The Secret to Looking and Feeling Younger as You Age

Feeling unhappy with how you are aging? Supplements, cleanses and anti-aging creams promise a lot. The real secret to looking and feeling younger as you age is less exciting and far more powerful: staying physically active, and getting stronger.

Ida Keeling is a good example. In 2016, at 100 years old, she set a world record in the 100-meter dash for her age group, then dropped down and did push-ups. She didn’t start running until her late 60s.

You Don’t Have to Have Been Fit Before

Many of the world’s oldest athletes didn’t take up their sport until their 50s, 60s or 70s. It is easier if you have always been active, but if you have spent years on the couch, it is not too late. Your body still responds to training.

So, What’s the Secret?

Get active, and do it in a way that fits your body. For most adults in their 40s to 70s, the safest and fastest way is a plan built for you by a qualified coach, who watches your form, adjusts exercises for your joints and keeps you motivated.

Training in Your 40s

• Protect your metabolism: muscle starts to decline, so strength training matters more.
• Stay flexible: regular mobility work keeps stiffness away.
• Manage stress: exercise is one of the best stress relievers there is.

Training in Your 50s

• Support your bones: resistance training loads your bones and helps keep them strong.
• Keep your weight in check: strength plus good nutrition counters a slower metabolism.
• Train around aches: a good coach adapts exercises instead of skipping them.

Training in Your 60s

• Build strength: many injuries in this decade come from muscle weakness.
• Improve balance: to stay steady on your feet.
• Revamp your diet: enough protein and nutrients to support muscle.

Training in Your 70s and Beyond

• Boost coordination: balance and coordination drills lower your fall risk. In a large review, exercise programs reduced the rate of falls in older adults living at home (Sherrington et al., 2019).
• Stay firm and strong: strength keeps daily tasks easy.
• Sharpen your mind: regular exercise supports memory and thinking.

For more, read why adults over 50 benefit from a personal trainer and the 5 habits of people who stay strong after 50.

When to Check With a Professional First

Get checked before starting if you have a heart or lung condition, joint pain that is getting worse, a recent fall, injury or surgery, or numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. Stop and seek care for chest pain, dizziness or unusual shortness of breath.

Research

• Sherrington, C., et al. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD012424. PubMed

Everything we do follows The Gray Method™: find the cause, fix it, then build you up so it stays fixed.

Feel Younger by Getting Stronger

Our personal training in Fort Myers blends strength, cardio and flexibility for your age and your goals, with degreed, certified coaches who specialize in adults 50+ and work alongside our Doctors of Physical Therapy.

Not sure where to start? Our Free Fit-After-50 Assessment is about 30 minutes, one-on-one, with a gentle movement screen and a personal roadmap. No cost, no pressure, no contracts.

Call our office at (239) 223-0484 to schedule your assessment.