(All videos from today's workout.)
When it comes to building muscle over age 70, I certainly know it's possible, but there are certain ways to train that will help us to maximize the time we spend in the gym.
First, there needs to be at least 2, preferably 3, days spent in the gym that are dedicated to working out.
This can come in the form of total body workouts dedicated to both strength and hypertrophy (muscle building).
As I have often said, we lose strength and muscle mass with every passing decade of our lives, so in order to preserve the muscle we have and the strength we need to complete everyday tasks, we need to work on strength training.
The way to build muscle during your workouts is to slow down and really command control over your reps.
Be sure to train the full range of motion in order to maintain strength and integrity in your muscles, tendons, amd joints.
Partial reps rarely build muscle and strength. When you have completed your workout, be sure to get in your daily step count (whatever that is).
If your goal is to build muscle, burn fat, and get lean, walking can be a powerful addition to your routine because it is low impact, easy to recover from, and easy to do consistently. The key is to walk with purpose. Stand tall, pick up the pace, and make every step count.
Movement is proof that you're alive. Every lift and every step is a confirmation of your place on the planet, of your ability to move through time and space. Because of my workouts, I'm a little bit more alive each day. What was once a slow, steady march toward old age has become a race to cover all the miles that my life (and the Lord) will allow. These moments of activity will be yours to keep and to share with others. These moments, more than how heavy you lift or how fast you run, will distinguish you as an athlete. The joy you feel will be like the joy children feel when they run across a field of wildflowers or through a lawn sprinkler on a hot summer day. Eventually you'll forget that your muscles and your heart are getting stronger. You will do it simply for the pure joy it brings.