Vitality Secrets of Male Superstars over 70

Dear friends. You may have noticed from his recent concert live appearances how fit and healthy 82 year old Paul McCartney looked. As did Ringo Starr, 84, who joined him on stage at the O2.

Both have excellent posture and have always been slim. On stage, they looked like men decades younger. 

Their diet and exercise choices are not widely known. When they're interviewed, it's typically about their music, whereas any women who look good, no matter what age, are automatically grilled about plastic surgery and tweakments.  

Another male celebrity who looks amazing is Bjorn Ulvaeus, 79. 

Let's see what we can discover about these three perennial favourites,  and if they have any common ground in their vitality. 

Paul McCartney: Headstands and Eye Yoga

Paul McCartney has been vegetarian since the 70s. He told Reuters in 2008 that it was a fishing trip that made him turn vegetarian, when he realised the fish's life was "as important to him as mine is to me."

He is not vegan as people often assume, and consumes eggs, cheese and milk. 

During a 2020 episode of the podcast SmartLess, he spoke about his fitness routine, which includes foam rolling, stretching, using the cross trainer and occasionally running.

“I have a very definite routine,” he said. However, what makes it unique is the way he finishes his routine - with a headstand.

This test of core strength and balance is McCartney’s “favourite part”, according to the star.

It obviously works. McCartney’s 2024 tour featured a 2 hour set where he was constantly on stage and playing different instruments. 

Paul says he hasn't needed glasses since he took up eye yoga n the early noughties, in India. Eye Yoga typically includes movements like palming, where you cover the eyes with warm hands. 

He took up drinking after the Beatles split up and says it was a time of depression.  His late wife Linda gave him an ultimatum and he stopped. Now he treats himself to an occasional glass of wine or margarita. 

Björn Ulvaeus: Coffee and Kayaking

Björn, 79, told The Times in 2020 that he has up to 20 coffees a day. He doesn't eat anything until noon. 

Björn says it’s a way to keep trim and not put on too much weight, "which is at my age very easy to do and really difficult to get rid of."

He admits he struggles with long-term memory loss. He can't remember much about Abba's Eurovision win in 1974. 

Sometimes it is possible to treat long-term memory loss as the cause is reversible. These treatable causes include stress, anxiety or depression, B-12 deficiency, medication and sleeping problems.

Björn keeps active, starting his day on a surf ski, a type of kayak where your legs are in the open. 

For lunch he has a sandwich and fruit. Dinner might be something like gravadlax.  Björn exercises in a gym in his basement for an hour after dinner. He says he has a weakness for ice cream and chocolate, so exercise is essential. I couldn't find any evidence that Björn is vegetarian or vegan.

Ringo Starr: Vegetarian Diet and Weights

Ringo has a country album coming out in 2025 and will go on tour to promote it. 

He told Zoe Ball in 2023 he works out and keeps busy as possible.  He is a vegetarian and says he eats lots of berries, fruit, vegetables and salad. Blueberries and broccoli feature at most meals. 

He exercises with a personal trainer three to six times a week in his home gym, focusing on muscle strength to maintain mobility.  

Although he is 84 he says he feels 24 at heart. Psychologists say this is important for longevity, rather than thinking of yourself as old and decrepit. 

More Tips for Ageing Well 

Iggy Pop, 77, was notorious when younger for drug taking, alcohol and cigarettes. He now follows a  vegan macrobiotic diet with a disciplined exercise regime. He still has those famous abs, low body fat, and enough energy for his 2 hour live shows. He practices tai chi and qui dong outside his Miami home.

Cliff Richard, 84,  follows a blood type diet. As a type A, he avoids dairy, meat, wheat, crustaceans,  mango, papaya, potatoes, tomatoes and aubergine. He is physically active and says:  "I always say to people, you know, just keep moving. If you can run, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. Just keep everything moving and I think that's helped me a great deal."

Bruce Springsteen, 75,  follows the OMAD diet, or One Meal A Day diet, which is a type of intermittent fasting. It involves eating all your day's calories within a short time frame. Springsteen says "I'll have a bit of fruit in the morning and I’ll have dinner. That has kept me lean and mean.”

Springsteen said that, these days, the success behind performing so many lengthy live shows is “taking time off between shows”, which he described as “the biggest change” with age. 

These male superstars obviously put in a lot of hard work to keep trim and energetic.  Several of them are vegetarian or vegan. They all keep active. Good lessons for all of us. 

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