Big life changes often follow a moment of clarity that can be startling, liberating or even painful. For Gina Gross, 59, her epiphany came while she and her husband were taking a tour of a gym in their new community. Gross was a recently retired nurse and had become obese over the years, weighing 340
My clients often ask me to help them get more motivated to work out and maintain a regular fitness routine. People think of motivation as the feeling that logically leads to action, and so they assume that the motivation has to be there first to help them get started with healthy habits like exercising and
Lee Bacchi went on and off the exercise wagon for decades – not really training with a purpose, but going to the gym sometimes. That continued even after he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than 20 years ago. But finally, this year, his growing belly was getting to be too much. Shirts were
It used to be simple when discussing dietary lifestyle choices. You were a meat-eater or a vegetarian, right? Then came more extremes –“whole food” eating that eliminates processed food, and veganism that cuts out all animal products. But now, not everybody wants to limit their food identity to “strictly this” or “exclusively that.”We recognize that
Before the coronavirus crisis, Mike was dancing through his healthiest period in years – literally. He’d been taking ballroom dance classes for a few months and loving it. Not only was it fun and social, but Mike, 62, also found it great for his weight and health. He’d slimmed down and gained stamina, and the
Like it or not, people are living longer nowadays. It used to be shocking to hear of someone turning 100. Now, it’s a fairly reasonable goal for millions of people, based on advances in health, education, and fighting disease. And it will become more and more common in the near future, experts say. So, how
Exercise has many benefits later in life, of course – like increased flexibility, strength and endurance. It also has a way of bringing loved ones closer together, even in these times of physical distancing. Consider Michael Levitan, 78, of Philadelphia, who has found a workout buddy in his son, Eric, 49, who lives in Atlanta.
For people over 50 who know they should exercise but don’t, it’s always one thing after another. They say they don’t have the time. Or money. Or they’re too old… But none of that will keep you independent as you age. It won’t keep you strong enough to enjoy life on your own terms. And
Even before the coronavirus crisis, people over 60 were regularly targeted with hurtful prejudices about what they can do, what they should like, and how they should act. But now, the backlash has grown more disturbing than ever. Some have suggested that younger people get preferential medical treatment, or that “older” people be restricted from
Seems like we’ve talked more about avoiding sickness this year than ever. We have all heard many times that we’re supposed to wash hands frequently, stay at a safe distance from other people, and wear masks in public. Don’t do this, we’re told. Don’t go there. But there’s an important part of disease prevention that