My social media feeds seem to be inundated with tips and hacks to live longer. There appears to be no end of “experts” who are espousing their latest theories on how to hack the ageing process to live longer. But surely, the aim is to live better? 

It is all very well living well beyond the oft stated three score and ten years, but if you are infirm and decrepit while living with constant pain and having to be helped to do basic daily tasks, is it worth it? Most of the so-called and self-proclaimed experts detail one or two things that will allow you to live longer, but very few of them mention living better.

Of course I’d love to live into a ripe old age, but an old age that is filled with vigour and laughter and health. What’s the one thing that I can do that will help me to be as healthy as I can be when I, hopefully, reach the age to see some great grandchildren?

It is pretty simple, but hard at the same time… two words…

Resistance training.

Yes, cardiovascular training can help you live longer. The aerobic systems of the body will definitely thank you for walking, moving, gardening, dancing and even running if you want to. However, your muscles need resistance training to keep young.

I’ve mentioned it several times in this newsletter over the past year. Our bodies will naturally decline with age if we let them. However, if we treat them right that decline can be arrested and even reversed in the case of our muscles. And if our muscles stay youthful, then we are much more likely to live happy and healthy lives well into our older age.

Resistance training can take many forms. The most common is gym work, either using machines or free weights. You can also use your own bodyweight for resistance training. How many press ups or pull ups or bodyweight squats can you do? You can use resistance bands, kettlebells, or all sorts of weird and wonderful items (Indian clubs anyone) for resistance training, but the key to living better longer is you have to do some.

And yes it may hurt while you are doing it. But the results are certainly worth it. 

Unfortunately, we are conditioned to believe that happiness can be a constant state of being. Well as one wise old sage once said, you have to endure some measure of hardship to achieve happiness. The same is true with regard to your health and fitness. There has to be a measure of “suckiness” to reap the rewards of health and vitality. 

Of course, the levels of hardship are purely subjective, but doing something is better than nothing. Doing more is better than doing little. Doing lots of little is better than doing one heavy session every so often. But remember this. It all counts, and just like the compound effect with your pension or savings, it all adds up. Starting sooner rather than later will also help.

If you like the idea of living better for longer, and having as much health and vitality in your later years, please do get in touch using this link. I want to help, and look forward to hearing from you.