I’m John. I’m 65. And I Almost Kept Ignoring the Numbers.

I’ve been active most of my life. Not an athlete — but moving. Walking, working, staying busy. I figured that counted for something.

Then I looked at my Apple Watch and saw two words I wasn’t ready for: Below Average.

That was my VO2 max. A real, measurable number that tells you how efficiently your body uses oxygen — and mine said I was below average for my age group. Not borderline. Not “room to improve.” Below Average.

I weighed 270 pounds. My waist was 50 inches. My average walking heart rate was hovering around 115 BPM on an easy neighborhood loop. I’d been walking 2+ miles a day and genuinely thought I was doing okay. The watch disagreed.

I could have closed the app and moved on. I’d done that before — seen a number I didn’t like and found a reason not to deal with it. Most people do.

This time I didn’t.

Why I Started Writing It Down

I’m 65, I live in Reno, Nevada, and I work as a solo operator — field tech work that keeps me on the road and makes it easy to skip routines when life gets busy. I know what it’s like to have a fitness plan that survives exactly one disrupted week before it falls apart.

I also know what it’s like to try things that work for a 35-year-old personal trainer and feel wrecked for two days afterward. I did 20 push-ups on a Tuesday and felt it until Friday. That’s not a starting point. That’s a reason to quit.

So I started building things that fit my actual life. A walking program with strength stops built in. Meal prep that survived a Monday flight and a Thursday field call. Supplement routines simple enough to actually do every day.

And I started writing down what happened — the Apple Watch data, the honest feedback from my knees, the weeks where the numbers went up and the ones where they didn’t. Not because I thought I had it figured out. Because I wanted a record of figuring it out.

That’s this site.

What fitafter60.com Actually Is

This isn’t a fitness program from someone who’s already in shape. It’s not generic wellness advice from a 40-year-old trainer who’s never had a stiff hip at 6am.

It’s one 65-year-old in Reno, documenting a real health journey in real time, with an Apple Watch on his wrist and enough stubbornness to publish the data even when it’s not flattering.

The Walk & Strengthen series is the most active part of the site right now. I designed a card-based walking workout system — 5 strength stops built into every walk, no gym, no equipment — and I test every card on my actual morning walks before publishing. The Apple Watch data goes straight into the post. You see what I saw.

The blog covers everything else — joint health, sleep, protein after 60, belly fat and cortisol, VO2 max improvement. All of it written from personal experience, not a textbook.

The numbers I’m tracking:

  • Weight: 270 lbs (tracking weekly)
  • Waist: 50 inches (the number I care about more than weight)
  • VO2 max: Below Average at the start — improving through interval walking
  • Average walking heart rate: ~115 BPM and moving

None of those numbers are good yet. That’s the point. This is the beginning of the story, not the end.

What This Isn’t

Not a supplement sales page. Not a before-and-after from someone who was already most of the way there. Not advice that ignores the realities of being over 60 — slower recovery, joints that have opinions, a metabolism that plays by different rules than it used to.

I’m not a doctor. I’m not a certified trainer. Everything here is personal experience, and I’ll tell you to talk to your doctor before starting anything new because I mean it, not because I have to say it.

If You’re New Here

Start with the Walk & Strengthen series. Card 1 is free — drop your email and I’ll send it to you. It’s a complete walking workout with 5 strength stops, no equipment, and designed specifically so you don’t wreck yourself on day one.

Or go straight to the series: → Walk & Strengthen Series

Health Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or certified trainer. Everything here is personal experience. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program.

Affiliate Disclosure: This page may contain Amazon affiliate links (jbrsd1-20). I only recommend products I personally use.