- The 74-year-old man has been exercising and counting every day for 10 years.
- He said using a strength machine to walk for cardio keeps him healthy for years.
- Machine-based strength training helps to build muscle and prevent injuries to improve lifespan.
When Vincent “Vin” Dimonte decided to go to the gym in late December 2014, he loved it.
And the next day.
And the next day.
After more than 3,700 days, he hasn’t missed out on a day of exercise, but he does a simple day of light aerobic exercise to give his body a chance to recover.
The 74-year-old from Rhode Island said his regular routine of combining strength training with aerobic exercise has made him feel energized, healthy and strong over time.
“I’m barely ill and I have no room for a headache. I’ve been motivated, hard work, dedication and determination over the last few years,” Dimonte told Business Insider in an interview coordinated by Planet Fitness, the gym of his choice.
Dimonte’s current training schedule is approximately one hour each day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It has been this way for 10 years and counts. He has no plans to slow down.
“I’ve treated exercise like ‘work’. Stand up, dress up, show up and don’t give up,” he said.
Here’s what a typical training looks like for Dimonte, and why science says it’s so good for longevity.
Exercise machine Helps build muscle and prevent injuries
The majority of Dimonte’s training is intended Pun, strength training to build muscle.
“The goal was to become a ‘lean average, fighter’, as John Candy declared in ‘stripes’,” Dimonte said.
He spends about 45 minutes training on a strength machine six days a week. Each focuses on different muscle groups. This is a strategy called workout splits that allows another group of muscles to rest another group of muscles.
Recent gym sessions included calves expansion, leg extensions and biceps. Other exercises include chest presses and cable pull-downs.
Dimonte said he prefers strength training machines to freeweight weight because of the ease of movement.
Machine exercise helps isolate the target muscles, making it perfect for building muscle, whether you’re a beginner or experienced athlete. And healthy muscle mass is key to living longer, increasing body resilience, preventing illness, and strengthening metabolism over time.
For older athletes exercising for years, gym machines can prevent injuries as they provide more support and stability, the personal trainer previously told Business Insider.
Aerobic exercise protects your mind for a longer lifespan
Over the years, Dimonte added time to Treadmill to his training routine for aerobic exercise.
His current sessions include about 12 minutes of aerobic exercise every day, and Sundays only cardio allows him to continue moving while the muscles rest.
Aerobic or aerobic exercise can help you increase your lifespan and health by protecting your heart as you age, whether you are walking, cycling, jogging, or doing other activities that will raise your heart rate.
Also, during Covid when the gym was closed, the walk kept Dimonte active and exercised every day.
Dimonte said the key to maintaining his health and the 10-year habits are consistent. His advice is to find a community where you can do active things every day and develop lifelong habits. According to science, having a strong social connection and sense of purpose is not only related to better longevity, but it is also one of the best ways to keep your training peers motivated at the gym.
As Dimonte says: “One day you’ll go, go the next day and get your routine right away. You’ll become friends with people who have the same goal. They’ll become your ‘peep!”
