Longevity and Fitness Regimens from 89-Year-Old Investing Legend Edward O. Thorp

Summary

In this conversation, the host explores the guest's perspectives on thinking, health, and fitness. The guest, who is 89 years old but looks much younger, shares his journey into fitness, starting accidentally in his 20s. He recounts how a challenge to improve his strength led him to a lifelong commitment to physical health, including weightlifting and marathon running. Despite setbacks like a herniated disc, he adapted his regimen over the years. His philosophy centers on listening to the body, doing what he enjoys, and believing that 'some is better than none.' His story serves as an inspiration to maintain an active lifestyle at any age.

Takeaways

• 💪 The speaker initially got into health and fitness by accident, starting with strength training in college, and gradually saw remarkable strength gains.
• 🏋️ The initial workout routine consisted of four key exercises: the squat, military press, bench press, and one other compound movement.
• 😮 Within a year of regular training, the speaker doubled their strength, notably increasing their bench press and military press abilities.
• 🏃 In their 30s, the speaker realized they were out of shape during a jog and began focusing on aerobic exercise, starting with short runs and eventually progressing to marathons.
• 📚 The speaker was influenced by Ken Cooper's book on aerobics and used it to track their fitness progress with a points system.
• 👟 For over 20 years, they were involved in long-distance running, including marathons, but eventually had to stop due to a back injury.
• 🧘 Post-injury, they shifted focus to walking, core strengthening, and lower-impact activities like race walking, which provided similar aerobic benefits without the high impact of running.
• 🧑‍🦳 The speaker’s approach to fitness evolved over time, now emphasizing listening to the body, enjoying the activities they engage in, and understanding that some exercise is always better than none.
• 🏋️ Their strength training now includes bodyweight squats, dumbbell lunges, pull-ups, and back exercises to maintain overall fitness and core strength.
• 🎯 The speaker's overall fitness philosophy is about consistency, adaptability, and the belief that age should not be an excuse to stop or give up on health and fitness.

Q & A

What are the two main areas of focus in this conversation?

The conversation focuses on the guest's methods of thinking and their personal approach to health and fitness.

What is the age of the guest mentioned in the conversation?

The guest is 89 years old.

How did the guest initially become interested in health and fitness?

The guest accidentally wandered into health and fitness after observing some men weightlifting and making a bet with them that he could double his strength in a year.

What were the four main exercises that the guest focused on in his initial strength training?

The guest's strength training included the squat, military overhead press, bench press, and a fourth exercise he could not recall but mentioned it was a compound exercise.

What was the outcome of the guest's one-year bet regarding strength training?

After a year, the guest successfully doubled his strength, including achieving a 185-pound military press and a 375-pound bench press.

How did the guest transition into running and marathon training?

The guest began running after being out of breath during a jog with his brother-in-law at age 35, which led him to follow a points system for aerobics and eventually progress to marathons.

What was the guest's experience with marathons and running?

The guest ran marathons for about 20-25 years until he had to stop due to a herniated disc from weightlifting.

How has the guest’s fitness routine evolved after the age of 50?

The guest shifted to walking three miles several times a week, strength training with an emphasis on core exercises, and listening to his body to adjust his workouts.

What advice does the guest give about staying active as one ages?

The guest advises people to start small, saying 'some is better than none,' and that people should avoid the mistake of not starting because they can’t do the whole program.

What strength exercises does the guest currently perform, and how have they changed over time?

The guest now focuses on bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, pull-ups (though fewer than before), and back exercises to maintain core and back strength, as his physical capabilities have declined with age.