Senior Fitness With Meredith

Hello and thanks for joining us on today’s podcast. Today’s topic is important as we go through challenging times right now.Today we’re discussing ways to stay positive and active during challenging times. More specifically right now as we are all challenged by the COVID-19 virus. Times like this where we are required to social distance ourselves from others and cut ourselves off from loved ones, friends, work, and just about every thing else we are used to.We felt it was important to address this and give you tips on how to stay motivated, positive and active during this time.In This Podcast You Will Learn:1). With COVID-19 disrupting everyone’s lives, what you can do to stay positive and keep moving.2). Schedule your workout time: Put it on the schedule, and make that time for yourself to get your movement in.3). Watch your diet: Continue to eat healthy; don’t drastically change your workout now; avoid fatty and fried foods.4). Stay social: True, we can’t go out and meet in our groups, or do our fitness classes together. But we can get on the phone, we can get apps on our phones or computers that allow us to use the cameras and actually see our loved ones as you talk to them.5). Get good sleep: With our thoughts going constantly, and in all directions it is hard to sleep. It is so important to try and sleep at night, or get naps throughout the day. Disrupted sleep causes balance issues, memory loss, etc.6). Limit tv/news time: Remember that it is important to turn off the news and let the mind relax from all the negative we are hearing. We think we will miss breaking news, but I can almost guarantee we will be up to date even if the tv gets turned off for a while.//Thank you again for joining us on today’s podcast. We hope you have some new ideas and motivation after listening to this episode and if you are going through challenging times right now. Whether it’s a personal struggle or dealing with our current pandemic situation, it’s so very important to stay positive and healthy.Til the next episode!Take CareTeam MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greetings and thank you for joining us on today’s podcast!In this episode we discuss how we have decided to now categorize our workout videos which we post weekly on YouTube into 4 different levels of fitness.We’ve decided to make this change to the way we post workouts because like all generations, not everyone is at the same level of fitness.The same goes for seniors. Just because you are of a certain age doesn’t mean that you can’t have different levels of fitness for certain workouts. In doing so, we wanted to challenge this stereotype by offering more varieties of exercises to cater to a broader variety of fitness levels. We hope to have something for everyone. Whether you are just starting out, looking to learn or are very active already and looking for something to challenge yourself. It is now our goal to have a workout(s) for you!In This Episode You Will Learn:1). Why we felt it was important to categorize our workout videos into different fitness levels and how we think that will help better serve our audience in the long run and help break down stereotypes of an aging population.2). Meredith’s experience in working with seniors of all ages and how she has found the big differences in abilities which isn’t necessarily restricted by age. There are older seniors who are just as capable as younger seniors and vice versa.  3). Our definition of the first level which we call the “Learning Level” and why we think this is important to help educate those that wish to know more about proper movements and how they affect your body and your health.4). Why we felt it was important to include a “Beginner Level” for those who are just starting out and looking to gain confidence with exercising or who prefer a more low impact/seated type of workout. Still very challenging with full ranges of motion and some resistance. 5). How our “Intermediate Level” will serve those that feel they are looking for a little more impact and pacing with their workouts. More intensity than the beginner level with full body range of motion, medium resistance with both sitting and or standing routines.6). The benefits of our “Advanced Level” workouts which are designed to be a higher impact with resistance, HIIT style workouts with possible ground transitions using some weight resistance. If you feel that you are ready to take your workouts to the next level then the advanced level is for you.///Thank you again for joining us on this special podcast episode. We are very excited to roll out this new plan of categorizing our workout videos and hope that you find value in this as well. We want to help you feel comfortable at any level or also give you the confidence to advance farther if you feel that is for you. Whatever your fitness journey is, we want to help you get there.Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greetings and thank you again for joining us on the podcast today!In this episode, we'll be talking about some tips on improving your balance and posture.Balance and posture is one of the most important aspects of handling the challenges that we see every day. In seniors, this can be even more difficult if our balance is off or the strength we need to stand tall and stabilize ourselves is lackingFurthermore, we can't have one without the other. Having a firm posture helps our balance and vice versa. Fortunately, there are many areas of strengthening our posture and stabilizing our balance that we can work on. Small things that we can concentrate on and practice every day that will help build the stability to handle tasks like getting up out of a chair, walking up some stairs, picking up items off the floor or of course exercising!All tasks that we can improve upon and feel comfortable doing by being aware of our posture and