Bob Wittig is 92 years old. He works out three times a week, mows his own lawn and enjoys playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
And he didn’t start lifting weights until he was 61.
Wittig has been working out consistently for 31 years. His 60- to 90-minute sessions cover his entire body, from legs to shoulders to chest.
He discovered the benefits of strength training after retiring from General Motors and decided to stick with it.
“If there’s one thing I am, it’s disciplined, and when I get into something and I see the benefit of it, it’s going to stay,” Wittig told Geezer Jock. “It’s going to be a keeper.”
His story offers a powerful reminder about fitness later in life: We might be capable of much more than we think.
Stronger at Any Age
Beginning around age 30, adults gradually lose muscle mass, a process that accelerates with age and inactivity. That can make everyday activities increasingly difficult, from climbing stairs to carrying groceries.
Strength training helps counteract that loss. It builds muscle, strengthens bones and helps us maintain the physical ability to enjoy life independently. It can also help manage body fat and blood sugar.
And research shows that people can gain muscle and strength well into their 70s, 80s and 90s.
You don’t need to match Wittig’s workouts to benefit. Two strength-training sessions a week can be an excellent starting point. Working out with us, you’ll learn proper techniques, exercise at your own level and gradually increase the challenge as you get stronger.
The important thing is to start and keep going.
The Rewards of Staying Strong
For Wittig, the rewards extend well beyond the gym.
His regular workouts help him stay active around the house and enjoy time with his family. He doesn’t see his age as a reason to stop challenging himself.
“I want to be able to work out with my kids, my grandkids, and my great grandkids,” he says.
That’s a wonderful reason to keep exercising. So is traveling, gardening, hiking or simply maintaining the freedom to do what you enjoy.
Wittig’s experience also illustrates something that can get lost in all the talk about exercise programs, repetitions and muscle mass: Fitness isn’t just about what happens in the gym. It’s about what staying strong allows you to do outside it.
And after more than three decades of lifting weights, he has no intention of giving up the habit that has served him so well.
Wittig offers one more piece of advice worth taking to heart:
“You can start anytime, and you can surprise yourself.”
At 92, he’s living proof that the effort can pay off for decades. And whatever your age, your next chapter of fitness can begin today.
Call us to learn more.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.