The Zones’ Wellness Blog

For a lot of men, muscle used to be about how much you could bench press, how your arms looked in a T-shirt, or whether you could still keep up with the younger guys. After 50, muscle starts to mean something different. It becomes about carrying the suitcase without thinking twice. Getting up from the…

When women hear “strength training after menopause,” the conversation often centers on two things: Muscle and bone. And for good reason. Both deserve attention as we get older. But newer research is giving women another reason to make strength a priority. Resistance training may benefit more than the muscles doing the work. Research is examining…

It sounds like a simple question. But researchers have been paying close attention to walking speed because the way we walk can provide useful information about our overall physical function as we age. In fact, walking speed—or gait speed—has sometimes been described as a “sixth vital sign.” Why would something as ordinary as walking receive…

When most people think about getting stronger, they think about muscles. And that makes sense. Muscles produce the force that helps you lift, push, pull, stand, climb stairs, and carry the groceries. But your muscles don’t work alone. Behind every repetition, every step, and every time you stand up from a chair is an incredibly…

You’ve started strength training. You’re showing up consistently. You’re putting in the effort. Naturally, there’s one question you’d like answered: When am I going to feel stronger? The encouraging answer is that your body begins adapting to strength training sooner than you might think. You probably won’t wake up after your third workout suddenly feeling…

At the beginning of the year, motivation can feel easy. You make plans. You set goals. You tell yourself, “This is the year I’m going to get stronger, exercise consistently, and take better care of myself.” Then life happens. Schedules get busy. Vacations pop up. Work gets demanding. Motivation fades. Before you know it, your…

When most people think about building muscle, they picture strength. When they think about building stronger bones, they picture calcium. But your body doesn’t separate the two quite so neatly. Muscles and bones are constantly working together. Your muscles pull on your bones every time you stand up, climb stairs, carry groceries, or perform a…

You sit down at the first machine. Your instructor adjusts your position. You begin that first slow, controlled repetition. From the outside, not much appears to be happening. But inside your body? Things are getting very interesting. Your brain is communicating with your muscles. Muscle fibers are being recruited. Your heart and blood vessels are…

When most people hear the words “strength training,” they picture a familiar scene. A crowded gym. Loud music. Rows of equipment. People bouncing from one exercise to another. Maybe an hour—or more—carved out of an already busy day. SuperSlow Zone takes a very different approach. The goal isn’t to see how many exercises you can…

You walk most mornings. Maybe you play golf, garden, swim, ride a bike, practice yoga, or chase your grandchildren around the backyard. You’re active. So do you really need strength training, too? It’s a great question—and the answer isn’t about replacing any of the activities you already enjoy. Being active and being strong aren’t the…