Courtesy photo Dr. John Reinhardt does squats during a recent workout. At 65, running remains one of his major fitness activities, but he has evolved his routine over time.

We expect many professions to practice what they preach. For example, if you sought counsel from a dietitian, you would want them to be at a weight within healthy parameters. We expect a pastor or priest to live a life of high morality, and anything less might impact upon their credibility.

A personal trainer who is in great shape will inspire confidence, however, if that fitness expert has flaccid muscle tone and poor cardiac endurance, you would likely shop for a better role model. A physician who tells you to exercise but does not follow his own advice may cause you to raise a skeptical eyebrow, despite the efficacy of the advice. You get the point. We seek those who instill in us a sense of confidence and respect.

Dr. John Reinhardt does not have to mince words when he advises his patients to exercise and alter an unhealthy lifestyle. He talks the talk and walks the walk — and often runs.

Reinhardt grew up in upstate New York. As a preteen, his family moved to Esopus, New York.

“I grew up next to a Catholic seminary with beautiful grounds. It’s called Mount of Saint Alphonsus, and it was very pivotal in my upbringing,” Reinhardt said. “They had a hockey rink, soccer and football fields, and tennis and basketball courts. I played the usual sports as a kid — baseball, football and wrestling, and ice hockey. In high school I also played soccer. It was just a wonderful upbringing. I had my parents as I grew up in a small neighborhood and the background of the seminarians who taught our local CCD classes.”

Reinhardt went to college and subsequently enlisted in the military, becoming a Russian linguist.

“They then sent me to Germany for a while to do interrogations and briefings, and that was really cool,” said Reinhardt, who met his wife and got married while in the military.

He began a running protocol while in the military, primarily to perform well on the required fitness examinations. Once discharged from the military, Reinhardt attended Shepherd College, now Shepherd University in West Virginia, where he played soccer and tennis. Upon entering medical school, he was afforded the opportunity to coach soccer.

“It was just serendipitous that one of the professor’s sons was a soccer player. I got the job coaching the local high school soccer team for two years, until I went out on rotations,” Reinhardt said.

He moved to Altoona in 1992 to complete his residency. In addition, he coached a travel soccer team and in the late 1990s began coaching ice hockey.

“I coached ice hockey here for 20-plus years and we went to Nationals a few times,” Reinhardt said. “Coaching was a big part of my upbringing and that encouraged my decision to go to college and medical school. I grew up very blue collar. Being fit and athletic has been part of what I’ve been trying to do forever. I’m much better now as far as controlling my weight, eating well, and taking care of myself by trying to stay fit and functional as I age.”

He never had an affinity for gymnasiums. Running had always been Reinhardt’s primary means of staying fit, until a decade ago when he decided to add strength training to his fitness regimen.

“The revelation for me at age 55 was going to the gym to be physically strong,” Reinhardt said. “When I played sports in college and they made us go to the trainer, I never enjoyed it and I don’t necessarily enjoy it now. However, I see the value in it now, much more than I ever did. I’ve had a trainer for the past ten years, and it’s made a huge difference for me. I’ve had two knee replacements, and I’m back working out and running about 25 or 30 miles a week.”

Angela Ross, owner of Gorilla House, is now Reinhardt’s personal trainer. She provides his exercise routines in a small group setting.

“The great thing about small group personal training is you can tailor exactly what those specific clients need,” Ross said. “Dr. Reinhardt had knee replacement surgery in January. Leading up to that surgery and post-surgery, everything was geared towards making his knee strong. We did a lot of squats, lunges, and single leg movements in order to make the muscles around the knee strong.”

Ross focuses on developing Reinhardt’s strength since he works on cardio through his running. She encourages his strength development by designing routines which include squats, deadlifts, kettlebell and dumbbell movements. She has a very high regard for Reinhardt’s dedication and determination.

“He’s a superstar. Dr. Reinhardt is my doctor, so I’ve known him for several years,” Ross said. “He’s very eager to train. He’s one of the ones you’ve got to pull back and tell him not to do so much. He’s very eager to constantly pursue goals and get better. You have to constantly remind him that rest is part of the program.”

Reinhardt has mutual respect for Ross’s abilities.

“I’ve worked with many trainers over the years, professionally and personally, and she’s the best trainer I’ve worked with,” Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt has four pillars of health he preaches to his patients.

Sleep is the first pillar. Most of his patients have difficulty sleeping.

“When I was in medical school, the average adult slept about eight and a half hours a night. Nationally, that’s down to less than six hours,” Reinhardt said, noting the impact this can have on cognitive abilities and metabolic syndrome.

Exercise is the second prescription and the pillar of health.

“Just walking and some basic movements is the single biggest health intervention I can prescribe. It is not a statin or blood pressure medication,” said Reinhardt, who recommends 45 minutes of movement per day.

Diet is the third pillar that he emphasizes.

“Americans eat horribly for 12 to 14 hours a day. 60 percent of the calories we’re getting are from ultra processed food, and it’s just terrible,” Reinhardt said, noting the impact this has upon a multitude of health issues.

The fourth pillar is purpose. Do you have something in your life that drives you to excel cognitively and physically? This encourages improved cognitive skills and enhances overall health markers.

Obviously, Reinhardt practices what he preaches. He talks to his patients about the need for self-care and lives by example.

“My trainer makes me get down on the floor and get back up. She makes me try to complete box jumps and many other exercises. It’s very important for me to try to do it before I tell anybody else. I had a good mentor that told me that if I wasn’t an expert taking care of myself, I would be unqualified to take care of any patients,” Reinhardt said.

The 65-year-old has not let knee replacements and a very busy professional life deter him from challenges.

“The longest race I’ve done is 30 kilometers, which is almost 19 miles. That took me a little more than three hours. I ran a 50k last June but had a bad fall during the race at mile twelve and was unable to finish. I’ll be running a 50k (31.06 miles) again this fall with my son,” Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt wants the best for his patients, which often involves prodding to follow his example.

“Sometimes you don’t know for a long time if you are having a positive impact, so I’m going to be a broken record. It’s my joke that I have got to get you to 85 and if I get you to 85 years old, I’ll stop writing for prescriptions, I’ll stop doing tests, and I’ll just be nice,” said Reinhardt, who admits he will likely push them further if they reach that milestone.

George Thomas Kattouf of Altoona is the developer of the website AgelessTimeless.com. He has been instructing martial arts for over four decades in the Altoona Area at the Academy of Martial Arts and encourages seniors to stay fit through martial arts training. If you or someone you know in Blair County is age 50 or older and would be a good candidate for the Fitness Track, email Kattouf at george@agelesstimeless.com. Tune in to the YouTube channel AgelessTimeless to learn more.