Senior Fitness With Meredith

Embracing regular exercise can be challenging for those who have never exercised before. Moreover, returning to exercise after a long break can also be daunting as well. Getting started with exercising on a regular basis can be intimidating for some but it doesn't have to be that way. Doing it the right way can help get you motivated to embrace it in a way that makes sense for you and your body in a safe and motivating manner. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How receiving an email from one of our subscribers mentioning that our exercise content was recommended to them by their doctor was the reason we thought this issue should be discussed. 2). Why it can be overwhelming when trying to determine a regular exercise routine and schedule if you've never worked out before. 3). How setting your expectations to high when starting out can actually cause burnout and overwhelming feelings which can cause you to stop exercising altogether. 4). Why setting reasonable smaller goals when starting out can be the most effective way to get into exercising even if you have to go slowly. 5). Why it's important to embrace cooling down and rest after a workout especially when you are just getting started which allows your body to recover and heal. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you if you are looking to start exercising regularly or have taken a long extended break. Making sure you take the right steps to getting your body back into a regular schedule is important for you not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.”-Zhuangzi This quote reminds us that we must be content with things, not trying to create happiness just allowing it to be! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrating all of the hard work you've done along your fitness journey can be very liberating. One of the most common ways to check on your progress is to step onto a scale to see your current weight. However, there are many other ways that you can check your progress and celebrate your accomplishments which don't involve following numbers which can be very intimidating for some people. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why it's important to recognize and celebrate your health and fitness progress when you hit your milestones. 2). How losing weight is usually the primary reason why most people exercise and why reading your weight on a scale has become the "standard" way of measuring progress. 3). The emotional and mental toll that constant weight measuring can take and why focusing on other "wins" can be more effective to recognize your weight loss accomplishments. 4). How noticing enhanced physical abilities and increase in strength can be helpful motivators in celebrating the work you are doing in your fitness journey. 5). Why monitoring your flexibility and agility are good indicators that your hard work is paying off. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be on their own health and fitness journey. We all like to see and feel the progress that we make especially if you are trying to lose weight. But don't forget that being healthy and taking care of yourself doesn't always have to involve numbers and weight measuring. Feeling good and being proud of yourself that you are putting in the work to live a active and healthy lifestyle should always be of precedence over constant weight measuring. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self." - 14th Dalai Lama This quote reminds us that we are only against ourselves; strive to be a better version of ourselves, not someone else. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Setting goals and staying motivated to achieving them can sometimes be more challenging than we assume. No matter what you're looking to accomplish, the drive to do things like lose weight, finishing a study class or start a small business can feel overwhelming at times and lead to "burn out". This can further lead to giving up or feeling unmotivated to continue. Fortunately there are things you can do to help nurture your motivation and also keep your mind and body rested and ready to help avoid burn out during your journey. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How feeling "burnt out" has become more of a forefront issue lately especially in "hustle culture" and why that is a cause for concern for people of all ages. 2). Common scenarios that can cause overwhelming feelings for most people and how that can affect you personally. 3). Why it's important to take time to acknowledge your achievements no matter how big or small along the way. 4). The importance of keeping your life balanced as much as possible when working hard to achieving your goals. 5). Why you should make time for rest even when you feel like there is no time and why this can be crucial to staying resilient towards burn out. /// We hope the tips and advice in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be struggling with motivation and accomplishing goals. Pushing yourself to reach a certain level that you've set can be a great self fulfilling accomplishment but it's also important to make sure you can stay mentally, physically and emotionally healthy as best as possible while doing so. That is key to a longer, healthier life for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Vague goals are the enemy of progress." - Christina Wodtke This quote reminds us that we need to be precise and detailed, so we know exactly how we are going to reach our goals! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Self care is an aspect of life that everyone should consider at some point especially as you age. Small tasks that you should keep in mind that focus on taking care of your physical, mental and emotional well being can add up at the end of the day, week and month. This week we're sharing a few of of the most essential tasks that you can try when it comes to self care. