Consistency Beats Complexity: The Simple Way to Get Stronger After 50 Published on May 13th, 2025 If you've ever put off strength training because you didn't know where to begin, the latest guidance from the American College of Sports Medicine has reassuring news. You don't need the perfect workout. You don't need fancy equipment. You don't need to spend hours at the gym. And you don't have to chase the latest fitness trend on social media. What matters most is something much simpler: showing...Read More
It's Halftime... How's Your Fitness Journey Going? Published on May 13th, 2025 Six months into the year, a lot of people start grading themselves. Did I hit my goals? Did I fall off? Am I ahead or behind? Here's a better way to think about it: this isn't a report card, it's halftime. No coach spends halftime handing out grades. They look at what's working, adjust what isn't, and figure out how to play the second half better than the first. That's it — just a clear-eyed look at the game so far...Read More
Stay Strong. Stay Active. Protect Your Joints. Published on May 13th, 2025 If you're worried that exercise will hurt your joints, here's some good news: The right kind of strength training is one of the best things you can do for them. It sounds backwards, right. If your joints ache, you might naturally think to protect them by moving less. But the opposite is best: Motion is the lotion. Think of your muscles as a support system Your muscles act like scaffolding for your joints. For example:...Read More
Supplements Made Simple: What You Might Need and Why Published on May 13th, 2025 Shopping for supplements can be confusing. What does this one do? Is it safe? Do I need it? And sometimes: You’ve got to be kidding me. The supplement industry is a multi-billion-dollar business, and not every product deserves a place in your pantry. If you’ve ever seen a reality TV star promoting a to melt away belly fat, you’ve seen the problem firsthand. Some supplements actually do have solid science behind...Read More
Exercise & Fighting Alzheimer's: Making the Connection Published on May 13th, 2025 Most Americans say lifestyle behaviors are important for brain health. But less than half connect those behaviors to actually lowering their risk of Alzheimer's disease. That gap matters. June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, a good time to close it. Here's where things stand. An estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease today, along with about 750,000...Read More
The Real Cost of Waiting on Your Health Published on May 13th, 2025 For people over 50 who know they should exercise but don’t, it’s always one thing after another. They say they don’t have the time. Or the money. Or they’re too old... But none of that will keep you independent as you age. It won’t keep you strong enough to enjoy life on your own terms. And it won’t keep your weight down, regulate your blood pressure, or provide a key social outlet. Facts are: You have the time, money and...Read More
Summer’s Here! Enjoy the Fit Life This Season Published on May 13th, 2025 The best thing a man over 50 can do for his health might surprise you. It's not a supplement. It's not a new workout or diet. It's not even an annual physical, though that matters too. It's having someone in your corner. That's the idea behind this year's Men's Health Month theme, Partners in Care. The campaign, led by Men's Health Network, makes the case that men's health outcomes are shaped less by individual...Read More
Summer’s Here! Enjoy the Fit Life This Season Published on May 13th, 2025 Summer is unofficially here, with Memorial Day behind us and school out in many places. That means longer days, warmer weather, vacations, backyard cookouts, and more opportunities to get outside and enjoy life. It’s also a great reminder of why fitness matters so much after 50. Being strong, flexible, and active is not just about looking good in summer clothes. It’s about maintaining the freedom and confidence to live...Read More
Summer’s Calling… But Don’t Leave Your Strength Behind Published on May 13th, 2025 Peter likes to run the trails in his neighborhood and work out on equipment in the park. Maria is crazy about hiking with her weighted backpack. And Joe rides his bike as often as possible, even to the grocery store and his favorite watering hole. These are just three of the responses we received recently when we started asking people what kinds of activities they enjoy outside of the gym. We believe working...Read More
Strong Bones, Strong Life: What You Need to Know About Osteoporosis Published on May 13th, 2025 Bone health might be one of the most important topics for anyone over 50. May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, and it's a good time to take stock of where your bones stand and what you're doing to protect them. Here are the facts that matter most. 1. It's more common than most people realize. An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone density. It's a widespread...Read More
