'I get a very guilty feeling if i miss a workout,' Harry Rosen says. (Rafal Gerszak for The Globe and Mail)
Power Crunch gets expert feedback on a different workout routine every week. This week, fashion icon Harry Rosen shares his exercise plan.
My Goal
"My goal is to stay in shape. Either you'll read my obituary very soon or I'll be the best-conditioned 77-year-old you ever saw."
My Workout
Rises at 5 a.m. and hits Toronto's Extreme Fitness four times a week: 30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical, followed by a five-kilometre run on a treadmill.
Training focuses on core strength, including three sets each of Roman chair crunches, push-ups, exercise ball sit-ups, lower back extensions, side bends with a 16-kilogram weight and bicep curls with seven-kilogram barbells.
On Sundays, works with a trainer, focusing on strength conditioning by circuit training with weights.
My Lifestyle
"I mark down everything I eat in my food diary. I regulate it so that my weight is fairly constant, ranging up or down three pounds.
"My good days are when I eat at home. My bad days are when I eat out and eat too much. And if there's wine or cocktails - those are my bad days."
My Motivation
"I've been doing this type of conditioning for many years. I don't remember what it feels like to not work out. All of my friends who I used to run with - we ran marathons - ... their backs or their knees gave out. People think I work out too hard but I get a very guilty feeling if I miss a workout."
My Workout Anthem
"The elliptical machines have TVs. I watch CNN."
My Challenges
"You start to realize you are fumbling for the name of a restaurant or the name of a person. When do you know you're old? Because people certainly remind you.
"If I can live till I'm 80 and keep this workout, I'll have satisfied myself. I'm not going to push myself. ... There are certain risks, but that's always been my style."
The Critique
Find balance
Lhara Eben, a trainer at Toronto's Eclipse Fitness Club, suggests Mr. Rosen try dropping one of those cardio-heavy days and focus instead on balance and stretching exercises. "No matter how fit you are, seniors need to work on their balance because as we age our centre of gravity changes."
A good hour of stretching can do wonders, especially fighting stiffness in the joints.
Think Holistic
Mr. Rosen's daily strength exercises could be finessed. "Learn to use your whole body instead of these isolated exercises," Ms. Eben says.
A routine incorporating ball work and yoga or Pilates can stretch muscles and develop flexibility while building strength in a more functional, full-body way. He can double the benefits by replacing abdomen and back exercises with moves that engage the midsection while working legs or arms.
Break the routine
Ms. Eben says many athletes are addicted to the adrenalin rush of tough cardio or weight-training sessions. But that can get you in a rut.
"It's hard to give it up, but he needs to add in some new ideas," she says.
Give the body a rest, try a fresh class and look for something relaxing, not exhausting. Every couple of months, try something totally new. It will keep the body energized.
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