Ed Flanders at 62 Years Old

National and Drug Tested OCB, 2008

Although health and fitness are sometimes presented as dual concepts, they do, in fact, always go hand in hand. There is no true health without fitness and no true fitness without health. Some people don't seem to understand this, instead focusing only on exercise, whereas others live with an emphasis on diet and nutrition, but do not include regular exercise into their lifestyle. I recall, when just beginning my journey into the raw food world, reading a raw cookbook author's suggestion that simply eating the unprocessed plant based diet was enough to stay in shape (ripped, was actually the term he used), even by lying on the couch. It goes without saying that some athletes, simply by possessing an extraordinary metabolism, may eat all the junk food they like and still perform and look like champions. Likewise, there are a number of healthy eaters whose rigid dietary habits render appearances that may seem athletic. Eventually, however, an unbalanced approach to living well will show its effects, whether they be physical, mental or otherwise. We are fortunate to have visionaries like Ed Flanders, who are not only talents in their own field, but are able to bring the various elements of healthy living together in a way that balance is achieved.

Bodybuilding was not a tremendously popular sport in Maine when I was growing up, and certainly not in the small town where I lived. The only memories I have of it being present during early childhood was that advertisement where the bully kicked sand in the skinny guy's face at the beach. The muscular bully got the girl, of course, at least until skinny started hitting the gym.

Ed was a star track and field athlete at Belfast Area High School, the moderately larger town next to the one where I grew up. He held high school records in both the half mile and full mile for 20 years, and discovered bodybuilding as a means to enhance his athletic performance.  When I met him in the early 1980's, he was a science teacher in Belfast, and operated a small gym in his garage that he'd opened a few years earlier, in 1975. Although not large in scale, it was very well equipped and functional - albeit a bit cold during the winters, you'd need gloves or your hands would be sticking to the steel bars on some of those icy mornings. The small, but dedicated, group of members were a serious and determined group whose passion for fitness caught on and the membership expanded.

In 1983, Ed moved his gym (and renamed it Bay Area Fitness from its unofficial former name "Ed's Gym"). He now has one of the most, if not the most, well equipped gym in the state. The gym houses a unique combination of free weights, nautilus, Med X and Superslow machines, as well as numerous others.  Some are from the old days and are both interesting and effective.

Since going on to bodybuilding and weight training, Ed has garnered numerous awards, including the Maine State Light-Heavy Weight Olympic Lifting Champion in 1971, Mr. Maine in 1975 and numerous placements in New England, Nationals and Masters events over the years. He currently holds 4 masters records in the world for strict curls. He is and has always been 100% natural and still competes regularly. As is evidenced by his photos, he is extraordinarily fit nearly 35 years after first winning Mr. Maine, now at age 62.

Where Ed's philosophy truly stands out is in his sustainable approach to training. He has been following the Pritikin Diet for 25 years, and it has a lot to do with his ability to remain competitive and to retain lean muscle mass. Pritikin is known for its very low fat approach, its inclusion of many servings of grains and vegetables, and for its avoidance of limiting consumption like so many other diets. Following his example, I first experimented with Pritikin in high school and again in college and learned a great deal about diet and health in the process. When other athletes either leave their diets behind after many years in sports, or change them, Ed has stayed the course and it has kept him healthy and competitive, even as he addressed different competitive targets.

The image of bodybuilding is sometimes seen as one where heavy weights are thrown around and a lot of noises are made. In fact, what is most interesting about Ed's approach is his embrace of the Superslow method of training, which focuses on very controlled, deliberate, resistance driven repetitions which provide a constant force of muscle tension and ultimately prevents most injuries. The superslow machines, which I demonstrate below, are fluid, comfortable and actually, very pleasant to work with. But don't make the mistake of confusing superslow with super-easy- the philosophy behind it mandates training until absolute failure and that can be a painful proposition.

I have always believed that intense weight training is directly related to the maintenance of cardiovascular and bone and muscle health. As much as I love yoga and even outdoor running, I could not imagine a life without weight training. For athletic and health longevity, top form and a truly effective training result, Ed has shown how his scientific and instinctual approach pays off.

Bay Area Fitness

192 Searsport Avenue
Belfast, Maine  04915
207-338-3567