Through our “45 Alive” program, we specialize in training the older, more mature athlete or fitness enthusiast, while considering the physiological changes that occur in the years past 40. 

In training athletes  30, 40, 50 years of age and over, we believe that one is never “too old” to reach his or her fitness goals. We believe that in many ways, the older athlete or physical trainee is stronger, more mature and perhaps capable of greater concentration and can more aptly apply him or herself to the task of fitness and health than their younger counterpart.

All the while we are careful and realistic in our expectations and setting of goals.

For the older athlete, we develop a unique series of programs and customize them to the individual’s needs and desires, adhering to a holistic approach to physical development, and paying special attention to qualities such as core strength and flexibility. If the circumstances require it, we consult with the client’s physician and review diagnostic tests to determine the most appropriate training course.  Based upon empirical medical and diagnostic data, we then scientifically design and provide a sustainable training regimen that can be worked into his or her employment or retirement schedule, recreational pursuits and family needs. Through the implementation of such a customized training regimen, we aim to provide the client 40 years old and over with reliable functionality and vibrant health.

Whatever the special needs of the client 40 years old and over, we rely upon the expertise of our consultants, the majority of whom are 40 years old and over and still exceptional athletes themselves, to develop the most effective training plan for those clients.

By Charles Konstantine

It is interesting to note that many of the most accomplished and even currently successful athletes throughout the world are individuals who are 40 years old and over.

At one time, when an athlete reached the age of 30, his or her career was finished or close to it. What athletes and people in general did not know, was that 30 never was “old” in the context of athleticism.

Many argue that perhaps 30 is not old now in this day and age, given the advances and availability of medicine, proper nutrition and other factors that prolong life and increase health. That is a valid point and all the more reason to realize that really at 30, 40 or 50 years old, particularly in this era, life can really be just beginning. Every day, we hear about a celebrity having their first child in their 40’s or 50’s. Women are able to get pregnant later in life as opposed to say, mere decades ago, when if a woman did not have a child by 35 she was considered “too old” and likely would be encouraged to not take the “medical risk” of having a child at such an “advanced age”.

In the world of sports, athletes seem to be getting older and older. In fact, I boldly suggest that the most productive years of an athlete’s life are those after 30 years of age. The fastest and most efficient men and women in the world competing on a global level in track and field events are generally at their best at over 30 years old. We even see aged athletes easily defeating athletes half their age.  Of course to a certain extent world class performance at increased age depends upon the type of sport. However, athletes, both amateur and professional, are competing and breaking records at much higher chronological ages than ever in history.

IT’S NOT A QUESTION OF AGE BUT OF HEALTH and CONTINUED ACTIVITY

An example of the point I am trying to impart is the story of the world heavyweight champion boxer, Larry Holmes. Holmes was a magnificent fighter having battled racism just as much, if not more than battling his opponents in the ring.

I remember when a younger boxer referred to the 34 year old (1982) former world heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes as “an old man” taunting him on television to go ahead and retire for good. The younger boxer, Ivander Holyfield, although confident that he would destroy Holmes beat him by a 12 round unanimous decision but NOT a knock out.  and it took 12 rounds to beat the “old man”! Although having lost, Holmes continued in his career and went on to knock out and stop many younger boxers.

It is interesting to note that Larry Holmes retired not once but several times from the age of 37 to 53, most notably at the age of 39 upon being defeated by a young, hungry and talented Mike Tyson. However, up until he was 53 years old, Holmes consistently came out of retirement to defeat one notable opponent after another finally retiring with dignity at 53 in 2002. I believe that the reason that Larry Holmes retired so many times or more accurately “came out of retirement” so many times is because he and others somehow consistently mistakenly believed , at certain times, that he was too old to continue. After every “retirement phase” something would compel Holmes to come out of retirement and accompanying that compulsion was the understanding that he was not that old, certainly not too old to compete and win and NOT ready to actually retire.

The point here is that Larry Holmes was not “washed up” or a has been into his 30’s or 40’s. As long as he stayed active he remained effective. He lost some fights but he won a great deal more than he lost. Just like everyone, in every walk of life, he won some and he lost some, he had good days and he had bad days, sometimes he felt great and other times he felt terrible and accordingly, he lost or won. Perhaps the clearest evidence that Larry Holmes was really never too old, despite having retired every so often, is the fact that when he finally retired for good at 53, his overall record was 69 wins, 44 of which were by knock out and 6 losses (only one by technical knock out when he lost to Mike Tyson when Mr. Holmes was almost 40 years old). He was a strong professional boxer into his 50’s. If I may be so bold, I suggest that if Mr. Holmes was in good health when he retired at 53, and had he gone on to continue to box or had even taken up another sport, he likely would have continued to be successful for years afterward.

The trick is to realize that each of us wins some and loses some throughout the course of our lives and that our losses should not be attributed to age but to conditioning or lack of it, to the ebb and flow of our fortune on the ocean of our existence, or to our state of health. One may accurately determine that losing, winning, feeling and being good or strong is not a matter of age but a matter of health. Quite often we mistake weakness, fatigue, decreased productivity with increased age when in reality it is a matter of ill health or an ailment, usually easily correctible. Correct the health issue, heal the ailment(s), curtail or eliminate stress and “youth like” activity and productivity will abound for years well into one’s 90’s and perhaps further.  

In order to continue to be productive we need to understand the physical changes that take place in our bodies as we age and know that these changes do not necessarily result in weakening or diminished physical prowess. We need to realize that although the body develops certain needs, it also becomes stronger with age, relinquishing certain others. For example, as we age, provided we stay healthy, the ordinary physiological course is that the immune system builds and becomes stronger. Essentially, older persons, provided they are healthy, are not more susceptible to opportunistic diseases like colds, flu etc. but are immune to more strains of those pathogens. Older persons essentially increase in resiliency with age. That is why when one’s children all have colds or the flu, it is not unheard of for the parents to not contract the disease. Also you may have seen that the parent(s) contract the disease usually only if they are overworked, fatigued or stressed.

Stress, is of course an issue in and of itself, profoundly worthy of consideration. Given the nature of our daily existence and societal structure, stress usually cannot be avoided.  An ability to handle stress effectively must be developed because of the adverse physiological and psychological implications and conditions associated with unacknowledged and improperly managed stress. There are numerous adverse issues related to stress from glandular suppression (thymus, thyroid pituitary and adrenal),  increased cortisol, decreased endorphin production to anxiety, cardiac abnormalities, suppression of libido, insomnia  and more all of which tend to coalesce into a vicious assault upon one’s ability to thrive and stay youthful.

From dealing with older patients that have recovered from even serious injury and returned to full and vibrant physical and psychological health and functionality and from dealing with athletes and sports enthusiasts that exceed the ages of 40, 50, 60 and 70, it cannot be emphasized enough; stay healthy, be sensible, be resolute and most importantly stay positive, young at heart and manage stress appropriately and you will remain strong and dare I say youthful, far into the late chronological years of your life.   

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