When people think about turning 50, they might associate it with slowing down and taking more time for themselves. But not Mustafa Rashed, who is transforming how people view midlife fitness after investing in his health.
Fitness has always been important for Rashed, who has spent years taking care of his body and staying in shape. But the Generation Xer (people born between 1965 and 1980) doesn’t plan on slowing down now, as he works out for two to three hours, seven days a week.
In fact, 50-year-old Rashed, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thinks his health is even better than when he was half his age, but he told Newsweek that it’s still just “a work in progress.”
He mixes his daily workouts between strength training, cycling, running, yoga, and surfing. And if that wasn’t enough, last year he also started ensuring he hits 10,000 steps every day to boost his fitness.
@mustafalrashed / Instagram
“I’m willing to trade in sleep to fit everything in,” Rashed said. “I’m up every day by 4 a.m. and move a little before work while getting ready for my day. I do the hard stuff first and it gives me the energy and confidence to tackle the rest of my day. Early wins create great momentum for the day.
“My philosophy is that as you age, you’re going to be stiff from movement or stiff from not moving. So, you might as well have the benefit of movement.”
Fueling his body with nutrition has also become an important element to Rashed’s wellbeing. He explained that he limits his sugar intake, opts for food in its “natural form,” and tries to eat as many whole foods as possible.
“Food is fuel, and I am very conscious of only putting the best fuel in my engine,” he said.
Of course, staying on top of his health requires plenty of dedication. But Rashed doesn’t see himself as motivated, but rather, disciplined. While motivation can come and go, discipline remains with him and it allows him to “lay the foundation” for the lifestyle he wants when he’s sixty, seventy, and beyond.
If he remains consistent, he sees no reason why he can’t maintain this active lifestyle well into his senior years.
“I want a full, present, quality life, and to live independently without assistance to be able to physically participate in raising my children and be with my grandchildren. I also want my boys to know that through consistency and discipline, they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” Rashed told Newsweek.
As he gets older, Rashed does face additional challenges, such as a longer warm-up routine and recovery period. But he doesn’t let that deter him from his goals, as he says that “movement is the investment.”
Age is just a number after all, and Rashed doesn’t see it as a barrier to being in top physical condition.
He continued: “It’s a way to prove to yourself that anything is possible. The feeling of being able to push your body past its limits will give you the confidence to do amazing things in all the other areas in your life.”
Rashed often shares videos on Instagram (@mustafalrashed) to showcase his steadfast workout routine and the progress he continues to make. In April, he shared a video of his active lifestyle and highlighted that “aging is inevitable,” but that doesn’t have to mean being unhealthy.
The clip has gone viral with more than 6.3 million views and 352,000 likes on Instagram at the time of writing.
The online response to the video is beyond anything Rashed imagined, and he hopes to encourage many other people to invest in their health now for their later years.
Whether they’re just starting or getting back into a fitness routine, it’s never too late. It’s not about secret hacks or gimmicks to stay fit—it’s just about commitment.
Rashed said: “You have to commit to the same boring, effective routines every day. Boring is good and it delivers the best results over time.”
Social media users have hailed Rashed for his motivational perspective, leading to more than 3,400 comments on the viral Instagram post so far.
One comment reads: “True definition of HEALTH IS WEALTH!”
Another person said: “Thank you for that reminder!”
While another Instagram user wrote: “Exercise: Fountain of Youth.”
Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
