Why muscle health is so important

You’ll never regret having more muscle.

We often hear that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. But I’d add another: as you grow older, and especially as you approach life’s final decade, you’ll never say, “I wish I had less muscle.”

Our team at Rise recently listened to a podcast with Dr. Peter Attia, an expert in longevity and human physiology. He hosted three exercise specialists who explored why resistance training is vital, not just for fitness, but for aging well.

That thought stayed with me: you will never wish you had less muscle as you age. Clinical research and real‑world experience both back it up. There is no denying that we are all on the journey of aging, so the real question is, are you aging well? Here are three things to consider when answering that question.

3 Muscle Qualities That Shape Healthy Aging

1. Muscle Mass Muscle mass isn’t just about aesthetics and "looking good". Having more muscle supports metabolic health, helps with insulin sensitivity, and supports bone and joint health.

2. Muscular Strength Strength is what lets you do daily tasks like climbing stairs, carrying groceries, and getting up from a chair. Tasks like these may not seem like a big deal when we're young, but they can quickly become challenging as we age if strength training isn't a priority.

3. Muscular Power Power (the ability to move forcefully and quickly) declines faster than strength as we age. Why is power important? A big reason is that it’s crucial for reacting to slips or falls by helping you catch yourself. This isn’t just because our bodies' physiology changes as we age, but more importantly, because we stop practicing being powerful. That’s why even if members groan at the idea of doing power drills, we insist on it.

At Rise, our top priority is helping our members to age well by supporting them in consistent resistance training to build and maintain muscle. When you look back, you’ll never regret it.

Count the cost, learn to appreciate the process, and keep doing it day by day.

To learn more about personal training at Rise, what kind of successes our members have seen with us, and how we can help you reach your goals, head here.