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Ep 378: 3 Life-Changing Truths About Strength Training that You Must Know About

A Better Way with Kersten Kimura

Release Date: 03/08/2025

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A Better Way with Kersten Kimura

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Episode 384   It’s time for another guest interview. This time, I’m talking to Gaby Whiteside whom I met in a chronic pain recovery group called Pain Free You (link below), when we both had bad chronic pain. Today, Gaby is completely free from chronic pain, lifting weights and saying that she absolutely LOVES the gym!   Gaby had years of full body pain: From neck and back to even hands and feet. As is common with neuroplastic pain (TMS), doctors didn’t have answers for her. After a friend recommended the book “Mindbody Prescription” by dr John Sarno, Gaby realized...

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Episode 383   In today’s podcast episode I’m chatting with Derrick Virassammy, a good friend and an literally the BEST trainer I know when it comes to developing athletic fitness.    It’s absolutely great if you are already working out, lifting weights or working out other ways that you enjoy and that benefit your health. But athletic training is something that you may not have thought about yet. You might even think: “Why do I need this? I’m not an athlete.”   In today’s episode you learn that there are many reasons why you should also include exercises...

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Ep 382: Five Lies About Strength Training for Women That You Need to Know About show art Ep 382: Five Lies About Strength Training for Women That You Need to Know About

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Ep 381: Why You Aren’t Able To Make Progress In Some Areas Of Your Life (It’s Your Nervous System!) show art Ep 381: Why You Aren’t Able To Make Progress In Some Areas Of Your Life (It’s Your Nervous System!)

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Episode 380   LAST 4 days to apply to work with me:   In today’s episode, I want to discuss a common belief that people with neuroplastic problems, such as chronic pain, fatigue or anxiety often have, which is this:    “When I move my body, I end up WORSE than before.”   I was inspired to record this episode after a conversation that I had with my client who worked with me for a little over 6 months. Previously, she had had years of chronic sensations. When she contacted me for strength training, she had already gotten better using different modalities, but...

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EP 379: Strength Training with Neuroplastic Symptoms (TMS): 3 Women Share Their Inspiring Stories show art EP 379: Strength Training with Neuroplastic Symptoms (TMS): 3 Women Share Their Inspiring Stories

A Better Way with Kersten Kimura

Episode 379   2 months customized 1:1 training plan and daily coaching: APPLY HERE!   In today’s episode I want to share with you 3 short success stories from 3 women who all started strength training even despite having TMS / neuroplastic pain. And they all have great experiences to share!   As I mentioned, what’s common to all of them is that they all have or had TMS pain / neuroplastic pain or symptoms. But what’s different about them is that they all were on very different levels when they started:   Laura already had a lot of experience.  Amanda had...

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Ep 378: 3 Life-Changing Truths About Strength Training that You Must Know About show art Ep 378: 3 Life-Changing Truths About Strength Training that You Must Know About

A Better Way with Kersten Kimura

Episode 378  Of course, you’ve very likely heard about the importance and benefits of strength training. But most people only see one piece of the story, which is fat loss or weight loss. And also the mental health benefits are starting to get more airtime which is awesome. But still, most people think that “Yeah, I know I should do it but life is busy so I get to it sometime later.” Or, “I think it’s too hard” or in case of neuroplastic pain: “I will wait until my pain is completely gone and I’ll start then.”  To show you HOW important strength training really is,...

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Ep 377: How To Start Exercising Even If You Have Chronic Sensations show art Ep 377: How To Start Exercising Even If You Have Chronic Sensations

A Better Way with Kersten Kimura

Episode 377    Today’s podcast is 2-part: In part 1, I’m sharing with you a very practical tool that helps you to get started with strength training even if you have chronic sensations.  You may have tried telling yourself: “I’m safe!” and repeated that many times, hoping that that will take down the feeling of intensity and anxiety. But nothing is changing, you still feel fear, the thought of working out and all the things that could go wrong are still present. If your body is in an overdrive, and you have physical sensations of hypervigilance and anxiety, it’s...

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Episode 378

 Of course, you’ve very likely heard about the importance and benefits of strength training. But most people only see one piece of the story, which is fat loss or weight loss. And also the mental health benefits are starting to get more airtime which is awesome.

But still, most people think that “Yeah, I know I should do it but life is busy so I get to it sometime later.” Or, “I think it’s too hard” or in case of neuroplastic pain:

“I will wait until my pain is completely gone and I’ll start then.”

 To show you HOW important strength training really is, here are some facts for you…

  1. Women can lose as much as 20% of their bone mass in the first 5 years of menopause — if they don’t strength train.

Bone loss happens primarily due to the decline in estrogen levels.

 What could such dramatic decrease in bone mass mean to someone? For example, that you’re more likely to fall because you can’t catch yourself when you trip over something. And when that happens then you’re more likely to break a bone. And when that happens… It’s going to take a very long time before that bone rebuilds.

Strengthening muscle helps bone density because when muscles contract and pull on bones, which is what happens when you do ANY strength move, it is a signal to the body to also strengthen those bones. As a result, bone density and mass goes up.

2. Strength training is SO important for diabetes prevention. 38 million Americans are diabetic and 98 million prediabetic. Most people think that the #1 thing to do to prevent diabetes is to lose weight. I would argue that building more muscle mass is important.

 Muscle acts like a sponge for blood sugar, absorbing glucose from the bloodstream. If your muscle mass is low, you don’t have that sponge. You will also be less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that acts like a key to open up the cells for the glucose to enter. So without much muscle, and especially if your diet is not great, you can end up with constantly elevated blood sugar and insulin levels and may be on your way to diabetes.

3. Isometrics is one of the most accessible ways to start strength training. This should be great news to anyone new to training or anyone who has pain. Isometrics simply means holding a position (think pushing your hands against a wall without bending them, or doing a wall sit) and is very effective and safe for anyone who might have fear of exercise or who is completely new to it.

Isometrics is also much less likely to make you sore; it’s very gentle on the joints; and it’s super hard to overtrain yourself with it!

 All these are reasons why you really shouldn’t wait to start strength training — YES even if you have neuropastic pain. YOU CAN START when you start very simple!

Check out my 2-month strength training offer here. Applications are open until 3/17/25! https://kerstenkimura.lpages.co/strength-training-2-months/

 Check out my FREE 14-day course Strong + Sensitive, meant for Highly Sensitive People and people with TMS: https://kerstenkimura.lpages.co/ss-14-day-course/

 This course combines mindset tools + FREE strength training workouts!

Emotionally Fit is my new emotional healing program for chronic pain or other chronic symptom recovery. You can find it here: https://kersten-kimura.teachable.com/p/emotionally-fit

 If you are looking for a safe and effective, BEGINNER level strength training program, check out my brand new Train to Build STARTER: https://kersten-kimura.teachable.com/p/train-to-build-starter

For an INTERMEDIATE level strength training program, check out Train to Build: https://kersten-kimura.teachable.com/p/train-to-build

 Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taara_wisdom/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klehismets

Apply to work with me: https://forms.gle/8E5aNUo8kdST4odT6

 

 Check out my website: https://kerstenkimura.com/