get a super-charged workout that doesn't even feel like exercise.

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Embrace the Season – and Power – of Change

September is a time of change, as temperatures get cooler, days get shorter, and leaves start to fall.

As the famous words – from the Bible and a 1960s hit song – tell us, “To everything turn, turn turn… There is a season… and a time to every purpose under heaven.” So, what can we learn about our healthy habits during this time of year? It’s a great question for everyone, no matter where you are on the fitness spectrum. And what better time to improve your position on that spectrum than during this month of change?

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How Many Steps?

No one's sure where we got the idea that 10,000 is the ideal number of steps everybody should take every day. It doesn't seem to be based on anything scientific or medical. And the number might be daunting to people who are new to the idea of daily exercise.

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Functional Fitness: In Shape for Everyday Life

Why should you work out regularly? 

For big muscles? To lose weight? To beat your brother-in-law at golf? Sure, all of those are good reasons for some people. But what about working out so you are better prepared for the activities of everyday life, like carrying in groceries and putting them up? Like having the stamina for a busy day of errands and grandkids? Or climbing up and down the stairs without getting winded?

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Take Control of Your Own Health and Fitness

Here’s a “good news, bad news” situation. The good news: More people over 65 are exercising than ever before. The bad news: The percentage of mature adults who are physically active remains low – so low, in fact, that the US government calls it a “public health concern.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m doing everything I can to change that here in our community. But we need YOU to make the biggest impact – for yourself and your family.

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Exercise Keeps You Safer from Flu, Pneumonia

Most people probably know that physical exercise is good for their health. But now, a new study makes the connection even more powerful. If you’ve been waiting for One More Piece of Evidence to convince you to exercise, this might be it. Meeting guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise cuts the risk of dying from flu and pneumonia almost in half – by 48%, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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It’s Cheaper to be Healthy Than It Is to be Sick

If you think it’s expensive to eat right and exercise regularly, just consider the cost of being cheap with your health. For example, some people drink so many sodas that eliminating them could save almost $1,000 a year. That’s from health coach Kathryn Eyring, who presented “It’s Cheaper to be Healthy Than It Is to be Sick” at the Functional Aging Summit, an annual event for fitness professionals who serve people over 50.

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Exercise to Prevent Falls, and 4 Other Tips to Stay Upright

Falling is a major fear about growing older – and it’s a leading cause of injury and death among mature adults. It's also a common problem for people who don't yet consider themselves “old” in the traditional sense.
 
But it is not inevitable. Here are the top five ways to prevent falling, according to fitness, health and aging experts. 

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23 Steps to a Healthy Season

We’re halfway through the year, and it’s a great time to assess progress on health, fitness, and other goals you had at the start of 2023. Or… maybe you didn’t have any and are only thinking about creating some goals now. That’s fine! With a new season upon us, we’re here with 23 tips to make this your sunniest yet. Forget regret. Abandon perfection. Embrace consistency!

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