Senior Fitness With Meredith

Fall prevention is important when it comes to any daily activity like walking, going up and down stairs, carrying groceries and just about anything else we encounter during our day. Preventing dangerous falls also gets more difficult if and when there is alcohol consumption involved. Enjoying a social circle or gatherings are a great way to stay connected to friends and family. In some cases this involves alcohol consumption. Enjoying alcohol during these times in moderation can bring joy and happiness but making sure to stay aware or dangerous falls while partaking in alcohol should also be at top of mind especially as we age. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we felt it was important to bring this topic to light because of the lack of attention fall prevention receives when combined with alcohol for seniors. 2). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working in independent living facilities and the casual alcohol consumption that occurred which caused some of the scariest falls that could have been prevented. 3). How falls occur more during the holidays as this is a time in which alcohol consumption rises and tips on how to be aware of this higher risk period and preventing avoidable falls. 4). How pacing yourself when drinking helps make a big difference on the amount of alcohol you consume and making sure to stay hydrated by drinking water also helps to regulate alcohol consumption in a short period of time. 5). Meredith's safest advice on how to move through space if you do have too much to drink, especially if you use an assistive device, are in an unfamiliar area or don't have anyone there to help you. /// We hope you find our tips in this episode helpful and useful to you or someone you know. Enjoying alcohol in moderation especially socially is a common way to enjoy friends and family but we must also take the necessary precautions to enjoy alcohol safely. Taking the necessary steps to prevent any kind of dangerous fall while consuming should always be in consideration especially if you are in an unfamiliar place or have little support with you. Enjoying alcohol safely and securely is the goal and helps to focus on the important things like spending time with loved ones. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”-Bonnie Blair,Speed Skater This motivation is about the attitude to keep trying, getting better, and remembering being first is not the end goal. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is having the energy to exercise on a regular basis. When we feel tired, exercising (amongst many other things) can become less of a priority and cause a slow spiral towards being less active. But what causes us to feel tired? Making sure we take the necessary steps to keep our mind and bodies well rested so we can take on the days challenges is a key factor in living a full healthy life and engaging in life’s activities. Activities that not only keep our bodies healthy but our minds as well. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What feeling “tired” really means and how this affects your body, mind and motivation throughout the day. 2). How always feeling tired can easily build upon itself to where it becomes something you feel all the time and almost “normal”. 3). Why you should consider making it a priority to incorporate some kind of movement throughout your day and why this is important to both your mind and body. 4). How your diet affects your energy levels and how remembering to pay attention to the foods you put into your body can make a big difference to the way you feel. 5). Why quality of sleep is so important to avoid the feelings of tiredness and how taking necessary steps to getting better sleep can improve your energy levels greatly during the day. /// We hope the 5 tips we’ve shared in this episode help motivate you to embrace habits that keep us fresh and alert during the day. It’s OK to feel tired and times but it can become a problem when we start to feel tired all the time and it becomes out “default” mode. If you feel like this or know someone who does then we invite you to try a few of our suggestions mentioned in this episode. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”-Dr. Seuss This motivation is a reminder to keep going, moving forward…onward and upward! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Losing weight is a common desire among most people when they begin or continue on their active lifestyle journey. For some, this desire can take on a more unhealthy approach when it is rushed. Losing weight “fast” isn’t always a healthy endeavor as our bodies are all designed differently and keeping a healthy amount of weight on is always recommended. But what about when we want to lose a small amount of weight in a short amount of time? Is there a way to do it safely and effectively? In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Meredith’s thoughts on the real purpose of exercise which includes losing weight and keeping it off but also to keep our bodies healthy in all aspects of life. 2). How Meredith designs her “Custom 7 Day Workout Plans” for customers that focus not just on losing weight but to help with other areas like balance and strength. 3). How getting the right amount of sleep contributes to healthy weight. 4). Why making sure you are taking in enough calories with good foods to fuel your bodies needs is also important to shedding weight in a healthy manner. 5). How embracing an active lifestyle consistently will help you not only lose 5lbs but could help you maintain a lower body weight in a safe and healthy manner. /// We hope the tips and information we shared in this episode are helpful to you, especially if your are weighing the options to losing a small amount of weight in a short amount of time. We don’t recommend that this be your preferred way to lose weight but making sure you take the necessary precautions a to make your safety and health a priority is the most important thing to keep at the top of mind always. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.”-Anonymous This motivation is about rolling with the punches; when things do not seem to go as planned we keep going and find new ways to enjoy it! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sciatica pain or back pain is very common for most people especially as we age. Dealing with this kind of pain can be debilitating and worst yet, can keep us from living active and healthy lives. It may seem like there is very little we can do to help curb this pain but in reality there are things you can do everyday to help deal with issues from sciatica. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What sciatica pain is (or back pain) and the areas that are commonly affected by it on the body. 2). Some of Meredith’s experiences with clients who were dealing with back pain and the common feedback she would get on their struggles. 3). How certain strength training movements can be beneficial to helping ease pain in your back by strengthening the muscles and areas to support your core. 4). Why stretching on a regular basis is highly recommended if you deal with common sciatica pain as it also is a good way to lengthen and relax the areas of your body that can cause issues. 5). Why considering a third party like a masseuses, chiropractor or medical professional to help you with your pain can be also be helpful if you still aren’t getting relief after trying the suggestions in this episode. /// If you are dealing with back pain or know someone who is then we hope the tips we share in this episode help inspire you or someone you know to take action. Staying active and healthy for as long as possible is the name of the game and making sure to partake in the safe steps of “self care” that help curb the pain of sciatica and back pain is a big part of you health and wellness journey. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”-Carl Rogers This motivation is remembering that having a good life isn’t a constant “always”, it is a constant “work at”. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Core stability is essential to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Incorporating exercises that help strengthen your core which consists of your abdominal muscles, lower back and obliques will help add stability and balance to your overall physical health. This week we’re sharing our 5 best recommended core/ab exercises that you should be incorporating into your weekly workouts. You can also see examples of all of the exercises mentioned in this episode at our workouts page here and filtered by “Core / Abs”. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). The areas of the body that are designated as your essential “core” muscles. 2). Some of the reasons and excuses that Meredith has heard in her classes on why some people don’t like to do core style exercises and what is preventing them from doing them regularly. 3). How core exercises can be done in the seated position which can be more accommodating to those who may have limitations with core exercises on the floor. 4). Some of Meredith’s tips you can try during your core routines to help you benefit from the movements that are working your targeted muscles. 5). Meredith’s 5 (plus 5 more!) bonus core exercises encompassing both seated and standing routines. /// We hope you found this episode on core exercises helpful to you. Maintaining a strong core is the center of living an active lifestyle and making sure you can incorporate one ore more exercises into your weekly routines that focus on this area of your body is important to staying active safer, healthier and longer. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”-Oprah Winfrey This motivation is Celebrating your life and ALL you have! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.