Senior Fitness With Meredith

Do you find yourself "slumping" occasionally? It's very common to slouch and let our sitting or standing form "relax" especially when we get tired. But keeping hindsight on your posture throughout the day can help contribute to a longer, healthier life now, and well into the future. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working with clients of all ages and their thoughts on how posture has affected their physical well being over the years. 2). Why it's important to maintain strong core muscles which form the base of your overall posture whether seated or standing. 3). How your balance and stability strength directly affect your posture on a regular basis and why they are so intertwined. 4). Why it's so difficult to break the habit of "slouching" when we sit or stand and when we get tired. 5). How tension and stress often contribute to bad posture and what you can do to help minimize these effects. /// We hope you found this episode helpful especially if you are dealing with back issues or other problems related to posture. It's easy to forget how this can help you through your days and weeks and hopefully this episode is a great reminder to also include maintaining good habits that contribute to a healthy posture as part of your active lifestyle. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Tomorrow becomes never. No matter how small the task, take the first step now!” ―Tim Ferriss This quote reminds us that if we keep putting things off until tomorrow, it might never happen. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on our podcast we wanted to take a moment and reflect on the recent milestone of reaching 100,000 subscribers on our YouTube channel wow! It has been quite the journey to reach this goal and we couldn't have done it without your support. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). The story behind why and when our YouTube channel was started. 2). Why we decided to focus on creating exercises for older adults and those with limited mobility or disability. 3). How learning from those that follow our channel inspire us to continue creating our best health and fitness content. 4). The overwhelming surprise of our channel becoming a global presence and the amazing community that has supported us over the years. 5). How we love hearing about the journeys of those who follow our content and how their lives have been impacted by regular exercise and a healthier lifestyle. /// Thank you again for tuning in to this week's episode and we hope you found the story behind our journey fun and entertaining. We thank YOU for your support in helping us reach this milestone and we look forward to the next 100,00 with you! Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going”- Jim Ryun This quote reminds us that we can use motivation to get us going, but we need it to become a habit to keep it in our life. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting older doesn't necessarily mean that we have to put up with more aches and pains. This is a common complaint as we age and it seems as though aching more and dealing with pain is just something we have to deal with later in life. Fortunately, this is not always the case and there are things you can do to help minimize common aches and pains well into our golden years. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working with clients that would complain about being in pain and how it was keeping them from exercising. 2). Why it's common to assume that aches and pains are occurring more because of the aging process and why we feel that there is nothing we can do about it. 3). How experiencing common aches and pains regularly can contribute to lower self esteem and less motivation to exercise or engage in activities. 4). How low impact exercises and regular simple movements can help minimize common aches and pains or get rid of them altogether. 5). The importance of having a balanced diet and consuming mostly healthier foods which contributes to your overall health and helps ease aches and pains. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be dealing with frequent aches and pains which seem to be attributed to growing old. As we've shared, there are many easy things you can do now and everyday to help minimize pain which will contribute to a longer, happier and healthier life. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”-Aristotle This quote reminds us that true happiness is inside each of us, not obtained with outside sources for long term happiness. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Circulation is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. We can easily take it for granted but for some, having improper blood circulation can cause health issues which can ultimately leave you sidelined. Compression stocks are meant to help improve blood circulation throughout the body not just when exercising but also during the regular activities of your day. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How using compression for better circulation has always been around but why it's recently become a popular way to help deal with blood circulation issues in people of all ages. 2). The science behind how compression helps to greatly improve blood flow throughout your body when used regularly and properly. 3). Helpful information on the different levels of compression style stockings and where you can usually find them. 4). Who would be a good candidate to consider using compression stockings based on health profile, history with blood circulation or daily activities. 5). The difference between compression wear and brace type outer wear like a knee brace or ankle brace etc. /// We hope the information we've shared in this episode on compression stockings is helpful to you or someone you know who may be having issues with proper blood circulation. We also want to reiterate that its important to check with doctor or PCP on whether using compression stockings could be helpful to you. Keeping you healthy and mobile is always the name of the game and using compression to help keep you going could be another great tool to promote a long, healthy life. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." ―Martin Luther King, Jr This quote reminds us that even when we can not see everything laid out in front of us, we need to take the first step! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Losing weight is not always easy and can be challenging for many people. In doing so, we may not always be making the healthiest decisions on how to exactly go about losing weight which can lead to complicating health problems in the long run. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Meredith's description of what it means to lose weight the "healthy" way. 2). How not seeing the results you're expecting when trying to lose weight can affect you mentally and emotionally. 3). Why it's important to set realistic goals and celebrate small wins along the way. 4). Why remembering to be "kind" to yourself during your weight loss journey is important. 5). How having someone to talk to or share thoughts on your weight loss journey can be helpful as you progress. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode help you make the right decisions when it comes to designing a plan to lose weight. Making sure your body and mind stay healthy during the process is key to implementing long term healthy habits which will keep you going for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson This quote reminds us that each day can be the “best day”, if we work hard and stay positive in our lives! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise has many benefits to your overall health but sometimes we aren't always able to keep a regular schedule with working out. Getting sick, injured, life emergencies or even holidays can all keep us from staying consistent with exercising on a regular schedule. The important thing to know is that it is OK to take breaks or step away for a bit if you need to. It's also important to know that there are a few helpful ways to get back into exercising when you are ready. