PODCAST · health
Practically Fit
by Alex Johnson and Jennifer Chamberlain
Two best friends trying to escape fitness culture and sharing safe, real fitness ideas for people over 40. www.practically.fit
Episodes
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PF Episode 34: A Personal Trainer Shares Her Secrets to Staying Strong and Powerful at Any Age
In this episode, Alex and Jen interview Joan Maiden, who started a new career as a personal trainer at 50, helping clients overcome tremendous obstacles to lead an active, healthy life. Author of F Old Age, Joan talks about her own fitness journey and shares tips on how to live with passion,...
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PF Episode 33: Dear Science: How to Interpret Health and Fitness Research
Studies say … drink more coffee, wait, no, less coffee. If you’ve ever been confused about all the conflicting health research out there, this episode is for you. While Alex and Jen like to talk about the science behind fitness, they are not scientists. In this episode, Jen chats with Wendy…
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PF Episode 32: Don’t Snooze on Your Need for Sleep
In this episode, Alex and Jen talk about sleep. What impact does sleep (or lack thereof) have on your health? How much sleep do you actually need? And can exercise help you sleep better? Jen and Alex answer these questions, plus Jen recounts her bizarre experience in a strip mall sleep lab.…
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PF Episode 31: Extreme Heat. Wildfire Smoke. Poor Air Quality. Should We Exercise Outdoors?
With smoke from wildfires blanketing parts of the eastern U.S. and Canada, and a “heat dome” scorching central parts of the continent, it’s been a rough summer for outdoor exercise enthusiasts. In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about outdoor workouts in less than ideal conditions like heat,...
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PF Episode 30: This is Your Brain on Exercise
Next time you want to get high, try going for a run! In this episode, Jen and Alex explore the science behind the “runner’s high,” and its surprising source. We’ve always heard it’s endorphins that cause that blissful feeling after exercise, but recent research shows there another type of…
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PF Episode 29: Do Romantic Partners Make the Best Fitness Friends?
Is working out with your spouse or romantic partner a good idea? In this episode, Alex is joined by his wife Abbie to discuss how working out with your partner can both improve the relationship and help you reach your fitness goals…as long as you set some ground rules. If you’re thinking about...
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PF Episode 28: We’re Healthy…But What About Our Kids?
Enjoy this episode? Subscribe for our (almost) weekly podcast, plus our newsletter with fitness ideas for people over 40! With screen time skyrocketing, our kids are more sedentary than ever. In this episode of the podcast, Alex goes solo to talk about the negative impacts a sedentary lifestyle…
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PF Episode 27: Let's Talk About Stress
Feeling forgetful? Lacking energy or focus? Experiencing headaches? It could be stress. In this episode, Jen and Alex explore the impact of stress on your body, and talk about some practical ways to hit the reset button on stress and elicit what’s known as the “relaxation response.” How does...
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PF Episode 26: From Ultra Runner to Yogini, One Woman's Real Fitness Journey
For Jenn Bencheck, running 100 miles was nothing compared with the grit and determination it took to overcome two life-changing neurological disorders. Now a registered yoga teacher, Jenn shares her story, including her experiences with ultra running and why fitness friends and positive thinking...
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PF Episode 25: Fitness Motivation Hacks (And Why You Shouldn't Try Fitness Wagering)
Trying to break out of a fitness funk? Or looking to get in shape for the first time? In this episode, Jen and Alex share four fitness motivation hacks that can help you light up your fitness routine! They also talk about a new trend that doesn’t seem so healthy from a mental perspective—fitness...
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PF Episode 24: Massage: The Original Medicine
Before we had modern medicine, we had…massage? That’s right. Bodywork therapies like massage, cupping and acupuncture date back to ancient times. But are they based in science? Can they really help your body recover and benefit your overall health? In this episode, Jen and Alex explore these...
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PF Episode 23: What's Your Heart Rate Telling You About Your Health?
The proportion of Americans under 40 having heart attacks went up 2% each year between 2000 and 2016. That’s a pretty sobering statistic, and it shows we should definitely be paying more attention to our heart health. So where to start? How about monitoring your heart rate! In this episode, Jen…
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PF Episode 22: What's the Deal With Supplements?
I mean seriously, what’s the deal with supplements? Our drugstores and supermarkets are chock full of them! Are they powerful? Are they placebos? WHAT’S THE DEAL? OK, enough of the bad Seinfeld impression. In this episode, Jen and Alex delve into some general research about supplements, and…
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PF Episode 21: Is Hiking the Perfect Fitness Activity?
Can you hike your way to health? In this episode, Jen and Alex explore the physical, mental and social benefits of hiking. They also share stories about their favorite hikes (many with fitness friends), including a few funny hiking fails. First time hiker? Jen and Alex provide helpful tips on...
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PF Episode 20: How Fitness Benefits Your Mental Health
Coping with stress, anxiety or depression? Fitness can help. On this episode of the podcast, Alex and Jen are joined by licensed professional counselor Brannon La Force. Brannon discusses the science behind fitness and mental health, and shares some practical recommendations for getting started...
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PF Episode 19: The Home Gym or a Gym Membership...Which Is Better for Fitness?
Home gyms versus gym memberships…which approach is best for fitness? In this episode, Jen and Alex have their inaugural debate “smackdown” (just kidding, we’re actually pretty civil, unlike most politicians), with Jen repping gym memberships and Alex promoting home gyms. Best part? You, the...
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PF Episode 18: How to Get Started Lifting Weights
It's never too late to start lifting weights, especially over 40! In this episode, Jen and Alex share their experiences with lifting weights, and talk about why it’s important to incorporate strength training into your routine as you get older. Alex also shares some practical tips to help jump...
