2026 Issue #42

Why Building Strength Matters More Than Losing Weight as We Age

Hi Reader,

The other day, I learned a pretty painful lesson.

I was walking our two Great Pyrenees, which is roughly 250 pounds of dog on the other end of my leash.

Everything was going just fine.

Until Cato spotted something.

And took off.

With me still holding the leash.

Well...for a little while anyway. 😂

Before I knew what was happening, I was flying through the air like I was auditioning for some kind of Superwoman movie.

Except there was nothing graceful about my landing.

I hit the ground. HARD.

My back hurt. My hip hurt. I was badly bruised.

And once I realized I was okay enough to get up, I had one very sobering thought.

I'm really lucky I wasn't hurt worse.

But you know what else I realized?

I haven't been taking care of my body the way I know I should.

And that's a hard thing to admit.

Especially when health and wellness are what I do for a living.

I know better. But I'm human, too.

Earlier this spring, I was going to the gym regularly.

I felt strong.

I was building muscle.

And then planting season arrived.

There were gardens to get ready, events to host, and about a million other things demanding my attention.

So I skipped a workout.

Then another.

And before I knew it, the gym had become something I'd get back to when things slowed down.

Sound familiar?

It's amazing how quickly something that was part of your routine becomes something you used to do.

And here's the thing...

I wasn't sitting around doing nothing.

Farm life is physically demanding!

I'm constantly walking, lifting, bending, carrying and working outside.

But being busy and being physically active isn't necessarily the same as intentionally building strength.

And that difference matters.

Because one day, your body might need that strength.

We spend so much time thinking about exercise as a way to lose weight.

Burn calories.

Fit into our jeans.

Look better.

But what about being able to catch yourself when you stumble?

Get up off the ground?

Carry groceries?

Climb stairs?

Keep doing the things you love when you're 65, 75 or 85?

Falls become a serious concern as we age, and losing strength and balance can put our independence at risk.

I don't want to wait until I lose the ability to do something before I start taking care of the body that allows me to do it.

And yet...

That's exactly the direction I was heading by letting my strength training slip further and further down my priority list.

It took 250 pounds of dog and a rather impressive flying lesson to remind me. 😂

So I'm making a promise to myself.

I'm going back to the gym.

Not because I need to lose weight.

Not because I'm unhappy with how I look.

But because I want to be strong.

I want to keep working on our farm.

I want to be able to do the things I love for as long as possible.

And I don't want to take my mobility for granted.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you've been meaning to start walking again.

Or lifting weights.

Or stretching.

Or doing something that makes your body feel stronger.

But life keeps getting in the way.

I get it.

Even when you know what to do, that doesn't mean you're always doing it.

And sometimes the hardest person to take care of is yourself.

So here's my question for you this week.

What have you been putting off when it comes to taking care of your body?

And what would it look like to start again?

xo,