‘I used to…’ are the saddest words… I used to be… I used to do… I used to be able… Yes, we are constantly evolving & change is inevitable… But there are some things that are worth holding onto. Like your strength… Like your mobility… Like your ability to TRY or keep trying… Even though … Continued

You’re asking the wrong question. Spot reducing is a myth. Ab exercises will strengthen your core, reduce back pain, improve performance in sport and even protect you from injury. But will exercise flatten your tummy or give you visible abs? Unlikely. In order to see your abs, you need to rid yourself of subcutaneous fat, … Continued

Recovering from being sick? How do you get back to working out? For me, I want to move but I don’t want to over do it. I basically go through what my weightlifting warm up includes. This will give me about 20 minutes of mobility. If I feel better the next day, I’ll repeat & … Continued

Are you looking to enhance your bone health? Studies show that with the right combination of exercise and nutrition, you can regain up to 3% of your bone density in just six months. Here’s how to do it: 1. Jumping Exercises Incorporate jumping exercises like skipping rope or jumping jacks into your routine. Research indicates … Continued

Here’s where the 10 Minute Rule comes in… You know you ‘should’ do some movement, but you just don’t ‘feel like’ you have the time, energy or an idea to get started…. Here’s the scoop: Instead of feeling pressured to commit to long workouts, start with just 10 minutes of exercise, even if it’s just … Continued

I’m sorry… At one time I definitely didn’t give the credit due to walking as a regular form of exercise… There are far too many barriers to exercise that might make you want to throw your hands up in despair. While it’d be great if you could include strength training… Don’t be discouraged if all … Continued

Navigating menopause can be challenging, and if you’re working out, you may find that your body requires more rest between workouts. For me, this is where incorporating mobility work fits in. Mobility work offers significant benefits on it’s own or on top of your regular workouts: 1. Improved Joint Health Regular mobility exercises enhance joint … Continued

Let’s talk about single-leg strength training because, let’s face it, we can’t all be graceful swans as we age!  You might think two legs are enough, but one-legged exercises are like that secret sauce that keeps you strong, balanced, and functional as you age. Why, you ask? Well, balance is key! As we age, our … Continued

This simple sit & rise test is more challenging that it looks. If you’re unsuccessful at first, try one of the modifications in the video. But definitely practice this move. This sit & rise from the floor skill is associated with all cause mortality. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23242910/ Simply practicing it can help you stay strong over time. … Continued

‘Mediocre’ days are common…especially where your exercise is concerned.  Some days you may not be feeling it, you may have no energy and you might even wonder if what you’re doing even counts… I’m here to say it does! It all adds up. Personally, over the years, I can’t tell you how many times I … Continued

It feels good to keep a promise to yourself! Here’s what I’ve learned about planking daily: You can plank anywhere You always can find time to plank Habits get easier the more they’re repeated Sometimes you need to get creative It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks If something is important, you’ll do it even … Continued

Don’t make the mistake of thinking walking is ‘enough’. It is, along with a few weekly sessions of resistance training. Because you want to stay STRONG as you age… YES to all these benefits of a daily walk…It can help you… * Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat * Prevent or manage various … Continued

Struggle no more where fiber is concerned! Grab my free fiber guide here that includes: . -The many reasons you need fiber -65 examples of 5g fiber options Simply add 1-2 servings per meal or snack so you can easily meet your 25g/day fiber goal. . It’s as simple as that!

If you feel like you’re doing all the right things but you’re not getting the results you want, here are two things I recently discussed with my clients on our weekly call… 1. Fats can ADD UP FAST Fats are calorie dense (9 calories per gram) so it’s best to measure. I easily doubled 1 … Continued

How about just forgetting about weight loss in menopause? Instead, focus on healthy habits. This is a strategy that’s working for my clients. Here are some specific strategies, along with research backing their effectiveness… Focus on Whole Foods A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that diets rich in whole foods … Continued

Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. There are several types of magnesium supplements, each with unique properties and benefits. Here are some of the most common types: 1. Magnesium Citrate: This is one of the most popular forms of magnesium due to its high bioavailability, meaning it … Continued

Go ahead & do all the things the ‘health gurus’ tell you not to do. On occasion… Look, the devil is in the dose. It’s not what you do SOME of the time, it’s what you do MOST of the time that really matters. It’s not about perfection. It’s about finding BALANCE. Of course if … Continued

