Fred Bartlit is on a mission to re-define aging. A distinguished U.S. Army commander and high profile trial lawyer – he represented two American presidents – Fred is now 87 and a passionate advocate for strength training as we grow old. The author of Choosing the Strong Path: Reversing the Downward Spiral of Aging, is, by his own admission, obsessed with pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Fred’s mantra is that if we “get strong” everything else will fall into place.  In this LLAMA podcast interview he explains his philosophy that strength drives everything – in life and business – and why men, especially “big shots” from the world of business, are less inclined than women to follow his advice.

Published on: 14 Aug 2019 @ 19:51 PT

NOTES & QUOTES

• Fred’s aspirations to remain strong and active into his 90s.
• How medical science, he believes, fails to focus on optimum health over 75.
• Life expectancy versus health expectancy.

“My goals are not necessarily to live a lot longer, but a lot better.”

• Fred was selected by two U.S. Presidents of different parties to represent them in high profile cases.
• He represented President George W. Bush in the 2001 U.S. Presidential election ‘hanging chad’ trial.
• Fred was selected to be the president’s chief counsel for Barack Obama’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.
• How Fred’s future wife warned him that his exercise regime, at 50, would leave him a corpse at 60.
• How lifting heavy weights transformed Fred’s body.
• Why he was inspired to pursue research into sarcopenia, chronic diseases, fatigue, falls, and early death.

“I love my life and I don’t want to see it going backwards.”

• Why he came to the conclusion that there is direct correlation between strength and happiness.
• How Fred escaped being a “fat old fool” at the country club.
• Fred’s diet of brightly coloured vegetables and fruit.
• What does “a pot belly can not lead men” mean?

“Some of the most successful men in the world are the last ones to be willing to say I’m getting frail….I’d better start pumping iron now.”

• Getting up at 3.30 AM and working out every day.
• Still working as an active trial lawyer at 87
• Why men won’t acknowledge their age-related frailties.
• How you can avoid the downward spiral of aging.

“You live like crazy to the end and then one day you don’t wake up and you’ve got nothing to bitch about.  You’ve had a wonderful life!”