Secret To Staying Fit After Forty

Posting Date: 02/28/2000

INTRODUCTION

Trying to fight father time is often a losing business. Certain signs of aging seem to be inevitable. But some are taking a pro-active approach staying fit over forty. And there is research to back them up.

DEAN EDELL, M.D.

"It's dinner time at the Eacret house. For Carol and Kreg - both a young-looking 47-years old - dinner is just part of a way of life devoted to keeping fit. Tonight it's poached salmon over rice and a low fat salad. But even eating a healthy diet doesn't completely erase the awareness of the passing of time. Certain physical signs are inevitable."

CAROL

"Probably the sagging skin."

KREG

"The enemy is right there in the mirror."

DEAN EDELL, M.D.

"No matter what you do there are certain signs of aging like the inevitable wrinkles or arms being too short. There's make-up, there's reading glasses--, that'll help. But for those of you who spend more time on a couch than you should, there are more ominous signs of aging that can occur.

For instance, if you don't exercise regularly, lung capacity declines almost 20% by age 50. After age 30, you will start putting on about 3% more weight each year. And your muscle mass and strength decline steadily, which dramatically increases the potential for osteoporosis or infirmity.

"That's why Carol and Kreg have gone on the offensive and are actively doing battle against the ravages of aging. Five nights a week they head to the gym for a full-blown workout."

KREG EACRET/WORK TO STAY FIT

"It's the true fountain of youth in that I think I am aging more slowly than most people."

DEAN EDELL, M.D.

"They work as team...first one watches then the other, all the time conscious of building and maintaining crucial muscle tissue with each repetition."

JAMES FRIES, M.D./STANFORD AGING SPECIALIST

"There are signs that strength training can improve mobility and physical function for people that are in their 9th decade of life. So certainly people in their 40's 50's and 60's can start. People at any age can start."

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