20/01/2026
“You don’t stop exercising because you get old, you get old because you stop exercising” 👨🏻🦳🏋️♂️
This simple yet powerful statement captures a fundamental truth about aging. While our bodies naturally change over time, the rate of those changes is strongly influenced by our lifestyle choices, especially our commitment to regular exercise 🏊♀️
🔑 Muscle mass, a key pillar of physical health, declines by around 3 to 8 percent per decade after the age of 30, with an even steeper drop after 60 (Holloszy 2000, Melton 2000).
💪 Aging does not have to mean losing strength, agility, or muscle. Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to slow this decline and preserve physical function. Wroblewski’s research even shows a 70 year old triathlete with muscle mass and body composition similar to a 40 year old. A powerful reminder of what consistent training can achieve 👉
🔑 So lace up your sneakers, hit the gym, or head out for a brisk walk. When it comes to aging, we have far more control than we think ⛹️♂️🏌️♂️🧘♂️🏊🏋️♀️
🎙️ Want to dive deeper into training, recovery, and staying strong as you age?
Check out The Rehab Runway Podcast, Episode 5, where I break down practical strategies for Masters runners and active adults to keep performing well for the long run.
https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/episode-5-masters-runners
👋 Like and share this with anyone who needs the reminder.
📚 References
Holloszy JO. The biology of aging. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75(Suppl):S3–S8
Melton LJ III, Khosla S, Crowson CS, et al. Epidemiology of sarcopenia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000;48:625–630
Wroblewski AP, Amati F, Smiley MA, Goodpaster B, Wright V. Chronic exercise preserves lean muscle mass in masters athletes. Phys Sportsmed. 2011;39(3):172–178