Senior Fitness With Meredith

Staying hydrated is one of the most important aspect of living a healthy life. We often forget to take hydration into consideration when moving throughout our busy day which can lead to feelings of "fogginess", mood swings or low on energy. What's worse is that we may not even think that lack of hydrating is the problem when these feelings occur. Luckily, there are a few easy things you can do to help stay hydrated without having to remember to drink fluids during your day. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What percentage of Americans don't take in enough fluids during the day and who are essentially "dehydrated" which could lead to long term health issues. 2). How it's too easy to assume that you are drinking enough water during the day to feel "hydrated enough" and why this usually isn't the case. 3). Why keeping a regular water bottle or hydro flask with you during your day is a great way to remember to drink water regularly. 4). How using a timer app and scheduling your water breaks throughout the day is a great way to "remind" you and keep you on track with your water intake. 5). Why it can also a great idea to add flavoring to you water if you're not a fan of the taste as long as they are low in sugar or sodium which can work against your efforts. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you if you're having a hard time remembering to stay hydrated during the day. Living a busy life as we age can be a good thing but neglecting our daily nutritional needs can back fire if not taken seriously. Remember to practice the habit of taking in healthy fluids every day so you can continue to live your best life for years to come. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” - Sam Levenson This quote reminds us to remember that time is very precious, but we must not be controlled by a clock…keep going, keep living! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've been getting many questions lately on the use of a weight vest as added resistance when going for walks or exercising. This made us think about putting together an episode discussing the pros and cons of this exercise apparatus. If you've never used a weight vest than our discussion could be interesting for you as well as anyone who has used one or is thinking about trying it. In This Episode You Will Learn 1). Our thoughts on why using a weighted vest during walking or exercising has become more popular recently with people of all ages. 2). Some of the different exercises that you can do with a weight vest in addition to walking. 3). How added weight on your body not only helps build muscle strength but bone strength as well. 4). Some of the important things to remember when wearing a weight vest that can help you avoid injury. 5). Why it's important to choose the right weight when wearing the vest so as to not exhaust or cause injury. /// We hope the tips in this podcast episode are helpful to you if you're thinking about trying a weight vest during your walks or regular exercises. Using a vest in the correct way can have additional benefits to your workouts but it can also increase chances of injury if not used properly, much like any other piece of exercise equipment. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Energy flows where the mind goes…” This quote reminds us that focusing your attention on something leads you to put more energy into it. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maintaining a healthy diet is a great way to keep your body and mind working in top shape no matter what life throws at you. However, doing so is usually easier said than done. Let's face it, we love the foods we love and sacrificing our favorite foods for somewhat "unappealing" options can be a big ask. Fortunately you don't have to give up the foods you love to maintain a healthy diet. There are many ways to incorporate healthy options into you weekly meals AND still enjoy your favorite foods. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How this article from the NCOA.org website inspired us to dive deeper into this topic especially for seniors. 2). How challenging it is for many adults to "change" or alter their eating habits in favor of more healthy choices. 3). How myplate.gov is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about healthy food combinations and portion sizes. 4). Why learning to read nutritional labels on products is important so you can be aware of what and how much you are consuming. 5). The importance of staying hydrated and why it should always be considered as a crucial part of any healthy diet. /// We hope the tips in this episode help inspire you to make healthy choices when it comes to planning your meals. As mentioned, this doesn't mean having to give up the foods you love either. Making smart choices and living your happy life is the key to well balanced diet and a longer future ahead. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” —Stephen R. Covey This quote reminds us that we are in charge of what we do, being our motivator and actor upon those things! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living an active lifestyle can keep you on your feet for most of the day. Even everyday activities like going to the grocery store, gardening, or going for a walk all require much from your body and the best thing you can do to make sure your physical well being is being taken into consideration is to lace up your feet with safe and effective footwear. Not realizing how important this step is could lead to injury or long term chronic pain. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How your body changes as you age and what effects this has on your balance and overall agility. 2). How it can be very intimidating looking for the right shoe in a huge market that seems to be overwhelming with new shoe products everyday and how to block out the noise to help you find the right shoe for you. 3). Some of the things you should look for in a shoe when shopping and how to determine if it will be right for you. 4). Some of the reasons why we decide not to upgrade or buy new shoes when we should. 5). Why it's easy to take our feet for granted and how this can lead to health and physical issues later down the road. /// We hope our tips in this episode help you when it comes to choosing your next pair of shoes. It's very easy to overlook the importance of wearing proper footwear especially if you enjoy an active lifestyle. The correct choice of what you wear on your feet can help improve your activity levels and most importantly, keep you safe and independent for years to come. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try." - Rosa Parks This quote reminds us that we must try, and move forward, in order to create change. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sleep plays an important role in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. It is crucial to recharging the systems throughout your body and mind to make sure you are performing at your best the next day. However, getting the right amount of sleep isn't always possible and life has many ways of challenging your sleeping habits which may not always be in your favor. Luckily there are some things you can do to give you better chances of a great night's sleep and we wanted to share these tips as written in this great article from our friends at SeniorResource.com In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What inspired us to dedicate an episode to sharing these great tips on how to get better sleep and what is SeniorResource.com? 2). How focusing on reducing overall stress during your day greatly contributes to better sleep at night and some examples of the activities that help reduce stress. 3). The importance of focusing on a proper diet and how this can be a contributing factor to sleep performance. 4). The correlation between getting enough sun during the day and getting better rest when it's time to go to bed. 5). Why making sure your bedroom or sleeping area is dedicated to your sleep and why it's important to try and separate this living space from other activities. /// We hope this episode is helpful to you or someone you know who may be having trouble getting restful sleep at night. There are many contributors to bad sleep but there just as many things you can do to ensure you have a good night's rest. We also want to thank our friends at SeniorResource.com for their helpful article! Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” - Babe Ruth This quote reminds us to persevere and you will prosper! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.