What have you noticed most about age-related declines? Have you noticed it takes longer to do a physically demanding job like mowing the lawn? Do the jar lids that used to pop right open now require much more effort? Aging brings with it declines in physical work capacity as well as muscular strength and endurance.…
Read more
The Heart of the Matter
Each October, millions of Americans don their favorite pink outfits to raise awareness for breast cancer. But, did you know heart attacks kill six times as many women as breast cancer? This February, the Tallahassee Memorial Heart & Vascular Center is challenging Tallahassee to “go red” and educate the community about heart disease in women.…
Read more
SHOW ME THE SCIENCE!
How can you tell if the claim for the latest potion, pill or procedure is based on good science or junk science? There are so many scientific claims made—especially around health and fitness—that I really want to help my readers understand the scientific method, in hopes of learning the difference between legitimate and illegitimate claims.…
Read more
It’s Time for Fitness February
Ah, February. Or perhaps, uh-oh, it’s February already? On the positive side, the days are getting longer, spring is approaching, and there will even be hope of extra chocolate around Valentine’s Day. But, what about those New Year’s resolutions? Are they starting to fade? Are the extra holiday pounds and sluggish feeling still with us? …
Read more
Beginner Runners: How to get off the couch and start training for a 5K
"I've always wanted to run a 5k." Does this sound like you? Has running a 5k been on your bucket list for a while? Whether you're into walking, jogging, or "wogging" (a combination of walking and jogging), I'm here to help you get started. Here are 5 simple tips to launch your 5k training program. 1. …
Read more
Aging Well Part 3: What’s Good for Your Heart is Also Good for Your Brain
You know February is Heart Month, right? What are you doing to reduce your risk of heart and vascular disease? Are you eating a heart-healthy diet? How about exercise? Are you getting enough? Do you have healthy ways of reducing and managing stress? It turns out, the same things you’re doing for your heart are also good…
Read more
Dealing with Conflicting Health and Fitness Information
We’ve all faced information about our health and fitness that seems to conflict. Perhaps you read on Tuesday that coffee is good for you and has multiple benefits, and then on Wednesday you read that coffee is bad for you and has multiple detriments! What’s a person who is short on time and baffled by…
Read more
Benefits of Cardiovascular Fitness
Cardiovascular exercise is aerobic activity* or exercise that requires oxygen and can be performed for a sustained period of time (i.e. longer than five minutes). (*Note: It is possible to perform anaerobic cardiovascular exercise but not recommended for untrained individuals or those with a low to moderate fitness level. For the purposes of this article…
Read more
Smart Phone App Incentivizes Exercise for Good Causes
What are your motivations for exercising? (Personally, I love to eat and drink. If I didn’t work out, I’d be as big a Volkswagen bus!) Could you use some added incentive? Charity Miles might just be what you’re looking for. I support and volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association. (My dad died with it.) About a…
Read more
Fitness How-To: Starting Up and Sticking with It
One question I am often asked is, how do I start becoming more healthy and fit? People will say they want to start, but just can’t seem to get going. One friend recently remarked that he used to run three times a week, and he wants to do that again, but he just can’t seem to do it even…
Read more
