Our mood is an important aspect of our daily lives and can directly contribute to our levels of engagement, awareness, activity and much more throughout the day. If you often don’t feel like doing certain things or don’t feel “in the mood”, this can directly affect not only your life but also the lives of others around you. Luckily, regular exercise can help offset our mood swings and help make us feel more balanced when it comes to getting through life’s daily challenges. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in working with clients of all ages and the effects she has observed on mood and the willingness to stay active and healthy because of the positive effects of exercise. 2). What happens to your body when you encounter regular stress and don’t exercise to help curb the effects of stress on our bodies and minds. 3). How regular exercise helps with feelings of loneliness. 4). How regular exercise makes you feel better mentally and physically and how it can help lead to more self confidence, clarity and motivation. 5). Meredith’s recommendation on how often you should exercise during the week and what kind of exercises should you include in your workouts to keep your mood and mentality at healthy levels. /// We hope the tips we’ve shared in this episode help you embrace the benefits of regular exercise which include helping improve your mood and overall happiness. Regular exercise has many benefits more than just the physical. Being mentally healthy is just as important and staying active will help keep you body and mind sharp and engaged for years to come. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The only way to make your dreams come true is to wake up and do something about them.” – Steve Jobs This quote reminds us that if we have dreams and hopes, we have to wake up each day and work for them! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The technology market has exploded in the past couple of years with mobile phones, computers, cars etc. The fitness industry has also bought in on this trend and has gone all in on new technologies that can help you with your active lifestyle. From fitness bands, watches to treadmills and home fitness gyms. Even our very own YouTube channel is considered part of this technology growth! With so much to offer these days it can be a little overwhelming. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How the technology market for fitness products has expanded over the recent years and how this has changed the landscape in adding many different ways to track your health progress. 2). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences with using different technologies like FitBit etc. 3). How newer fitness devices have put more focus on ease of use and have made them much easier to understand for people of all ages. 4). An overview of some of the  newer “in-home” gym and workout technologies that have come to the market recently and their pros and cons. 5). Meredith’s thoughts on the online fitness video market like YouTube and how she feels about this area of growth for seniors. Plus her personal though on Senior Fitness With Meredith /// We hope the tips and information we share in this episode helps you navigate this new and growing industry. Especially if you are curious about how it can help you or if you are looking for different ways to enhance your active lifestyle. Not all technology that claims it can help you is equal, but knowing what works for you and how to go about finding out can be a big fitness motivator and help you for years to come. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It’s never too late — never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.” – Jane Fonda This quote reminds us that no matter our age or where we are, we can do what we wish and hope for, and always be happy! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choosing the right weight size when exercising is an important aspect when performing resistance training. Making sure you choose a weight size that is comfortable for the exercise you are doing can make the difference between possibly risking injury and building strength safely. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Meredith’s overall philosophy on weight training and the benefits of regular resistance training exercises. 2). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in training clients over the years and how they responded to different weights and resistance bands sizes. 3). How weight sizes should be chosen based on your skill level and the type of exercises that you are performing. 4). Meredith’s thought’s on putting together the perfect “starter pack” for resistance and weight training and what would be included. 5). Meredith’s personal opinion on sharing her weight sizes and why it’s more important to focus on what’s best for YOU and how to find that perfect balance. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you if you are struggling with deciding on what weight sizes to use during exercise. Making sure the sizes you choose are comfortable and safe is key to building strength properly and safely, regardless of what anyone else may be using. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted.”-Sylvia Plath This quote reminds us to live now, because it is now and all we have…do not take it for granted! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multi tasking is the act of attempting to accomplish many things at once. Doing laundry, balancing your check book, doing the dishes, texting your family members etc. Trying to get many things done at once can make you feel as if you’re being productive but it can also take a toll on your mental, emotional and physical well being if it becomes the norm for your living style. