Former SEAL on Fitness in your Fifties

Teammates, A SEAL from BUD/S class 57 has a lifetime of fitness to celebrate! 2010 is ONE WEEK away -- what is your fitness mission for this coming decade? There is no "I" in Team -- share your stories so we all can benefit! AMM

"SEAL76 - I am a former SEAL BUDS CLASS 57 SEAL TEAM ONE 1970-1973. I have been exercising since I was in high school and continue to do so. I am 58 years old and in better shape than guys half my age. Having been a SEAL taught me that you have to work hard to stay in shape but the results are worth every bit of the effort it takes.

Slogging through the Delta in Vietnam was a lot less difficult because of our daily PTs, runs, and swims. I don't have to do that any more but being in shape allows me to do yard work, snow shoveling, furniture moving and the daily tasks that call for a healthy body. Fitness has served me well as a public school classroom teacher. It not only keeps me going on tough days but provides an outlet for the frustrations that all teachers have to deal with. Your article should motivate young and old alike. HOOYAH!"

CHARLIE MIKE -- ALDEN

* Picture from wikipedia: Members of U.S. Navy SEAL Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations along the river south of Saigon, November 1967.

Age is a State of Mind

Teammates, Clint Eastwood shows us all that "age is a state of mind". This is NOT a cliché to those of you who know what I mean - two of whom contacted the CHARLIE MIKE blog recently*. One of the first concepts you learn in SEAL training is that body obeys the brain - sounds simple doesn't it? I'm here to tell you it isn't - like most things in life worth learning or having - it takes practice, persistence and above all else, a positive attitude. Ever wonder why folks who go swimming in frigid waters without a wetsuit don't get hypothermia when all the medical pundits say it should happen within minutes? That's because these cold water swimmers conditioned their mind to tell their body: "swim through it - don't worry about the cold, I'm going to send more blood to your vital organs to you can continue to perform"....of course the first time you enter frigid waters, your brain doesn't quite say it like that or so politely - it's more like: "Holy Sh&t - can't breathe - what the hell am I doing - doctor say I'm going get hypothermia in minutes – I think it's already happening - Ohhh my God I'm going to die..." and so the logic goes - and where the mind goes the body will follow.

So what's that got to do with Ted (62) and David (66) who both recently posted discussing their success with the Perfect Pushup?? Everything. Here are two men that don't allow their birth age to affect their biological age - they are effectively turning back their age by taking charge of their minds and their minds are telling their bodies what to do.

Yes, I know, we're all going to grow old and die. Fine. But whoever said that at some age you should just "take it easy" on yourself because you're "older" now should be shot. That's the wrong attitude - that's the attitude of someone who has given up on living. Here's the cool part - there have been several studies done over that last 2 decades of folks in their 80's and 90's - doctors put them through 3 month body weight training fitness programs...and guess what happened? Every single one of them GREW muscle – their muscles got stronger and larger! So, Ted, yes, we've had many folks like yourself experience muscle strength and size increases and significant weight loss - some folks in their 80s...and you know what, every single one of them has the same attitude - AGE IS A STATE OF MIND!

BRAVO ZULU to Ted (62) and David (66)!

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN

* This blog is a re-run from 2008 -- I hope new Teammates will find Ted and David's stories as inspiring as I did -- and do!