People 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 more

We’re often asked if just walking isn’t “good enough” for people over 50. The short answer is: Nope. Sorry, but it’s not. Walking IS a great first step – pun intended. So, if you’re thinking of starting an exercise program, then yes – get up and go for a walk. Or, if you’ve already been walking more than normal, then now is the time to take that next step ..read more

People 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 more

Self-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 more

Here’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. It’s about understanding how your body moves to improve and protect it. So, rather than think about moving just one way at a time, pay attention to how you actually move. Sometimes straight ahead, sometimes side to side… sometimes twisting, looking back… and u ..read more

Tony, a lifelong tennis player, is in his mid-50s now. When he started noticing his game wasn’t as sharp as it used to be, he thought gym workouts might help restore his power and relieve some pain. But the trainer he used ignored Tony’s personal needs and past injuries, even when Tony said he didn’t like certain exercises. “He just kept saying ‘Do it more’ and ‘Try harder,’” Tony says. “I quit going. I just didn’t see the point.” Too bad Tony lives far away. If he worked out with me, I would help him modify workouts to fit his specific requirements and limitations. I’m able to do that bec ..read more

Peter 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. I believe working out is important and can improve your life in countless ways. One of them is being able to get outside and enjoy yourself more, with the confidence that comes from the strength, agility, and endurance I ..read more

DonnaJean Wilde, a 58-year-old retired educator, made headlines recently when she set a world record for abdominal planking by a woman. She received official recognition from the Guinness World Record folks for holding a plank for 4 hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds in Magrath, a town in Alberta, Canada. That was 10 minutes longer than the previous record, set in 2019, Guinness says on its website. “The challenger’s forearms and toes must touch the ground at all times,” Guinness explains. “The remainder of the body must be lifted off the ground and be kept straight throughout.” Wilde says she h ..read more

Here’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. It flies in the face of so much of our “goal-driven” culture, but it makes sense to focus on our gains instead of the gap between where we are a ..read more

Do you want to live to be 100? More people are reaching that mark nowadays than ever before, and the trend will skyrocket in the coming decades.  The topic of longevity is having a moment, darn near approaching a cultural obsession. What can we do to live NOT JUST LONGER but also BETTER. What role does exercise play in all of this? Here’s just one example. Toni Stahl, at left in the photo above, lived an amazing life. As a young Navy wife, she was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She survived cancer. She farmed, enjoyed waterskiing, and worked into her 90s part-time at a hospital. She ..read more