Michael Dorfman is living proof that we might need to think again. Approaching 85, his daily routine includes meditation, breathwork, crawling drills, walking, pickleball and regular resistance training — all part of a lifestyle built around staying strong, healthy and engaged with life.
In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, Michael and I explore the daily habits that can help us future-proof our bodies and support our health and longevity as we age.
We talk about strength and movement, intermittent fasting, sleep and circadian rhythms, and the importance of maintaining muscle as we get older. Michael also shares his approach to plant-based nutrition, including the difference between eating plant-based and simply eating processed vegan foods, the importance of protein, and the relationship between fibre, the gut microbiome and inflammation.
We also explore Michael’s idea of the “fifth stage” of life and his seven pillars of longevity wellness, which include resilience, circadian alignment, regenerative capacity, mindset and purposeful contribution.
We talk about:
• The daily habits Michael follows at almost 85
• Strength training and maintaining muscle as we age
• Movement, mobility and staying physically capable
• Intermittent fasting and healthy ageing
• Sleep and supporting your circadian rhythm
• Plant-based nutrition, whole foods and protein
• Fibre, gut health and inflammation
• Lessons from the Blue Zones
• Resilience, mindset and regenerative capacity
• Purpose and contribution as we grow older
For those of us in midlife, this conversation is a reminder that healthy ageing doesn’t begin when we’re old. The