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What if it goes badly? That’s the question most of us ask on autopilot. What if I fail? What if I look stupid? What if I can’t keep it up? What if this doesn’t work for me? And just like that, we’ve talked ourselves out of trying. Or we show up half-heartedly, already bracing for disappointment. But here’s a thought I’ve been coming back to lately: What if it goes right? What if this time you do follow through? What if your body responds better than you expect? What if you ac

Karen Bridges had a moment of clarity that a lot of people over 50 will recognize. She was having trouble doing ordinary daily things, like working in the garden. Her balance was faltering. Her desk job kept her sedentary all day, and earlier years of being active "off and on" ended with the pandemic. "I hit a wall of reality," the 65-year-old says. "I realized that if I didn't change anything in my life, then nothing would change." That mindset shift made all the difference.

Spend time around people who remain active into their 60s, 70s and beyond, and you start hearing the same ideas over and over. They’re not complicated or trendy, but they sure do work. Here are 10 lessons from folks who age well and stay active, maintaining health, energy, and independence through exercise. 1. Don’t wait for life to be perfect Barbara Warren kept competing in track events while waiting for knee replacement surgery. She sometimes finished last. She was still m

You may have noticed it creeping back in. The headlines. The red-carpet commentary. The sudden celebration of “heroin chic” bodies that look suspiciously like the ones we were told to starve ourselves into back in the 1990s. Skinny culture is making a comeback. For women our age, this isn’t exactly new territory. Many of us grew up in a time when the message was clear: smaller was better, hunger was discipline, and strength was…unfeminine. A lot of women paid a high price for

Something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: muscle loss during cancer treatment. For many people with cancer, losing muscle affects treatment, quality of life, and outcomes. Severe muscle and weight loss, known as cancer cachexia, contributes to nearly one-third of cancer-related deaths. That’s why researchers are paying closer attention to the role of movement and strength. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), muscle loss during cancer trea

Ralph Preziosi doesn’t just love to ski. He started a non-profit organization to lead international trips so others could enjoy the sport, as well. For Ralph, 69, skiing is a lifelong passion. And regular workouts at the gym make it possible for him to continue. “There’s nothing like it, going down a mountain and feeling a breeze on your face,” says Ralph, a retired food distributor. “It’s just an amazing feeling of freedom.” He’s far from unique among people over 50 who want

Have you ever finished a workout and thought, “Well… I showed up, but did I actually do anything?” You moved. You checked the box. You sweated a little. But you weren’t really there. It happens to all of us sometimes. We’re distracted, rushing, thinking about work or dinner or the million other things pulling at us. We go through the motions — reps get counted, sets get done — but our brain is somewhere else. Here’s the problem: your body can tell. There’s a big difference be

Last week we talked about keeping a beginner’s mindset — giving yourself permission to be new, awkward, and imperfect while you learn. So let’s talk about what that actually looks like in real life. Because most people don’t struggle with change because they’re lazy or unmotivated. They struggle because they try to do too much at once . We go from “I want to feel better” to: working out 5 days a week overhauling our diet cutting sugar drinking more water fixing our sleep It s

We all know the drill about keeping our water clean, eating whole foods, and maybe even having that nifty air purifier humming away in the corner of our living room. But, there’s another type of “pollution” that a lot of people miss… Thought Pollution. Yep, it's a thing. And honestly, it might just be the sneakiest villain in our quest for health. Water? Check. We're all about that filtered life, making sure every sip is as pure as it can be. Food? You bet. We aim for those w

If you’re like many people, dementia is one of the greatest fears associated with aging. In Canada, more than 750,000 people are living with Alzheimer's or another form dementia, and that number continues to grow. While there is no cure, the Alzheimer Society of Canada emphasizes that lifestyle choices can play an important role in brain health and risk reduction. “There is growing evidence that adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce the risk of developing dementia

After 10 years of doing this, I've noticed an annual pattern... December leaves us wrung out, January shows up with a long list of things we’re “supposed” to fix about ourselves, and by the time February rolls around most of us are quietly wondering why it’s already starting to feel hard again. Here’s what I want you to know: There is nothing wrong with you. If motivation actually worked, we’d all be sleeping better, eating well, moving daily, and checking off our goals witho

If the phrase “New Year’s Resolution” makes you groan instead of cheer, you’re not alone. For many of us — juggling work, family, aging parents, grandkids, and our own health — January feels less like a fresh start and more like a performance review. Suddenly we’re supposed to fix everything all at once: our bodies, our schedules, our eating, our mindset… no wonder so many resolutions quietly disappear by mid-February. What if this year you tried something different — small,

People are living longer than ever, but not always better. There’s a 13-year gap between lifespan and “healthspan,” the years we spend in good health. Closing that gap is one of the biggest opportunities of our time, especially since adults over 65 soon will outnumber those under 18. AARP CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan recently outlined five lessons for aging well: recharge your mind daily, move your body, set new goals, think beyond retirement, and build community. Each one m

Anytime we think about gratitude, most people often put their health high on the list.   And not much boosts your health quite like healthy habits – including regularly exercising, eating right, sleeping well, and managing stress.   It’s always a good time to express gratitude. And here are a few more items to add to your gratitude list, all related to how fitness enriches our lives at any age. Can you think of any others?   You ’re never too old to start exercising and see

Here’s a gentle reminder I could probably tape to my own forehead this time of year: Rest matters. A lot. I talk a lot about workouts, consistency, and “not losing momentum,” especially around the holidays. But here’s the part that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: the good stuff from your workouts actually happens after you’re done. Muscles rebuild when you rest. Energy comes back when you pause. Progress depends on recovery. And it’s not just about your body. December h

I’ve always believed age is much more about outlook than the number on your birthday cake—but this weekend gave me the perfect reminder. On Saturday, my husband and I were supposed to go to an alt-rock concert together in Edmonton. Think loud, sweaty, political, and full of energy. The kind of show that makes your ears ring for two days. The crowd? Mainly 18–30-year-olds, a few dozen Millennials and a handful of Gen X'ers like me —a 58-year-old woman who still loves a good wa

Ever flop on the couch at the end of the day—phone in hand, snack nearby—scrolling, watching, snacking… …but somehow you still wake up the next morning  exhausted ? You’re not alone. Most of us are really good at  checking out —but not so good at  resting . Here’s the thing: Numbing out  feels like rest in the moment… but it rarely leaves you feeling restored.  True rest  actually nourishes your body, mind, and nervous system—so you can show up for your life with more energy,

Here we are — November already. Only two months left in the year. And they're going to fly by - they always do! It’s easy to think, “I’ll just get through the holidays and start fresh in January. ” But let’s be honest — that “fresh start” gets a lot harder when we spend the last stretch of the year coasting. Every week you don’t move, plan, or fuel well now means a steeper climb in January. And if this pattern sounds familiar — easing up every November and December, then “st

Are you feeling SAD already this year? Maybe not. It’s probably too early for full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder. But as days get shorter, nights get longer, and the holidays creep closer, it’s not too early to talk about exhaustion. We all get tired, but sometimes that fatigue runs deeper than a few late nights. Experts say there are three overlapping kinds of exhaustion that can sneak up on you. At this time of year, you might be feeling all three. 1. Everyday exhaustio

When life feels busy and overwhelming, it’s easy to tell yourself: “I’ll start exercising when things slow down.” But here’s the...