Play Again: The Secret to Staying Strong for Life Published on May 13th, 2025 Donna Quaife is 81 years old and had both knees replaced. But she walks on the treadmill an hour a day and still competes in pickleball. Her secret? Play. She's been moving her body for the joy of it since she was 4 and sees no reason to stop. "We had a shot-put pit in the backyard. We had a high jump. We had a basketball hoop in the driveway,” Donna recalls. “I got my first broken nose in the eighth grade — my...Read More
Strength Through It All: Choosing to Keep Moving Published on May 13th, 2025 Carol, 76, just returned from a cross-country trip — visiting her newest grandchild, catching up with friends, doing some sightseeing along the way. For most people, that would be the story. For Carol, it's just the latest chapter in a life built around movement — one she almost lost. "I've been active my whole life," says Carol, 76. Hiking, cycling, spin classes, light weight training, walking — "it was lots of...Read More
Stronger Body, Sharper Mind—Why Movement Matters More Than Ever Published on May 13th, 2025 A few years ago, a neuroscientist at New York University gave a TED Talk about exercise and the brain. It has since been viewed more than 11 million times on YouTube. Wendy Suzuki's message was personal as much as scientific. In her 50s, she had stopped exercising and had no social life. When she went back to the gym, her mood lifted and her focus sharpened. She began studying her own transformation...Read More
From the Grand Canyon… to Getting Stronger Every Day Published on May 13th, 2025 Climbing out of the Grand Canyon, Pranjal Karmakar had an a-ha moment. “I could see other folks who looked older than I was, and they were doing much better,” he recalls. “I knew then it was time to take action when I got home.” He and his wife, Deepa, love traveling to hike in national parks. But the hiking he was already doing wasn’t enough. “At some point, you start losing muscle and strength,” he says. “It...Read More
Strong for What Matters Most 💪 Published on May 13th, 2025 When Kim’s new grandbaby comes to visit, she doesn’t think twice about carrying him up and down the stairs. Between visits, she carries a 15-pound weight on those same stairs — just to stay ready. That’s the kind of practical, purposeful thinking that defines her approach to fitness at 70. Since joining a gym with her husband, Rick, 74, last year, Kim has lost 25 pounds and dropped a clothing size. But those numbers aren’t really the...Read More
With Her New Mindset, She Doesn’t Let Anything Stop Her Published on May 13th, 2025 Karen Bridges had a moment of clarity that a lot of people over 50 will recognize. She was having trouble doing ordinary daily things, like working in the garden. Her balance was faltering. Her desk job kept her sedentary all day, and earlier years of being active "off and on" ended with the pandemic. "I hit a wall of reality," the 65-year-old says. "I realized that if I didn't change anything in my life, then...Read More
10 Lessons from People Who Stay Strong Later in Life Published on May 13th, 2025 Spend time around people who remain active into their 60s, 70s and beyond, and you start hearing the same ideas over and over. They’re not complicated or trendy, but they sure do work. Here are 10 lessons from folks who age well and stay active, maintaining health, energy, and independence through exercise. 1. Don’t wait for life to be perfect Barbara Warren kept competing in track events while waiting for knee...Read More
Strong Women Who Changed the Game Published on May 13th, 2025 March is Women's History Month, so let's look back at a few of the women who paved the way in fitness, health, and sport. Bobbi Gibb, Running In 1966, Bobbi Gibb applied to run in the Boston Marathon and was rejected because women were deemed not "physiologically capable of running a marathon." She hid in the bushes near the starting line and ran anyway, finishing ahead of two-thirds of the men. She came back and ran again in 1967...Read More
The World Is Finally Catching Up to Strong After 50 Published on May 13th, 2025 Something interesting is happening in our society regarding health and fitness. For years, the spotlight was on extremes. High intensity. Fast results. Six-pack abs. People thought exercise was only for the young and Hollywood-style sexy. But now, thanks to people like you, the focus is shifting to something smarter, more sustainable, and healthier for everyone. According to the annual Worldwide Fitness Trends...Read More
Menopause, Muscle & Momentum: Why Women 50+ Thrive with Smart Strength Training Published on May 13th, 2025 For Mariella Frostrup, menopause brought struggles with diet, exercise, weight and more. “I realized I needed to go back to weight training,” says the Irish-Norwegian writer and TV presenter who is well-known in England. “The moment of truth was struggling to open one of those pull-top cans — I just didn’t have the muscle strength.” We’ve known for years that regular exercise helps...Read More