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why self care is so important especially as you age and why we thought it was a good idea to dedicate and episode to this issue. 2). What the priority is when it comes to self care and how this can often be over looked when living a busy life focusing on others. 3). Why it's important to consider setting "boundaries" when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. 4). The importance of making time to participate in activities that "rejuvenate" and "refresh" you on a regular basis. 5). Why doing the things that make you feel in "control" of your life is key to maintaining a clearer mental and emotional state which helps your overall wellness. /// We hope these tips on self care are helpful to you and open up the possibilities of health, wellness and longevity through consistent self care routines and tasks. Little reminders that you can practice will keep your goal of long term physical, mental and emotional health a stable pillar in your life now and for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas Edison This quote reminds us that we can not give up, we must keep trying even if it is “just one more time”, it will keep us going! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this special episode we're sharing a few things we've learned after releasing over 400 exercise related videos on our YouTube channel. We started our channel in 2019 and have learned so many interesting things about creating a fitness brand online and getting to know the amazing fitness community that has become of it. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith's personal experiences and history in teaching fitness classes for people of all ages and how that lead into creating the Senior Fitness With Meredith YouTube channel. 2). Why our YouTube channel is really focused on creating exercises for people of all ages and abilities even though it is name "Senior" Fitness With Meredith. 3). The importance of creating exercises that support all levels of fitness from Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. 4). Some of the amazing feedback we've received over the years from all over the world and how that helps give us more ideas on things to try and exercises to create. 5). Some of the great relationships and stories that have come from creating helpful exercise content and how that has been a great surprise for our team. /// Thank you for joining us on this special episode. It has been quite the journey for our team and we've learned so many things from our subscribers and followers. We could definitely not have made it this far without your support. We hope to continue releasing more health and fitness related content in the years to come and we can't wait to see what the future has in store! Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out." - Calvin Coolidge This quote reminds us that small steps done each day are what help us attain goals, and to keep going! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the podcast we're stretching out and "opening our minds" about how we should all be more like our tongues! This may sound funny, but there is a story behind it and how it actually relates to staying active on a regular basis. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). The story behind how this topic came about and why we thought it was very relatable to our listeners and those who enjoy an active lifestyle. 2). The importance of movement throughout your day, even when you're not actually exercising. 3). Some suggestions on how to stay motivated when you don't feel like exercising or being active. 4). Why we often make the mistake that trying to get fit or lose weight is like a straight line when in reality there are many ups and downs to get through which is normal. 5). How your body changes over time and what may have worked to stay active in the past may not work as easily now or into the future. /// We hope you enjoyed this fun episode and maybe after hearing it you'll agree on why we should all try to be more like our tongues! Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." - Colin Powell This quote reminds us that hard work continually is what gets us to our goals, not just hopes! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September is Falls Prevention Awareness month and in this episode we wanted to shed more light on this important cause. Unexpected falls can cause much more than just physical damage. There are many mental and emotional aspects that come into play not just for the person who experienced a fall but also surrounding friends and family. Falls can occur at any age but the most vulnerable are older adults or those with disabilities. Luckily there are a few easy things that you can do to minimize the risk of a fall to remain safe in your home or living space. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What Falls Prevention Awareness Month is and why it has become so important to recognize each year. 2). Why it's important to highlight Falls Prevention Month in all independent and assisted living facilities. 3). The importance of including easy to follow balance exercises each week in your regular exercise routines which help build strength and stability. 4). How certain medications can cause problems with balance which can lead to falls and other physical complications and why it's important to discuss this with your doctor. 5). Why it's important to make sure any assistive devices like a walker or cane are regularly checked so they don't break or collapse which can lead to a dangerous fall. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may have experienced a fall. Making sure to take a few extra steps in securing your surroundings to avoid the risk of a fall will go a long way to a safer, healthier, more independent life for you and your loved ones. