The Three Kinds of Pain: Know What Your Body Is Telling You

When something hurts, what do youdo? Do you stop exercising completely? Do you try to push through it? Or do you assume that because you're getting older, pain is simply something you have tolive with? The answer depends on why you're hurting.In today's episode, we're going to talk about what I call the three kinds of pain: pain caused by a condition, such as spinal stenosis, arthritis, a bulging disc or nerve irritation; pain caused by an injury that needs time to heal and then berehabilitated; and pain associated with weakness, which may require exactly the opposite approach—a carefully designed progressive strengthening program. The problem is that we often treat all three kinds of pain the same way. We eitherpush through pain that we shouldn't, or we stop moving when appropriate movement and strengthening may be exactly what we need.Knowing the difference can change the way you exercise, recover and maintain your independence as you age. Solet's talk about pain—not something we should automatically fear or ignore, but something we need to understand.So listen in and really begin to understandThe Three Kinds of Pain. Related Article

How does someone gain 20, 30, or even 40 pounds without really noticing it? Usually, it doesn't happen overnight. It happens a pound at a time. In today's episode, we're talking about something I call “creeping obesity”—the gradual weight gain that can occur when we add just one or two pounds a month, month after month, year after year.One pound doesn't seem like much. But one pound a month can become 12 pounds in a year and potentially 24 pounds in two years. Two pounds a month can become nearly 50 pounds over that same period.The good news is that the process can work in the opposite direction, too. Small improvements in your eating habits, caloric awareness, exercise, and daily activity can add up to remarkable changes over time. And instead of looking for another 30-day diet, we need to start thinking about where we want to be one or two years from now.In this episode, I'll explain how creeping obesity happens, why calories still matter, how resistance and cardiovascular training can help, and why working with a personal trainer can provide the structure, accountability, and guidance you need to reach your goals.The weight didn't appear overnight, and it doesn't have to disappear overnight.So let's stop the creep, start making better decisions, and discover what consistent effort can accomplish.Enjoy The EpisodeRead The Article

This episode gives the listener the tools necessary to help prepare their children or students for the true game oflife. Playground politics is  about preparation for life. Children need safe opportunities to experience winning, losing, negotiating, cooperating, disagreeing, making friends, solving problems, and recognizing the abilities ofothers. They need adults who protect themfrom genuine harm while still giving them enough freedom to develop confidence and resilience. There is a difference between protecting a child and preventing a child from ever experiencing discomfort.Discomfort is part of growth. The playground can be one of life's first classrooms. There are no desks, textbooks, or report cards, but the lessons can last forever. So yes, supervisechildren.Teach sportsmanship. Stop bullying when it occurs. Make games reasonably safe andinclusive. But don't eliminate every game because someone might lose, become frustrated, or experience a difficult moment.Sometimes the best thing we can do for children is give them a ball, give them some space, establish reasonable boundaries—and let them figure out how to play: because someday the playground gets much bigger.We call it life. Enjoy the episode.

You know There is real power in simply showing up.Getting out of bed. Getting dressed. Leaving the house.Going to work. Exercising. Talking with other people. Doing the ordinary things that make up an ordinary day.They may not seem important, but repeated day after day,these simple actions create something we all need: structure,stability, confidence, and a sense of purpose.In today’s world, convenience has made it easier thanever to avoid discomfort. We can work from home, shop from home, order our meals, entertain ourselves endlessly, and sometimes go through an entire day with very little meaningful human interaction. But when we continually avoideffort and discomfort, we may also be giving up some of the very experiences that make us stronger.Consistency teaches us that we can depend on ourselves.Exercise works the same way. We shouldn't have to wakeup every morning and decide whether we feel like moving. Some things become powerful precisely because we stop negotiating with ourselves and simply make them part of our routine.In this episode of Be Simply Fit, we're going to talk about the power of consistency—and why the small things you doevery day may ultimately matter far more than the big things you do once in a while.Because a strong body, a resilient mind, and ameaningful life aren't built in a day.My name is Jim Burns Enjoy the podcast, Read The Article

Spinal stenosis can change the way you live your life. I know because I am dealing with it myself. For someone who believes strongly in exercise, strength, and remaining physically independent, being told that the spinal canal has narrowed and may be putting pressure on nerves can be frustrating. Walking may hurt. Standing may hurt. Pain can travel into the buttock or leg. Activities that were once routine can suddenly become difficult.But one of the most important lessons I have learned is this: spinal stenosis does not automatically mean you have to stop moving. In many cases, the goal isn't necessarily to “cure” the structural narrowing. It is to manage symptoms, maintain strength and mobility, and preserve as much function as possible. Join jim as he explores ways to manage spinal stenosis. Related Article

