Adding resistance to your regular workouts is a great way to build strength and stability. In addition, ankle weights can also be used to help do the same for most lower body and cardio exercises. But are they useful for everyone?

If you've never used ankle weights than you may be asking how they can actually help you over traditional weights like dumbbells etc. Luckily we have a few "pros & cons" to check out before you make the decision that is right for you.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why Meredith uses ankle weights in many of her exercise videos and some of her thoughts on their effectiveness.

2). Some basic information on what ankle weights are and some of the different designs you can find.

3). How using ankle weights (and other types of weights) can help strengthen your bones over time.

4). The importance of having good stability as you age and how ankle weights can help develop this.

5). Some of the challenges of using ankle weights especially if you've never used them before and what to watch for to avoid injury.

///

We hope the tips we've discussed in this episode are helpful to you if you're looking to incorporate ankle weights into your regular workout routines. If used properly they can be a great addition to most types of exercises and help add strength but they may not be for all levels of fitness. Before you decide to purchase ankle weights, be sure you evaluate all aspects and make your decisions based on your research here.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." - Jimmy Buffet

This quote reminds us that the wrinkles we have show we have had a good long life, filled with laughter and smiles!

Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driving is one of the activities that we sometimes take for granted as we age. We assume our abilities to drive will mostly stay intact but in reality, driving can become very dangerous as you get older not only for yourself but for others. If you are someone who is a care taker for an aging person that still drives, how do you address this issue if you notice their abilities to drive becoming unreliable?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why we decided to start a "Care Taker" series of episodes and how this topic of addressing driving and aging is important to discuss.

2). Some of the risks involved with allowing an aging person to continue driving well beyond their cognitive abilities to do so safely.

3). Why it's important to express your concerns about driving in a kind and gentle way.

4). Some examples of how you can bring up the subject and put it in a light of making sure everyone needs to be safe when in the car whether passenger or driver.

5). Making sure to be sympathetic to this change for the aging person in a respectful and caring manner.

///

We hope the tips and suggestions in this episode are helpful if you are taking care of someone who is losing the ability to drive safely. It can be very difficult to talk to an aging person on why you think they shouldn't be driving, at least maybe not in the capacity that they are used to. Making sure to approach this situation with respect, dignity and care will be the best way to acknowledge a better path for all involved.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.