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"One day you will look back and see that all along you were blooming." - Morgan Harper Nichols This quote reminds us that it is important to look at our progress, to see how far we have come especially when we are feeling down on ourselves. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maintaining a regular exercise schedule is one of the gold standard indicators of health and wellness and making sure your mind and body are in the best shape they can be. However, no matter how much we exercise there may always seem to be aches and pains and mental challenges that we attribute to living an active lifestyle. Surprisingly, there are many other factors that can affect the way your mind and body responds to daily life and one of those can most definitely be the weather. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we decided to dedicate an episode to this topic and how common it is to feel the effects of the weather and yet, not realize how much it is affecting you. 2). Insight into the comments and feedback we receive on our YouTube channel and website in regards to how different weather climates around the world affect others who live an active lifestyle. 3). How weather can affect you mentally and emotionally which can be challenging when trying to maintain consistency with exercise and diet. 4). How certain climates and weather changes can affect your respiratory system which can cause problems in your overall well being. 5). How constant weather changing patterns can weaken your immune system especially in those who may not be very physically active or overall healthy. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful if you are experiencing physical or mental challenges during your active lifestyle. The weather isn't usually something we focus on when it comes to staying active and healthy but it most certainly can play a role in how your body and mind respond to exercise and the everyday challenges we encounter. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." - Socrates This quote reminds us that we must build the new to make change stick! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being in caretaking is one of the most important jobs or positions to take on when it comes to caring for the aging or those in need. It can be demanding and even stressful at times but also very rewarding in making the difference in someone's life. It is also easy to lose sight one the most important aspect to caretaking, making sure you as the caretaker is being taken care of. Putting your health and wellness first as a priority is key to maintaining an independent life and allowing yourself the necessary rest time to recharge will give you the ability to be your best at your job especially when you are needed most. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). The definition of a "Caretaker" and what their roles and responsibilities usually entail. 2). Why it's important to also prioritize your health and wellness as a caretaker so that you can be the best version of yourself when taking care of someone else. 3). Helpful ways you can plan healthy meals around the eating times of the person you are caring for to ensure you are also eating healthy and not allowing your meals to be an after thought. 4). Planning tips on how you can better schedule your day around caretaking so that you get better sleep at night which will help you recharge your mind, body and soul. 5). The importance of staying socially connected to close family and friends while you are away from caretaking. /// We hope the tips and information in this episode are helpful to you if you or someone you know is a primary care taker. Taking care of our aging or those who need it most is needed in all facets of life and making sure those who take on this role are caring for themselves is just as important. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." - Diane Ackerman This quote reminds us that we need to fill each day with so much good, not just live the length of each day! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise is key to maintaining an independent lifestyle especially as you age. Keeping a schedule of workouts helps build consistency and confidence in sustaining a healthy future. But what happens when you hit a "funk" or encounter an unexpected injury that sidelines you for a period of time? There are many things that occur in life that can throw surprises into your regular schedule which can keep you from staying on track with exercise. This can cause feelings of "falling behind" or lagging with your routine exercises. Luckily, there are some easy tips you can follow which will help you get back into the game and feeling great both in body and mind. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What events, thoughts or circumstances in life can make us feel like we're not exercising enough and why this is more common than we may think. 2). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working with clients over the years and their thoughts on keeping up with exercise and staying active. 3). Why it's important to not "over set" your fitness goals if you've been away from exercising for a long time or are just getting started. 4). The importance of finding workouts and exercises that you enjoy doing and how that's helpful for your motivation each day. 5). The physical, mental and emotional benefits of regular exercise and remembering why this is important for your overall and long term health. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you if you feel un-motivated to exercise after a long break or if you're just having trouble getting started for the first time. There's no shame in taking time off and when you're ready to come back to exercise, we hope the information in this episode helps motivate you to get moving towards a longer and healthier future. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln This quote reminds us that we must live each day fully, not just going through the motions of each day! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.