My Blog
I’m James Burns
Jim has always understood the benefits of exercise and is an advocate of helping schools build more activity time into student schedules to keep our children active and above all healthy. Jim is certified by the National Academy Of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a personal trainer and believes that exercise is the first step in reducing stress and becoming balanced mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. As an educator Jim believes that knowledge is power and that everyone should understand the benefits of exercise. “I Trained For A Quadruple Bypass” (contained as part of this newsletter) explains his journey from the understanding one’s own health and how one can ready themselves physical, mentally, and spiritually and do so without fear. Having a history of heart disease and stroke in his family Jim has learned that we are not determined by our genetics we are only influenced, and we can change our response to the influence at any time.
Why Seniors Avoid Exercise
(And What Actually Helps) Many older adults know that exercise is “good for them,” yet still struggle to stay active. This isn’t due to laziness or lack of discipline. In most cases, it’s driven by fear, confusion, discomfort, or past experiences that make movement...
Tendons: The Unsung Heroes of Strength, Stability, and Longevity
When people think about getting stronger, they usually think about muscles. Bigger muscles. Stronger muscles. More toned muscles. But there’s another part of the body that quietly determines how strong, stable, and pain-free we really are—and that’s the tendon....
Walk With Me This Spring
As the weather warms up and spring invites us outside, many people feel ready to walk—but still worry about balance or the fear of falling or maybe you are recovering from surgery or an injury. If that sounds like you, walk with me. I offer supportive walks for those...
Reactive Muscles: Why Strength and Speed Matter More Than You Think
When most people hear the word strength, they picture big muscles, heavy weights, or athletes pushing limits. But there’s another kind of strength that matters even more in everyday life—especially as we age. It’s called reactive strength. Reactive muscles are not...
Exercise Is Everything: Why Resistance Training Saves Us When We Fall
Yesterday, I slipped while shoveling snow in my driveway. No drama. No slow-motion heroics. Just that sudden moment where your feet go one way and your body goes another. In a split second, I was down—landing hard on my right shoulder. Here’s the part that matters. I...
The Fear of Falling—and Why Strength Changes Everything
The image is unsettling because it reflects a very real fear many older adults live with every day: the fear of falling. One unexpected slip, a moment of imbalance, and independence can feel like it’s hanging by a thread. What’s often overlooked, however, is that...
GLP-1 vs. a Low Glycemic Index Diet: Why Slower Is Often Better
In today’s health and fitness world, GLP-1 medications and low glycemic index (GI) diets are often discussed as tools for weight loss and blood sugar control. While both aim to solve the same problem—unstable blood sugar, overeating, and excess body fat—they work in...
Resilence and Independence
A Be Simply Fit™ Reflection I grew up in a time when we didn’t have constant instructions, instant answers, or someone checking in on us every five minutes. We figured things out. If we fell, we got up. If we were bored, we created something. If something broke, we...
Exercise and Medication
Why My VO₂ Max Looks Lower on Metoprolol A Be Simply Fit™ Explainer I want to explain something important if you’re on a medication like metoprolol (a beta-blocker) and you’ve noticed your heart rate or VO₂ max numbers look lower than expected. Metoprolol slows how...
What Is A1C — and Why It Matters More Than the Scale
If you’ve ever had blood work done, chances are you’ve seen a number called A1C on your lab report. Many people are told, “You’re fine” or “You’re borderline” — without ever truly understanding what that number means or why it matters so much for long-term health....