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For Baby Boomers, lighten the workout load
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The man who was once known as the world's fittest man, is backing off when it comes to exercise.
That's because, at 51, Mark Allen is slowing done ... on purpose: advice he offers other Baby Boomers in a book he co-authored entitled "Fit Soul, Fit Body."
Allen has remarkable credentials as an athlete. He was a six time Ironman Triathlon world champion. It was Outside magazine that dubbed him the world's fittest man.
He believes Baby Boomers are at an age where the "no pain, no gain" mentality is more hurtful than helpful.
"If you can't let up on the competitive part of it, if you have to go as fast at 50 as you did at 20, you will grind yourself into the ground and become stressed out, bitter and unhealthy," he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Baby Boomers as much as anyone, perhaps more so, need to exercise.
They are advancing into the age of possible heart disease, diabetes and muscle/joint ailments. Regular exercise can help control weight, reduce stress, improve strength and balance, and improve our overall well being.
To get there, Allen suggests an approach that focuses less on trying to outdo yourself ... or others.
"...exercise can provide substantial protection against chronic ailments ranging from heart disease and diabetes to dementia and depression, all the while helping weight control," notes today's Journal article.
"But like any medical treatment, exercise can also cause damage, particularly in older athletes. The risk of sudden cardiac death rises substantially during exercise. Overuse injuries, especially involving joints, rise with age. "
As the saying goes, everything in moderation.
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