Exercise and Aging: Can Fitness Prevent Weakness with Age?

Question
Hi sir. Even i believe aging is not somethin that is inevitable. So my question is when you exercise you release hormones right. When the levels of hormones get low then you age. So if i keep body building and running . That stage wont occur where I'll grow weaker ie aging. I'm twenty two now but i was a lot stronger four years back.

Answer
Dear Hemanth

This is a GREAT question.

Here is how our body works. When we reach age 19-21, we have reached the PEAK in our lives.There is NO more growing up, no more getting bigger, no more changes. We have reached adulthood of our bodies.

Now, for the reest of our lives, we do a very slow DECLINE in everything; metabolism, blood flow, bone density, strength, digestion, etc, etc. It happens so slow, we do not notice it until we get 40. or 50, or older. You noticed it at age 22. Which is good. YOU WOKE UP early.

I did not WAKE UP until age 35. THAT is when I started weightlifting.

So here is what you do; you do a 5-legged stool of exercises; weightlifting, aerobics, stretching, diet, and balance.

First, does it work? I am age 53, approaching age 54. My physical strength is many times HIGHER than when I was age 22, and I am a LOT bigger then when I was age 22. Then I wore a medium shirt. Now I wear an XXXL shirt. My bone mineral density is 23% higher than a 21 year old man. My muscle weight is over 120 pounds. I weigh 250 pounds. I weighed 187 pounds at age 22.

Sure, I am still declining as I get older, but I am declining from a much HIGHER level than everyone around me who is my age. When I reach 80, I will have the strength of soneone who is age 50. Now, today, most people I have known for a long time look REALLY OLD and really tired. I am like a machine. I can out-walk, out lift even teenagers.

Really, at age 35, I was worried about turning age 40. Now I look FORWARD to age 60, 70, and beyond. No more fears.

I do not know if it is exactly hormones, but I do know that my body is very happy with what exercising is doing for it. I get GREAT physicals every year at the doctor office.

So do aerobics each day, do stretching each day, do balance exercise every day, and eat right each day. Lift light weights every other day, lift heavy once a week.