Message 11 of 1352

Workout week

How much is too much? That's always up for debate! But here's an idea of what a fit 60 year old should be able to do...

Sunday: 50 mile bike ride (Aver. 16 mph)
Monday: Upper body weight lifting; 1 hour spinning class (medium intervals)
Tuesday: Lower body weight lifting followed by hard intervals on treadmill
Wednesday: Golf 18 holes carry bag
Thursday: 5 mile medium intensity run; Upper body weights 50 minutes
Friday: Lower Body weights plus core 60 minutes.
Saturday: 6 mile easy run with 3 dogs

This is my workout for this past week. It's a heavy schedule burning about 8000 calories. One more week like this then I'll cut back 2-3000 calories ahead of a 5 mile race.

My body feels pretty good as of Saturday morning. I'm going to do another 50 mile ride tomorrow.
Rad's profile
Replies 1 - 10 of 11
WOW ,I am impressed, that is a great work out..
blon3's profile

about 1 month ago
I don't think the typical 60-year-old can do what you can do.
Your fitness schedule is really intensive and full even for someone a lot younger than 60. I'm really impressed!

If you had the time and made fitness an integral part of your lifestyle for years up til the time you're 60 and can keep it up and not encounter any illnesses or injuries to keep you from exercising, I can see how this would make you a fit person and say that a fit 60-year-old should be able to do everything what you described. This level of fitness takes years to achieve. Sounds like you were blessed with being healthy and you must have more free time than a typical 60-yr old.

Do you have a full-time job? If so, how do you have the time and the energy to work full-time job and have time to work out at this level of intensity and schedule you do unless you have somebody else to take care of your household day-to-day stuff. I don't see anyone can schedule their every day around fitness with the intensity that you do it and still hold down a job

Or are you retired or are financially set with no money concerns that you don't have to work, thus allowing you time to spend on all of this?
gymratgirl's profile

about 1 month ago
The actual workout time is about 10 hours per week not including golf or travel/preparation/shower time. People who make fitness a priority find a way to do it.

I've not been in shape all of my life. I would say it takes about 2 years to get to a level of fitness (weight and condition) to be able to do this at age 60. Also, I have no history of serious injuries....knees, etc. However, I've overcome gluten and dairy allergies. This caused unusual inflammation which I at first blamed on over-working out.

My son and his wife have a business and she a full-time job. Both are training for a marathon (her 1/2 and him full). They have 2 in diapers. They use a day care center, and Grandparents help out a little. So it's possible given the right motivation.
Rad's profile

about 1 month ago
good 4 you rad. i think anyone can do whatever they want to do no matter the age. dr oz actually said that if you are 25 or 65, you can have the same stamina... just have to work on it...
nine's profile

about 1 month ago
Rad, your workout schedule is impressive but to make a blanket statement that "But here's an idea of what a fit 60 year old should be able to do..." is misleading and irresponsible. You are not a typical fit 60 year old. I think your statement could do more harm than good if a less fit 60 year old feels they need to follow your example. It is obvious that you have always taken good care of yourself and work hard to stay fit. Most people do not have the freedom or motivation to be so devoted.

I used to teach dance and fitness and personally taught 33 classes a week. I was told by some others in the field that this was far too many classes to teach as I am an involved pro-active instructor. Yet, because of my personal fitness level I have always been able to do more than the average person. I now teach 17 aqua classes and 7 dance classes a week (age 58) and am capable of teaching more. Does this mean others should be able to do the same? I am very careful NOT to hold my personal capabilites up to other instructors or my students and clients as it can be detrimental.

You need to make sure that those you are speaking to realize that you did not achieve your fitness level overnight, within a few months, etc., but because of years of doing the proper things.
dddanse's profile

about 1 month ago
Thank you dddanse for stating this - I have to agree with you.

Rad, I think it's great that you can do what you said you can do, but you can't make the statement other fit 60-yr-olds should also be able to do this is as well. Everybody's situation, life and health is different. You can be a fit 60-yr-old and but not do what you do.

You say you can do all this in 10 hours a week, not including golf or travel/preparation/shower time. THAT is a LOT of time. And that does not include the travel/prep/shower time...that takes time, too.

