SANFORD, Fla. – As we age, we definitely lose muscle. It’s a known fact that if you don’t use it, you pretty much lose it.

In fact, older men typically experience a natural decline in muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, starting around age 30, with a projected loss of about 30% of muscle mass over a typical lifespan. This loss can accelerate after age 60, and can lead to reduced strength and mobility.

By age 80, up to half of men may have sarcopenia.

But not for Chuck Pula. The 76-year-old took on a serious workout at Planet Fitness’ Sanford location, lifting 100 tons, or 200,000 pounds.

“The inspiration came from an article I read back in 2017 in the Wall Street Journal that said ‘Lift 100 tons’, so I said, ‘Sure, I’ll try it,‘” said Pula. “I liked the concept so I did it that year at the Daytona Beach gym, and it was like, ‘Wow, that was kind of neat that I accomplished another heavy season goal’, because I work different seasons. And then I did it again four years ago at the Planet Fitness in Lake Mary. You don’t tell anyone, you just do it and a few friends and family tell everyone, ‘Hey, he lifted 100 tons!’ But this year, I really felt like I needed to go for it, I felt like I am ready. I trained up to it and I can knock it out.”

Interviewed before he started the monster workout, Pula laid out what it would look like. 

“It’s 100 tons cumulatively, so you multiply the weight on the machines by the number of reps, and I’ll be doing 35 different machines and 40 reps on each machine for two sets. I’ll work my way through the gym and hopefully be done in about two hours,” said Pula.

The plan included full-body exercises done in three segments, with a short water break in between.

He hit all major muscle groups, from quads to hamstrings, to lats to biceps and chest. He totaled about 1,400 reps with anywhere from 50 to 400 lbs., depending on the exercise.

“The heaviest exercise is the leg sled, I think it’s about 437 pounds for two sets of 40,” said Pula.

Fitness isn’t anything new to him. Over his career, Pula served at Winter Park, St. Cloud, Lake County, and Winter Springs in Parks and Rec, with activity and the outdoors as a focus.

“I was a parks and recreation director most of my career so I was in the office dealing with politicians, but I took lunch breaks every day to work out in the police department’s gym and then eat my lunch at my desk,” said Pula. “I really got into working out regularly when I was 43 years old, which was 33 years ago. I love the people here and I love the surroundings, and just working out. I feel good after I work out even though I may have a few aches and pains, but it’s great to come back and work out again.”

Pula said not only does he train for workouts like this, but if you’re not catching him at Planet Fitness, you can also catch him on the court—he’s a local ref for youth basketball games.

“I’m a high school basketball referee for the Central Florida Officials Association, this is my 47th of doing it, and I do boys and girls varsity games. Last year I did 61 games. I mean, I am not in the gym as much, but I am out on the court running. I develop my slow-twitch muscle fibers so I have a lot of endurance to be able to take the game,” said Pula.

When asked if Pula thinks staying active is helping him do more in his senior years, he said people who are even older than him in the gym are his heroes. He said he hopes everyone finds inspiration to work out. For his family, Pula himself is the inspiration.

“It’s pretty inspiring, it’s pretty awesome to see him do this, he’s always been into challenges, so this is a really good fit for him, I feel like,” said Chuck’s son, Michael Pula. “He loves to find unique things that he wants to dedicate some time to, he’s tried all sorts of things, but especially working out.”

Michael, his wife, and their children all came to cheer him on.

“I hope it inspires my kids to take on things, that no matter what age they are, they can take on whatever they put their mind to,” said Michael.

In the meantime, Pula said he hopes to meet more great people in the gym, and hopes everyone finds a way to stay active.

“You know, most of the people I know are younger, in their 60s or even younger and I love talking to everyone in the gym, and maybe people don’t do it because they don’t like working out but I always say find something you like and do that, if you like to cycle, cycle! You like to walk, my neighbor likes to walk and does five miles in the morning and five miles in the evening. It’s like, play pickleball, just do something on a regular basis to keep your body going, exercise is so good,” said Pula. “I read a lot on longevity, I try to change my diet, as long as the Lord keeps me around, I want to be as healthy as I can in my senior years.”

As the workout wrapped up, Pula was tired, but all smiles.

“I feel like I was hit by a truck, but I feel great,” said Pula.“Being overweight is hard on your body and being weak and frail is hard on your body. Working out is going to be hard on your body, too– so choose wisely.”