Yes sir Charles Eugster 90-year-old bodybuilder

A chin-up is almost impossible to do. 61 chin-ups in 45 seconds are unthinkable and to have a 90 year old man muscle up that feat is unfathomable. And fantastic. And drastic. Yes sir Charles Eugster 90-year-old bodybuilder, who didn’t burst into these brawny he-man heroics until he was in his late ‘80’s.

It’s never too late to begin a “now or never.”

Read the link and think. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/02/i-am-a-90-year-old-bodybuilder

It is, of course, a story of life so common to most where you “have it” – conditioning – lose it, then get it back again. Sadly, for so many of us, the getting it back the last time is usually, invariably, frustratingly, missing.

And so it was with Charles Eugster. He looked into the mirror, searched his soul and stark-realized his life, while not over at 85, was a sad sack excuse for what he wanted to be, and see.

Now he’s checking and charting in with chin-ups, dips, push-ups and crunches. In bunches. How about us?

Need another 90 year old bodybuilder beatific tale? Dick Kazan’s blog introduces us to Terry Robinson, who, in the retelling of his life’s highlights back in 2006, amazes with his daily mental, physical and social regimen, a regimen that would put most of us to shame, if not to bed.  http://www.kazantoday.com/WeeklyArticles/terry-robinson.html

Here “Fit Older People” shows via video, folks, some of whom are well over 100, energizing and thriving in bowling, kettlebells, golfing and marathons! http://fitpeople.org/

Centenarians are those who live past the age of 100. They exhibit some studied similar characteristics which, as itemized in John W. Santrock’s book “A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development”, include five factors that research has suggested are crucial to longevity  1) heredity and family history  2) health, i.e. weight, diet, whether or not a person smokes, amount of exercise  3) education level  4) personality  5) lifestyle.

Back to bodybuilding, or weight training. Would it benefit seniors to, ahem, pick this activity up?  Well that depends. If flexibility is added to a weight training program then it might be a good idea. But if flexibility is not part and parcel then you might have a gristly-gnarled geezer ready to tip. This article by Blue Dunn, originator of “Flextasy”,  points out the dangers of taking up weights without a stretching regimen.  http://ezinearticles.com/?Senior-Citizens—Flexibility-Exercise-Vs-Weight-Training&id=1257274

Regimen this senior citizens of America. Do something. Do anything. (After consulting your doctor of course.) 40% of women and 30% of men over 70 admit to no exercise in their daily lives.

Why wait for weights, flexibility and cardio? Reverse aging by 15 years via a 45 minute workout daily. Watch strength increase 75 to 100%. Know that bone density is increasing by 1 to 2%. All possible, according to Miriam Nelson, an associate professor of nutrition at Tufts University.

Not only can senior shapes spring back from sedentary sloth, their brains will sharpen, perhaps stemming the scourge of dementia. “In addition, exercise ‘produces a neuron growth factor that stimulates the brain,’ says Vonda Wright, an expert on exercise and aging at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. That may explain why it seems to protect against memory loss and alleviate depression.”

With flexibility, cardio and weights as the watchwords and ways 3, arthritis can abate and fractures, cruelly common to seniors, can be greatly reduced too.

Did you know there is an International Council on Active Aging? Their site, under its Consumer section for example, is chock full of useful “stuff” for seniors to peruse and use. http://www.icaa.cc/

Just remember, and this goes not only for seniors, but for most of us, don’t go too far, too fast else injury may invite itself in. Up those weights in training by 1 to 2 pound increments. Some “older” friendly gyms have such levels. More are getting them. Here is an age-fitness-friendly facility locator. It covers both the USA and Canada.  http://www.icaa.cc/facilitylocator/facilitylocator.asp

Let’s take a break and get the take on aging from some wits, wags, thinkers and celebrities.

Bette Davis: “Growing old is not for sissies.”

Doris Day: “The really frightening thing about middle age is that you know you’ll grow out of it.”

Lillian Carter (in her 80’s): “Sure I’m for helping the elderly. I’m going to be old myself some day.”

Willa Cather: “The dead might as well try to speak to the living as the old to the young.”

Henri Estienne: “If youth knew; if age could.”

Malcolm Forbes: “After 40, one’s face begins to tell more than one’s tongue.”

Not so fast Malcolm. As Charles Eugster and so many other active-alive-spry seniors are showing us – life, rather than begin at 40, may in fact kick into gear at 90. But who can wait that long? Best to start working out slowly and steadily with a balanced program now, so you’ll robustly hit the nifty 90 plus ground running and rousting.

For an incisive view of Charles Eugster’s terrific tale, topped with tips and techniques, check out teaching fitness professional, Lori Jones’s, piece here: http://www.ljhealth.blogspot.com/

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