Hey everyone, Coach Kelly here—Master Fitness Professional and Nutrition Lead at Life Time North Dallas. If you've been following my content, you know I'm passionate about practical, actionable steps that help you stay strong, mobile, and independent well into your golden years. We've talked about VO2 max and how dropping below certain thresholds can rob... Continue Reading →
I watch people train. It’s what I do. For the last few months, I’ve noticed a guy at the club I’ll call "Bob". Solid athletic build, probably 35-40 years old, maybe 5’8” or 5’9”. He’s strong and consistent with his lifting, but he’s carrying some extra body fat—around 20-25%. Between his strength sets, he drags... Continue Reading →
We’ve all seen it in the gym: someone walking on the treadmill at a steady 2.5–3.5 mph, earbuds in, maybe scrolling on their phone. It looks like “cardio time.” But is it really moving the needle on their fitness, heart health, or VO2 max? As a fitness professional who’s had countless conversations with members, this... Continue Reading →
VO2 max is simply the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. It’s measured in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). Higher numbers equal better cardiorespiratory fitness—and it’s one of the strongest predictors of longevity and maintaining independence in your later years. The topic of VO2... Continue Reading →
How do you want to live? That’s a question most people, I think, never really give any serious consideration to. I’ve heard it said that most people spend more time planning their vacations than planning their lives. And one of the most profound and simple statements I ever heard from the late, great Zig Ziglar... Continue Reading →
This past Friday morning, as I was wrapping up my cardio, one of our members, Tim, was finishing his treadmill session right in front of me.As he stepped off, he pulled off his headphones and turned my way. I paused the video on my tablet, said good morning, and asked how his workout went. He... Continue Reading →
From roughly 1992 to about 2000, I was involved with the old Amway business. I never made much money, but it introduced me to the world of personal development, and for that, I will be forever grateful. One of the leaders of my organization, Kenny Stuart, gave a talk once titled “3 is not 20,”... Continue Reading →
We’ve all been there: You start the day strong—crushing your workout, eating clean, knocking out focused work. By mid-afternoon, though? Decisions feel harder. Temptations sneak in. By evening, you’re running on fumes and wondering where all that morning discipline went. Is this just how willpower works—a finite daily battery that drains as the hours tick... Continue Reading →
I’ve always written my blog posts inspired by events in my life. For the last eight years, working as a fitness professional at Lifetime, I've had so many of my posts driven by my work with clients. But as a creator, I find it interesting that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. Case... Continue Reading →
Have you ever stopped to think how much of what you believe is shaped by where you grew up, what you were taught, or the information you've been fed? As a kid in Texas, I naturally rooted for the Cowboys, loved hot dogs at Rangers games, and embraced the Lone Star State's spirit. It felt... Continue Reading →
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