Harry King, a corporate trainer at Planet Fitness in Greenville, South Carolina, understands the importance of keeping the elderly in shape.
The 81-year-old instructor has been a fitness devotee since he was a child, he told Fox News Digital, and he has sworn to live a life free of physical limitations.
"I made a commitment to myself to never not do something because I wasn't in shape to do it," he stated.
According to King, the aging population is at risk of brittle bones, muscle loss, and endurance depletion.
When working with older clients, King says he prefers to "find out what their goals are, what limitations they may have, and how we can work around those limitations to help them on their fitness journey." (From Planet Fitness)
Working out not only strengthens muscles, but it also improves brain cell function, according to King.
"It helps with our balance and our strength," he stated. "It helps us do the everyday activities that we like to do, whether that's walking, housework or lawn maintenance."
"I love getting on the floor with the grandkids and playing with them," King added. It's fantastic to be fit because it allows you to do things... the little things in life that make a big impact."
King has worked with Planet Fitness for two years and has trained people of all ages, he says. For persons over 50, he recommends starting slowly and gradually creating a fitness foundation.
"We have plenty of time to get fit, as long as we stick with it and are consistent with our workouts," he stated. "Don't try to lift too much weight," he said.
"We're not trying to be muscle builders; we're just trying to have great lifestyles."
"Whether you're lifting weights or using dumbbells or machines, whatever you're doing, make sure you're doing it right," he said.
He claims that the process of being fit is the same for all ages: it's about setting objectives and identifying constraints.
However, for seniors, King suggests low-intensity, steady-state (LISS) cardio, which incorporates lower-intensity workouts for longer periods of time.
According to the Planet Fitness website, these low-impact workouts are easy on the joints and are supposed to be completed at about 65% maximal effort.
Low-impact activities target different parts of the body than high-impact workouts, which helps to minimize injuries and ease newcomers into a regimen.
Walking, stationary riding, and rowing are among low-impact workouts that are recommended.
Working out with a partner or a friend is a wonderful approach to increase accountability, according to King.
Harry King exercising
Fitness, according to King, has given him a better "frame of mind" throughout his nearly 60-year marriage.
"My wife supports me when I kayak or hike across the state, he stated. My fitness journey has kept her involved. She backs me up in all of this, he added. That's helped strengthen our bond."
