Get Healthy or Get Dead

I’m 51, I’m in the best shape of my life, and I’m competing on a paddleboard with people in their 20s and 30s.
But I haven’t always been healthy.

My own health journey is a big part of why I do what I do today. I don’t believe getting older automatically means becoming weaker, slowing down, or giving up the things that make you feel alive.

Healthy aging is about staying capable enough to keep doing the things you love. That’s what we talked about in this clip from my interview on The Functional Nurse Academy Podcast.

Watch more clips and listen to the full interview:
https://gethealthyorgetdead.substack.com/p/specializing-in-healthy-aging-and

Ready to get more strategic about your own health and performance?
Book a Strategic Health Intensive:
https://paddleperformancehealth.com/strategic-health-intensive/

You don’t have to love the gym to love moving your body.
Juno tried lifting. The verdict? Pick the thing up. Put the thing down. Boring. But climbing? Totally crazy about it.

THAT is the point.

Exercise doesn’t have to look like somebody else’s version of fitness. The best kind of movement is the kind that makes you want to come back tomorrow.

For me, it’s paddleboarding. For Juno, it’s climbing.

Maybe yours is hiking, dancing, swimming, yoga, cycling, lifting heavy sh*t—or walking outside every day. Stop trying to force yourself to love exercise you hate.

Find your movement inspiration. Thanks to High Point Climbing & Fitness Birmingham for giving us a place to play. And if you need a little more inspiration to rethink what “getting healthy” actually looks like, read my book Get Healthy or Get Dead- available on Amazon and Audible.

https://gethealthyorgetdead.com/

Lorraine's already making fun of me because I show up with my heart rate monitor, training plan, zones, and apparently a whole new level of seriousness about getting on the water.

But there’s a reason for it.

I’ve always trained a lot by feel. Now that I’m being coached by Stephanie Schideler, my Flying Fish Board Co. teammate, we are adding actual heart rate data to my routine to see what’s really happening when I paddle. Stephanie is actually in my age division and competes in the Open Division (18-49 yo).

So yes, Lorraine. EVERY DAY is a training day now.

NEW BLOG: Can Heart Rate Data Make Me a Better Athlete?

Read it on Get Healthy or Get Dead on Substack: https://gethealthyorgetdead.substack.com/p/can-heart-rate-data-make-me-a-better

Like, follow me, and subscribe to my social media and my Substack for more health-related articles and wellness hacks.

Melatonin Isn’t Just About Sleep

Most people think of melatonin as a sleep supplement. But there’s a lot more to it.
In this clip from The Functional Nurse Academy Podcast, I talk about melatonin, our exposure to light and darkness, circadian rhythm, and why melatonin becomes especially interesting as we age.

And then there are pistachios. Yep, pistachios.

Watch more clips and listen to the full podcast interview:
https://gethealthyorgetdead.substack.com/p/specializing-in-healthy-aging-and

Want to take a deeper look at your health, performance, and how you’re aging?
Book a Strategic Health Intensive:
https://paddleperformancehealth.com/strategic-health-intensive/

In this part of my conversation with Melissa from the Functional Nurse Academy, we got into what I actually do when I’m not standing on a paddleboard.

Paddle Performance Health is where I help people figure out how to feel better, perform better, and stay active as they age—with a focus on movement, nutrition, sleep, stress, hydration, and individualized health strategies.

Get Healthy or Get Dead is where I write and talk about health, aging, performance, and the things I’ve learned along the way.

And then there’s the marketing side of my brain—which might actually be one of my favorite things. I work with small businesses and nonprofits on websites, content, social media, strategy, audience growth, and figuring out how to actually reach the people they’re trying to reach.

Different businesses with the same basic philosophy: Figure out what works. Cut out what doesn’t. And build something better.

Vitamin C: The Closest Thing to a “Magic Bullet”?

If we’re talking about healthy aging, vitamin C is one of my favorite things to talk about.
It’s inexpensive, accessible, and plays an important role in supporting the body as we age. In this clip from The Functional Nurse Academy Podcast, I talk about why vitamin C is one supplement I come back to again and again—and why vitamin D matters, too.

Watch more clips and listen to the full podcast interview:
https://gethealthyorgetdead.substack.com/p/specializing-in-healthy-aging-and

Want to take a deeper look at your health, performance, and how you’re aging?
Book a Strategic Health Intensive → https://paddleperformancehealth.com/strategic-health-intensive/

We Paddled With 15-Foot Sharks in Florida

Yep. Sharks. Some of them up to 15 feet long. Honestly they couldn't have cared less about us. They were just cruising along, minding their own business. Just a perk to getting outside and moving. This is EXACTLY why I love paddle boarding.

We also saw stingrays, pelicans, and some incredible wildlife along the Florida coast. Just another day out exploring with my Girl Action Buddy, Lorraine who owns Coastal Wildlife Adventures

If you're visiting Panama City Beach or Port St. Joe, Florida, check her out for wildlife tours. She knows where the cool stuff is. https://dolphinandsnorkeltours.com/

Follow me for more movement videos and wellness hacks.

I live in Florida. I’m a competitive paddleboarder. And I hardly ever wear sunscreen when I train early in the morning.

That tends to get a reaction.

In this clip from my conversation on The Functional Nurse Academy Podcast, we talk about sunscreen, sun exposure, and why I think health advice should include a discussion of your individual risk factors—not just blanket recommendations.

Read more and listen to the full podcast interview:
https://gethealthyorgetdead.substack.com/p/specializing-in-healthy-aging-and

Want to take a deeper look at your own health, performance, and healthy aging strategy?

Book a Strategic Health Intensive: https://paddleperformancehealth.com/strategic-health-intensive/

Another nature lesson with Lorraine. We found cannonball jellyfish at Indian Pass, so naturally I put Lorraine on the spot to tell us about them. No tentacles. Edible. A favorite food of loggerhead sea turtles. And little fish can actually use them as tiny habitats.

I love getting outside and learning about all the cool stuff we have right here in Florida.