Monday 5/14

21-15-9 reps for time of:
Clean 135/95
Ring Dips


Use it or Lose it!



In the last few years, we have seen results that defy the conventional wisdom of fitness and aging. As people age, they are usually expected to "take it easy" because they have physically peaked and now they are expected to accept the physical decline that accompanies old age. It turns out that setting an expectation of our aging population to slow down or not "overdo it" is the exact opposite of what is needed to stay healthy, resilient and independent.


As the adage goes "use it or lose it." When it comes to aging "it" isn't just muscle mass but also other components of fitness like balance, coordination, agility, and flexibility. In other words, the more people are told to avoid certain activities out of fear of injury, the less prepared they are to physically navigate those situations. Getting an easy-lift chair for grandma at home might help her at home, but what if she sits in a lower chair at a restaurant?  Avoiding the stairs might seem like a good idea for grandpa, but what if he needs to step off a curb? 

CrossFit isn't something that only benefits the young and the fit, it is for the grandmas, grandpas, and retirees of the world too. As Coach Greg Glassman wrote in the CrossFit Journal Article, "What is Fitness?",

The needs of an Olympic athlete and our grandparents differ by degree not kind. One is looking for functional dominance, the other for functional competence. Competence and dominance manifest through identical physiological mechanisms.

We all benefit from squatting, pulling an pushing. We all need to lift weights, run, and move our bodies. After all, getting old isn't for sissies. 

Amy Eubanks