Fresh air, dirt and sunshine!  I LOVE being outdoors working in my yard and garden this time of year!

Now I'll admit I don't particularly LOVE pulling weeds, but I do love how everything looks when I'm done!

As much as I enjoy it, gardening is hard work and can lead to a variety of aches and pains.  And if you're in pain you're certainly not going to enjoy yourself or the bounty your garden will bring when both you and your garden are properly cared for!  

So today, I wanted to share some of my favorite tips to help keep you gardening all summer long...without pain! 

​Keep reading for 9 of my best tips...if you have more tips to share leave a comment below!  I'm always eager to learn more tricks to make gardening more enjoyable and fun!

If you’re in your 40’s, 50’s or 60’s you may have noticed it takes a little more effort to maintain your health.  This is also the age range where I hear more complaints of nagging aches and pains that just seem to come out of nowhere and then hang around for months or years. 
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Why is that?

​One of the biggest reasons is a loss of muscle mass and strength.  As you approach your 40’s, you start to lose muscle mass faster than your body rebuilds it due to changes in hormonal levels, changes in activity and other health factors.  

As we move into the warmer Spring and Summer months a lot of people naturally start to be more active and have a renewed focus on improving their health. 

This is also a time of year that we see more injuries as people start getting back into a fitness routine.  Obviously, the goal is to improve your health and fitness so you can enjoy your favorite activities, not be held back or left out of the fun because of an injury. 

​If you find yourself a little (or a lot) out of shape, here are 7 tips for getting back into a fitness routine to improve your health and avoid any injuries or setbacks.  ​

​As one year ends and a new year begins, we tend to reflect on the time that has passed and look forward to a “fresh start” as we move into a new year.  This is also a time when many of us set goals, including things like improving different aspects of our health.  For some it’s weight loss, decreasing stress or sleeping better.  For others it might be improving diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  

​This is also a time many people decide it’s time to FINALLY do something about that nagging lingering pain they’ve been dealing with for months or years.  If you’ve been in pain for any length of time you know how much it can affect your life and impact your health.  Pain can affect your sleep and your ability to move and stay active, which leads to weight gain and many other health problems.

Today I want to continue my discussion from last week about a “popular trend” that is very concerning.  It’s not necessarily a new problem, but it is something that for whatever reason I’ve been acutely aware of over the past few weeks or months. 
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So, what is this “popular trend”?

​I am hearing from more and more people who are suffering in pain or poor health who have fallen victim to one or more FALSE BELIEFS about their health.  FALSE BELIEFS that are holding them back from enjoying the healthy, active and vibrant lifestyle they want and deserve.  

As a Physical Therapist and Health Coach conversations about health are a big part of my everyday life…and I absolutely love it!  I love sharing my knowledge and experiences and helping others on their health journey. 

So, today I want to talk about something that has been coming up a lot lately that has me concerned.  It’s this idea that persistent aches, pains or poor health is somehow accepted as “just a normal part of aging”.           

​I hear from so many people who are NOT living the life they envisioned for themselves because of one or more health problems.  And sadly, the most common health problems affecting people’s lives today are conditions that can prevented, significantly improved and in many cases even reversed with proper treatment and advice.  

This week as we celebrate the Fourth of July and our freedom, first I want to express my gratitude for the courageous men and women dedicated to preserving it and pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

​Thank you for your service!

​As I was thinking about freedom and independence, I thought of the many parallels related to our health.

 Good health gives us many freedoms, including the independence to enjoy the things we love or want to do in life. 

A very common complaint I hear from my patients who have been dealing with persistent aches, pains and injuries is that they have “GAINED WEIGHT”.

It takes a lot of them by complete SURPRISE!

I love being outdoors working in my yard or my garden this time of year!  Now I’ll admit I don’t particularly love pulling weeds, but I do love how everything looks when I’m done!

Fresh air, dirt, sunshine, exercise…there is just something about being in nature! 
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As much as I enjoy it, yard work and gardening can also be hard work and can lead to new or worsening aches and pains for many.  The good news is there are a lot of things you can do to prevent or minimize pain from gardening. 

Today I’m going to talk about several tips and tools that can help…but keep in mind the most important tool is you!  If you’re in pain you’re certainly not going to enjoy yourself.  So these tips are just as much about taking care of yourself and your health, as they are about enjoying your garden and the bounty it will bring when both you and your garden are properly cared for!
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Here are 9 of my best tips:

​How many times have you (or someone you know) made a New Year’s Resolution to “lose weight” or “eat less & exercise more” or “improve your health”?

I know I have…many times! 

And I’m pretty sure, I’m not alone here!

I know the frustration of trying again and again to lose weight…and keep it off, without feeling like I’m constantly hungry and craving the very foods I’m trying to avoid.

I know what it feels like to not be able to focus because of “brain fog” and lack of energy. 
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I know what it feels like to dedicate my time and effort to exercising every day with little to show for it.
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