In another thread another SF forum member had written "Some people can't do weights..." I'd replied "Nearly everybody can do weight or resistance training to some degree, or they wouldn't be functional at all."

Meet Merce Hershey:



Ninety-six years old, cracked a vertebrae in a fall, currently walks with a walker, and is deadlifting nearly her bodyweight. Impressive.

Link to YouTube video: Proving That Everyone Can Get Stronger

First, I agree with your statement about weights and weight training generally.

BUT this proves only that one person can do it at her age, not everyone. Most, a lot, almost all wouldn't get a response but I can't let a sample size of one be proof everyone can do it.

You are completely ignoring the effects of aging, disease, and medications on individuals. Basically just because one person can do something does not mean every one can do that.

For example I take 160 mg of Sotolol twice a day and 25mg of Metoprolol once a day. These are medications to control AFIB and one means of doing this is by limiting the heart rate. As a result my maximum achievable heart is 95 beats per minutes. At that heart rate I can walk a 14 minute 30 second mile but any faster and the legs burn out due to lack of oxygen. Yeah a reduced heart rate will starve you for oxygen if you try and exceed your cardiac capacity. Now, guess what happens when you try to "man up" and push past your limits. Not only does your muscles start to burn, your Heart also goes into oxygen starvation. Keep that crap up and you'll end up dead. I will also note that at one point I was able to bench press 200 lbs. The problem with this that at 64 years old the cartilage in the body is not as strong as when you were 30. Like an idiot I kept on pushing until I blew out my right shoulder. It took 2 years of therapy to get it back to functional so I am now very mindful of how much I lift.

Point is that folks over 60 can vary a lot in actual physical capabilities and they do need to limit their activities to what they can do safely. One rule of thumb for this is that if something is painful while you are doing that exercise DO NOT DO THAT EXERCISE AT THAT Weight/Resistance level. BACK OFF. Because if you keep pushing you WILL injure yourself at some point.

Cool video. Good for her. That is awesome.

Exercising and staying active is the fountain of youth. One doesn’t have to hit the free weights in the gym or run marathons to benefit from exercise. As long as it is meaningful and challenging above simple homeostasis, it is beneficial. At 58 I’m stronger, healthier, and look better than a vast majority of people half my age. No health issues is a nice side benefit.

He said nearly everybody

Yeah, the guy on the left probably didn't start at 80. Muscle is the organ of Longevity.

quote:

Originally posted by Kenpoist:
He said nearly everybody

He sure did, in the post. But, he needs to revise the thread title, because that's the enemy's point of attack.

I don't have anything against hyperbole when it's positive and inspirational.

Trying to encourage someone to jump over an abyss by saying, "You can do it!" is vastly different from saying the same thing to encourage someone to be stronger. The only disqualifier to me would be if the person is dead or in a coma.

Mandel Baum
Mandel Baum
Mandel Baum

You think your better than me?

There are medications that accelerate muscle loss due to aging. After 26 years on one, I'm feeling the effects. I also have COPD, among other ailments, so I'm kind of in the same situation as described above-a QuickTime march is about my top speed. I can do it for an hour, but it's top end for me. As far as switching meds, well, the side effect of the two alternatives include gangrene of the perineum. Uh, no thanks.

"Anatomically and physiologically, every human being is essentially the same." - Mike Mentzer

I just happened to be reading a book with that quote in it. Those using medication are basically saying the same thing. Medication would be useless if everyone were different. How would it even be discovered to work? The very fact that medication works is because every person’s physicsal body works like every other person’s body. Weight training is the same as medication. Anyone that does the same thing that you do with it will have the same results.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Mandel Baum
Mandel Baum
Mandel Baum

You think your better than me?

It’s go time!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Kenpoist:
He said nearly everybody

Indeed I did

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
He sure did, in the post. But, he needs to revise the thread title, because that's the enemy's point of attack.

The thread title refers to the video, which was the main point of the OP. If they have a problem with how Starting Strength titled their video, they should take it up with Starting Strength. (Good luck with that )

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I don't have anything against hyperbole when it's positive and inspirational.

Which is precisely what SS is doing with that video.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
There are medications that accelerate muscle loss due to aging.

Which drugs or classes of drugs would those be? Not that I'm any kind of expert in the fields of nutrition, exercise, medicine, or aging, and it's not that I don't believe you, but, I've done more than a little research over the years and this is the first I've heard of such drugs.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I also have COPD, among other ailments,

Did you know High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been shown to be beneficial for COPD sufferer's?

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
Weight training is the same as medication. Anyone that does the same thing that you do with it will have the same results.

That's not strictly true--particularly in men vs. women. Even within the same sex: Age, genetics, hormonal balances, and various other factors will play a role. Perhaps more realistic to say "similar results" rather than "the same?"

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by Kenpoist:
He said nearly everybody

He sure did, in the post. But, he needs to revise the thread title, because that's the enemy's point of attack.

I stand corrected. I was paying attention to the text, not the title.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
There are medications that accelerate muscle loss due to aging.

Which drugs or classes of drugs would those be?

Answered my own question:

quote:

Statins are commonly used to limit the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart attack and stroke. However, treatment often leads to myopathy and muscle weakness.
...
Collectively, statin therapy adversely affects the neuromuscular junction and intestinal barrier, which potentially induces systemic inflammation and physical disability in patients with CHF. Further prospective confirmation of the findings is required in a well-controlled study.

(Note: Emphasis added)

Full report: Statin Therapy Induces Gut Leakage and Neuromuscular Disjunction in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

Twitter thread on the subject: https://twitter.com/markeatsme.../1710677598022320502

quote:

Originally posted by Kenpoist:
I stand corrected.

Ah, but, you were not incorrect. That was precisely what I'd written

I bet I can deadlift, nearly her body weight

Good for her but not really sure how she is deadlifting. I will be 72 soon and started strength training six months ago three times a week and have made significant gains but us seniors need to be careful how we are doing it. My trainer does not want me doing traditional barbell deadlifts yet due to some concerns with my back (arthritis but no problems with disks) and resulting technique. My posture is improving and will probably be doing deadlifts if I want to at some point but one can mess their back up if not careful.

For now doing barbell hip thrusts and recently back squats for major compound strength training. Doing many other exercises too for legs/core/back/chest/shoulders/arms.

Wife doing strength training too but back disk problem and bad knee make it much harder for her beyond upper body.

IMHO all seniors should be sure they get plenty of protein in their diet whether they exercise or not. I try to get 150 grams a day and have a daily protein shake to help with that because I am doing strength training. Also it can be challenging to try and lose weight while strength training though I personally am not trying to do that and am happy with my weight.