The Anti-Aging Secret That Actually Works!

We're well aware that we lose strength as we get older but we lose power more quickly than strength.

Power is one of the best predictors of how well you’ll be able to handle the typical activities of daily living, climbing stairs, standing up from a chair, or catching yourself from a stumble.

Power vs. Strength

Strength is the maximum force a muscle can exert. Power combines strength and speed. Strength is how much force you can generate and power is how fast you can generate it. To jump (out of the way of an oncoming car), sprint (when you're trying to catch that train that's leaving the station in the airport), or just rise quickly from a chair (the doorbell just rang), you need power, not just strength.

​Research over the years has found that power is more important than strength for predicting whether older people are able to successfully navigate the activities of daily living. Talk about a Fountain Of Youth!

Power begins to decline earlier than strength and at a much steeper rate. While muscle mass and strength decrease by about .5-1% per year after age 40, muscle power declines by 2-4% per year.

What causes this decline?

While it's important for the brain to communicate efficiently with muscles, researchers found that the decline in power stemmed primarily from changes within the muscles themselves.

One major factor is the loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are responsible for explosive movements. As we age, we lose fast-twitch fibers more rapidly than slow-twitch fibers, leaving us with weaker and less explosive muscles.

We can't blame everything on aging--only about half of age-related declines are the result of aging.

The other half is the result of changed exercise habits.

Simply staying fit isn't enough to keep those fast-twitch fibers firing. They require their own specific training.

You need to train for power

Trudging on a treadmill or other cardiovascular equipment uses your slow-twitch fibers. If you don't train your fast-twitch fibers, you'll end up losing explosiveness and reaction time quickness.

To maintain as much explosive power as possible, you need to

💪 move and train in explosive ways.

💪 do heavy strength training. Remember: power=strength+speed).

💪 follow the power training protocol of sets, reps, and rest.

It's some of the most impactful exercise you can do and can be tailored to fit anyone's ability.

It's critical for older people.

An article about power training for seniors caught my eye well over a decade ago. I thought it sounded crazy but after looking into it, became a believer!

Can you guess where this is going?

Power Week is a favorite of my clients so I offer it once a month. Power training is fun and invigorating--some say they feel an endorphin high. It makes you feel strong and....powerful....😊

Strength is vital, but power keeps you moving with ease and confidence as you age. By adding explosive movements and heavy lifting into your routine, you can slow the decline, maintain independence, and continue doing the activities you love.