Most people hire a personal trainer because they struggle on their own to get results. Either they feel they lack the knowledge of what to do to reach their fitness goal. Or they know they need someone to push them harder than they will push themselves. Partnering with a trainer is an efficient and effective […]

The frustration of being stiff and unsteady!
My high school friends recently gathered at a daughter’s wedding. You could tell we had been friends for 40 some years. Our banter was easy, light-hearted, and filled with jokes that were several years old but still funny as ever (at least to us!). We continued our joking as the wedding band played Shout. Everyone […]

Your 2020 Fitness Forecast
If you live 2020 exactly how you lived 2019, what kind of future are you creating for yourself? What a great question, right? When you think about this question as it relates to the state of your body, what will your body be like at the end of 2020? Will you like the answer? Many […]

Why not change your life one workout at a time?
Regular exercise is so important as we age. We lose muscle mass as we get older. Coordination and balance begin to wane. Our bodies get stiffer and less limber. And in our older years, risk of illness and disease increase. Doesn’t sound like the most pleasant future, does it? The good news is that regular […]

What’s your strength and stamina worth?
Strong muscles and bones keep you moving with confidence. And aerobic conditioning (stamina) enables an active life. Strength and stamina together can change your world. I truly believe this. And I watch it happen everyday in our personal training studio. The first time clients get a sense of their strength, their eyes light up. And […]

It’s never to late to be stronger and more fit
It’s never too late to begin to exercise! Getting stronger and more fit is important as we age. And it is good to know that it is never too late to start. I think about my mom. She always led an active life, but she started a regular exercise program in her 50’s. At first […]

Stress – can’t live with it and can’t live without it!
I have been pondering stress over the last several weeks, especially the kind that leaves us either feeling frantic and running scared or the kind that tempts us to give in and give up. As an owner of a small “mom & pop” fitness studio, I experience my share of stress. It is quite a […]

10 things to make you stronger
This is my checklist for making sure I am doing the things I need to do to get and keep my body strong and healthy. #1: Have a vision Yep! Pulling one from the business manuals! If you are heading into a strength building endeavor, have a vision for what you want to accomplish and […]

If you want to be strong, read this!
Strength is about being alive and enjoying life! I love being strong! It makes me feel capable, especially as I get older. And I know it is one of the best ways to keep my body young. And I love speaking with our clients here at Strand Fitness (my personal training studio in Downtown Wheaton, […]

Getting more out of your workouts
Bringing your “A” game to your workouts. Being more consistent. Going harder. Lifting heavier. These are all strategies for getting more results out of your workouts. But there are other strategies for improving results too. These aren’t as “jazzy,” but they are equally important. In fact, you might say that they are more important because […]