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith’s own personal struggles with multitasking and how it can affect people of all ages. 2). How living with modern technology like your phone can make you feel more anxious and like you’re not getting enough done. This can lead to multi tasking and trying to get many things done at once. 3). How the affects of having a shorter attention span impacts our attitudes on moving on from one task to another prematurely. 4). Why you may start to feel tired and overwhelmed when constantly trying to multi task on a regular basis and how this ultimately affects your overall health and well being. 5). Some of Meredith’s tips on managing the urge to constantly multi task. /// We hope the tips in this episode help you realize that multitasking can be helpful but can also affect you in ways that will impact your overall health. We all want to feel accomplished with our days and doing so in a way that keeps you healthy and still makes you feel like you are checking off your “to do list” items is what’s important in the long run. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves.”-Cheryl Strayed This quote reminds us that many of the fears we have are ones we tell ourselves, and make ourselves believe. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having a balanced diet to compliment an active lifestyle is key to living longer and healthier. However, not knowing exactly what we put into our bodies to support our healthy lifestyle can be a drawback, especially when we think what we are consuming is healthy. Nutrition labels give us the information we need to make smart choices and allow us to build a plan around the best choices of food for our bodies. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we wanted to dedicate a full episode to nutritional labeling and why it plays an important role in living a full active lifestyle. 2). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in working with clients and their thoughts on knowing what they eat and what goes into their diets. 3). Some of the mistakes people make when reading nutritional labels on food products and how that can lead to taking in more calories and/or fats than we think. 4). Why it’s important to know what each item on the label means and how to read them properly. 5). How knowing what you are eating and the ingredients involved with you food will help give you the power to make good food choices which in turn, will make you feel better and have more energy for an active life. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who is looking to build an effective diet around a healthy lifestyle. Knowing what you consume is important and becoming familiar with the nutritional labeling on the foods you consume is the best place to get started. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Stop making excuses, you're the only one stopping you.”-Issa Rae This quote reminds us that the excuses that we use are usually ones we make so we do not have to do something. Let’s stop making excuses! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise is vital to living a longer more independent life and making sure to include both cardio exercises and strength training when exercising are the pillars to good body health. But what is the best combination to start with when you train? Should you begin with cardio exercises like walking and running or should you begin with resistance training using weights for movements like curls, shoulder raises or leg presses to get started? In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we decided to dedicate an episode to this topic and how it’s inspired by the many questions we get from followers and subscribers who struggle with this issue. 2). Why starting with a “warm up” is always a good idea before diving into your regular workout and how this usually consists of a lighter cardio routine. 3). The benefits of strength training after your body has already warmed up and some of the injuries you can avoid. 4). The importance of knowing your body’s limits when exercising which will help you stay safe when attempting more intense cardio or heavier strength training. 5). Meredith’s suggestions on how to create a workout that includes both strength training and cardio if you are short on time or only exercises a few days a week. /// We hope the tips in this episode helps you or someone you know that struggles with the best combination of exercises when training. Both cardio and resistance exercises have benefits that compliment each other and both should be included in your weekly exercise schedule. However, knowing which combination better suites you can make a difference in your exercise routines and overall health. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” -Charles Dickens This quote reminds us that our  weakness can change when we allow our internal strength and courage to grow. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise takes effort to achieve and can benefit your health in many ways. However, attempting to exercise in clothing/attire that doesn’t fit right or isn’t comfortable can actually be hurting your chances of getting a great workout in. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What inspired Meredith to discuss this topic and how she reacted when she saw someone exercising at the gym wearing jeans and polo shirt. 2). Some of the reasoning behind why we choose what we wear when it’s time to exercise and that everyone is different in this selection process. 3). Important things to remember when choosing the right footwear for exercise. 4). Some of Meredith’s favorite choices in fabric when it comes to exercise attire that helps keep you cool and dry. 5). Some of Meredith’s preferred exercise clothing brands and where they can be purchased. /// We hope you’ve enjoyed this episode and that the tips we’ve shred here help you or someone you know make the right choices when it comes to choosing the perfect exercise attire. Feeling comfortable is key to getting the most out of the time you spend exercising! Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You don't have to understand life. You just have to live it.”