You may have seen this news story about a couple who met at the gym. (If you haven’t check out this inspiring story.) Couples meet at gyms all the time. However these newlyweds met against the odds. She is 98 and he is 94! Is it a coincidence that they met at the gym? Or is there a connection between the fact that they both exercise regularly and have the energy to start a new relationship in their nineties?
“People always ask what it is that keeps us young,” Mr. Mann said. “Of course, one part of it is medical science, but the bigger part is that we live worry-free lives; we do not let anything we cannot control bother us in the least.”
“Age doesn’t mean a damn thing to me or to Gert,” he said. “We don’t see it as a barrier. We still do what we want to do in life.”
Exercise has been shown to slow the aging process in everything from our muscles and brain and even our DNA!
For example, telomeres are the “end-caps” on chromosomes. They shorten as we age as well as with certain health concerns such as elevated body weight, smoking and type II diabetes. Studies have shown that they do not shorten as fast in people who exercise. This discovery explains one way exercise slows the aging process in ways we can’t see by looking in the mirror.
These regular exercisers, slowed their aging process and thus are getting more out of life! The bride was a two term mayor of their town at 71 years old. The groom received his bachelors degree in history at 94!
Are they superhuman?
Are they just lucky?
Nope! They are fit!
Keep Moving, Be well,
Janet
Please share these posts with anyone you know interested in losing weight with or without weight loss surgery. Click here to learn more about the UMass Memorial Weight Center
These weekly blogs are general guidelines. These guidelines apply to patients who are cleared by a physician for the type of exercise described. Please contact your physician with any concerns or questions. Always report any symptoms associated with exercise, such as pain, irregular heartbeats, and dizziness or fainting, to your physician.
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