The prescription for aging well
After seeing firsthand how neglecting fitness accelerates decline, Cleveland physician Dr. Mushtaq Mahmood turned to MaxStrength Fitness to protect his strength, mobility and quality of life for decades to come.
MaxStrength Fitness’s science-backed methodology that favors shorter, more intense workouts on specialized equipment appealed to local physician Dr. Mushtaq Mahmood. He’s pictured with MSF Trainer Dominic. (Photography: Adrienne Rose)
As a physician at one of Cleveland’s major hospital health systems, Dr. Mushtaq Mahmood has a front-row seat to how a person’s health can decline over the years if left neglected.
On an everyday basis, he treats senior patients who are confined to wheelchairs, walkers or hospital beds due to poor health.
So, when he started to feel “sluggish and flabby” a few years ago, he asked his physician colleagues what they did to stay in shape as they aged.
Several of them chimed in with the same answer: MaxStrength Fitness.
“I’m in my mid-50s and want to stay strong and vibrant for the rest of my life,” Dr. Mahmood says. “I see so many patients in their 60s and 70s who are overweight and weakened by avoidable chronic disease and not enjoying the quality of life that they could if they’d only taken better care of themselves. With a busy career, wife and two sons in their 20s, I want to make the most of my future.”
No Plans of Stopping
MaxStrength Fitness’s science-backed methodology that favors shorter, more intense workouts on specialized equipment appealed to him.
Dr. Mahmood said at first, he was skeptical that two weekly 20-minute, trainer-led workouts were enough to fatigue his muscles. However, after his first workout, he was a big fan. He’s been training here since 2022 and has no plans of stopping.
“My goal was to become more toned and fit,” says Dr. Mahmood. “After just a few workouts, I noticed a significant increase in my energy level; I feel super- charged and sharp. After every workout, I feel that each muscle has been properly fatigued and strengthened. My trainer Dominic pushes me to the maximum and motivates me to do the best I can. I’m feel that this is the most efficient exercise modality for someone who is very busy in their career and doesn’t have much free time to devote to an exercise regimen.”
He says he feels inspired to be lifting the same amount of weights at age 65 and then 85 that he has built up to today.
“If you don’t protect and preserve your health as you age, nothing else in your life matters,” he adds.
Muscle Mass is the Key
It turns out, like Dr. Mahmood discovered, there’s a bevy of scientific research to back up the beneficial repercussions of building and maintaining muscle mass as you age. MaxStrength Fitness Founder Jeff Tomaszewski came up with his slow exercise protocol based on his research into that connection.
“Sarcopenia, which means losing muscle mass as we age, begins in the 30s and continues to decline slowly over the decades, then speeds up after age 65 for women and 70 for men,” says Jeff. “About one-third of adults over age 70 have trouble walking, getting out of a chair, climbing stairs. Once mobility is compromised, falls, chronic disease and senior care admissions increase.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. We have the power to build muscle at any age.”
MaxStrength Fitness
13500 Pearl Road, Strongsville
4212 State Route 306, Willoughby
2211 Crocker Road, Westlake
Take the 10K Step It Up Challenge
Ready to get nudged out of your comfort zone? The trainers at MaxStrength Fitness have a helpful guide for ways to sneak 10,000 steps into your day, and a worksheet to track your progress. With a little focus on taking daily action toward reaching your goals, you can become … unstoppable. For your free copy, go to MaxStrengthFitness.com/step-it-up
Mimi Reader Special!
Find out which movements, customized to your goals, will set you on a path to better health. Schedule your complimentary consultation—plus two free workouts—at
MaxStrength Fitness. Offer good through Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Recent Posts
RELATED ARTICLES
