Is There an Exercise that I can do Every Day for the Rest of My Life?
Ask Jack LaLane “is there an exercise that I can do every day for the rest of my life?” and I am sure he would say yes!
Mr. LaLane was a weight lifter and Body Builder who lived to be 96 years young. He opened one of the first gyms in Torrance California and is a fitness legend.
Guess what Mr. LaLane did the day before he died?
Yup. You guessed it: He got a workout in. He performed his daily physical routine!
If you can believe this:
At the age of 70 Jack LaLane swam one mile towing 70 rowboats, one of which carried passengers. He said at the end of his swim “ The older you get, the more you should exercise, to avoid the aging process.”
The older you get, the more you should exercise, to avoid the aging process. Click To Tweet
That is excellent advice Jack.
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What Kinds of exercise can you do everyday for the rest of your life?
As far as what exercise to perform, I believe you are only limited by your ability and your own personal preference. If you like an exercise, you could probably do it the rest of your life.
As soon as I hear someone say that someone of so and so’s age can not do such and such exercises, I bet there is an example to the contrary.
Do you think you can not do gymnastics all your life?
Amazing 91 Years Old Gymnast- Johanna Quaas
Mrs. Quaas is still performing gymnastics at the age of 92. She can probably do cartwheels around all of us, and she does a few cartwheels in this video too.
What about Karate? Surly you can not do Karate everyday your entire life, right?
Chuck Norris Interview Today Show 13 February 2017
Chuck Norris would beg to differ. This 77 year old film star, martial artist and all around tough guy still teaches Chun Kuk Do martial arts on his Lone Wolf ranch in Texas.
Running? At 92?!?!
99 year old wins Masters Indoor Track Championship race
This 99 year old track star did not ever START running until he was 50 years old! He won the Masters Indoor Track Championship race and has more races planned. Clearly, he plans to run for the rest of his life. This is an inspiration to anyone who thinks they are too old.
You are never too old!
What does the Science say about exercising every day for your entire life?
Will you exercise as you age?
This study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health lists some pretty telling facts.
When talking about vigorous or moderate exercise, the researcher says: “Despite the known health benefits of sports and exercise, more than four in ten Americans haven’t done either in the last year.”
Despite the known health benefits of sports and exercise, more than four in ten Americans haven’t done either in the last year. Click To Tweet
The study also lists the statistics for different age groups, when it comes to exercise participation.
Research shows exercise declines with age
The study states: “There is a sharp decline in sports participation among adults as they age. While 40% of 18- 21 year olds and 41% of 22-25 year olds currently play sports, only 26% of 26-49 year olds play sports, and just 20% of adults aged 50+ play sports.”
So, maybe more people should be asking themselves the question “Is there an exercise that I can do every day for the rest of my life?”
Because the research seems to indicate that as people age, they are more likely to not participate in any form of exercise.
An Interesting Perspective that may change the exercise you choose as you age.
This article discusses changes being made in a school physical education program. The author’s note that in some schools a shift be being made away from team sports and on to solo activities and exercises.
Why is this change being made?
The authors cite a study that demonstrate only 2 percent of adults over the age of 35 participate in competitive sports.
The article argues that teaching kids’ team sports in school will not benefit them much in the future as most adults do not participate in team sports.
Their philosophy is that students should take what they learn outside the classrooms and that the teaching should be relevant in their lives years into the future.
What does this mean for us?
Most of us can not go back and re-do our school years. We are who we are. And if you align with the statistics, it is likely that you do not perform in team sports.
In addition to that:
If you are over 50, there is an 80 percent chance you are NOT playing any sports. Click To Tweet
While I spoke earlier about athletes who were still going strong, working out well into old age, it looks like team sports is not the best choice.
Even if you are in the minority of folks that do stick with exercise, you will have far less peers to compete against as you age. The video of the man who won the track championship had only one other man running against him!
If Team sports are not realistic exercise for an entire lifetime, what is?
Resistance Training:
Weight bearing exercises are good for just about everyone, and you don’t necessarily need competition. It can be performed at any age, by any gender, indoors, or even outside.
Weight training is completely scalable, and an athlete can start at the level they are able.
If you want to know where to begin, my friends at Seniority Health offer a mountain of weight training videos for men over 40. The videos include workouts that can be done from home, some done in a gym, some for beginners, others for more physically fit gentlemen. It is an awesome resource.
Resistance training has so many benefits for men and women alike. While I am no doctor, if I was to recommend only one style of exercise you can you do everyday for the rest of your life, it would be working with weights, and resistance training.
Here are the benefits of weight training:
- Increased testosterone production (for men)
- Increased release of Human Growth Factor ( keeps you young)
- Increases bone density, wards off Osteoperosis
- Increases strength of muscles and connective tissue, joints and ligaments
- Combat weakness and frailty
- Improves signs and symptoms of heart disease, arthritis, and type 2 diabetes and depression
And the list literally goes on and on.
Is there an exercise that I can do every day for the rest of my life?
Emphatically YES!
ANY exercise you like to do can be continued for every day for the rest of your life. Don’t like weight training?
OK, try swimming, or badminton, or Zumba, or whatever. Find something you love.
What are your plans?
Let me know in the comments below what your plans are to stay fit and healthy as you exercise every day for the rest of your life.