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PF Episode 17: Jen and Alex Get Honest About Gut Health
Gut health is having a moment, and more people are talking openly about their gut problems. If you suffer from gut issues, it can have a less than pleasant impact on your fitness routine. In this episode, Jen and Alex open up about their struggles with gut issues and how things like sensitivity…
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PF Episode 16: Can Being Competitive Help You Get Fit?
A little friendly competition never hurt anyone…but can it help you get fit? In this episode, Jen and Alex share their personal stories on how being competitive helped their fitness, and hurt it. Plus, what the science says on competition and exercise. Can being overly competitive, both with...
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PF Episode 15: Losing Weight: Does Counting Calories Really Work?
Still counting calories? Or trying different fad diets to lose weight? In this episode, Jen and Alex examine the research around diets, weight loss and calorie counting, and learn why some people often experience the “yo-yo effect” where they lose weight dieting and gain it back quickly. So how…
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PF Episode 14: What You Need to Know About Mobility Training
Enjoy a bit of self torture? Mobility training may be for you! In this episode, Jen and Alex face their biggest test yet…explaining mobility training. Mobility training is pretty new, and information on the subject is, shall we say…inconsistent. So what is mobility training? What are the…
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PF Episode 13: Is Dry January Worth the Hype? (Alcohol and Fitness)
Should we all just stop drinking? Well, maybe at least for January? In this episode, Jen and Alex discuss everything you need to know about alcohol and fitness as we head into “Dry January.” Are people who exercise a lot prone to drink more? How does alcohol affect your sleep and blood pressure?...
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PF Episode 12: How to Make New Year's Resolutions That Might Actually Work
New year, new you? Probably not. New year’s resolutions are notoriously prone to failure. But if you’re planning on fitness-focused resolutions for the new year, Jen and Alex share some strategies that might help. Best part? These strategies can be used for any fitness-related goals, not just new...
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PF Episode 11: Do You Really Need 10,000 Steps a Day?
Many of you may be receiving the gift of a fitness tracker or smartwatch over the holidays. With that in mind, should you be aiming for 10,000 steps a day? In this episode, Jen and Alex uncover the origins of the 10,000 step a day a goal, and you might be surprised where it came from. Is 10,000...
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PF Episode 10: Navigating the Fitness Gift Minefield (Best and Worst Fitness Gifts)
It’s the holiday season, and you know what that means: it’s time to bestow fitness-related gifts on your fitness friends. Finding the right fitness gift can be…challenging. In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about best and worst fitness gifts. One listener shared their story about a book on cat...
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PF Episode 9: Why You Need Rest As Part of Your Fitness Routine
How the heck do you measure vigor? We aren’t sure, but you don’t want reduced vigor, and that’s why you need rest. In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about what happens when you don’t rest and you overtrain. News flash: it’s not good, especially if you enjoy things like libido, good moods and of...
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PF Episode 8: How Fitness Friends Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals
Are healthy habits contagious? In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about why they’re so thankful for fitness friends, and what the science says about hanging around people who stay in shape. Jen and Alex also share how their fitness friends have helped them through the years. This is a public...
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PF Episode 7: Beer Bellies, Metabolism and Nutrition Over 40
Heading into Thanksgiving, Jen and Alex tackle some burning questions related to nutrition. Will we all get a beer belly? And what’s the deal with slowing metabolism? Alex shares some tips on nutrition from “blue zones,” places on earth where people live noticeably longer. In addition, Jen shares...
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PF Episode 6: Running and Cycling Culture: What You Need to Know
Over 40 and looking to improve your cardiovascular health? Odds are, you’re considering running or cycling. But what do you really need to know about the subcultures for each of these activities? What’s up with runners’ weird obsessions? Is road cycling safe? And how much do each of these sports...
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PF Episode 5: Our Fitness Fails (And What We Learned!)
With fitness, inevitably, comes failure. In the this episode of the Practically Fit podcast, Jen and Alex discuss the biggest fitness failures they’ve experienced involving running, jumping, taekwondo…and a certain gym that’s open 24 hours. They also share what they’ve learned from these…
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PF Episode 4: Toxic Fitness Culture: A Brief History
What is toxic fitness culture? How long has it been around? And what’s the antidote for all this toxicity? Those are the questions Jen and Alex seek to answer in this episode of the podcast. They trace the roots of modern-day toxicity in U.S. fitness culture back to the turn of the century…
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PF Episode 3: Recovering from Injury
As we get older, the chances for injury increase. That’s the happy thought that Jen and Alex start off this episode with. They talk about what happens to your body as you age, and what research says are the most common injuries for people over 40. Jen and Alex also talk about their worst…
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PF Episode 2: Setting Realistic Fitness Goals
Setting realistic fitness goals isn’t always easy. In the this episode of the Practically Fit podcast, Jen and Alex talk about some of the barriers they’ve faced in setting realistic goals, like being overly competitive and or trying to overcompensate for fear of health problems. They also share...
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PF Episode 1: Our Fitness Journeys
In the first episode of the Practically Fit podcast (Real Fitness Over 40), Jennifer and Alex discuss their personal fitness journeys, including how Jen went from smoking cigarettes to smoking marathons, and how Alex learned many a fitness lesson through failures that date all the way back to...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Practically Fit have?
Practically Fit currently has 34 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Practically Fit about?
Two best friends trying to escape fitness culture and sharing safe, real fitness ideas for people over 40. www.practically.fit
How often does Practically Fit release new episodes?
Practically Fit has 34 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Practically Fit?
You can listen to Practically Fit on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Practically Fit?
Practically Fit is created and hosted by Alex Johnson and Jennifer Chamberlain.
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