At the age of 40 I could no longer climb stairs, but at the age of 83 I transformed into a super fit IRON MAN – this is how I got fit later in life
An 83-year-old man who went from couch potato to super-fit athlete later in life has revealed the secrets to his success.
Joseph Maroon, a neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was in his early 40s and so unfit that walking up a flight of stairs was a challenge.
And he also struggled mentally after his divorce and the death of his father, which led to a brief career break.
Dr. Maroon was desperate for something to make him feel better – and a friend suggested he take up running.
This marked the beginning of an epic fitness journey and physiological transformation. At age 83, more than forty years later, he had completed eight Ironman triathlons.
Dr. Joseph Maroon, a neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (pictured left), had difficulty climbing stairs at the age of 40. Now, at age 83, he has completed eight Ironman triathlons (pictured right)
Since starting his health kick, Dr. Maroon has set aside an hour a day for exercise, six days a week.
This includes a mix of aerobic activities such as running, resistance training and flexibility exercises, as well as swimming and cycling.
Over the years his fitness improved and he eventually began competing in races, working his way up to triathalons.
Dr. Maroon, 83, has spent the past 40 years building his fitness to championship levels
In 2022 he took part in the triathlon of the 2022 National Senior Games, where a 750 meters swimming, 20 kilometers cycling and 5 kilometers running. He emerged as the winner in his age category.
Dr. Maroon completed the race with his 27-year-old daughter Isabella, and the pair hope to do more triathlons together in the future.
He said: ‘The bottom line is that not everyone has to train as if they are going to be a triathlete.
‘But there are so many benefits to exercise and sports participation that regardless of your age or previous training, you should consider it.’
Since his early 40s, Dr. Maroon has devoted an hour of his day to exercise – which can be anything from running to strength exercises.
Now, at the age of 83, Maroon is the medical director of the wrestling promotion WWE and advocates a balanced lifestyle.
Dr. Maroon has sworn by certain lifestyle habits, the first of which is reducing stress.
He strives to balance four priorities in his life: work, family and friends, spirituality and exercise.
Chronic stress keeps the body in fight or flight mode, he said Business insidercausing depression, anxiety, poor sleep and migraines.
In the longer term, stress is also considered a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
He also recommends making time for spirituality.
βI bring spirituality to all the things I do,β Dr. Maroon said, including caring for patients, relationships with his family and his daily ethical outlook.
Spirituality is not just limited to religion, he said.
‘I mean spiritual beliefs that unfold in rituals and in various ethics, or a belief in a higher being or that there is something greater than us.
βIt can be in nature or whatever you want.β
Previous research has suggested that spiritual practices can create purpose and generate psychological resilience, and in turn, longevity and greater life satisfaction.
A 2016 study found that attending a religious service at least once a week was associated with a 33 percent lower death rate.
His next pearl of wisdom is avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. None of these equate to longevity.
Tobacco kills more than eight million people every year, while more than 106,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021.
And while some research suggests that drinking wine can be beneficial, the World Health Organization has always said that no level of alcohol is safe to drink.
The next thing is getting enough sleep, Dr. Maroon said. It has a host of health benefits, including better metabolism, which can keep obesity at bay, a superior immune system and a lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Studies have also shown that getting enough sleep helps people stick to their diet and exercise goals.
Dr. Maroon is not the first to discover fitness later in life.
Jennifer Fisher, 56, is a hybrid athlete from Austin, Texas known as @thefitforkofficial on TikTok, where she shares her healthy recipes and workouts.
The health-focused content creator fills her TikTok and Instagram feeds with videos of herself running, lifting weights and competing in obstacle races.
Nancy Cox, 67, had never considered herself athletic and never played sports in school.
But fifty years later, she’s in the best shape she’s ever been in.
In 2011, her friends suggested that Nancy and her husband join them for a group skating lesson.
βI just fell in love with it,β she said AARP. “I thought, if I work on this, I can get better.”