Let’s go right to the headline…at 82 years old, you have the Guinness World Record title of the oldest active fitness trainer in the world! Tell us how that all happened?
My Guinness World Record designation was completely unplanned.. A friend of mine called me and said, “i think you may be the oldest trainer in the world”. After I told him he was crazy he explained that he had looked it up and he knew what he was talking about. I then went through the background checks and provided evidence to the Guinness staff which actually took about a year to complete. I felt I had nothing to lose by applying and sure enough in 2020 I got the notice that I had made the cut and was now the world record holder. The official category is: The oldest active fitness instructor (multiple disciplines}. I never expected to hold a world record in anything. Pretty amazing.
Your clientele is primarily people over 60. You have also become a member of the FUNCTIONAL AGING institute and hold multiple fitness certifications. Why is it important for older people to maintain a weight training/gym regimen?
It is important and critical to living our lives to the fullest and remaining active as we age.. We begin to lose muscle starting in our mid thirties. If we don’t actively combat that loss by training for strength we become frail and weak by the time we get into our 70’s. Contrary to what most people think we need to lift more as we age to maintain and build muscle.There are many ways to do this but the most important thing is to stay consistent and not quit. Find what works for you and do it,. Make it part of your lifestyle. Taking control of your health and making that a priority in your life is a great legacy you can pass along to your children and grandchildren.
What does a typical working day look like for Tim Minnick? How long do you think you will maintain this schedule?
My typical day looks like this most days: Up at about 6am and prepare for my classes and individual clients for that day and the rest of the week. I try to fit in a workout of about an hour to an hour and a half if I can as early as I can. Some days that is not possible so I have to improvise and fit my personal workout where I can. I try not to eat much until my evening meal. I try to consume as much quality protein and other nutrients from food as I can and then supplement where necessary, I try to get to bed before 10:30 if I can and get as much quality sleep as I can. Rest and quality nutrition are an essential part of taking control of your health.
