Fitness News & Tips

Some people prefer to exercise alone. Others are joiners – happiest when they’re exercising and playing with friends or other folks.

“Being in a group appeals to me – I like to sign up!”

That’s Diane Firmani, a 64-year-old multi-athlete who stays active outdoors all year long in Wasilla, Alaska.

This time of year is filled with special foods. From decorated cookies to mashed potatoes, it’s one food event after another. For most of us, it can become more about food than anything else…and you wonder why you gain weight!

This year shift your focus from food to the things that really matter most to you. The season will mean more to you and you’ll look and feel your best.

Let your holiday gifts this year encourage people you love (including yourself) to move their bodies and enjoy an active lifestyle. Whether they’re already on their fitness path or about to begin, these ideas are a good place to start and cover a broad price range for everyone on your list.

Conventional wisdom has long held that running is better for heart health than weightlifting.

But a new study says that’s not so.

Scientists looked at health records of 4,000 people. They concluded that, while both forms of exercise lower the risk of heart disease, weightlifting has a great effect than running, walking or cycling, according to the British Telegraph. 

Consistency is key to getting and staying fit. Proper exercise and nutrition aren’t one-and-done ideas. They’re commitments that rightly bring long-term benefits, not just short-term fixes.

Active adults who work to stay fit know this. And they know not to worry about big interruptions to their exercise and eating routines. They know those interruptions are inevitable – and many times, they’re even welcome.

Snowbirds heading south for the winter have a lot to look forward to – the milder weather, the sunshine, seeing old friends.

And we know they will want to keep up their fitness routines – or take the change of scenery as a chance to start some.

A massive study made headlines recently by concluding that not exercising is worse for your health than smoking and diabetes.

But many readers over 50 will be glad to know that the study also has a huge age-related finding: The spectacular benefits of exercise have no age limit.

You probably already know that exercise helps you stay strong, healthy and independent as you get older.

It also helps when life throws you a curve in the form of, say, a common injury or medical treatment.

Take it from Shebah Carfagna, who underwent hip replacement surgery five months ago and is almost back to being her old self completely. She credits her physical fitness with helping her relatively smooth recovery process.

Nate Wilkins was living the good life.
He was travelling a lot for work, as a park and recreation administrator in Florida. He was eating out a lot, and indulging at business lunches and happy hours. Sure, he noticed he was packing on some pounds, but he was busy — dealing with that would have to wait.

Then one day, it couldn’t wait any longer.

It is said that 80% of your weight loss results are derived from diet, and the remaining 20% from exercise—so you can see how important it is for you to stick with a healthy eating plan.

Here’s Your Guide to Healthy Dining Out

Do you exercise with the hopes of reaching a specific number on the scale? Or are you wishing to fit into a certain size dress or jeans? While having a goal is great, it will NOT ensure your success.

Consider how many people you know who have had a specific weight that they wanted to reach. You are likely one of them. This number might have been posted up on a sticky note on the fridge, reminding you to watch what you eat and consistently make it to the gym. Maybe this number was updated and recorded everyday, to enforce accountability.

VINCE ON MT. KILAMANJARO Vince wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Sheba wanted to participate with her son, a Special Olympian, and inspire other women to exercise. Ari wanted to lose weight and get healthy enough to play with his...

Do you want a smaller waist?

Try this easy slim down tip: Don’t eat carbohydrates after 4pm. Instead stick with lean protein and green veggies.

This will prevent late afternoon and evening snacking and will quickly result in a slimmer waist.

Kay Willoughby turns 75 in November. In just the last decade, she’s been fishing in Alaska, scuba diving in the Florida Keys, and hiking through the great cities of Europe.

But on a recent river cruise in Russia, she was sad for some of her peers who lacked the stamina to go on walking tours through St. Petersburg and the fabled palace of Catherine the Great.

“That was really too bad for them, after they spent so much money to get there,” Kay says. “I didn’t have any trouble walking around and seeing everything – all the castles and the gold and how extravagant everything was back then.”

Her secret?

So you took a break from your fitness routine this summer. You ate, you drank, you relaxed, and ate some more.

Well, now it’s time to face the music.

As you look in the mirror after a summer of less-than-healthy eating… Your body is puffy and bloated. Your joints are achy. Your clothes feel tight.

Maybe you are feeling that way right now.

Here’s how to get you back on the fitness fast track.

Does this sound familiar?

You’d like to join a gym, but you don’t think you’re fit enough yet.

You’re worried that everyone else there is already in great shape and a lot younger than you. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable or intimidated.

Well, the good news is: You’re not alone. Lots of people feel that way, no matter what age. Gym owners and trainers hear this all the time.