Nate Wilkins is one of the 2025 Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes sharing updates on his health and wellness journey through the rest of this year. Learn more about Nate – a personal trainer and co-founder of The Ageless Workout Method – by reading his introductory story here. Check out Nate’s motivational tips below to learn how you can find freedom and independence through fitness.

In the past, aging was viewed as a steady decline. A time to slow down, fade out, and shrink back. But that narrative no longer holds power. In today’s world, we’re rewriting the story.

Getting to the next level in “the new age of aging” means redefining what’s possible – not by clinging to outdated ideas of decline, but by embracing strength, purpose, and proactive living. It means realizing that aging is not a limitation. It’s a launchpad.

What Does It Mean to Level Up?

When you level up, you upgrade how you care for your body, mind, and spirit.

To level up means to pursue intentional growth, not just accumulate birthdays. It’s about actively designing the next chapter of your life – one step, one choice, one healthy habit at a time.

When you level up, you:

• Upgrade how you care for your body, mind, and spirit.
• Reject the myth that aging is a downhill slope.
• Take complete control of your health, habits, and mindset.
• Live with clarity, vitality, and confidence.

Getting to the Next Level Means…

1. Function Over Frailty
   You move better, longer. It’s not just about preventing disease. It’s about building resilience.
2. Wisdom Over Worry
   You use your lived experience to make stronger, more intelligent choices. You become the CEO of your health.
3. Purpose Over Passivity
   You stay connected to your passions, your community, and your purpose.
4. Training Smart, Not Just Hard
   You focus on practices that support your metabolic health, joint mobility, and longevity, such as resistance training, good sleep, whole-food nutrition, and joyful movement.

The New Age of Aging Believes…

• You can be in your 60s, 70s, or 80s and still reach your peak.
• Your body is still adaptable and strong.
• Your brain is still capable of growth and change.
• You are not done. You are just getting started!

Watch Nate’s first workout session with Senior Planet: “Ageless Mind and Body Wellness”

Science Backs It Up

Lifestyle change is effective even after 70, with movement, mindset, and nutrition all contributing to the extension of one’s health span.

This isn’t just optimism, it’s evidence-based! Neuroplasticity continues well into later life, and your brain can rewire and adapt. Muscle responsiveness never retires. With resistance training, you can build strength at any age. Lifestyle change is effective even after 70, with movement, mindset, and nutrition all contributing to the extension of one’s health span. According to Yale’s School of Public Health, a positive mindset toward aging can extend life by 7.5 years.

Functional Independence = Freedom

Living on your terms – without relying on others – is one of the most significant markers of aging well. That’s called functional independence. It means being able to walk, lift, climb stairs, carry groceries, and dance at your grandchild’s wedding. According to the CDC, regular strength, balance, and flexibility training can reduce the risk of falls and help manage disability. Movement is a key to freedom as we age.

Ready to Level Up? Join Me!

If you’d like to level up, join me here on Zoom on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 1:30pm EDT for a special presentation and workout. I’ll share more about my own wellness journey and show you how to level up your strength, balance, and mobility. We’ll perform exercises that support everyday movement so you can stay independent and live life with more confidence and less worry.

Movement is medicine for both your body and brain, and every step helps you take control of your health and your life. Remember:

• Aging is a lifestyle, not a limitation.
• Functional fitness is your path to freedom.
• Every move supports metabolic health.
• Pro-aging is proactive aging—your mindset matters.

You are the architect of your own wellness!

In need of a little motivation to get moving? Join our daily health and wellness programs, stay tuned to the latest news and articles from SeniorPlanet.org by signing up for The Orbit weekly newsletter, and follow us on social media (Facebook | YouTube | Instagram) to get to know these awe-inspiring athletes. You might just find a new love for fitness along the way!

Images courtesy of Nate Wilkins