FOCUS ON THIS I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! Yesterday, an email from Harvard Medical School Publishing landed in my inbox with the title The Surprising Effects of Aging on Focus. Since I occasionally walk into a room and forget why I’m there, I figured I should probably open it. The article offered several practical tips for staying focused. I already use a few—making lists has become almost a survival skill—but others, like repeating new information to help it stick, are ones I plan to try. I thought I’d pass these suggestions along. Who knows? One...
ADD THE DEAD BUG TO YOUR ROUTINE I’d heard of the “dead bug” exercise before, but assumed it was some odd move for wrestlers or jugglers. Now, I’ve discovered it’s actually one of the best core exercises for older adults. It requires no equipment other than perhaps a yoga mat, and is performed while lying on your back. After trying a few sets myself, I found it surprisingly easy and comfortable to do, and I’ve decided to add it to my morning exercise routine. Here are excerpts from the May 19, 2026, Harvard Medical School online article The many benefits...
GET MORE FROM YOUR TRAINING WITH HEART RATE ZONES When you’re out for a jog, on a bike ride, or using the elliptical, how do you decide how hard you’re working? Do you go by feel—thinking “this is easy” or “this is pretty tough”? Or do you periodically glance at your smartwatch and notice what “zone” your heart rate is in? I used to think cardio was just about getting out there and moving. But I’ve started to see it a little differently. It’s really about how your heart responds to what you’re doing. That’s where heart rate zones come...
SHOULD YOU TAKE A CREATINE SUPPLEMENT? I used to attend the FitExpo in Los Angeles and Anaheim, where people gather to explore health, exercise, and bodybuilding. Walking the expo floor, I’d always see booths promoting supplements—especially creatine powder. Back then, I assumed creatine was mainly for bodybuilders looking to boost athletic performance, not something relevant to me. Recently, though, I’ve come across articles suggesting that a creatine supplement may help older adults maintain muscle strength—and even support cognitive function. That caught my attention. Curious, I did some digging and found a recent article (April 1, 2026) from the Mayo Clinic...
PROPER FALLING IS MORE THAN JUST “TUCK & ROLL” As we seniors age, falls become more common. If we’re lucky, we bounce back up. If not, a fall can mean a concussion, a broken bone, or even a fractured hip—injuries that can lead to hospitalization and long-term consequences I’ve posted a couple of times about fall prevention (see Fall Prevention—Tales & Tips and Fear of Falling). But I haven’t written about what to do in the moment you realize you’re going down. As a kid, I was taught to “tuck and roll”—tuck your chin and roll with the momentum to...
SHOULD YOU TAKE THE LUNGE? I used to include lunges as a regular part of my strength-training routine. But over the past couple of years I dropped them because they’d become challenging. A full lunge requires a surprising degree of balance and flexibility which—like so many of us seniors—has decreased with the years. But now I’m beginning to think that’s exactly why I need to bring them back—starting now. Recently, I found a helpful article by Lynne Christensen, Staff Writer, Harvard Medical School, (October 28, 2025),) titled Are lunges safe for older adults? Below are excerpts, including simple modifications for...
THE TOP 15 FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2026 The most popular fitness trends change every year. Compare the 2026 survey with last year’s post, The Top Fitness Trends for 2025. For the 20th year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has published its annual Worldwide Fitness Trends forecast. The report is based on a survey of 2,000 clinicians, researchers and exercise professionals in the fitness industry, Here are excerpt from the 2026 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends: Future Directions of the Health and Fitness Industry. The annual trends report helps exercise professionals, gym owners and their clients understand the findings in relation to...
A SOBERING LOOK AT WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP TAKING THEM I’ve read that once people begin taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, they may need to stay on them indefinitely. Not everyone agrees with that view, of course—but a new study adds a sobering perspective. Researchers found that people who stop taking GLP-1s or other weight-loss medications regain weight four times faster than those who stop dieting or exercising alone. That’s a little unsettling, isn’t it? It may even give us seniors pause before considering these drugs. To help you better understand the issue, below are excerpts from...
START YOUR NEW WORKOUT ROUTINE THE SMART WAY Happy New Year Fellow Seniors! Wishing you a healthy, joyful, and energetic 2026!. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to add strength training to my workout routine. I have no trouble getting aerobic exercise—jogging, cycling, or swimming laps at the Y—but I’ve consistently struggled to make room for lifting weights or doing squats, lunges, planks, and crunches. Does this sound familiar? Is getting in better shape one of your 2026 resolutions? If so, it’s important to approach it wisely—without overdoing it, risking injury, or burning out before you begin. Below is...
WHICH IS IT—A COLD, THE FLU, OR COVID? Happy Holidays! This holiday season, it seems like more of us seniors are coming down with colds, the flu, or even Covid than in recent years. Could it be because we’re doing more local shopping instead of relying solely on the big online retailers? Or perhaps the newly emergent flu variant circulating this winter is playing a part. Maybe it’s simply that we’re being less cautious this year. Whatever the cause (or causes), it’s wise to pay attention to symptoms so we can take the best possible care of ourselves. Below are...
