GetFitNow: 7 Tips for Lifelong Fitness

Robert Hamilton Owens has done a lot–mountain climbing, radio and TV personality, keynote speaker, minister, Ironman®, philanthropist, triathlete, Special Ops Pararescueman, and father of five. But of all the pursuits he’s undertaken, there’s one title that best describes this literal force of nature: Robert is “The Fittest 66-Year-Old in the World.” Below are his 7 tips for lifelong fitness.

1. Know your “Why”

Most people don’t have a strong enough “why” or a vision that holds them into a long-term workout plan or routine. Workouts are optional for them.

I encourage my friends and listeners: Be wise. Invest in yourself for life. If you will take one hour a day out of your 24 hours for strength conditioning and cardio exercise, you will sleep better, eat better, feel better, be healthier and sustain your sex life longer (if that’s something you care about).

I talk to overweight men and women all the time. They work hard and have saved their money for a retirement dream. But they can’t live it because of health issues that drain them of vitality and energy. Now their hard-earned money goes more and more to the doctors and medications. They become bummed and they mope.

Most people are short-term thinkers. Get smart. Invest in your future or lose it. We choose how we age. Pay now so you can play later!

2. Overall Physical Conditioning

Get in an exercise routine that challenges all of your muscles, rather than just a few. The ones we stretch and exercise will respond, so stretch and exercise all of them during a week.

I was a general exercise guy and at times a swim-bike-run guy for years. But by 55-60 years old, I felt that I was more vulnerable to pulled muscles and a bad back than ever. I was an 11-time Ironman® Finisher but knew I was only in shape for certain movements.

So I went to a CrossFit Box (gym) and submitted myself to their weekly routine. They made me do exercises that I didn’t really want to do. However, it strengthened muscles I didn’t even know I had and I became physically, mentally and emotionally stronger than I ever thought I could be.

Now I am in a group of over-60-year-olds that encourages each other and have more confidence than we ever thought possible.

3. Strength Work

I noticed that older people get weaker. I wondered if such weakness was inevitable or if I could challenge that observation.

So I specially sought out and read about seniors who became stronger. I am not talking about body builder types but just normal exercise people who became stronger. They inspired me to not grow weaker any sooner than I naturally have to.

At 62, I went into my CrossFit and could do three dead-arm pull-ups and 15 pushups. I had done 11 Ironmans but was physically weak in so many areas.

At 65, I tested myself by doing a “Murph” CrossFit workout, which I did in this order while carrying a 20-lb backpack:
• 1-mile run
• 100 pull-ups
• 200 pushups
• 300 air squats
• Another 1-mile run

I did it in 65 minutes in combat boots and wet fatigues while running on a dirt road. I was amazed, the observers were amazed, and my kids were amazed.

Conclusions: (1) Your muscles will respond if you feed them exercise and good food; (2) I am only “old” if I act old and live stupidly... READ MORE