When I was born our first home was an apartment above our gym in Los Angeles. By the time I was walking I got knocked unconscious by a guy doing dumbbell flys. When I reached four years old I had a hernia from doing pull-ups and climbing rope. When I reached twelve years old I started my first weight lifting program and I haven’t stop lifting weights since.
Many of the exercises I first learned I am still doing today. The reason is the best results still come from lifting free weights, barbells and dumbbells, that’s old school. When lifting this way the exercise truly has many aspects to it. Just picking up the dumbbells and getting to the bench is part of the lift. Then positioning yourself on the bench and lifting the dumbbells into position is the second part of the lift. You then do the lift you are set up for, shoulder press, incline press etc. After the lift is completed you still have to stand or move back to the rack and return the weights. All this takes strength, balance and endurance. I never allow the people that I train to drop the weights after the lift is complete. If you can’t rack them and you have to drop them, you shouldn’t be lifting them.
I also find that old school free weight lifting is great for flexibility and helping your body move in a full range of motion. This gives you muscles length and strength if you fully extend on every lift. It feels wonderful on your joints and you gain flexibility while you lift.
I am in my forty sixth year of training this way. My father is in his sixty seventh year of training and he is still doing the old school work out. We both are extremely active and blessed to have healthy lifestyles. Remember keep it simple and keep the workout old school. Here is some more information to help you.
Professor of Preventive Medicine Timothy Church of LSU was asked can exercise keep us younger?
A: When you think about aging, the two most critical elements are the ability to move the way you want to and the ability to think the way you want to.
When it comes to moving, from about age 40 to 50 on, we start to lose 1 to 2 percent of our muscle every year. So we tend to lose strength. Think about how critical strength is to healthy aging—to being able to carry your own luggage, play with grand-kids, take that trip to Europe when you want to, or just push yourself out of bed or off the toilet.
So maintaining strength and function is critical for healthy aging and avoiding disability. There’s no pill for that. Physical activity is about the best thing we know for maintaining physical function. If you don’t use it you’re going to lose it. And no place is that as true as it is for muscles. Visit our Gym in Newport Beach for more information.
Keep Moving! Keep Lifting Weights!
