Aging summed up

A colleague of mine recently shared a quote on The Facebook:

“You do not lose your strength and power because you have grown old. You have grown old because you have stopped using your strength and power.” – Martin Rooney

If you’re not currently performing resistance training at least 2x/week right now, you might want to re-read the quote, especially the second sentence.

A lot of people think that as we get older, it’s normal to feel weaker and slower…

But here’s the twist: it’s not about how many candles were on your last birthday cake.

It’s all about staying active and keeping your body challenged.

I tell you that  I’ve got clients in their 60s that are way more fit that lots of people half their age!

What’s their “secret weapon”?

It’s not more cardio.

It’s not gardening.

And, it’s not playing golf or pickle ball.

All of those things are great, but they don’t hold a candle to the anti-aging benefits of resistance training.

When you resistance train, you work your muscles against a force, like weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight. And let me tell you, it’s a game-changer, especially as we add more notches to our age belts.

Here are a few reasons why:

Fight the ‘Sag and Drag’: Inactive people start losing muscle as they age, it’s called sarcopenia, but, resistance training helps fight this, maintaining and even building muscle mass and strength. More muscle means more power to do the things you love – like cardio, gardening, and playing golf! It means independence and longevity.

Improve Hormone Function: ​The amount of muscle you have is associated with your risk of diabetes. If you have more muscle, you are more sensitive to the hormone insulin, which is good!

Fire up Metabolism: Muscle is the primary determinant of your basal metabolic rate (BMR) which is how many calories you use at rest. When you lose muscle with aging, your resting caloric expenditure needs go down and your fat goes up. Resistance training builds/helps maintains your muscle and keeps your BMR elevated.

Bone Boost: Resistance training is like a secret potion for your bones, making them denser and less likely to fracture. Other forms of exercise can’t deliver those benefits.

Improve Balance and Coordination: Resistance training strengthens your core and stabilizer muscles, which helps you avoid those “oops” moments and keeps you moving freely and confidently. When it comes to anti-aging, this is hugely important!

Mental Muscle: Resistance training isn’t just about physical strength; it’s a natural mood booster, helping to slash stress levels and improve your mental well-being. And, while other forms of exercise can do the same, there’s just something special when you outperform a previous resistance training workout…or even just one set of one exercise in the entire workout.

So there you have it! Resistance training is your secret to aging with power and vitality.

And no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start. Men as old as 98 have been able to triple their strength through resistance training…and if a 98 year old can do it, so can you.

If you are at all concerned about your physical health, your brain health or  your independence  as you age, my All Access Pass is a great way for you to get started this summer, without a huge commitment.