-Matt Haig This quote is the reminder that life should be lived, even when we do not understand what is going on and why things are  happening…keep living. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taking in protein is an important aspect to living a healthy and active lifestyle. We all know that adding protein to your meals helps your body build and maintain muscle which is very important when it comes to being able to handle the physical activities throughout the day (carrying groceries, going up stairs etc). But do you know how MUCH protein you should be consuming on a daily basis to best optimize your muscle growth and health? In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we decided to dedicate this important topic to a full episode and what prompted us to address the issue. 2). How there is a misconception that eating a lot of protein is only for people who are trying to build big muscles which, is not true. 3). Meredith’s research on what is an ideal amount of protein grams to take in based on your weight. 4). Some of the foods that Meredith recommends to include in your diet that have higher protein levels. 5). Why it’s important to be aware of the nutritional information on the food products you buy and how that can help improve your overall diet. /// Protein is one of the building blocks of strength, stability and longevity. As we age, we tend to lose muscle which can make us feel weaker and less motivated to stay active. Knowing how much protein your body needs as you go through the later stages in life is an important aspect of maintaining health, longevity and independence well into the future. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Thankfully, dreams can change. If we'd all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses.”-Stephen Colbert This quote lets you know it is okay to change your plans, come up with new dreams, and live your true and authentic life for YOU! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise is part of the main pillars in life that will help you stay healthy, strong and live longer. We put a lot of time and energy into it over the years which sometimes makes us feel like we should be seeing certain results as our bodies change. However, this may not always be the case. Not seeing results from the hard work you do exercising can be frustrating and de-motivating. Putting in what feels like a lot of exercise each week and not seeing the expected results can lead to quitting altogether, and we’d like to avoid that. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in training clients of all ages and some of their attitudes and responses on not being happy with their results from exercise. 2). Why most people underestimate the amount of time it actually takes to see a physical changes not just externally but internally as well. 3). How not seeing results is usually tied to a specific goal that we set for ourselves which isn’t always very realistic to begin with. 4). How your daily diet directly affects your body and the work you put in to look and feel good. 5). Meredith’s suggestion’s on how to correctly measure your results so you do see the actual changes that are taking place in a more healthy and realistic way. /// We hope the tips in this episode help you find the best path to exercise and health for your lifestyle. Not physically seeing results doesn’t necessarily mean that your body isn’t changing. There are many other factors that go into the amazing effects that exercise has on your health and they aren’t all necessarily visual. Although visual cues will show if they haven’t already, provided you stay consistent with you exercise habits and diet. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Life has many ways of testing a person’s will, either by having nothing happen at all or having everything happen all at once.”-Paulo Coelho This quote is a reminder that your will can help you push through the all or nothing…you can do it! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preventing falls is an important aspect of living an active lifestyle especially as we age. Injury from a fall can have long lasting effects not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Being proactive and including exercises in your weekly routine that support strengthening the muscles which are the core of our balance is important to staying independent well into our later years. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we thought it was important to address Falls Prevention and what can be done to help minimize the risks through exercise. 2). Some of Meredith’s personal experiences in working with clients of all ages and their struggles with past injuries from falls. 3). How incorporating “Sit to Stand” exercises can greatly help with strengthening the muscles that support your balance when getting in and out of a seated position. 4). Why exercises that incorporate “side to side” movements are great for building up lower body muscles and how that can help improve your walking which will minimize fall risk. 5). The importance of incorporating core and abdominal exercises regularly and why that also helps strengthen you mid section and minimize fall risk. /// Fall accidents are far to common especially amongst older adults and our balance and stability are important aspects to living a mobile and independent life. We hope the exercises we shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may have either experienced an unfortunate fall or is looking to strengthen the muscles that support our stability. Staying safe and independent are the goals and taking a proactive stance will help you live a longer, happier life. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“There’s always a new challenge to keep you motivated.”-Sean Connery This quote is a reminder that even the challenges of life can be your motivation to keep moving forward! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.