Exercise as We Age

There’s nothing I hate more than articles telling people what exercises they shouldn’t do after a certain age. Those exercises are fine when someone is 59 years and 364 days old, but not a day later?

Worst of all is that they show a fundamental lack of understanding about fitness.

I’ve trained hundreds of people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, and every one of them has done the exercises that pop up in those articles.

And gotten great results.

They just do a version that is appropriate for them. (By the way, that applies to people in their 40s, 30s, and 20s, as well.)

That’s because age isn’t nearly as important as we think.

It’s not that it means nothing, it just doesn’t have to mean everything.

Show me someone who constantly complains about their age, and I’ll show you someone who’s probably done that for decades.

Show me someone who ignores their age and gets out there and does things and I’ll show you someone living an interesting, vital, and fulfilling life.

Who do you want to be?

When it comes to exercise, don’t let ridiculous articles define you. Research has shown that exercise can help at any age, so find something you like doing and start doing it.

Lift weights, walk, bike, dance, play softball… whatever you want to do, just go ahead no matter what the calendar says.

If you have specific issues to work on, here’s a quick rundown on the best exercises to help. Of course, ask your doctor for guidance on any serious health issues you may be dealing with. I’m not a doctor, and although I have auditioned to play one on TV, I didn’t get the part.

Want to reduce chronic pain, improve bone density, increase body strength, or improve mobility? Try strength training.

Concerned about heart issues? Cardiovascular training is for you.

Do you have high blood pressure or just want to improve your overall health? Any kind of exercise will do, but you have to do it.

I hope this helps you think about what you can do to feel better. Remember to keep it simple and enjoyable.

The most important thing you can get from a workout is the desire for another one.