ORLANDO, Fla. – May is Older Americans Month, and the last Wednesday of May is National Senior Health and Fitness Day.
One local senior is fighting aging through fitness and inspiring other older adults to be more active.
Sometimes, fitness routines are kick-started by doctor’s orders, but that’s not the case for Chuck Pula. His doctors say whatever he’s already doing, he should keep it up because it’s working.
“I have everything done. I have the CBC, I have triglycerides, cholesterol, everything, and I have a PSA test every year. And he (my doctor) looks at everything and he’s like, “We don’t have anything to talk about, get out of here!” Pula chuckled.
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Pula is raising the bar for staying active after retirement. He’s setting records and setting a healthy example.
At 76 years young, he is defying age through exercise.
In April, he lifted 100 tons in a single workout at Planet Fitness in Sanford, and he’s already thinking of new goals.
Pula says it comes down to commitment and consistency. He started regular exercise after losing his first wife to health complications 30 years ago.
He wants more people to commit to regular exercise, no matter their level of ability.
Planet Fitness trainer Jason Medina says a healthy lifestyle and healthy body have to include constant movement.
“You want to move at least 30 minutes a day,” Medina said.
To fight the increased risk of disease associated with aging and a sedentary lifestyle, doctors and trainers recommend regular exercise for older adults over 65. It’s also a warning for all ages because muscle mass can start to decline in your 30s.
Medina says that around the age of 50, people lose about one to two percent of muscle mass every year.
Medina works with clients of all ages to help them prevent as well as rebound from muscle loss (sarcopenia) and bone loss from osteoporosis.
“The best way to prevent osteoporosis would be to work out for around 12 months. That’s when your bone density starts to increase,” he said.
Even Pula admits making time for workouts isn’t always convenient for everyone, but you have to squeeze it in. He says before he retired, there were many 5 a.m. mornings in the gym. These days, he’s in the gym several days a week, unless he’s refereeing for high school basketball.
“I just praise god for that, it’s like I’ve had a very healthy life,” Pula said.
The CDC recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week for adults 65 and older. The benefits include improved sleep, less anxiety, and lower blood pressure. There are long-term health benefits for the brain, heart, weight, and bones. Regular exercise also helps lower cancer risk and gives seniors extended years of living independently.