Discover the art of listening to your body’s signals and cultivating a healthier relationship with food. Learn how to decode nutrition labels effortlessly, empowering you to make informed choices that nourish your body and mind. Whether you’re looking to break free from diet culture or simply enhance your understanding of nutrition, this masterclass is for … Continued

Don’t quit your full time job to get your daily protein in! Here are some ways to make that job easier: Here’s a blog post explaining this rule below. Of course, I’m here to help as well. Let’s talk. The topic of protein is a regular discussion point on my weekly nutrition call with my … Continued

It’s all about the math. To lose fat you need to create a calorie deficit, but you NEED to prioritize protein. So ‘budget’ for your protein calories FIRST. And then fill in the rest of your calories with carbs & fat (the ratio of these is up to you). Also consider MOVING more rather than … Continued

Of course you don’t want to waste food! But is it better to eat the excess & store it on your waist? Here are two ways I’m learning to be less wasteful: make more appropriate serving sizes give away leftovers True story: often my leftovers get ‘stored’ long enough that they nearly grow legs and … Continued

Being in a calorie deficit DOES work for fat loss. The point of this video is to highlight one of the MANY ways it might APPEAR that you’re in a calorie deficit when in fact you might NOT be: Food labels can have faulty math which makes it a challenge… Here’s the example in the … Continued

An unlikely pairing but at 31g protein per serving, it was worth a try! 185 ml bone broth 250 ml 3.25% Fairlife milk 15 ml maple syrup 3 tbsp cocoa powder *BONE broth not just chicken or beef broth Mix together, heat on stove top, low heat. Enjoy! 347 calories: 10.8F 26.3C 30.6P Let’s face … Continued

Here are 5 signs you may be under eating: You don’t seem to eat much and you still can’t seem to LOSE weight. How can you possibly eat less? You tend to GAIN weight overnight. A dinner out, a dessert, a glass of wine – it ends up on the scale the next day and … Continued

Be kind to yourself and love who you are TODAY. Remember that you’ve gained wisdom through the years that make up for any physical differences. Where physical attributes like appearance, strength, mobility etc.are concerned, if you compare the current version of you to your past self… You may be disappointed. In fact, if you can … Continued

Don’t let anyone’s best moments ever make you feel ‘less than’. Sure there are highlights in everyone’s life! Like my recent trip to Mexico. But, much of ‘life’ doesn’t actually ’make the cut’! We all have issues, doubts & insecurities at times… These ‘truths’ in the video are just a few of mine (in no … Continued

I recently celebrated a birthday… While 62 isn’t ‘old’, the number is shocking to me. But I’m happy to have a clear(ish) mind, great energy and the ability to move. I’m grateful to my younger self who prioritized healthy lifestyle habits. And I’m glad I’m learning new things like Olympic weightlifting (started in my late … Continued

You may HATE getting on the scale. I get it. But let me tell you about Alex and her experience with the scale and it may change your mind about using it or what I call the ‘tight jean’ method of accountability. Alex is a long time coaching client with whom I check in with twice a … Continued

Want something more meaningful than a social media yearly recap? A fun tradition that my partner & I do is our ‘memory box’. We jot down the date & a fun memory on a post-it & put it in our box to be opened on New Year’s Eve. As we go thru the post-it notes … Continued

Are you paying attention? A handful of this and a bite of that can add up and if weight loss is your goal, it’s just not going to happen if you’re unaware of your habits. Maybe your goals & habits are misaligned? May be you’ve let habits slide? Small habit tweaks can move you closer … Continued

Aging and how time accumulates is a funny thing. Every day you wake up, you may not notice the passage of time… Until you do.  You might notice aches or pains or hit a milestone birthday and wonder, ‘Wow, how did that number get so big?’ I’m with you… You may look in the mirror … Continued

Small hinges swing big doors. In other words, it’s the small things that will change your life over time. This can work in a both positive and negative ways. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life to be on a healthier path. . Consider doing something small. Examples may be something simple like: -doing … Continued

The danger is in thinking you have more time… The average lifespan for women is 82.6 years (Canada, 2021). At 60, you have 22 summers left… 22 Christmas’s 22 birthdays 22 years to see & do it all – if you’re lucky! It may be morbid to look at life this way, but it certainly … Continued

