Why Lifting Weights Is Essential as We Age

Strength is impressive. Regardless of how refined we become, when faced with a stubborn jar lid, we put forth our best effort to emerge as the champion of the kitchen. Vitality also hinges on strength for our health and well-being. , oddly captivating and easily approachable for audiences of every age group.

While Liam Neeson has declared that he will be stepping down from taking on action hero parts. Because he believes he's too advanced in years, strength coach Sally Moss asserts that age isn’t a barrier for building strength: "Even if you begin later in life—say, in your 50s or 60s—it’s feasible to be more powerful than you were during your 30s. No matter what your current age might be, starting with resistance training will make you stronger." Moss, who runs the fitness business Strength Ambassadors, is 48 years old and can bench press an astounding 70 kilograms.

The Instagram hashtag Old Man Strength boasts 132,000 postings where elderly men lift hefty barbells burdened with substantial weight. For women, the closest analogous tag is #strongnotskinny, which has garnered 9.3 million posts. These hashtags serve as a counter-narrative to the stereotypes of "elderly and fragile" and "constantly dieting."

A silent revolution is taking place. strength training As the significance of maintaining muscle mass as we grow older is increasingly being recognized, muscles play a crucial role in enhancing insulin sensitivity, boosting cognitive function, improving cardiovascular health, and increasing bone density. It might also prevent you from turning into someone who frequently falls and gets injured due to frailty.

However, the area of the gym where individuals "lift weights" (the lingo is quite alluring) might appear daunting.

Most strength training involves weights Heavy enough that you can lift them only once to five times per set. Strength competitors appear quite distinct from bodybuilders or track and field athletes, which underscores their unique goals and methods.

Dan Thomas is an ambitious strongman who will have to lift 300 kg for a deadlift just to qualify for his upcoming European contest at the age of 45. As a trainer at London’s Commando Temple gym, Thomas passionately advocates the advantages of "lifting heavy weights," asserting that this practice has aided him in tackling mental health issues.

There was a time in my life when alcohol consumption dominated everything, but strength training took the place of activities that caused issues for me. While I'm lifting weights, I don't think about finances or job-related stress; I don’t worry about anything at all—it's just me and the iron.

Thomas mentions that his elderly clientele, who lead hectic lives, come into the gym struggling to ascend stairs without getting winded. Once these individuals manage to perform a significant weightlifting feat, they experience genuine gratification.

What typically prevents many of us past a certain age from attempting strenuous lifting tasks is fear. At 59 years old, I've experienced the unsettling "ping" sensation in an otherwise unnoticed muscle in my lower back when trying to shift furniture like sofas or maneuver refrigerators. Objects weighing as much or more than our own body weight can cause significant injury during such efforts. The comedic potential of piano-moving scenes isn’t accidental; they highlight how perilous these activities can be.

Thomas emphasizes that the initial stage in building strength involves finding a competent coach. Online guidance like what Joe Wicks offers can't observe your incorrect posture or risky spinal alignment. Just as you wouldn't purchase a vehicle, view some DIY driving instructions on YouTube, then immediately hit the highway, similarly, relying solely on such videos for fitness isn't advisable.

Brimming with a blend of enthusiasm and doubt, I ventured to the Farringdon location of Gymbox seeking guidance on intense weightlifting. Upon arrival, I shared with personal trainer Eoin Ryan my past struggles with improper lifting techniques, previous injuries, and my hesitance to handle weights that could alter my gait.

Ryan is among those trainers who instill immediate confidence right away. Following a set of warm-up exercises, we proceed to tackle the deadlift—a movement I typically avoid even though I am a frequent visitor to the gym.

To some extent, this is the simplest of exercises. You simply lean down, grab the bar, pick it up from the floor, and then set it down again. An action we all do daily when picking up toys, pens, or even loose bits of food from our sandwiches (or maybe that’s just me?).

Nevertheless, picture this: a pencil now has your exact weight, and everything shifts dramatically. Once I faced a substantial mass, I realized that each nuance of my stance and breath had a significant impact.

Now I'm someone who definitely "lifts heavy," and the feeling of lifting something massive is so addicting that I can't help but want more. Give me your heaviest jars...

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