Senior Fitness Advice From an 81-Year-Old Trainer

• At 81, Harry King works 35 hours a week as a fitness trainer.
• He specializes in helping seniors get the most out of their workouts.
• King said Gerry Turner, 72, star of “The Golden Bachelor,” is a role model for seniors.

Gerry Turner, the 72-year-old star of “The Golden Bachelor,” won over fans and contestants vying for his heart with his high level of fitness.

The veteran recently told GQ that he goes hiking regularly and plays no less than nine hours of pickleball a week.

“I go for walks because I have a dog, and the dog loves walks,” he told the magazine. “One of the lakes nearby has a three-mile loop, so I get it.”

Turner also said he plays pickleball three mornings a week for about three hours straight.

“That’s how I do my exercise,” said Turner, who proudly wears hearing aids. He pointed out that although he went for long runs to “clear his head,” he found that walking was a good alternative in his old age.

The grandfather and father of two didn’t talk about working out at the gym, but the mansion where “The Golden Bachelor” was filmed has a pool for contestants to use between takes.

A fitness instructor says Turner is a great role model

Harry King, an 81-year-old fitness trainer, has no celebrity clients but said he would love to put Turner through his paces.

“Gerry is a great role model for seniors who want to stay fit and active,” he said.

King said he hopes some people are inspired by his role as a qualified Planet Fitness instructor.

“I’m sure a lot of people question an older gentleman as a coach,” King said. “But I work out more and have more energy than most people.”

King, a former senior vice president of sales and marketing for an insurance company, said he started taking exercise “more seriously” when he reached middle age.

King said that despite having health problems associated with aging, including arthritis, he trains five times a week in addition to the 35 hours a week he spends as a trainer.

“You need to exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle at any age, but it’s particularly important when you’re older like me,” said the octogenarian.

He shared his top three fitness tips for seniors with Insider. “If you make it a habit, it will help you live a longer life,” he said.

Define your goals

King said the first thing you should do after seeing your doctor is “ask yourself what you want to achieve.”

“Your goals may include increasing muscle mass, losing weight, lowering blood pressure or feeling healthier in general,” he said.

He advised seniors to monitor their progress by watching their vital signs and taking photos before starting a new exercise regimen.

“This will keep you motivated as you see improvements in your health,” said King, who used to record his achievements in a written journal.

He also told people to be “realistic” about their goals and know their limitations. “Nobody wants to be discouraged or burnt out,” he said.

Remember that low-impact workouts provide the best and safest form of exercise for seniors

King said a steady, low-intensity workout is ideal for seniors. He said the exercises are easier on joints like knees, hips and ankles because “your feet are on the floor the whole time.”

He recommended activities such as walking on a treadmill, stepping on an elliptical machine and rowing. He said stationary bikes provide “great cardio,” adding that rowing works “all the muscle groups” and offers the benefit of improving posture.

“These exercises should be done at about 60% to 65% of your maximum effort,” he said.

King said seniors often need to work on rebuilding muscles lost during the natural aging process. But he cautioned that it’s best to lift weights, such as dumbbells, under supervision.

Get a gym buddy

King said having a partner at the gym will help in terms of accountability.

“You’ll give each other motivation to go to the gym, even when you don’t feel like it,” he said. “You’ll have a better chance of an effective workout when you encourage each other.”

The 81-year-old said the social aspect of academia is a welcome antidote to the loneliness that often comes with being a senior. “It’s a good way to expand your circle of friends,” he said, adding that he “has fun” talking to young people and the gym staff.

He recommends that people commit to low-impact exercise three times a week. “Try to stay at the gym for at least half an hour to an hour,” he said.