I still have my 1995 copy of "Living Stronger Longer: The 6 week Plan to Enhance & Extend Your Years Over 40" by Ellington Darden. I see it as a great course for building health and fitness for those over 40; and it has great workouts! Great book, and makes life easier for men over 40 and beyond. It has workouts for weeks 1 through 6 using either machines and or using a barbell and dumbbells. Plus a second group of 4 workouts for maintenance using machine exercise and 4 workouts for those using barbells and dumbbells. Now these workouts all can be used with weights or machines but can be used with Isometric Weightlifting-AKA VRT. Exercise is vital and fitness is good for us, walking or power walking helps make life better.
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Health, Fitness, Non-Apparatus Exercise, Unarmed Self-Defense, Firearms Self Defense
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I think that the two best methods to exercise are calisthenic courses like the Charles Atlas Course and Isometric exercises & Isometric exercisers. As a boy in Little Italy the Grandpa's, Great Uncle's and Dad's taught the boys to do push-ups, sit-ups and leg lifts and assorted other calisthenics very similar to the Atlas Course. I did not see an Atlas Course until in my late 40's. In New York various forms of Isometrics were also popular, Isometric Exercisers, Isometric Courses. Oddly these two methods are the safest ones. I'd count Plank exercises as Isometrics too.
The Isometric Exerciser I used as a boy and even now is a Snyder Isometric Exerciser and some used the Strength Builder or Mickey Mantle One Minute a Day Gym exercisers. Now "Steamer Trunk Belts" were popular and are again popular; you use weightlifting exercises as Isometrics using the web Belt. Also popular were the "Chest Expander" exerciser, with springs and two handles.
Don't forget about genetics. There's always going to be someone trying to say they have the magic pill for longevity. There are a lot of things that factor in this. All this stuff is a nice guide line. Is there a best way to go about it? I know this is not what most people want to hear but no one can tell You that. Just enjoy what You do and live life.
I'm not trying to down grade Ellington Darden or his book, I'm sure it's nice. Plus MikeNY seems to like it. So if it works for him he should keep using it. Whatever ever works for the person, if they are going to be consistant, and it's fun for them I'd say have at it. No matter what, if it makes You feel good don't let anyone tell You differant.
" What is the best workout for people over 60?" This is a good article with useful recommendations.
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/what-is-the-best-workout-for-people-over-60.html
In general, it emphasizes weightlifting benefits, however, I believe that voluntary self-resistance is more appropriate training for older people because it is safer and gives much more benefits for different systems of organism.