Strong Enough for the Slopes: Why Fitness Over 50 Means Freedom Published on May 13th, 2025 Ralph Preziosi doesn’t just love to ski. He started a non-profit organization to lead international trips so others could enjoy the sport, as well. For Ralph, 69, skiing is a lifelong passion. And regular workouts at the gym make it possible for him to continue. “There’s nothing like it, going down a mountain and feeling a breeze on your face,” says Ralph, a retired food distributor. “It’s just an...Read More
Sweating Together, Smiling Longer Published on May 13th, 2025 There are two kinds of couples when it comes to fitness: Those who work out together — and those who don’t. Since it’s the month of Valentine’s Day, we’re going to focus on the couples that sweat together and stay together. “The company is a good incentive,” says Susan Lieberman, 80, who works out several times a week with her husband Murray, 81. “It’s motivating, too.” Murray agrees and says he needs the structure and commitment...Read More
Strong Enough for the Life He Loves: Howard’s Story at 82 Published on May 13th, 2025 Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself and thought, When did I get weaker? Not slower exactly. Not sick. Just… less solid. For many active adults in their 50s and 60s, that realization comes quietly. You’re still busy. Still moving. Still doing the things you enjoy. But your strength is slipping, and your waistline is creeping up, even though nothing feels dramatically wrong. That’s where Howard Benson...Read More
Stop Chasing Youth. Start Choosing Strength. Published on May 13th, 2025 Have you ever looked in the mirror and done a double take? Who is that person with the wrinkles and gray hair? The face that feels familiar, but not quite the same? Or maybe you’ve come across an old photo. And for a second, you were startled by how young you looked. Smooth skin. Thicker hair. A body that seemed to bounce back from anything. Sure, we all have moments like that. It only becomes a problem when those...Read More
Train for the Trip: How Fitness Fuels Your Next Adventure Published on May 13th, 2025 Spring and summer travel plans are back with a roar for adults over 50. According to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends survey, about 70% plan at least one leisure trip this year, up from 65% in 2024. And many expect to take around four rips annually. Travel at this stage of life isn’t just a leisure activity. New research suggests regular travel is associated with significant health benefits, including a lower risk...Read More
Move Your Body, Strengthen Your Brain: Why Exercise Is the Ultimate Brain Booster Published on May 13th, 2025 The New York Times has launched a fascinating, interactive series about brain health on its website. Five days of challenges let you test your knowledge, learn about brain-healthy foods, workouts, play a game, and make five appointments. “Practicing basic healthy behaviors, like eating nutritious food and getting regular exercise, is the best way to enhance your brain power and...Read More
Press Pause, Feel Better: 2 Simple Experiments to Start 2026 Strong Published on May 13th, 2025 January has a way of inviting fresh starts. Sometimes, people want to make permanent changes to their health and fitness habits. But sometimes, a short-term experiment can bring benefits and added awareness, too. Here are two popular options you might have heard about, Dry January (a month without alcohol) and Veganuary (without consuming animal products). Neither is about perfection, punishment,...Read More
10 Tips to Feel, Move and Look Better in the New Year Published on May 13th, 2025 You don’t have to spend a fortune or every moment at the gym just to feel, move and look better at any age. Just practice these common sense habits, commonly known today as “self-care.” You might read this list and say, “Well, of course!” But print it out and keep it handy until you’ve incorporated all these ideas into your daily lifestyle in the new year. Drink plenty of water. It’s good for everything from...Read More
Recovery, Longevity, and a Few Classics, Too Published on May 13th, 2025 Gift giving is SO much fun when you’re shopping for an active adult over 50 or so. From traditional to tech, from basics to ooh-la-la, there’s no limit. Use this list to get your ideas going and help people move more, recover better, and enjoy hobbies more. Happy shopping! This year, everyone’s all about longevity and recovery. (Red light therapy, anyone?) But let’s mention a few classics before we hit the list. These...Read More
Why Starting Your Workouts Now Beats Waiting for January Published on May 13th, 2025 Every year, millions of people pledge to “get serious” about fitness once the calendar flips. It sounds tidy and motivational… until we remember what usually happens. Most resolutions fail by February, mostly because people set unrealistic goals and try to overhaul everything at once. It’s a recipe for burnout. Here’s a way to break that cycle and set yourself up for success: Start now. Like, right now....Read More