Coming up with an exercise routine or plan that fits your lifestyle, schedule and goals can be challenging. Life is constantly changing and our needs change as well. Having a plan in place that you can follow or that helps guide you on your fitness journey can make your active lifestyle much more enjoyable.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why having an exercise plan or routine that you can rely on is important especially as you age.

2). How feeling like you're not in control can make you feel anxious and can affect your motivation to exercise consistently.

3). Why it's important to be flexible when it comes to setting up your exercise plan to account for unexpected circumstances and schedules.

4). The importance of setting up clear goals that are achievable to help motivate you through your journey.

5). How "self care" plays a big role in designing your schedule and the importance of keeping that the priority as you plan.

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We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be having trouble with coming up with a reliable exercise plan or routine. Staying active as you age is important and knowing how to manage your routine over the years will come in handy when life throws curveballs at you. Stay motivated, inspired and healthy always.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety." – Abraham Maslow

This quote reminds us that we make the decision to go forward in our lives, or stay where we are and feel safe…choose wisely!

Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise is a great way to keep your body ready to handle what you ask it to do in everyday life. Resistance training and cardio exercises help build strength and nourishes your cardiovascular system over time. Realizing your progress is one of the best feelings when it comes to your health. But what if you don't FEEL like you're making progress after exercising each week. Why does your body feel like it hit a plateau and what can you do to get back on track?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why we thought it was important to highlight 4 of the most common reasons you're body can feel like it hit a plateau.

2). How easy it is to stick to a regular schedule of exercise which can possibly lead to overuse and burnout without realizing it.

3). The usual amount of time it takes for certain exercises to get "easier" to where your body is not benefitting from it as much as when you started.

4). How not getting enough sleep and stress can affect the way your body responds to exercise.

5). How not being consistent with your exercise schedule and routines can affect your progress and make you feel like you're benefitting from working out.

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We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you if you feel like you've hit a "rut" with exercising. Putting in the energy to workout on a regular schedule takes energy and we all hope that it pays off in the long run. Hitting a "plateau" can be frustrating but there are also a few things you can do to get you out of it. Longevity is key and managing the ups and down through your fitness journey will help you for years to come.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Rest is not idle, it is a time to recharge and rejuvenate the soul." - Anonymous

This quote reminds us how important rest is for us, mind, body, and soul!

Meredith

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Functioning through daily life having to wear a cast, splint or sling from a recent injury can be challenging. Injuries are common and unfortunately these medical assistance items that help you get better can also be quite challenging on their own. Especially when it comes to continuing to live an active lifestyle with exercise. But is it a good idea to exercise with a cast, splint or sling?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why we decided to dedicate an episode to this issue and how this can affect someone trying to recover from a recent injury.

2). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in training people of all ages and their shared stories of trying to exercise with a cast.

3). Some of the challenges you will face if you overexercise and how that can slow down the healing process.

4). Why it's important to choose the right type of exercises that are safe to do depending on the type of injury you have and the location of the cast etc.

5). How staying active even during nursing an injury can help keep you motivated and make your post recovery workouts easier to return to.

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We hope the information we've shared in this episode is helpful to you or someone you know who may be dealing with a cast, sling or splint. Staying active is important no matter what your current situation is. Always keep in mind to be safe and smart when you do exercise to ensure a healthy recovery from your injury.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You can’t turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again.” —Bonnie Prudden, rock climber

This quote reminds us that we can keep going from where we are, not going backwards.

Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Using weights in your resistance training is a great way to add strength and stability to your weekly workouts. But what if you don't want to build "too much" muscle and feel like you look "bulky"? Does weight training add "bulkiness" to your body? This is a common concern mostly among women who are interested in adding strength but not to the point where they feel uncomfortable. In this episode we break down whether or not weight training you give you a "bulky" look or if this is just a misconception.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working with clients over the years and some of their thoughts on whether they felt weight training was for them or not.

2). What exactly happens to your body when you train using weights.

3). How diet greatly affects the possibility of getting "bulky" and how much you would really need to eat to get there.

4). The actual everyday benefits that you reap when adding regular strength training and weight training to your workouts.

5). Meredith's best suggestions on how to add strength training to your workouts without the concern of felling "bulky" etc.

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We hope the information we've shared in this episode sheds some light on whether weight lifting will make you feel uncomfortable and "bulky". Doing regular weight training is a great idea no matter what age or gender you are and making sure you feel comfortable with the results is key to continuing your training well into your later years.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I think the more unexpected something is, the more there is to learn from it.” —Michael J. Fox, actor

This quote reminds us that when things do not go as we expect, there is a lesson in it…don’t disregard that!

Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying motivated throughout the year to exercise can be challenging. There are many things in life that can easily sideline you in your efforts like a busy schedule, illness or just not feeling up for it everyday. These things are all normal and yet somehow, you know inside that you should choose to exercise when possible. Luckily there are a few tips on how to set goals that motivate you to exercise that will actually work.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). How the first of the year is a typical time to reflect on what you'd like to accomplish in the new year but in reality, these tips can be used year round.

2). Some of Meredith's personal experiences coaching others and her feelings when she saw her clients setting goals and staying excited about getting back into exercise.

3). Why setting small attainable goals is always better than setting larger goals.

4). How allowing yourself to celebrate your small wins makes a big difference in keeping you motivated throughout the year.

5). Why it's important to understand that adjusting your goals as you go to is normal and shouldn't be looked at as failure.

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We hope the suggestions in this episode are helpful to you if you are having trouble staying motivated to exercise. This is common and happens to everyone who tries to stay active. Knowing that there are helpful ways to keep your motivation alive is important. This will help you continue to embrace an active lifestyle now and into your later years.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“No one is useless in this world who  lightens the burden of another.”-Charles Dickens

This quote reminds us that we all have a purpose and use, because we all touch another whether we know it or not.

Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.