“Together, they are 164 years old, their muscles are amazing”…4 secrets of an 80-year-old couple

A couple in their 80s, with a combined age of 164, are becoming a hot topic for maintaining their muscular bodies and living healthily as they age.

According to the Daily Mail, Canadian rugby player Phil MacKenzie’s grandparents became famous on social media for their muscular bodies at the ages of 80 and 84. MacKenzie has about 500,000 Instagram followers and over 870,000 TikTok followers. It seems that he has been inspiring many people by posting videos of his grandparents’ high-intensity workout routines.

The secrets of those in their 80s who have the same physical strength as young people, according to Mackenzie, can be largely summarized into four things: strength training, regular sleep, eating small meals, and walking. In one video Mackenzie posted, her grandfather is seen lifting heavy weights. Mackenzie claims that her grandfather does 500 pushups three times a week. It is a workout routine that even people in their 30s would find difficult to do.

The reason my grandfather is able to maintain his muscular body despite being 84 years old is because he consistently focuses on strength training. “I remember when I was young, my grandfather would lift dumbbells and work out. Even now, he lifts weights and does 500 pushups three times a week,” Mackenzie said. She also mentioned his diet of restricting calories as a secret to his health.

Mackenzie’s grandmother also has an appearance that makes it hard to believe she’s 80 years old. In other videos, the grandmother shared her rules: getting enough sleep, not eating processed foods, and walking everywhere. She walks from a grocery store that’s 5 minutes away to a store that’s 10 kilometers away. She explains that not only walking, but also brisk walking has helped her stay healthy for a long time.

Here’s a brief look at four things Mackenzie’s grandparents do on a daily basis, from a health perspective.

△ Strength training becomes more important as you get older
Strength training maintains and increases muscle mass, and prevents muscle loss that naturally occurs with age. It is important for maintaining bodily functions and also helps improve hormonal and metabolic health. Strength training stimulates metabolism by promoting hormonal balance and metabolic health, and helps control blood sugar and reduce body fat. It is also essential for diabetes prevention and weight management.
Above all, maintaining muscle strength can help you live a better life in old age because there will be no significant restrictions on daily activities due to aging.

△ Regular sleeping habits that make you mentally healthy
Regular sleep habits, such as going to bed and waking up at set times, balance not only sleep hormones such as melatonin but also hormones necessary for body recovery. This reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, and helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

△ Eat less, slow down aging

Calorie restriction (small meals) helps maintain body weight and body fat, and calorie restriction is known to reduce inflammation in the body and slow down the aging process. It helps control blood sugar and increases insulin sensitivity, which has a positive effect on diabetes prevention and metabolic health. Above all, the autophagy process activated by small meals can remove damaged parts of cells and promote regeneration, reducing the risk of diseases related to aging.

△ People who walk fast live longer
It is already well known that walking is good for your health. Mackenzie’s grandparents in the above content enjoy brisk walking. Walking briskly enough to talk to the person next to you even when out of breath is effective in strengthening lower body muscles and maintaining bone strength. There are also studies that show that people who walk briskly live longer. It helps activate metabolism, reduce body fat, and reduce inflammation.