Fitness & Aging
You’re never too old to start your fitness journey and in fact as we age it' becomes even more important that we make fitness a priority. You can continue to be fit, healthy, and even gain strength after 50. The Morning Chalk Up, a CrossFit news magazine, put out a recent article with statements from a number of Master’s athletes. These are men and women who have made fitness a priority for themselves as they age. They happen to also be some of the fittest people at their age. Here’s what some had to say:
“Most people in their 50s, 60s and 70s are likely capable of much more than they would believe…We are led to believe that these are the ages where we are expected to see a slow and steady decline in strength, health and fitness, and everything else, it seems. Those of us at those ages, who have been into fitness for a good period of time, know that doesn’t have to be the case since many of us are fitter (and) stronger now than a decade ago,” - Darius Boockholdt, 51. He added, The general population are the ones “who have the most to gain from starting; they are guaranteed to see impressive improvements in strength and fitness by just starting.”
Everyone doesn’t need to be a competitive athlete, but they should pursue some form of fitness that keeps them healthy and active. Anything that keeps us healthy…is beneficial and worth pursuing.” - Donna Murren, 60
“Don’t buy into the wholesale BS that says because you hit a certain age you have to give up on getting better physically. It’s harder, sure, but I feel it is well worth the cost. I don’t have aches and pains when I get out of bed in the morning,” - Tom Muhlbeier, 64
“I really believe that as we get older we can get stronger and fitter than ever before and can lead a much more active life than maybe the general population accepts as possible. Don’t let long held myths about limitations based on age deter all of us mature folks from finding our own ways to get fitter and stronger.” - Bruce Beaton, 56
“The potential gain from physical fitness goes well beyond the physical realm. “I believe we cannot separate our physical health from our emotional, mental and spiritual health…There is much more at work in a human than physiology and chemistry. There is the unseen part of us: our thoughts, our beliefs about ourselves, our faith, our dreams….The road to being fit and strong demands our mental strength, allows us to experience emotions in new ways that many call spiritual.” - Laurie Meschishnick, 57
“Ninety nine percent of the population has a current fitness level that can dramatically be improved, especially since most are void of any functional fitness. Even though we will never out run the aging process, there will always be room for improvement. Not only have I experienced it myself, but I’ve also had the pleasure of seeing my 81-year-old father improve his fitness and strength since he started CrossFit four years ago,” - Matt Cia, 50
Here’s what they said about recovery:
“At my age, I think recovery is the most important thing we can work on….Recover, recover, recover. I feel better today than I have felt in the past couple years and I give credit to that change in focus.” - Tom Muhlbeier, 64
“Start slow and gradually build up. Listen to your body and be careful with any movements that hurt. Slow and steady will win this race. - Donna Murren, 60
“Myself and my masters buddies are proving wrong many of their beliefs about aging…In fact, I am stronger and fitter than most of the people I interact with no matter their age.” - Rob Bernet, 57
This isn’t just a young man’s game. This is for everyone.