Senior Fitness With Meredith

Living an active and busy life can help in many ways as we age. Staying social, spending time with family and participating in community gatherings are a great way to stay engaged and nurture your mind and emotional well being. But as schedules fill up, it can be easy to forget about giving time back to yourself which is just as important as staying “busy”. Not carving out enough time during the week to spend on your mental, emotional and physical well being can lead to burnout and a shorter active life. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we felt it was important to dedicate an episode to this topic and Meredith’s personal story from one of our subscribers that inspired this discussion. 2). How neglecting your own well being and spreading yourself thin can affect people of all ages, not just older individuals. 3). How regular exercise can greatly help curb levels of stress which can come from being spread to thin with activities and responsibilities. 4). Why setting boundaries is helpful in achieving a schedule that gives time back to you. 5). Some great examples of activities you can do that will help recharge your mental, physical and emotional well being now and later on in life. /// We hope the information we’ve shared in this episode helps you or someone you know with scheduling time to give back to yourself especially during a busy and active lifestyle. It is easy to forget how important this is especially as we age. Staying balanced with family, community and activities is best served hand in hand with time focused on your own well being physically, mentally and emotionally. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do.” – Unknown This quote reminds us that hard work and perseverance will help us become successful in anything we work towards. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Squatting is a great exercise to help build lower body strength and stability at any age. It is a multi-muscle movement and contributes to everyday activities like walking up stairs, getting in or out of a chair or a car and many more that we may not realize. Squatting also has a negative connotation when it comes to exercise, many people do not enjoy doing them regardless of the benefits and we can understand why. In this episode, we're taking a look at both sides of the argument and making a case for considering why they may be beneficial for you and when you should try alternative lower body exercises. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What is a squat and what movements/muscles are engaged when your body goes into, and comes out of a proper squat. 2). What activities do we partake in everyday that are very similar to squatting which we may not be aware of? 3). Why squatting has a reputation of not being a favored exercise and how this may be an over assumption in many cases. 4). Some great alternative exercises to doing squats that still build strength in the same muscles you use when doing squats. 5). Meredith's tips on knowing when squatting may not be the best exercise for you. /// We hope the information we've shared in this episode is helpful to you or someone you know who may be looking to add squatting to their regular exercise. It can be intimidating especially if you've had bad experiences in the past or have pain in areas that rely on the movement of squatting. Staying active is always the key no matter what exercises you enjoy and squats definitely have their benefits but knowing what works best for you is always the best path to a long and healthy life. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You are the only one who can use your ability.”- Lailah Gifty Akita This quote reminds us that you have abilities, and you are the only one who can utilize them…work hard! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walking as an exercise is a great way to stay active and healthy. Regular walks help maintain body strength and stability and also helps keep your cardiovascular system healthy as well. Recently, there has been a study on a new type of approach to walking called “Interval Walking Training” (IWT) which has shown to further push the limits and benefits of walking in interval fashion. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How a recent email from one of our subscribers turned us on to Interval Walking Training and why it sparked our curiosity to learn more. 2). What exactly is “Interval Walking Training” and what do you need to know to get started. 3). How IWT can contribute to regular muscle endurance and also help lower blood pressure rates. 4). How IWT contributes to big improvements in sleep. 5). Meredith’s suggestions on how to incorporate IWT into your regular exercise schedule safely and effectively. /// We hope the tips and information in the episode helps you or someone you know who may be looking to get more out of their regular walks. Interval Walking Training has shown to help improve body health performance in all ages along with being a safe and effective exercise. Please refer to this video here which is mentioned in this episode to learn more. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot This quote reminds us to keep fighting for what we have always wanted from life…we can be whatever we want to be, no matter what! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting motivated to come back to exercise after a recent injury or illness can be challenging especially as we age. Going from nursing an injury or illness which, mostly means our level of activity is very low to regular weekly exercise isn’t always as easy as it seems. There are many factors that can affect us which aren’t necessarily physical. Mental and emotional aspects can play a big role in making this transition difficult as well. Luckily there are things you can do to help make that transition smoother and more manageable. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we decided to dedicate a whole episode to this topic and why it is more common than we think especially amongst older adults. 2). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in working with clients of all ages and their struggles with returning to exercise. 3). Why starting small and slow at first is a smart way to begin when returning to exercise so as to not get overwhelmed or discouraged. 4). How having the support of family or friends can help make a big difference when transitioning back to a regular active schedule. 5). Why “coming back” to exercise after time away represents the values in getting back up after a loss and how this affects you positively in all the things challenge you in life. /// We hope the tips we’ve shared in this episode help you or someone you know who may be struggling with returning to exercise. It isn’t always an easy journey to do so no matter how active you may have been in the past. Taking the steps and suggestions mentioned here can definitely help get you back on track and down the road to a longer healthier life. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Don’t let the fear of aging limit your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey This quote reminds us that age should never stop us from dreaming and pursuing those dreams! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our mood is an important aspect of our daily lives and can directly contribute to our levels of engagement, awareness, activity and much more throughout the day. If you often don’t feel like doing certain things or don’t feel “in the mood”, this can directly affect not only your life but also the lives of others around you. Luckily, regular exercise can help offset our mood swings and help make us feel more balanced when it comes to getting through life’s daily challenges. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in working with clients of all ages and the effects she has observed on mood and the willingness to stay active and healthy because of the positive effects of exercise. 2). What happens to your body when you encounter regular stress and don’t exercise to help curb the effects of stress on our bodies and minds. 3). How regular exercise helps with feelings of loneliness. 4). How regular exercise makes you feel better mentally and physically and how it can help lead to more self confidence, clarity and motivation. 5). Meredith’s recommendation on how often you should exercise during the week and what kind of exercises should you include in your workouts to keep your mood and mentality at healthy levels. /// We hope the tips we’ve shared in this episode help you embrace the benefits of regular exercise which include helping improve your mood and overall happiness. Regular exercise has many benefits more than just the physical. Being mentally healthy is just as important and staying active will help keep you body and mind sharp and engaged for years to come. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The only way to make your dreams come true is to wake up and do something about them.” – Steve Jobs This quote reminds us that if we have dreams and hopes, we have to wake up each day and work for them! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.