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| Olympic Pool Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City 1964 |
Park Avenue Dermatology and Non-Surgical Rejuvenation Board Certified Dermatologist 629 Park Avenue New York, NY 10065
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| 61 Years Later—The Passion Never Fades. Senior Olympics 2025. Here I Come |
How Swimming, Weight Lifting, Bands, and Nutrition Can Make You Look Great from Childhood to 100 Years Old
By Dr. Gary Jayne Rothfeld
In the rhythm of life, we all seek to preserve the essence of vitality, the glow that comes not just from the outside, but from within. We are all born with the potential for greatness, yet as time passes, the question is not how we age, but how we choose to live each passing day. For the child, the adolescent, the adult, and even the centenarian, there exists a truth that is timeless—our bodies, if nurtured with intention, can remain strong, vibrant, and ready to meet life head-on.
What do we mean when we say strength and beauty? Is it not the combination of swimming, weight lifting, bands, and nutrition—a harmony of body and mind—that shapes us into the best versions of ourselves?
Let us begin with swimming, that most primal of movements, the act of being suspended in water, moving with grace yet with purpose. From the child learning to float to the adult pushing their limits in competitive swims, swimming is a practice of liberation. It frees the mind and cleanses the body. There is something majestic about gliding through the water, the resistance of the liquid demanding a strength that does not come from brute force but from harmony. Swimming keeps the heart, the lungs, and the muscles in a state of constant development. It is the kind of exercise that defies age, allowing the young to thrive and the old to preserve their youth.
Weight lifting, often seen as the domain of the young and the strong, is a discipline that requires patience and precision. It is about resistance, yes, but also about understanding the body’s mechanics. To lift weights is to honor the muscle, to give it the opportunity to grow, adapt, and flourish. When practiced correctly, weight lifting grants the body the strength that transcends the external. It is not about becoming the strongest person in the room, but about being the best version of yourself, at any age. The wisdom of weight lifting lies in its ability to keep bones strong, muscles defined, and metabolism sharp, from the first lift to the last.
Then, there are the bands, elastic in their simplicity, yet profound in their ability to change how we experience strength training. These bands offer a kind of resistance that brings a new understanding to what it means to challenge one’s body. They are an equalizer. Whether you're a child beginning the journey of physical development or a senior working to maintain mobility and strength, the bands teach us that resistance can be subtle but powerful. They allow us to practice a kind of movement that builds endurance, flexibility, and stability, all while being gentle on the joints. As we age, these bands offer a means to remain agile, to move freely, and to never lose the dance of life.
But what good is exercise if the body is not nourished? Nutrition, then, becomes the silent partner in this symphony of health. It is the fuel that powers the engine, the building blocks that allow muscles to grow, bones to remain strong, and the mind to stay sharp. A diet rich in lean proteins, fresh vegetables, healthy fats, and hydration supports everything we do. There is no magic pill, no shortcut to the strength that comes from proper nutrition. It is not about depriving oneself, but about nourishing with intention, about making choices that honor the body’s needs and not its desires. It is the difference between thriving and merely existing.
And so, here we stand, at the crossroads of health and vitality. Whether you are a child dreaming of an active future or a 100-year-old determined to remain vibrant, these elements—swimming, weight lifting, bands, and nutrition—hold the key. Together, they form the foundation of a life well-lived. They are the antidote to the notion that age is an obstacle. They remind us that we are not defined by the years we have lived, but by the decisions we make each day.
I, Dr. Gary Jayne Rothfeld, have lived this life since I was a tyke, and through my years of business ventures, one truth became crystal clear: the greatest real estate, the asset that would ensure wealth, health, and fulfillment, was my body. Everything I have achieved in life and beyond, stems from the understanding that investing in oneself is the most powerful thing a person can do. It is the foundation of a prosperous life. The body, when properly nurtured, is not just a vessel—it becomes a true asset, a force that carries you through life’s challenges and successes with strength, agility, and purpose.
There is something beautiful in the act of choosing health. It is an affirmation of life itself. To swim, to lift, to resist, and to nourish is not just a physical practice, but a statement: we will not succumb to time. We will not fade into the background of existence. Instead, we will rise, each day, to meet life with the strength of a swimmer, the wisdom of a lifter, the resilience of a band, and the vitality of good nutrition. In this, we are all ageless, bound not by the number of years, but by the strength of our will.
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| DR GARY JAYNE ROTHFELD |
