You're Just Like a Lawnmower

It's getting easier and easier to find fitness role models for those of us over 40 who are trying to stay fit. Today's L.A. Times has a great story about people in their 50s, 60s and beyond who continue to work out.

Bill Bell, who still does triathlons in his 80s, tells the Times, "My advice to anyone is simple. Keep moving. I call it the 'lawnmower theory.' If you leave a lawnmower out on the grass and it rains, you better get out and push that thing before it gets rusty. I'm creaky and rusty every day when I get up in the morning, but after I get moving, I feel pretty damn good."

"Age is Just a Number"

That's what trainer Keith Scott writes over and over in his post about a 67 year old who was looking for performance training.

Sick and Tired

Three days ago I woke up with a stomachache. By lunchtime it had progressed to a fever, and I left work around 2 p.m. -- the first time I've taken time off because I was sick in seven or eight years.

I'll never know if being overtrained contributed to getting sick but I do know that being overtrained weakens your immune system, which means I set myself up to get sick.

Stubborn and Stupid

Here's a classic case of do as I say, not as I do.

I'm in my final week of what's basically been a year-long workout program (more on that soon) and instead of feeling great, feeling like I've accomplished so much, I'm limping toward the end. Why? I've waited too long since taking a break.

I have several of the signs of overtraining. One example: I'm no longer improving. I'm struggling to maintain, much less improve, my pullup count. The biggest issue is that I just feel tired and not excited about my workouts.

I've known that I needed a break for a while but kept putting it off. I far too often do this because I think, "I need to keep working out." Look where it got me -- frustrated when I can't crank out one more pullup and worn out.

So here's the plan, I'll finish this week and be done with this workout and then I'll take a full week off before jumping on something else.

Put breaks into your workout planning and stick to them.

Over the Hill at 28?

Trainer Craig Ballantyne has a great post today about aging and fitness. His take? "As a 30 year old male, I expect to live at least another 70 years. And I plan on being as active, as strong, and as sharp as I can be."

Pumping Iron at 90

If you doubt the benefits of resistance training as you age, just ask Ben Sann. He's 90, and still lifting, according to today's New York Times.

Working out gave him a "whole new life," he tells the newspaper, and helped him fight the depression that descended upon him after his wife died. Oh, and when shoppers push him in the always-crowded Fairway supermarket in Manhattan, he has the strength to push back. (I shop there, too, and there's plenty of pushing, unfortunately.) He aims to do better every workout.

"He is determined to be the oldest man on the planet," his son tells the Times.

It's Time to Suit Up

Here's another reason to work out, at least for men. Today's New York Times has a story about the new slimmer suit that's beginning to appear in stores. "You get to show off your physique more" wearing the new style, says Michael Chan, a 30-year-old New York equities trader.

The Science Behind Interval Training

While doing a little studying today on how the muscles get energy I came across an interesting article on interval training, which includes its history and why it can make you fitter.

Too Old? Never

Trainer Jason Ferruggia has a great post today about aging and staying in shape. My favorite part: A 34-year-old client once told him "there's no way I can compete with these high school guys (at the gym), I'm way too old for that." Ferruggia writes that "I couldn't look at him for the rest of that workout without wanting to throw up."

Accentuate the Negative

The Washington Post has a nice story on the power of "negatives," or the lowering phase of a lift.

Stupid Gym Move of the Day

Today I saw a guy walk into the gym and hit the bench press without even taking his jacket off, much less warming up. He pumped out a few horrible-looking reps at 135 and then proceeded to start adding weight. And of course the reps got worse -- he wasn't lowering the bar that much.

I shook my head, just thinking about how he was dramatically raising the chance he would injure himself by not warming up.

Then it got better. He started offering unsolicited advice to someone squatting nearby. Unless someone is doing something so wrong that he or she is about to get hurt, keep your mouth shut.

The guy who was receiving the advice sneaked a look at me and we laughed.

Too Little Time to Work Out?

Trainer Craig Ballantyne has a great post today about how you can do so much even when you have almost no time and no equipment. Now try and come up with an excuse to not work out.

Real Effort Creates Real Success

Why do so many people apparently think they can get results from half-assed efforts?

Last night at the gym I watched a trainer put a woman through sets of dumbbell bench presses. The woman had 9-pound dumbbells that she handled so easily she was able to have a conversation the entire time with her trainer.

Only when you put forth real effort, when you actually challenge your body, will you see results. It's then that your body responds -- and changes. Otherwise, what's the point?

Ramp Up Your Workout

Last night's workout at Velocity was a little too easy, which is really rare. The reason: There were five of us in the class, which meant we often had to wait for the slowest to catch up before starting the next drill.

But I forgot an easy way to have quickly made the session tougher -- a weighted vest. I've worn one from time to time at Velocity and the extra 25 pounds makes a huge difference. Even a jog is harder.

So if you want to ramp up your workout quickly, give them a try. Today's New York Times has a review of several models.