You didn't state that you work or have a job, so I'm presuming you don't. That makes a huge difference. If you're relatively healthy and without injuries, retired and have the time to be able to devote and commit to this level of intensive fitness, that's great. But it's not fair to expect others of the same age to do this.

I have a full-time job with comes with overtime. I work out 4-5 hours a week. I consider that a good amount of time to commit to working out. I consider myself fit for 55. I've got other responsibilities that need time and attention.

You said it took you two years to get you to this level. Were you working during this time? Or were you able to devote the time as an athlete in training?
gymratgirl's profile

about 1 month ago
One great fitness routine for a 60 year old guy. I do have to dispute the comment from a contributor that it is irresponsible to say that this is what a 60 year old guy should be able to do. You're simply stating a fact that by adopting a lifestyle of proper diet and regular strenuous exercise one will achieve a fitness level beyond most that are half your age. The key word is motivation. I'm a few weeks away from 72 and have been into some form of physical conditioning for >50 years. Although I'm recently retired I had demanding jobs that required 50-60 hour weeks and with travels that some years put me in hotels for 100-150 nights and with 2-4 flights a month. I still managed to find time for workouts, runs or bicycle rides and still have a stable family life raising 3 kids.

Until this spring Rad, I had a similar routine of bicycling and weight training. I had been riding about 3000 miles each summer mostly with members of a club most of whom were half my age. With a basement gym I'm able to do 1 hour session every other day at my convenience. During inclement weather I do treadmill and riding my old Trek that's mounted in a resistance trainer. I had to give up running about 10 years ago because of right knee trouble. The result of a 35 year old sports injury that led to 3 surgeries, the last of which was 13 days ago, a total knee replacement.

Part of the point that I'm trying to make is that lifestyle and motivation play a big part in how well and how soon a person can recover from an injury or severe illness. I just read the related comments after coming up from a 90 minute workout in my basement gym where I did 2 rounds of the prescribed post-op PT that were separated by a series of resistance exercises on machines that I could do while seated followed by 100 crunches and 20 minutes on the Scwinn Air-Dyne with the seat at max height to not stress the incision and at a slow RPM to avoid resistance from the fan blades. I'm also rapidly regaining range of motion. Today, while seated with my left leg bent to 90 degrees I was able to draw my right foot back to where the toe was 3" behind my left heel. Part of this I can attribute to a pre-op routine that included leg presses, hamstring curls, hours on the treadmill and resistance trainer along with the regular upper body exercises. After the operation I recall the surgeon commenting that I was one of the better prepared of his patients. While I'm able to put full weight on the leg I'm avoiding walking without crutches or walker until my exam in two days when the staples (28) will be removed.

BILL14
bill14's profile

about 1 month ago
Good luck with your recovery, Bill.

The purpose of my post was to open eyes. My fitness level is not extreme, nor is it endorsed or recommended... I'm just putting it out there for observation as to what a fit and relatively healthy senior can do.

Common sense dictates that a deconditioned, unhealthy person should not start on my schedule! However, I maintain that a "fit" nothing special 60 year old should be able to do it. Just because they can't doesn't make them "unfit." If their lifestyle choices prevent them from reaching that level then that's the choice they make. They may be perfectly healthy and happy at some lower or HIGHER level. That's all good.

I've asked the following question to hundreds of fitness experts: "are there any workout limitations for seniors?" The common answer is "the only thing we work around is prior injuries." Common sense dictates that people need medical approval before starting an exercise program.

For the record, I was 240, pre-diabetic, heading for a heart attack when I was 50. I am NOT a "blessed" athlete, although I'm blessed in many ways. I'm no more than an average athlete.

I started this group to share fitness ideas with other seniors. This is a place to challenge traditional thinking about senior fitness.
Rad's profile

about 1 month ago
Everything but the running for me; I couldn't run out of a burning building...
Rhesus's profile

about 1 month ago
I bet you could :-)

Some of us were lucky NOT to play organized sports in our youth. So we have "preserved" knees and hips. Kids playing football in the 60's, 70's got stone age care after injuries. Pitchers arms were ruined by ignorance. They played without drinking water to toughen them up. We live and learn.
Rad's profile

about 1 month ago
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