A massive study made headlines by concluding that not exercising is worse for your health than smoking and diabetes. But many readers over 50 will be glad to know that the study also has a huge age-related finding: The spectacular benefits of exercise have no age limit. "Whether you're in your 40s or your 80s, you will benefit in the same way," said the study’s senior author, Dr. Wael Jaber, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic.  Sedentary people are almost four times as likely to die early as those who exercise regularly, says the study. It looked at 122,000 people who were tested on t ..read more

Too many myths cloud the topics of aging and fitness. They keep people from living a healthy lifestyle, and most come from younger people and society at large.  But there’s one super-persistent myth that people over 50 perpetuate themselves. To be more precise, women over 50 use this falsehood too often to avoid the most important type of exercise they need: strength training. “I don’t want to lift weights because I don’t want to get all big and bulky.” Have you ever heard or said something like that? It’s astonishing how this one refuses to vanish. So, let’s take another shot at it here ..read more

Did you start the new year with a big fitness goal – like losing weight or going to the gym three times a week? And have you found it hard to stick to it, like so many people do every year? While setting goals can be motivating, it's easy to get discouraged when we don't see immediate progress or face unexpected setbacks. Instead of focusing on specific goals, what if we shifted our attention to the process of improving ourselves every day, one step at a time? Think back to when you took out a mortgage or a car loan. It was overwhelming to imagine paying it all back at once – and much less ove ..read more

We usually think of February as the month of hearts for Valentine’s Day.   But February is also heart-health awareness month in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other countries. It’s observed to raise awareness and to help people lose weight, eat better, invigorate their exercise routines, and more.    Heart disease is the No. 1 killer, responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths and 735,000 heart attacks annually just in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. Globally, cardiovascular diseases kill 18 million people a year, says the World Health Organi ..read more

What’s the secret to a long, happy marriage? For Karl and Susan, who just celebrated 61 years together, it’s a combination of things. Like being kind and thoughtful with each other, while maintaining common interests and enjoying walks on the beach… And keeping the romance alive, with sweet gestures every day, like the way he brings her tea in bed every morning… And … EXERCISE! That’s right. The pair, now in their 80s, have been working out together three times a week for 35 years. They started decades ago when he was a college professor, and they kept it up at home, gyms, in different states ..read more

India Bridgette is a professor in the course titled “What’s Possible?” The 61-year-old champion sprinter and former Marine knows it takes discipline to answer that question and to excel at anything. She recently added strength training to that answer, too – for everyone, no matter what age, lifestyle, or fitness goals. Working out with weights has helped her show What’s Possible on the track and in everyday life. She’s learned that, for older adults, weightlifting gives self-governance and a pre-emptive strike against the aspects of aging that otherwise can limit our quality of life. (That’s h ..read more

Todd Allen and his wife took a European trip seven years ago. He felt terrible by the time they got home. Blood tests revealed cancer. Stage 4. Bone marrow. Todd went through 18 months of chemotherapy and had knee surgery and hip surgery. Never much for exercise, Todd then made a decision: “After the recovery, I said I gotta get my act together.” “I’ve been a gym rat ever since,” says Todd, now 65. Now, with a healthy prognosis, he wakes up early each morning to lift weights, run stairs, and do other physical activity. “I look better now than I ever have in my life.” The Research on Exercise ..read more

You might not realize it, but if you’re getting fit or staying fit after 50, then you are riding the wave of one of the hottest trends in fitness around the world. TWO trends, actually, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which has released its 17th annual survey on the hot topics in the fitness industry. Ranked No. 1: wearable technology, like smart watches and fitness trackers that can monitor heart rate, calories and other data. No. 2: Strength training with free weights, like barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells. No. 3: Body weight training, which uses the body for ..read more

About new year resolutions, there’s bad news, and then there’s good news. First the bad news: Most of them fail.  Now the good news: People over 50 have more life experience and tools to succeed at them. You’re more realistic, focused and balanced. As a fitness professional, I know that plenty of people start each year wanting to get in shape. So, they join a gym or studio like mine determined to stick with it, to lose the weight, to eat better, etc. That’s great. I want everyone to gain the benefits of exercise. But not as many incorporate fitness habits into their lifestyle for the long ..read more

Packaged, ultra-processed foods are convenient and tasty. They’re handy to have around the house for the grandkids or for snacking. But they’re not good for us – not for our bodies OR our brains.  We’re talking hot dogs, burgers, sausages, cookies, cakes, doughnuts and the like. You already know they contribute to obesity and other negative physical effects.  Now a new study says people who eat too much of them have a higher risk of cognitive decline – just 20% of the daily recommended caloric intake. That’s about 400 calories if you’re aiming to consume 2,000 calories a day. The stu ..read more