Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Fitness”
As a regular reader of my letters, you know there’s a big difference between “being” old and “feeling” old. Many people survive well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond… but their lives aren’t much better for it. Aging takes its toll on their mental faculties, and “senior moments” get worse and worse. However, some buck that trend – keeping their …
My patients tell me their number one fear of aging is losing their independence. Having to move into a nursing home or becoming a burden to their children… So I remind them that the key to remaining independent for life is avoiding the potentially lethal consequences of falling. Every year, more than 16 million Americans over age 65 suffer a …
When I taught anatomy and physiology to college students, I used to stump them with this question: “What are the functions of your muscle?” Most students could only give me one function… That muscle moves your body. But muscle does so much more than that. Your muscles store energy… boost metabolism… stimulate sex hormone production… reduce the risk of fractures …
I can’t imagine anything worse than not being believed by your doctor. Sadly, that’s been the case for millions of patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Fortunately, mainstream medicine is finally starting to come around and accept that the disease is real. Symptoms of this devastating condition include: Widespread pain Joint and muscle stiffness Insomnia Fatigue Headaches Memory loss and cognitive issues …
Do you wake up with aching joints? If you do, you’re not alone. One of the biggest complaints I get in my practice comes from patients who are struck down by joint pain. A lot of them came to Florida when they retired so they could play golf year-round. “Dr. Sears,” they say to me, “I refuse to let pain …
In a recent letter, I told you that if you can move, you can exercise using my PACE principle. But maybe you still have a few doubts… Today, I want to share a letter from a reader who told me about his experience with PACE. To protect his privacy, I’ll use his initials, B.E. He is a regular reader and …
I’ve heard from patients and readers that they don’t believe they can work out using my PACE principle. They think you need to be in great shape before you can start. But anyone can do PACE – no matter what shape you’re in. I like to say if you can move, you can do PACE. Here’s why I want you …
For decades, you’ve been given bad advice about how to get rid of stubborn belly fat… Most fitness “gurus” will tell you to do more cardio so you can enter your “fat-burning zone.” But that’s the last place you want to be… Burning fat while exercising signals to your body that it needs fat. Then it trains your body to make …
Most mainstream doctors are horrified when they hear I teach my patients about the benefits of more fat. The patients who come to the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine tell me as much. But I’m not just talking about adding more healthy fats – like butter, lard, coconut oil, or omega-3s – to your diet. I’m also talking about a special kind …
Most doctors will tell you that frailty is an inevitable and irreversible part of aging. They couldn’t be more wrong. Worse than that, this is an extremely dangerous position to take. Multiple studies now reveal that frailty – an all-too-common condition among seniors characterized by severe loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), weight loss, and debilitating fatigue – makes older adults extremely susceptible to…1,2,3 Severe …
There is a new study from Harvard University that demonstrates the power of special plant compounds called flavonoids. It reinforces the advice I’ve been giving my patients for more than 30 years… Increasing your intake of specific nutrients can head off – and even reverse – early signs of memory loss. The Harvard researchers came to this conclusion after tracking the dietary …
The color beige gets a bad rap. It’s often described as boring and blah. But when it comes to protecting your brain from the devastation of Alzheimer’s and dementia, beige is beautiful – especially when it comes to fat. Let me explain… Your body produces two types of fat – white and brown. White, or visceral fat, is the deadliest …
Earlier this week, I shared a couple of different approaches I use in my clinic to help patients lower their blood pressure… But it occurred to me that I left out one of the easiest – and most effective – methods. I’m talking about a focused breathing technique that decreases your heart rate and dilates blood vessels, reducing overall blood …
When the government forced the country to shut down during COVID, you may have passed the time watching more TV than usual. A lot of people did, including my own family. But if you’re watching more than a few hours a day, it’s time to put down the remote. A new study confirms that spending too much time in front …
If you do a quick Internet search for journal studies on exercising and brain function, you’ll see thousands have been conducted so far. And the researchers all say the same thing: Aerobic exercise is good for the aging brain. It was a lead story in The New York Times not too long ago.1 At this point, most people already know …
Before this last year, you could walk into any nursing home in the world and find most people there weren’t actually sick. They’re in there because of a medical condition that’s made them so weak from musculoskeletal loss, they can no longer care for themselves. I’m talking about sarcopenia, a slow and creeping loss of muscle that strikes so gradually, …
By the time most people turn 80, they’ve lost up to 40% of their muscle mass.1 And many will wind up in nursing homes. Not because they’re sick. But because they are weak from muscle loss and lack of strength – called sarcopenia. They become completely dependent on others. I’ve seen many of my own patients struggle to maintain their …
Following a keto diet can burn pounds of unwanted fat, while training your body to burn fat as fuel. But if you’re doing aerobic exercise, you might not get the health and weight-loss benefits you want. Especially if you’re a keto novice, cardio will knock you out of ketosis! This is the desired metabolic state where you’re burning fat for …