our balance.In This Podcast You Will Learn:1). Why posture and balance are easily overlooked but is so important to us. It affects just about everything we do physically everyday and can make activities more difficult if not tended to.2). The side effects that can happen if you experience a fall due to bad balance and how that not only affects you physically but also mentally.3). The importance of making a point to focus on your posture and standing tall throughout the day. It is easy to forget how often we need to review our posture and it may help to keep reminders on your phone or write them down.4). Why exercising regularly will help keep your muscles strong to reinforce your balance. Making sure you utilize some resistance training on a regular basis will help strengthen your body overall which in turn will help your balance.5). How choosing the right footwear can make a big difference in t way we walk, stand and move throughout the day. Having the right shoes that are comfortable and stable will make you feel more confidant and help improve your balance and posture.///Thank you again for joining us for this important episode. Our balance and posture help us every day in just about everything we do and maintaining strength and stability should be key to an active healthy lifestyle no matter what age.We hope you found our tips and advice valuable here as we want to provide you with the best information we have to help you feel confidant about improving your posture and balance if it is a problem area for you.Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another episode of the Senior Fitness With Meredith Podcast!In this episode, we are taking a closer look at how to set up a schedule for exercise that will give you the best chances of consistency and success.It’s not easy staying on top of our exercising schedule especially when life can get busy, no matter what age you’re at. Furthermore, exercising may not always be on top of the list as one of the activities we plan for.So how do we stay consistent?Great question!:)Making sure we consider exercise not just another task on the list but also a change of priority in our mindset is key to staying on schedule. It’s not always easy especially if you’re not used to it but it is achievable!In This Podcast You Will Learn:1). Why keeping a consistent schedule or routine throughout your week is important if you want to see real changes in your health and fitness levels.2). Why keeping a schedule is not enough, we must prioritize our exercise sessions so that they don’t take a back seat among all of the other activities that we schedule as well.3). Why mixing up your workouts and adding variety is a good idea when it comes to keeping you excited and interested in maintaining a consistent workout schedule.4). How scheduling workouts with friends or even a trainer can also help you stay accountable to a workout schedule. Sometimes knowing someone is counting on you can help.5). 4 – 5 actual real world steps you can take to get your schedule started with exercising and how to set it up so that it works for you in the long run.6). How keeping track of what you’ve already accomplished or achieved is a great way to help you stay motivated and organized about your fitness goals///Thank you again as always for joining us for this podcast. We really hope that the tips and advice we present here help you in your own quest to take control of your health and wellness.It’s not easy making changes in your life to set up a schedule for exercise but with some planning, encouragement, and support we have all the confidence in the world that you can do it and we will be there to help you.Til the next episode, take care!Team Meredith Support the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greetings and thanks for joining us on the podcast today!For this episode, we wanted to get back to the basics of weight loss. There is so much information available now about losing weight that it’s easy to get overwhelmed.What weight loss strategies are best for you? How can you ensure that they will work?These are all questions we ask ourselves as we start out on our weight loss journeys. No two paths will be the same as everyone is different. Knowing the basics of how to lose weight is important when it comes to being successful in a way that works for you. Diving into this episode, we discuss everything you need to know to get started. In This Episode You Will Learn:1). How it can be overwhelming when learning about weight loss because of all of the information available online which can lead to mis-implementing a weight loss plan that doesn’t lead to the results you are looking for.2). Meredith’s recommendations on how often you should be exercising per week and some great cardio exercises you can incorporate into your weekly workouts that can help ignite your weight loss.3). Why strength training and building muscle benefits when it comes to weight loss. Debunking the myth that putting on muscle weight doesn’t help you lose weight.4). Why keeping track of nutrition and what you’re eating is just as important or perhaps more than just exercising on a regular basis when it comes to successful weight loss.5). Why it’s important to take time to learn how many calories are in the foods you regularly eat and what your caloric intake should be per day to give you a better idea of how many calories you consume in one day.6). Why weight loss and “dieting” doesn’t mean you can never eat some of your favorite foods again. Moderation and balance is what’s important and making sure you primarily take in healthy calories but also not depriving your body of what you crave from time to time.7). Why true weight loss isn’t about measuring numbers on a scale but feeling good about how you feel. Creating the “habit” of eating healthier and exercising regularly is the main goal and weight loss will be a side effect of that. ///Thanks again for joining us today. We hope this podcast is helpful to you and your goals of gaining health which leads to losing weight but more importantly feeling better overall.Your journey to a healthier you is your own to follow and staying on course is what it’s all about. Hopefully, we can help you get started on the right track and celebrate your success!Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and thanks for joining us today for this great episode!On today’s podcast, we’re diving into something that affects everyone, especially in our seniors. Stress!Stress affects everyone on a daily basis and depending on who you are, what you have going on in life and many other factors, stress can wreak havoc on your mind a body.Seniors especially deal with stress on a daily basis. The idea that they aren’t as stressed as younger generations because they are retired and have less to worry about is very far from the truth.Dealing with stress is important and we all do it differently. However one f the best ways to counteract the effects of stress is regular exercise. No matter what age you are, this is one of the best ways to bring your stress levels down and allow you to focus.This also means seniors as well. We are never too old or too young to learn how to handle the challenges that stress brings upon us.In This Podcast You Will Learn:1). The myth that as you get older, there should be less stress with retirement etc. and how seniors carry immense amounts of stress dealing with life events that occur during later stages in life.2). Some things you can do outside of exercise that can help manage stress levels on a daily basis including working on your breathing, talking to someone or focusing on a hobby or activity.3). How there is a direct link between physically feeling better from exercise and feeling better mentally and emotionally about yourself and your environment.4). Some examples of workouts or exercises you can try at home that will help you deal with stress levels as well as referrals to the workouts we offer for free at www.SeniorFitnessWithMeredith.com/workouts that will help you manage your stress.5). How both cardio and weight training help you focus on the task you are doing and help get your mind off of the things that are contributing to your stress. 6). The benefits of adopting breathing and meditation as stress deterrent techniques and how this is also true for high impact type cardio exercises. Getting your heart rate up or slowing down through meditation both have significant benefits.7). How often you should be exercising on a weekly basis to help make a difference in managing your stress. ///Thanks again for joining us today. Our hopes are that this helps inspire you to adopt a fitness regimen if you find yourself challenged by a stressful life.It is proven that exercise can help with the demands that stress brings upon our bodies and minds and hopefully you find this true as well.Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and thanks for joining us today on the podcast!In this episode, we are discussing one of the more popular items of workout equipment that we found our seniors love to use, resistance bands!Resistance bands are one of the best ways to add strength training to any workout. They are very versatile and can be used to work just about any body part.Adding resistance to your exercises is a great way to build muscle which will help you with balance, posture and keep you flexible. Doing common things every day like lifting objects, moving through crowds or just walking up stairs all require good balance and having strong limbs will help keep you active. Resistance bands are very easy to use and are perfect for your “home gym” or workout area since they require no space and can be packed away easily.In This Episode You Will Learn:1). What resistance bands are, what they are made of, how they got popular and the basics of we can use them.2). A quick break down of how resistance bands come in different “weight” sizes and how that can benefit you as you get stronger.3). Some great examples of upper body workouts you can do with resistance bands. For examples visit us at www.SeniorFitnessWithMeredith.com/workouts4). More great examples of how you can use resistance bands to work your lower body like legs, hips etc. For examples visit us at www.SeniorFitnessWithMeredith.com/workouts5). Tips on how you can get started with resistance bands and some things you can keep in mind when deciding what weight to start with.6). Why resistance bands make a great addition to your home workouts and also the benefits of being able to travel with them to get workouts in when you’re away from home or your gym.///Thanks again for joining us for this episode. We hope you have gained some insight into how resistance bands are a great “low impact” way to add strength and stability to your whole body.If you haven’t tried them yet then we hope this episode gives you some insight into their benefits.Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and thanks for joining us for this episode!We wanted to devote a full podcast to osteoporosis and how that can affect your active and physical life. Osteoporosis is a very common disease and is a condition in which the bones become weak and brittle often causing complications during falls or other physical activity that can threaten a bone break.The disease is responsible for an estimated two million broken bones per year, yet nearly 80 percent of older Americans who suffer bone breaks are not tested or treated for osteoporosis. One in two women and up to one in four men over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.So how does this affect you if you suffer from this disease and yet still want to live an active lifestyle with exercise and physical activity?Obviously there are safety concerns that must be taken into consideration but that doesn’t mean you have to live a non-active life.In This Episode You Will Learn:1). What osteoporosis is and why this is cause for concern in our senior population.2). Answering the question “Can I still exercise with this disease?” and why it’s so important to know what will work for you.3). Some of the reasons why exercise is avoided by those who live with this disease and how the fear of falling or breaking a bone can sideline someone for partaking in physical activity.4). Great examples of exercises that you can do to help strengthen the body which is your best defense against falls or breaks which are low impact and use light weights and resistance.5). Tips for healthcare workers or physical trainers on how listening to your patients and clients are important and understanding their limitations or needs to better serve them.6). Some motivational tips on staying active even if you live with this disease and why it doesn’t have to stop you from being active, healthy and feeling great.///Thank you again for joining us. Osteoporosis is a very common fact for many baby boomers and can affect the way we live our lives. Fear of falling or having a bone break can sideline us mentally yet it doesn’t have to be that way.We hope this podcast provided some insight into how you can still live a very active lifestyle while managing this disease.Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello again and thanks for swinging by for this episode of the senior fitness podcast with Meredith.In this sit down session, we are talking about one of our favorite subjects: In-Home Workouts!Why are these kinds of workouts so much fun to talk about? Because you don't need a gym or in some cases, even equipment to do them!Gym memberships are all the rage these days and we can easily see why. Physical fitness is becoming more popular among many age groups especially baby boomers and gyms want to capitalize on this.But do you really need to go to a gym to feel good and exercise? We think that you can still get a great low or high impact workout at home with little to no equipment necessary.By sticking to a weekly routine and saving that gym membership fee, we believe that you can stay in shape, feel good about yourself and save money all at the same time. You can even invite a friend over to exercise with you!In This Podcast You Will Learn:1). How working out at home has become easier than ever with all of the available resources online, especially our YouTube channel and website www.SeniorFitnessWithMeredith.com!2). How there is a growing demand among seniors to gain more access to fitness and wellness resources whether that would be online or in the home or living centers.3). Some of the pros and cons of exercising at home and how these could either benefit you or be difficult to manage depending on your lifestyle.4). Examples of some great in-home workouts that will work your upper and lower body and that don't require any equipment.5). Why resistance bands are great for workouts at home because they are cheap, easy to use and don't require any extra storage space.6). How you can still get a great cardio workout at home or in your neighborhood without the need of a treadmill or stationary bike.7). Why getting used to working out at home also means you can workout anywhere like vacations, trips to visit relatives or just about anywhere without relying on a gym membership.///Hopefully after listening to this episode you will feel just as inspired as we are at team Meredith about workouts that you can do in your very own home.Gyms are great and have perks that you may not have in your residence but that doesn't mean they are the end-all way to get exercise. Far from it as you can see.We hope you enjoy this episode and you find the motivation to save that gym money and use what you already have to feel great every day.Til the next episode!Team MeredithSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks for joining us on this weeks podcast! For this episode we will be discussing important information on falling prevention in seniors.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.Source:  https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/Fall prevention awareness is crucial to sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle as a senior. Moreover, if you work in health care, having people knowledge about fall prevention can help you and others in times of need.In This Podcast You Will Learn:1). The overall definition of what fall prevention is and why it is a cause for concern in seniors.2). The different kinds of injuries that can occur during a fall and how it can go un-reported thus causing after effects that can be serious later on.3). Why being aware of your surroundings and slowing down will greatly reduce the chances of a fall. Also, being mindful of your own movements will help with avoiding serious falls.4). How keeping your body strong by exercising and focusing on areas like your core, back and legs will allow you to build good balance and strength for support.5). Different types of exercises that will help build your muscles and core strong that you can do at home, anytime.6). How using assistive devices like walkers or cranes can help with your balance and strength and tips on how to use them correctly.7). How the fear of falling can affect confidence and ways to go about building up your confidence so that fear doesn't affect your choices in life.///Thank you again for joining us today on the podcast. Going into detail about fall prevention was one of our goals this year as it affects so many seniors in our communities.Keeping yourself aware of the problems it causes not just for seniors but for their loved ones is an important step into preventing these events.Til the next episode!Team MeredtihSupport the showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.