Virtues of Lifting

[Corey DuCharme]

Last Sunday my wife and I took our ten month old son across the street to visit our elderly neighbors, Al and Mary. While visiting, Al asked me what I do for fun, so I told him I enjoy lifting weights. He replied enthusiastically, "I lift weights too." Some how this didn't surprise me because when we met last Fall, I took note of his strong handshake.

It turns out when he was fifteen his dad bought him an 80lb York Barbell set, pretty cool since that was back around 1935! He's been hooked ever since. Back then, he and a group of friends formed a lifting club and would workout together regularly; old school training crew. Through the years he kept active and included resistance training in his routine.

Now, at 87 years old, he walks a mile every day on his treadmill and uses some light dumbbells to get the blood flowing; all this with a bad heart valve. He is able to drive a car, golf, mow his own lawn and snow blow his driveway; not bad when most guys his age are dead!

When we were at Al's house, I was also impressed to see him get down on the floor and lay on his side to play with my son. I thought for sure I was going to have to help him up, but he just rolled over on his hands and knees and then stood right up!


I understand there is more to living a long healthy life than lifting weights, but I think Al, and those of us who lift, are really on to one of the key ingredients.

[Eric Johnson]

Very cool Corey. Similar story, my Dad fell in love with lifting when he was 18 (1954) and has been lifting 4 or 5 times a week ever since, 53+ years. When he first started he made a bench out of 2x4s and plywood and would dead lift the weight, sit on the bench roll it to his chest, bench it and then roll it back down and stand up and put it down (very old school). My Dad is now 71 years old, and had a double hernia operation a couple of weeks ago, talked to him Sunday and he said is already back lifting at 75% of capacity. He has never been sick or had any real injuries, the hernia is the first time he has ever been in a hospital. At 71 he can still do 20+ pushups, pullups, and dips. We attribute his continued good health to weights.

So keep lifting!

[Barney Shannon]

When the weight bug bites you, you are ruined for life. Happened to me when I was 11. :rolleyes:

[Chris Hickson]

the gym owner/coach were I go still squats over 700 lbs. and deadlifts around 500 at the age of 74

[D.J. Satterfield]

I would love to see a 74yr. old squat 700#.

[Corey DuCharme]

the gym owner/coach were I go still squats over 700 lbs. and deadlifts around 500 at the age of 74

Crud, here we go.............

Come on, don't ruin a decent thread guys.

Board Rule: NO POSTING OUTLANDISH CLAIMS WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF PROOF
If you have a 12 year old little sister that can close a #4 out of the package that's awesome but if you can't prove it no one will believe it so don't bother posting it!

[Paul Rogers]

the gym owner/coach were I go still squats over 700 lbs. and deadlifts around 500 at the age of 74

Maybe he meant 47?


Old people rock though, some of the most memorable conversations I've ever had were with a random elderly person.

[Corey DuCharme]

Old people rock though

That's for sure!

[Josh Kamins]

Crud, here we go.............

Come on, don't ruin a decent thread guys.

Board Rule: NO POSTING OUTLANDISH CLAIMS WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF PROOF
If you have a 12 year old little sister that can close a #4 out of the package that's awesome but if you can't prove it no one will believe it so don't bother posting it!

Nah I think we can believe him, he trains at Frantz's gym

[Corey DuCharme]

Nah I think we can believe him, he trains at Frantz's gym

What is Frantz's gym?

I wasn't going to comment on the post, but when it was repeated, I was concerned that people were going to start arguing about it.

I will echo D.J. though, in all sincerity, I too would love to see a 74 year old squat 700lbs because it would be so cool.

[Josh Kamins]

Ernie Frantz is a legendary powerlifter of old who no doubt can still put up some major weights

[Chris Hickson]

Ernie Frantz is a legendary powerlifter of old who no doubt can still put up some major weights
invented stuff too.

[Jay Hagadorn]

There are several men in there eighties and early nineties that work out in my gym. Their longevity is directly related to resistance exercise. They wake up early, hook up for a workout before six a.m. together, pump iron then drive off five days per week...

[Brandon Campbell]

This is a story that is no surprise to me,

movement is life. If we keep moving as we age doing what we do and keep training, You keep living. The old folks who refuse to move are the ones who have the most problems

[Ryan Brown]

Ernie Frantz is a legendary powerlifter of old who no doubt can still put up some major weights

yeah Frantz is a very strong guy. I figured that was who he must have been talking about. That's the only guy that old that I could imagine doing that much weight. I think I recall him doing 800 when he was 60 or something.

Edit: found the interview. 821 squat at 64

http://www.chicagopowerlifting.com/ErnieFrantzInterview.html

[Corey DuCharme]

yeah Frantz is a very strong guy. I figured that was who he must have been talking about. That's the only guy that old that I could imagine doing that much weight. I think I recall him doing 800 when he was 60 or something.

Edit: found the interview. 821 squat at 64

http://www.chicagopowerlifting.com/ErnieFrantzInterview.html

That was great, thanks!

[D.J. Satterfield]

Thanks Ryan, that is some incredible strength at that age or any age for that matter.