When should I stop Exercising, Uncle Bob? podcast

 

When should I stop exercising?  Well, I hope this is a trick question, because the obvious answer is never!  Kind of like asking when you should stop walking, or sleeping, or eating for God’s sake!  Moving your limbs and constantly striving to make improvements in your physical abilities is a lifelong project, and just as we should constantly work at getting better and more able physically, we should also try to do so mentally as well.

Just as I am constantly researching about improving my overall health and nutrition,  I am always on the lookout for physical improvements I can gain.  At 73, I should change my goals somewhat - for instance, if I worked at this stage to get as big and bulky as possible, that would be idiotic!  Actually, even when I was in my 20’s this was never my goal, and never would be: I wanted an aesthetic, symmetrical, Frank Zane/Steve Reeves kind of a body.  Still do; and I hope you do too.  Think of Greek statuary of ancient times- that is still the ideal of Western civilization, and should always be the ultimate ideal!

Luckily, this is also the ideal can be carried throughout life- even in old age, a lean, and quite strong and lithe physique can be yours for life.  Flexibility and healthy joints should also be your lifelong goals, along with a certain amount of musculature.  My mother’s brother, my uncle Bob Manthey, just turned 103 recently, and while quite lean, he also still has a pretty functional physique!  He is a lifetime example of what we should all aim for- a healthy mind in a healthy body- and he has been following the principles I recommend here for his entire life.

He avoided vaccines for life, and although he himself was a medical doctor (an eye doctor) he avoided medical doctor appointments and tests that were more harmful than good.  (Like most medical appointments are today at the typical clinic).  Uncle Bob’s only vaccine was for small pox, when he enlisted in the army for WW2.  Other than that, he relied on improving his bodily ’terrain’ through good natural nutrition and exercise.  It certainly worked out very well indeed!

He lived on a small farm in South Dakota, and had 12 children.  Also, he was very active musically, playing multiple instruments, singing, and playing with his family orchestra (with my mother and my aunts) and with other bands of various sizes.  

I am active musically myself, as were my parents (my mother turns 100 this coming March 14), and I believe that music is a wonderful adjunct to life, bringing a type of pure joy to the spirit that never dims!  If music is not your ‘thing’, other art forms are similar in inspiring your health and joy in life!  Just choose your own NON poison form of Art…

The only caution I will give you here is to limit your use of heavy weights as you age.  Preservation of your joints and tendons become paramount as you age, and muscular bulk means very little compared to your circulation and smooth, pain free joint movement.  You can drop the heavy barbell squats and deadlifts, and go for high rep body-weight and one-legged squats balancing while holding gymnastic rings, and get rid of heavy bench presses to save your shoulders.  Use the gymnastic rings for pushups, dips, pull-ups and rows, and if anything your physique will improve!  

So, there is your advice from both me and my and Uncle Bob!  In thirty years, when I am 103, I will update my thoughts- see you then!!