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How going through a life experience or even a new year can help inspire you to get back to exercising if you've taken an extended break. 2). The average time it takes to get "back on track" with exercise after an extended time off. 3). How scheduling your workouts are a great way to mentally help motivate you to stay consistent with exercise. 4). Why finding a fun exercise activity or something you enjoy is important when getting back to exercising. 5). Why it's helpful to stay social with exercising like joining a class or having a buddy to help keep you (and your buddy) accountable. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you if you've been away from exercise for an extended period of time and are looking to start up again. Life's twists and turns are unpredictable but prioritizing your health and exercise can always become a goal again no matter where you are in life. As mentioned, it's OK to take a break when yo need to. Just remember that staying active can always be incorporated back into your life when you are ready. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” —Brad Paisley This quote reminds us that each day is a new start, whether it be a new year, a new month, it is always a new day to start over! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new year arriving always sparks feelings of a fresh start. There's something about the beginning of a new year that makes you feel like it is time to make changes or set new goals to accomplish. If you feel this way, we have 5 great health and fitness goals to help get you started. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why setting goals at the beginning of a new year is very popular especially when it comes to health and fitness related goals. 2). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working with clients of all ages and their expectations after setting fitness related goals for a new year. 3). How exercising regularly can help manage stress and motivate you to continue to exercise on a consistent basis. 4). Why prioritizing sleep should be a goal if you don't feel like you are getting enough during the week and how this affects your overall mental and physical health. 5). Why regular check ups with your PCP or doctor should be included in your yearly health goals. /// We hope the suggestions in this episode help you if you feel like the new year is motivating you to embrace some health and fitness related changes. Setting goals is a great way to take ownership of your health in a productive way. New year goals are not always easy to keep especially as things come up during the year that may derail plans but hopefully these help inspire you to start somewhere. Best of luck to you! Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” —Hal Borland This quote reminds us as a new year arrives, it is a new day, to keep going and use what we learn each day to keep going! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daily activities like carrying groceries from the car to the kitchen and holding hand railings while going up and down stairs have something in common... we use our grip to do these things. Grip strength is easily overlooked when it comes to how it contributes to our overall health. Having a good grip is essential to helping us live a mobile and independent life. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we chose to include grip strength as part of an important aspect of maintaining independence as we age. 2). Some of the feedback that Meredith received over the years from training clients and how their grip strength played an important role in their lives. 3). How having good grip strength can help keep you safe from injury by preventing falls. 4). Why a grip strength test should be included in yearly health check ups as we age. 5). Some examples of easy to do grip strength exercises that you can do any time at home or in between workouts. /// We hope the information we've shared in this episode helps you think more about grip strength and why it's so important to helping us live healthy lives. Staying mobile, independent and active as we age is the goal and including some simple and easy grip strengthening exercises during your week can help make a difference when you need it most. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Every life is a story. Thank you for being part of my story.” This quote is a thank you from me to you all, for making each day enjoyable. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Body aches and pains are a common way of life for most people especially as we age. These aches and pains are not necessarily "serious" injuries but more of a side effect from constant wear and tear of the body over time. Shoulders, knees, hips and your back all get heavy use depending on your lifestyle and can slowly start to show signs of aching etc. However, for some of these types of pains, natural regular everyday movement can help ease some of the aching on it's own In This Episode You Will Learn 1). The inspired story behind why we thought to dedicate an episode to addressing common body aches and pains through natural movement. 2). Some of the common causes of regular body aches and pain as we age. 3). Why it's important to make sure what you are feeling is not more serious by going to regular check ups with your doctor or PCP. 4). How regular low impact movement helps lubricate the larger joints in your body which are crucial for helping you staying mobile as you age. 5). Some of Meredith's examples of the kinds of everyday movements you can do to help alleviate common aches and pains. /// We hope the information and tips in this episode are helpful to you if you suffer from constant aching. As mentioned, this type of pain may not always be serious (check with your doctor first) but can still cause us to be less active because of the burden of being in pain. Naturally and safely moving on a regular basis is a great way to minimize these pains which is just another tool to have in your tool box to support a long and healthy life. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” —Helen Keller This quote reminds us to stay optimistic in order to succeed and achieve! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living a busy and active lifestyle can be a great way to remain healthy both mentally and physically. Proper amounts of work, exercise and social activities all can contribute to a healthy life in the long run. However, this can also make it hard to slow down and find periods of relaxation. Finding was to feel relaxed during a busy schedule is also an important aspect of a balanced life and can help prepare your mind and body for busier times. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of the misconceptions that we have as a society about what relaxation is and how this can be misleading. 2). Some of the common things in life that keep us busy and take away from the mindset of also including relaxation in our lives. 3). How mentally slowing down and taking time to focus on your body can directly affect your mental relaxation state. 4). How including relaxing music while you slow down and focus on your breathing etc can help you during relaxation. 5). Why low impact and stretching types of exercises are an important aspect of keeping your body relaxed throughout your full day. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be feeling the effects of a busy life with little rest or relaxation. Getting your mindset into a place where you feel comfortable and refreshed can be difficult and not as easy as we may think. Hopefully you are able to navigate your way through a hectic schedule and carve out time for yourself with these tips and will help keep you going for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” —Dale Carnegie This quote reminds us that sometimes failures help lead you to success. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.