Meet the super-strong 80-year-old fitness influencer couple taking social media by storm
Most of us will be lucky to make it to 80 without major health problems. But for one elderly couple, only optimal fitness is enough.
The grandparents of former Canadian rugby pro Phil Mackenzie have become Instagram famous thanks to their unusually muscular physiques at the ripe old ages of 80 and 84.
McKenzie, who has nearly 500,000 followers on Instagram and over 870,000 followers on TikTok and has wowed social media users with clips of his older relatives’ stunning fitness routines.
In a video, Mr Mackenzie shows his grandfather lifting weights and claims he does “500 push-ups three times a week,” a routine even people in their 30s find difficult to maintain.
In another book, he touts the sleep schedule, walking schedule and essential diet rules his grandmother swears by to live her “fullest and most capable life.”
Fans are in awe of retired Canadian rugby player Phil MacKenzie’s grandparents, who still have a muscular body and lean muscles at ages 84 and 80
The couple have taken social media by storm as their grandson shares tips on how to turn back the clock and stop one of life’s greatest guarantees: growing older.
In a clip, Mr Mackenzie reveals that his grandfather lifts weights and does ‘500 push-ups three times a week’, a regime that even people in their thirties find difficult to maintain. Pictured is Phil Mackenzie with his wife Brodie
“I think it’s great that your parents are fit and that a family that exercises together stays together,” said one follower.
“They are rich…rich in health and life, the true wealth that money cannot buy,” noted a second.
To go to InstagramMr Mackenzie told his followers that the key to his grandfather’s success was “focusing on strength training”.
He said: ‘One of my earliest memories of my grandfather is him working out with a set of barbells.
My grandpa still lifts weights and does 500 push-ups three times a week.
‘Strength training improves muscle mass, hormones, metabolism and has a direct correlation to not only living longer, but living better as you age.’
He added: ‘He has also always eaten small meals unconsciously.
‘For as long as I can remember, he has consistently practiced some form of calorie restriction.
‘Finally, I’ve never met anyone who values his ability to move as much as he does.
‘He once told me that he hates going to bed because he hates missing out on anything in life.
‘There is not a single day that he takes his ability to move for granted.
‘He constantly reminds us that the moment you stop moving is the moment you stop living.
“I’m going to do my best to follow his three rules for the rest of my life and make the best of it, just like he did.”
On Instagram, Mr Mackenzie told his followers that the key to his grandfather’s success is “focusing on strength training”
In another video, Mr Mackenzie shows the rules his grandmother swore to live ‘her fullest and most capable life’
It is known that overweight people become healthier by eating fewer calories, because they lose weight.
But some studies have also suggested that the controversial calorie restriction craze may actually slow the rate at which people biologically age. However, this research is still in its infancy, and many scientists say it is unproven.
Some experts believe that restricting calories can lead to fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, and negatively impact fertility in men and women.
In another video, Mr. Mackenzie explains the rules his grandmother swore to “live her life as fully and capably as possible.”
He says: ‘Life can be very different at 80 if you do these simple things.
“She is so inspiring. Not only has she shown me that you can still do a 20-inch box jump in flip-flops at 80, but more importantly, she has shown me how much we can accomplish as we get older if we prioritize our health now.”
Her tips include getting enough sleep, “always avoiding processed foods” and “walking everywhere – whether it’s a five-minute walk to the supermarket or a 10-kilometre walk to the store.”
Her tips include: sleep, ‘always avoid processed foods’ and ‘walk everywhere – whether it’s a five-minute stroll to the supermarket or a 10-kilometre journey to the shops’
Phil Mackenzie, from Ontario, Canada, is the founder of the Leansquad fitness app. The former rugby player has over 870,000 followers on TikTok and nearly 500,000 on Instagram, where he documents his workouts, meals and life at home
He added: ‘It’s not just the fact that she can walk, but the speed at which she can walk that allows her to do so well for so long.’
‘Research has shown that there is a direct link between walking faster and living longer.
It’s no surprise that my grandmother can easily provide for her great-grandchildren.
My grandparents also stick to bedtime and wake-up times.
‘Irregular sleep patterns are associated with an increased risk of hypertension, obesity and diabetes, all risk factors for mortality.’
Staying fit has long been seen as essential to longevity. It can help maintain a healthy weight, boost metabolism and increase muscle mass.
Being overweight puts you at greater risk for a whole host of chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Being underweight can make minor ailments more serious.
But exercise improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles and bones, and reduces inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of aging and is thought to be the cause of many age-related diseases and shorter lifespans.
Lack of sleep can lead to obesity, memory loss, diabetes, heart disease, heightened and unstable emotions, decreased learning ability, and a reduced immune response, leaving you vulnerable to disease.
It also improves insulin sensitivity, which is essential for protecting against type 2 diabetes.
In addition to these physical benefits, exercise also contributes to mental health by improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
Previous research has also shown a link between sleep deprivation and an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The most common causes of insomnia are anxiety, depression, alcohol, caffeine, drugs, and shift work.
While adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, children are advised to get between nine and 13 hours of sleep, the NHS advises.
The health service estimates that it takes most people an average of 14 minutes to fall asleep.
Research shows that at least 30 percent of the problems that GPs encounter are directly or indirectly related to sleep.
Yet only one in ten Britons talk to their doctor about insomnia, while 30 percent take medication to treat the problem.