When Did Movement Become Optional?Cognitive Dissonance, Exercise, and a Culture of ComfortWe all know exercise is good for us. We know movement strengthens the heart, preserves muscle, supports mental health, and helps us remain independent. Yet millions of Americans continue to live increasingly sedentary lives.Why is there such a disconnect between what we know and what we actually do?In this episode of the Be Simply Fit Podcast, Jim Burns explores the cognitive dissonance surrounding exercise and asks a larger—and sometimes uncomfortable—question: Have we created a culture where comfort has become more desirable than effort?The discussion also examines America's enormous “Not in the Labor Force” (NILF) population. While this category includes millions of retirees, students, caregivers, and people living with illness or disability, it also raises important questions about younger, physically capable adults who may have college degrees yet remain disconnected from employment, independence, and physical activity.Technology has made life extraordinarily convenient. We can work, shop, order meals, socialize, and entertain ourselves without ever leaving the house. But what happens when convenience begins replacing movement, responsibility, challenge, and purpose?This episode isn't about condemning everyone who doesn't exercise or isn't working. It's about recognizing that chronic inactivity has consequences—physically and mentally.The less we move, the harder movement becomes. We lose strength, endurance, confidence, and eventually independence.Jim challenges listeners to reconsider exercise as something much bigger than weight loss:Exercise is practice for life.Movement builds strength. Challenge builds resilience. And regularly doing difficult things reminds us that we are still capable of doing difficult things.If you've ever wondered why we know so much about the benefits of exercise yet struggle so much to actually move, this episode is for you.The question isn't whether exercise is good for us. We already know that. The question is: When did movement become optional?Related Article

In today's episode of the Be Simply Fit Podcast, we're going to talk about why heavy resistance training becomes increasingly important as we age—and why buildingand maintaining muscle may be one of the best investments you can make in your future health.Muscle isn't just about looking strong. It's metabolically active tissue. It helps your body use energy, improves insulin sensitivity, supports healthy blood sugar, strengthensyour bones, and makes everyday activities easier.And after 50, 60, and 70, this becomes even more important because we're fighting something that happensnaturally with age: the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength.That's why I want you to begin thinking differently about exercise. Instead of asking only, “How much weight can I lose?”, start asking:“How much strength can I keep?”Because the goal isn't simply to weigh less. The goal is to remain strong enough to climb the stairs,carry the groceries, get up from the floor, travel, play with yourgrandchildren, and continue doing the things you love. Cardio absolutely has animportant place in a healthy lifestyle. But strength training provides something cardio alone cannot: the stimulus your body needs to build andpreserve muscle. Today, we're going to explore how resistance training can improve metabolism, help manage body fatand blood sugar, protect your bones, and—perhaps most importantly—help preserve your functional independence.Visit www.besimplyfit.net for this article and many more

Before we dive into today's episode, I want you to think back to your own childhood. Can you remember the feeling of racing your friends down the street, climbing trees, riding your bike until the sun went down, or spending an entire afternoon outside without ever looking at a screen?We didn't call it exercise—we called it playing. Yet those simple moments were building stronger hearts, stronger bones, healthier minds, and habits thatcould last a lifetime.Today, childhood has changed. Many kids spendmore time sitting than moving, more time on devices than outdoors. As a result, we're seeing rising rates of childhood obesity, anxiety, depression, and chronic health problems at younger ages than ever before.In this episode of Be Simply Fit, we're going to talk about why play isn't just fun—it's essential. I'll explain how running, climbing, jumping, and exploring help children develop physically, mentally, emotionally, andsocially. We'll also discuss why the exercise habits we build in childhood can determine our health decades later, and what parents, grandparents, teachers, and coaches can do to help kids rediscover the joy of movement.After overcoming quadruple bypass surgerymyself and dedicating my career to helping people stay healthy and independent, I've learned one simple truth: the journey to healthy aging doesn't begin at 50or 60—it begins in childhood.So let's take a step back, open the frontdoor, and remember what it means to simply play.The related blog post can be found belowLet's Teach Kids How To Play AgainWelcome to Be Simply Fit.Let's get started..

What if your greatest health challenge became thebeginning of your greatest comeback?In this deeply personal episode of the Be SimplyFit Podcast, I share the story of how I prepared for quadruple bypass surgery at the age of 68—and why that experience forever changed the way I think about exercise, longevity, and taking control of my health.Growing up with a family history of heart disease, Ibelieved my future had already been written. But I discovered that while we may inherit our genes, we don't have to surrender to them. Through purposeful movement, consistent habits, and a new understanding of what exercise reallymeans, I found hope where many people only see limitations.This episode isn't just about heart disease. It's aboutovercoming limiting beliefs, redefining fitness, and realizing that your diagnosis, your age, or your past does not have to determine your future.If you've ever felt like you've reached your point of noreturn, this conversation is for you. You may discover that what feels like the finish line is actually the starting line for the greatest race of your life.Join me as we explore how simple, intentional movementcan help change your health, your mindset, and perhaps even your family's future for generations to come.Related Article

Welcome to the Be Simply Fit Podcast,where we help you build strength, improve your health, and enjoy life at every age.My name is Jim Burns, and I am a NASM Certified PersonalTrainer and Behavior Change Specialist, and today we're talking about something that every one of us will eventually face—injury, arthritis, or simply the changes that come with aging.When that happens, it's easy to become discouraged andfocus on everything you can no longer do. But what if that's the wrong question?In this episode, we'll explore how shifting your mindsetfrom "I can't" to "What can I do today?" can completely change your recovery, your fitness, and your outlook on life.We'll discuss why the right exercise can actually help rehabilitate injuries, why pushing through pain often does more harm than good, and how making smartadjustments can keep you active for years to come.No matter where you are on your fitness journey,remember this: your limitations do not define you—your willingness to keep moving does.So, let's join the discussion for today's episode and learn how to “Focus on What You Can Do."Related Article