Dear Chris:
I recently turned 63 years old. I am in decent shape but have become more conscious of my health as I have grown older. I always watch my diet and I walk for exercise at least three times a week. I was wondering if you think someone my age can still benefit from starting a weightlifting program at this late stage of life. Both of my kids lift and they have tried to get me to join the gym but I have been a little reluctant because I feel I’m too old to get started. Do you think I would be wasting my time?
Bob J.
Dear Bob:
The timing of this question couldn’t be more perfect. This past weekend I went to the Delaware Senior Olympic Power lifting contest. Senior citizens from all over the state met in Georgetown to test their strength in the bench press and deadlift. A client of mine, Bob Vastine entered the contest. Bob will be turning sixty-eight years old in November. He won his division by bench pressing 320 lbs. Oh, I forgot to mention Bob did all of this while recovering from double knee surgery. I also witnessed an eighty-one year old man bench pressing 135 lbs. Do you need any more proof?
Obviously most people over the age of sixty wouldn’t be interested in power lifting but I think it’s a good example of what we are capable of. I don’t believe you can be too old to start lifting weights. There are so many benefits. Maybe you don’t want to be a power lifter but weight training can improve your health in so many ways. As we get older we loose muscle mass. Lifting weight can reverse this process.