“I’m too old to exercise!”

“I’ll hurt myself.”

“I don’t move like I used to.”

These are some common excuses that older individuals say about exercise. Are these statements true though to the point that a person, as they get older, can no longer become more active? Is it really too late to start?

Dr. Beth Templin holds a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is a board-certified specialist in geriatric physical therapy. Here’s what she has to say:

“Myth 1: I’m too old to start exercising.
This is completely false. Age does not play a role in your ability to exercise. Research on healthy aging shows that exercise for aging adults is not only safe but beneficial. People can safely begin to exercise in their 70s, 80s, and beyond. It’s never too late to get started, and it does not matter if you’ve never exercised before.

No matter what your current age or fitness level, your body benefits from...

Do you ever feel like sometimes your life seems out of balance? Do you feel that work sometimes gets in the way of life? According to Psychology Today, “Work-life balance” describes the equilibrium between the demands of “work,” and the activities that make up the rest of our lives. “Work” may represent working for income, but also includes caring for loved ones, and performing other essential activities. We each need quality personal time outside of work. Yet it's not always easy to reconcile your personal life with things you must do. Before we can balance work with life, we need to establish the starting point. Ask yourself: How much of my energy goes to me and my family/friends, compared with time spent working?

“It is not work but rather the pursuit of things outside of work that are often the most rewarding. From travel to family time, personal time, socializing, volunteering, and other recreation, these activities are enriching....

Salads can be fun and easy to make! They can also be full of flavor that you might just find yourself craving for them. Don’t think of it as “diet” food. Instead see them as exciting and interesting meals that can pack flavor and texture. If your salad looks the same and boring on your plate, well then you need to try these strategies by health expert JJ Virgin.

Strategy 1: Add Some Crunch or Chew
For fun salad recipes, the crunchy stuff is often the best part. It adds texture and makes the dish more interesting and enjoyable. Most of the time this is achieved with croutons, but you don’t need any high food intolerance (Hi-Fi) foods to get the crunch you’re looking for.

Instead, try:
• Chopped fresh veggies like onions, cucumbers, carrots, etc.
• Slivered almonds
• Raw walnuts
• Beans and legumes (roasted or air-fried until crisp)
• Gluten-free black bean chip

Strategy 2: Include Low-Sugar Impact Fruit
Don’t forget, you can...

Ingredients:

•   cup raw walnuts
• 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 spicy red chili, thinly sliced (we used a thai chili)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 3 citrus of choice, we used a mix and match of Cara Cara orange, Navel orange, and grapefruit
• 2 medium fennel bulbs, thinly sliced, reserve fronds as garnish
• cup fresh mint leaves
• 5 cups baby arugula
• ¼ cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 3 minutes, remove from the oven. Set aside to cool.

2. Add the shallots and chili to a bowl together with the fish sauce and red wine vinegar to pickle while preparing the rest.

3. Section the citrus by slicing off the ends, removing the peel, then using a sharp knife to cut clean sections out between the membranes.

4. Transfer all the citrus segments into the bowl with the shallots and chili. Squeeze the citrus mixture, using your hands, to release some of the juices.

5. Toss the...

One of our faculty, Dr. Daniel Amen, has a favorite acronym that he likes to share with us. It is HALT which stands for:

• Don’t get too HUNGRY.
• Don’t get too ANGRY.
• Don’t get too LONELY.
• Don’t get too TIRED

According to Dr. Amen, HALT is an acronym that is commonly used in addiction treatment programs, but it is also particularly helpful for overeaters who have trouble coping with daily stress. HALT has proven to be a very effective way to keep people on track when they are trying to change their eating habits. Dr. Amen shares with us some strategies that apply this technique.

HALT: DON’T GET TOO HUNGRY

Going too long without food lowers your blood sugar levels, which can lead to a variety of emotional issues, including feelings of stress, anxiety, and irritability. These may be the very emotions that trigger your overeating.

Low blood sugar levels are also associated with lower overall brain activity, which is linked to an...

Healthy eating starts in the kitchen so learning food prepping skills can go a long way in building up a healthy lifestyle. Here are some brilliant ideas from our very own nutritionist Chef Jenny Ross. 

Batch Prep
Preparing in advance means you’ll be making larger batches of healthy proteins, grains, vegetables and salads than you may have done in the past. You’ll need a great storage option for larger batches of things like quinoa, rice and veggie mix ups. Nutritionist and chef Jenny Ross recommends storing your batches in glass containers with locking lids as a clean option that is easily reusable. Finding stacking containers that can nest for easy storage when not in use will save you space in the kitchen as well.

Veggie Noodles make a great simple base for lunch entrees on the run. Create fresh noodles from carrots, zucchini, cucumber or yellow squash. Top that base with a great plant based protein like avocado, mushrooms or tofu and then add your favorite...

What does your morning routine look like? Do you go through it in a rush so you can head out the door to avoid traffic? Or maybe the first thing you do is look at your phone and check for messages and scroll through social media. Whatever your morning looks like, it’s important to start it with the right frame of mind. A good morning routine can help set the tone for the day so you can better control your schedule instead of your schedule controlling you. When you start your morning right, it can help you stay focused on what’s important not just for work, but for yourself and the people you care for. Here are some tips from Verywell Mind on how to do that.

1. Give Yourself Time

Don't hit snooze! It can be so hard, especially in the beginning, to not go back to old ways and hit that snooze button so you can lay in bed just a little longer. A good morning routine allows you enough time to actually enjoy—and benefit from—your routine!

The amount of time can...