[nradov]

There's no need to be weak and frail. You can actually do a lot about physical deterioration ... up to a point. In one of the triathlons I raced last year the retired Marine who won the 70 - 79 age group was only a few minutes slower than me.

The key to staving off muscle atrophy and loss of bone mineral density is doing high-impact training and weightlifting at least a couple times per week, while maintaining proper form to avoid injury. The digestive system also becomes less efficient at absorbing some nutrients so you have to increase protein intake in order to have the necessary building blocks for repairing damaged muscle tissue.

[hammock]

Not sure why you've been downvoted. Weightlifting (specifically heavy+low reps) has major effect to promote bone density, that's why astronauts do it now in space. It also prevents muscle atrophy, that much should be obvious. Finally, more muscle mass will keep your metabolism up and prevent fat gain.

[jfo]

I know you meant resistance training in general wrt astronauts in space but I just got the funniest image in my head of Chris Hadfield doing a zero G overhead press with a loaded bar and floating all over the place hahaha

[Out_of_Characte]

So far I've seen no rules stating that world records should be taking place on earth gravity. Maybe this is my chance to take some weightlifting records.

[michaelcampbell]

Sadly, in zero G there is no weight so every record would be 0. Equally sadly, there are no "masslifting" records to actually beat.

What does "lift" even mean where there is no objective "down"?

[steve_adams_86]

Likewise, I came in 3rd in a (relatively low key) half marathon 6 or 7 years ago and the guy right behind me the whole way was 72. I was maxed out (I think my finish time was 1:36), and when I finished I was absolutely bushed. This old guy congratulated me, ate a cookie, hung out a bit, then ran home like the whole thing was a warm up.

[agapon]

In my mind, I cannot reconcile to scientific facts: (1) to keep muscle mass and to not become frail you need to take more protein; (2) protein restricted diet slows down aging.

[nradov]

There is no proof that protein restriction actually extends lifespan in humans (or any primate). That's not a scientific fact. And hypothetically even if it did work to slightly extend lifespan, I see little point in just being alive if I'm too weak and frail to do the activities I enjoy.

[learnstats2]

> (2) protein restricted diet slows down aging.

Protein/calorie restricted diet is observed to slow down aging in rats in laboratory conditions, i.e. which make no other changes to their presumably sedentary lifestyles.

Protein restriction in humans is only recommended if you have some chronic kidney disease. If I remember right, most people don't consume enough protein to need to restrict in this case either.