As New Year resolutions take shape, fitness and nutrition expert Jody Trierweiler stopped by Live in the D to urge people to ditch a weight-loss-only mindset and focus on movement for longevity, brain health and mood.
“Both cardio and strength are important. Gotta do it all,” Trierweiler said, noting that aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and muscular strength are top predictors of long, healthy life. She cited longevity researcher Peter Attia’s view that, among common wellness strategies, exercise has the strongest impact on delaying cognitive and physical decline.
Trierweiler highlighted lesser-known benefits, including the way the body’s chemistry shifts during workouts. As muscles work and burn, they generate lactate, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and “feeds the neurons” to support thinking and memory. She also pointed to myokines - proteins released by working muscles - that research links to reduced anxiety and depression. Scientists, she said, even call them “hope molecules.”
“We’re not looking for weight loss. We’re looking for healthy aging,” Trierweiler said.
Her prescription: train both systems. Cardio to build VO2 max - think intervals, brisk walking, cycling or jump rope - and strength training to preserve muscle, bone density and function. The combination, she said, offers benefits no supplement can match.
To watch the segment, click on the video above. For more of Jody’s tips, visit jodysfitlife.com.