Refiguring 50: 10 Ways to Stay Young

As a personal trainer and a life-long fitness geek, I get asked a lot about the secrets to "fitness over 50".  While that answer could go on for days, here's a boiled down version of the top seven factors:

1) Think young, be young

Our thoughts become our actions. Taken another step, the vision we have of who we are leads to what we will be.  Think young thoughts. Be unafraid to take chances physically. No, don't do anything stupid, but you can still challenge yourself to be on the edge physically. I recently read about an 87 year old San Antonio man who plays softball and competes in track events, and he's going for the age-group pole vault world record. Do you supposed he thinks of himself as "too old"?  He proves that we can continue pushing ourselves physically well past 50, and it has to start with thinking young.

2) Get ultra-lean:

Lose the body fat. And I don't mean ridiculous stuff like "I want to lose 10 pounds", or "gee, I'd like to be around 20% body fat". No, get serious about it and get ultra-lean, 15% should be the absolute tops, but really more like 10% - 12%. Extra body fat does nothing but slow us down, restrict our movements, and hide all of that beautiful muscle that makes a great physique. 

3) Diet discipline isn't an option:

You could goof-off about your diet when you were younger; you can't anymore. Our bodies need fewer calories after 50, but especially with vigorous exercise we need the right macro and micro nutrients more than ever. This means the only thing passing your lips has been scrutinized and passes the "clean eating". specifically low-fat protein from fish and from chicken, complex, low-glycemic carbohydrates from vegetables and from fruits, and healthy fats from nuts and fish oil. It also means portion-control discipline and not exceeding daily calorie targets.

Omni-Fit Interviews Chantayn Winner

Hey everyone, hope you're having a fantastic day!  Earlier this week I had the privilege of interviewing figure competitor Chantayn Winner when she stopped by Omni-Fit to check the place out and to talk fitness, you can see the interview at the below link:

Omni-Fit Chantayn Winner Interview


Chantayn's success has led to her becoming well known in the community not only for her success on stage but also for her commitment to health and fitness.  If you didn't know, figure competition isn't Chantayn's full-time pursuit, she's also a wife, a mother, and a professional, serving as Relationship Banking Officer for Bank of the Cascades in Boise.  That makes Chantayn one of "us" in that she must work gym time and diet management into her already busy schedule. And Chantayn's results, including taking first place in her division two years in a row at the Northwest Naturals, prove that her approach works.

We all know how things like our workouts and our diets can get squeezed by our real priorities in life, and Chantayn is no different than the rest of us.  She manages her commitment to fitness through planning, organization and by getting up early for her workouts. This is a sterling example for anyone seeking a healthier life; that it doesn't always come easily, that no quick-fix solutions exist, and that results are only achieved through hard work in the gym and through disciplined adherence to our diets.

You may or may not aspire to compete, but people like Chantayn play in important role in inspiring people to lead a healthier life through fitness, and providing and example that discipline and commitment are the keys to any successful fitness plan.

For more on Chantayn, go to her website at:

http://www.chantayn.com/