The Life Time Talks Podcast

Becoming a grandparent, caring for aging parents, getting unfavorable health news, not moving the ways you used to — there are several points in our lives, especially when we get older, when age becomes a front-of-mind topic. To support older adults who want to be healthy and fit as they age, Life Time created the ARORA program. The co-founder, Renée Main, joins us in this mini episode to talk about its genesis and all that it offers to members.

Every second of every day, all of us are aging, and yet we often wait to address — or altogether avoid — age-related concerns about our health until we reach a certain point in our years or our capabilities begin to diminish. Frank Lipman, MD, shares 10 essential factors he’s outlined for aging well, emphasizing that it’s never too late — or too early — to start embracing them, and that it’s not as difficult as you might think.

In this conversation with Jason Stella, CPT, PES, CES, we get his perspective on the constants of fitness that he’s seen over his 25-plus years in the industry, as well as where he thinks it’s headed. Plus, he shares what to look for to find a trainer who can best support you — and offers advice on shifting your mindset so you’re ready to make real, lasting change.

Dance is more than a physically beneficial form of fitness: It evokes happiness, mental relief, and social connection. In this mini episode, Jeimy Bueno Prisby explains why you don’t need to be a “dancer” to enjoy the advantages of moving your body.

From a young age, sports offer a way to stay active and learn valuable life skills. For some, they become an ambition as they get older. In this mini episode, DeVentri Jordan, founder and national director of GameFace at Life Time, shares the ways this sports-training program helps people grow in athletics, whether they’re just getting introduced to sports or are aiming to compete at a high level.

It’s estimated that as many as one in three U.S. adults have impaired blood-sugar control — and most are unaware until disease diagnosis. This often means missing months or years of opportunities to intervene with lifestyle habits. Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, explains how blood sugar impacts nearly every aspect of our health and walks us through the many things we can do to better control it.

Heart rate can be a powerful tool for building fitness and seeing results from your exercise regimen. Danny King, Master Trainer, shares what to know about heart-rate training, including what it is, how to use it in your workouts, and the ways you can identify the key metrics needed for yourself.

Without sufficient intake of omega-3s, our health can suffer: We might experience more inflammation, our cell signaling may be inhibited, and our cognitive health can take a hit. In this mini episode, Paul Kriegler, RD, explains why omega-3s are so essential and offers advice on how we can support our bodies with optimal amounts of this fatty acid.

Cold plunges, cryotherapy, ice baths, cold application — the use of cold therapy for physical and mental gains has risen to popularity of late. In this mini episode, Danny King shares the benefits of cold therapy and tips for getting started if it’s something you’re looking to add to your regimen.

The water provides advantages not available from forms of land exercise, making it a valuable addition to anyone’s fitness regimen — whether you use it as an environment for low-impact movement, recovery, cross-training, or everyday fitness. In this mini episode, Rob Glick shares the benefits that working out in the water can offer, plus different ways you can include it in your routine.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America — but why? Ajay Pant shares the reasons the sport has exploded in popularity and what it is about the game that hooks players of all ages and experience levels once they give it a try.

The topic of immunity has gotten a lot of attention because of the pandemic, yet our immune systems always need support so we’re healthy and strong at the metabolic level and prepared to fight off germs, bacteria, and other potentially compromising invaders. Paul Kriegler, RD, CPT, shares the lifestyle habits within our control that can build our immunity, including primary factors to be aware of and what might provide us with the greatest resilience.

Many people engage with group training programs for the community and accountability — and because, when designed based on science and research, they can offer fitness growth beyond what an individual might otherwise be able to achieve on their own. In this mini episode, Nastassia Smith shares the advantages of Life Time’s signature group training, and offers guidance if you’re considering giving it a try yourself.

Magnesium is one of the most prevalent minerals in the body, impacting how we feel and function every day — yet it’s also the second most common nutrient deficiency behind vitamin D. In this mini episode, Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, explains magnesium’s far-reaching role in our health and offers tips for making sure our bodies have optimal levels.

Intermittent fasting is referred to in various terms — 16:8, alternate-day fasting, 5:2, time-restricted eating. But even if you’re simply just choosing to wait to eat until your first hunger pang, this practice can result in some significant and positive health effects when done thoughtfully. Paul Kriegler, RD, LD, CPT, walks through the different methods of this dietary approach, including the benefits it can provide and guidance for those interested in trying it.

Vitamin D is the most common micronutrient deficiency — but it’s also one that we can prevent with relative ease. In this mini episode, Anika Christ, RD, CPT, explains why vitamin D is critical to our health, including its role in immunity, and offers ways we can make sure our bodies get optimal levels.

What do I do if I’m not seeing results? How often do I need to exercise? How many calories should I be eating? Life Time coaches Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, and Lindsay Ogden, CPT, join us to answer the most common health and fitness questions they hear from our members — including these ones and more.

The better and faster you can recover, the more progress you can ultimately make with your fitness — and the healthier you’ll move and feel. In this mini episode, Danny King, Master Trainer at Life Time, explains the difference between system and muscle recovery, and the ways we can optimize our efforts for each.

Thyroid issues are prevalent: An estimated one in seven people are affected, with even more suffering from an imbalance — and many not even aware that their thyroid is behind their symptoms. Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, shares the signals our thyroid might be sending us, the tests to ask for, and the lifestyle habits we can implement in our daily lives to nourish and support our thyroids.

Our bodies are 70 percent water, so maintaining a healthy body starts with sustaining healthy hydration habits. In this mini episode, Paul Kriegler, RD, explains why proper hydration is so essential for our health and how we can make sure we’re optimizing our water intake.

When it comes to building optimal health — including goals like losing weight — fitness and nutrition are often the two main factors that are associated with results. But there are many other lifestyle behaviors that influence your ability to reach and sustain your goals. Anika Christ, RD, CPT, joins us to take a comprehensive look, offering strategies for better health as a whole — and weight loss as a byproduct.

Fueling for workouts can be tricky: How we do it depends on a lot of individual factors, and it can take time to learn what does or does not work for us. Cliff Edberg, RD, Master Trainer at Life Time, breaks down what we need to know about pre- and post-workout nutrition, and offers general guidelines we can start with to then hone in on what’s best for us.

At any stage, making a life change — and focusing on the pursuit of health and fitness — can be challenging. Kemma Cunningham, a Life Time group fitness performer, shares her journey to do both, and offers her advice for others looking to find what sparks excitement and purpose in them.

Spring offers new opportunities for embracing fresh, locally grown produce. Chef Ryan Dodge joins us to explore the importance of these whole foods, as well as ways we can get more of them into our diet, whether we grow them ourselves or shop for them at a local farmers’ markets.

Metabolism is more complex than simply being “fast” or “slow” or controlled by exercise. There are many things we can do in our daily lives to optimize it. Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, shares how to build the foundation for a healthy metabolism, as well as ways to dig deeper if you’re not seeing results or feeling your best.

Results are a lagging indicator of our habits. Lindsay Ogden, CPT, nutrition coach, walks us through her four-step process — what she calls the IPTR method — for developing lasting health habits, so you have the know-how and a tactical plan to go after your goals.