The Weekly Exerciser

It’s clear muscle health matters more than most people realise. The loss of muscle mass, strength, and function—also known as sarcopenia—leads to a vicious cycle that affects everything from mobility to independence. And yet, many people won’t even consider taking action unless their doctor tells them to. That’s why clinicians are key gatekeepers to better muscle health. So then, how well do Australian clinicians really understand sarcopenia and its impact? We decided to find out by surveying...

It’s the biggest killer out there. Cardiovascular disease causes more deaths than anything else — yet much of it is preventable. And most people think better heart health starts in the gym. But here’s the reality: Many don’t enjoy structured workouts Most struggle with consistency And time is a major barrier So the real question is: Can daily movement — without stepping foot in a gym — still protect your heart? New research says yes. But it’s not just how much you move. It’s how hard that...

Most people have a pretty simplistic view of muscle. It’s just a bunch of muscle fibres, right? Well, that’s true. But it’s also much more than that. Muscle is made up of different types of fibres—each with distinct properties. Yes, we lose muscle with ageing. But certain types of muscle fibres are hit the hardest. And there’s only one thing that can stop it. Muscle Fibre Types: The Lowdown Broadly speaking, there are two muscle fibres types: Type I (slow-twitch) fibres – smaller, produce...

I cringe a little when I hear people say: “But {insert exercise here} is the king of all exercises.” Cos here’s the thing: Unless you’re a powerlifter, there are no essential exercises in the gym. And this is good news. Because it means you can choose the exercises you actually like—not the ones you think you should be doing. Plus it gives you the freedom to change your routine when you feel bored with it, too. The question is: does this compromise your results? Let's find out. Exercise is...

It’s a no-brainer really. One of the biggest predictors of whether you’ll exercise often is: How it makes you feel. Which is funny given this is not how exercise is usually prescribed. Instead it’s all about what to do to achieve better: Endurance Strength Fat loss Or whatever the long-term goal is. But what if we flipped the equation, and focused on tweaking exercise to maximise the “feel better” effect instead? Heck, we might even stick to exercise for longer—and get those health or fitness...