"The Fit Generation" is an inspiring award-winning documentary that explores the lives of active older adults in Canada, particularly those in their 70s and 80s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kXIxXEZhWk
Despite facing significant health challenges and loss of loved ones, those featured in the film continue to engage in physically challenging activities and lead vibrant lives. "The Fit Generation" emphasizes that age is not a barrier to fitness and may inspire you to pursue an active lifestyle and find joy in your life.
From an 82-year-old ski instructor to a sports-car driving yoga teacher in her 70s, each participant in the film displays optimism, joy and a genuine excitement for life.
Joy and health share a deep and intricate connection, and those in the film enjoy both; they don’t dwell on hardships or loss, instead choosing to focus on the good around them.
While each of the people featured in the film have different interests and life stories, you’ll notice several common threads, including optimism, joy and a genuine excitement for life. They each have strong social connections in their communities and engage in each day with a sense of purpose, while living fully in the present moment.
At a foundational level, joy comes from curiosity and the ability to make choices in your life. But if you don’t have enough cellular energy, you can’t think properly, let alone have enough energy left over to navigate positive life choices. This is why improving your mitochondrial energy production can bring you joy. However, engaging in regular physical activity is also a powerful way to enhance mitochondrial health, contributing to improved energy metabolism. Exercise encourages the creation of new mitochondria and helps the existing ones work better, producing more energy more efficiently. Instead of catastrophizing and focusing on the negative, shift your perspective to appreciate small joys and social opportunities.
RESISTANCE TRAINING
Researchers are taking an active interest in the best ways for older adults to use lifestyle interventions to maintain their health. Resistance training, which involves using weights to help with muscle strength, is one such intervention.
A recent study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine examined the long-term benefits of heavy resistance training for older adults. The study found that one year of heavy resistance training helped older adults maintain isometric leg strength up to four years. The findings suggest that heavy resistance training may help with long-term muscle function preservation.
Another study done over many years on 11000 sets of Finnish twins found that participants in the active groups had between 15% and 23% lower all-cause mortality risk when compared to the sedentary twin group.
Bottom line – keep moving, keep your body working, keep engaging and being socially active, and despite life's hardships, try and focus on the positive!