Do you have a passion project? My co-host, Alli Kerr and I do the Girls Talk Healthy Aging podcast as our passion project and as a public service. We’re passionate about bringing you evidence based information to help you age well. Honestly, at first we were excited to just talk with each other, but we’ve … Continued

Menopause can be a downer! But there’s plenty that you can do to take back ownership of what seems like your alien body. It starts with being kind to yourself & acknowledging that it’s going to be OK. Then: 1️Talk to your doctor about whether menopause hormone therapy is right for you 2️Look at your … Continued

If you’re in holiday mode, manage your weight loss expectations… Not every season is a fat loss season, and that’s OKAY! There’s nothing wrong with maintaining your weight. In fact, if you try to ‘diet’ during your holiday, you’ll most likely be unsuccessful and potentially sabotage what could be memory-making times. You’ll come home thinking … Continued

Hot flashes? Well, if you need ANOTHER reason to resistance train, here it is… More lean muscle is shown to reduce hot flashes according to this study: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40695-020-00058-9 How do you get more muscle? Resistance training! With declining estrogen levels in the menopause transition, both bone density and muscle mass declines. Resistance training offsets both … Continued

It’s not all bad! I mean not worrying about a period or unwanted pregnancy is a bonus of menopause, right? Here are the things you can do to offset the negatives you may be experiencing as estrogen declines: Eat a high protein, fiber rich diet. Resistance train 2-3 times a week. Keep a consistent sleep … Continued

Starting something new for fitness? It can be scary (even for seasoned fitness veterans). Here are 3 tips to make it easier: 1. Check out the facility, find when it’s not busy & try to go during those times. 2. Go with a plan! 3. Do it scared, after the first few times, it will … Continued

Calorie trackers are inaccurate. They don’t account for EPOCH – or energy burned AFTER exercise – which is the big benefit of resistance training. Your workout should be FUN anyways, not just a source of calorie burning. Your workout should be focused on fun and/or skill or strength development. It’s only a small part of … Continued

Weight loss only occurs in a calorie deficit, but instead of eating less, why not do more? Enter NEAT: non-exercise activity thermogenesis. This includes walking (& all the other active things you do in your day). Simply adding more daily steps can create a calorie deficit while eating more. It’s win-win: -you get to eat … Continued

“Participating in Shawna’s program was a life changing experience. “ @stephanieliner From my perspective, it was a great pleasure to work with Stephanie. She consistently showed up & was ready to learn. She threw away old ideas, for example, she (reluctantly) increased her calorie & carb intake & watched her weight go down. She slowly increased … Continued

Set the bar low. I know this sounds like ridiculous advice from a coach. But, if you make a small promise to yourself & keep it, you’re more likely to continue to make & keep promises to yourself. Starting small & working up to bigger promises is how you build integrity with yourself. It’s how … Continued

Food tracking can be inaccurate. But that’s not the REAL point! The big benefits of food tracking include increasing self accountability & intentionality around eating. Food labels can be up to 20% off – like in this example: the label assumes that the scoop holds 42g of product when in fact, it only holds 30g … Continued

Did you blow your nutrition this weekend? Look, it happens, especially when you don’t have a plan. To lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit. This can be achieved thru out the week versus just in one day. You can cycle your calories a little so you could have a few less calories … Continued

If you want visible abs, be aware of the sacrifices you may need to make. Be realistic & manage expectations where weight loss goals are concerned… ⭐️20-22% body fat⭐️ ✔️fit appearance & good overall health ✔️livable lifestyle ✔️few cravings due to balanced diet ✔️plans & time needed for meal prep ✔️coaching is sometimes needed to … Continued

Are you choosing clothes from the fat side of the closet? Do you dress in the dark? If you’re not comfortable in your own skin, it’s not too late to do something about it. I had the good fortune to try on all kinds of sweet lil dresses at a local boutique and it reminded … Continued

Food tracking increases awareness & intentionality but can be cumbersome. So here’s an easy option to food track. Use the free app ‘See How You Eat’. You take pics of meals & snacks & it’s organized daily. It’s this easy accountability that creates awareness & intention to your eating. And any habit that you can … Continued