the secret to a longer, healthier life – BionicOldGuy

This is a book by Osteopath David Vaux about strength training for middle-aged and older adults. In order to be healthy into old age, the author urges us to take up strength training no later than middle age because it is “use it or lose it”, and it’s harder to get it back once you have lost it. But if you are reading this and already beyond middle age, I would add don’t despair, it is never too late.

The first half of the book is motivation and also important instruction on pacing yourself as you train as an aging adult. Life is a marathon not a sprint, so it is important to do consistent training and not overdo it to avoid injury. Dr Vaux has experience from his own life, where he served in the firefighting service, and from years of working with clients.

The second part is the author’s 10 recommended movements for overall strength. I found these to be quite comprehensive, including upper body pushes and pulls, compound movements like squats for the legs, and exercises like planks and bridges for the core. In my opinion this routine would serve one well for healthy aging, and I was pleased to see that I had all these movements (or equivalent) in my own routine. The author also recommends supplementing this strength training with cardiovascular work like running, swimming, cycling, etc.

This is a good book for inspiration, as well as being a good program to follow.