Staying Strong After Service: Anti-Aging Solutions for Former Military & Special Forces

Your years of service demanded peak physical fitness, mental resilience, and unwavering strength. Whether you served in the military, special forces, or other high-intensity roles, you might have discovered that maintaining that vitality as you transition into a new chapter of life isn’t always easy. 

Staying strong after service can be downright challenging. Read on as the Performance Rejuvenation Center team shares seven science-backed anti-aging solutions to stay strong, energized, and ready for whatever comes next.

1. Prioritize good sleep

Sleep is a powerful tool for staying lean, fit, and healthy. During deep sleep, your body repairs tissues, balances hormones, and regulates appetite by controlling levels of ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and leptin (the hormone that signals fullness). 

Poor sleep disrupts these processes, lowers leptin levels by 7%, increases your cravings for unhealthy foods, and makes it harder to stick to fitness goals. 

It doesn’t take much missed sleep to sabotage your fitness goals. Four days without enough sleep can drop your insulin sensitivity by 30%!

So before you hit the gym or consider anti-aging treatments, your first step is to prioritize your sleep quality and quantity. Your body and mind need it to function best. 

Another perk of good sleep? Quality sleep promotes muscle recovery after workouts, boosts metabolism, and reduces stress — all of which can lower cortisol levels that contribute to fat storage. 

2. Focus on your diet

You know the saying — you are what you eat — so as you start this next chapter of your life, make sure the fuel you put in is good. 

Dark, leafy greens, 100% whole grains, fresh fruit, beans, vegetables, and lean protein are foods that deliver the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that your body craves. 

On the other hand, some foods age you faster, including processed meat (which also increases your risk of colorectal cancer), alcohol, margarine, soda, and fried foods.

3. Protect your gym time

When you were in the service, you likely had protected gym time. Maybe you had access to free gyms, or if you were a tactical unit, you got to workout on the clock. 

Part of staying strong after service is continuing to put the effort into your fitness. Your gym, workout buddies, and routines might look different now, but that’s okay. 

Find what works for you and build your schedule around that.

4. Balance your hormones

While good sleep, a well-balanced diet, and regular exercise are pillars of staying fit, sometimes it’s just not enough.

Years of high stress and intense physical demands can take a toll on your hormonal balance, and when your hormones are out of whack, you might experience weight gain, brain fog, thinning hair, decreased muscle strength, and mood swings.

At the Performance Rejuvenation Center, our team can test hormones and balance your hormones with hormone replacement therapy.

5. Consider peptide therapy

Peptides are small proteins that support numerous processes in your body, from muscle growth to improved metabolism. For former service members, peptide therapy can help rebuild lean muscle, boost endurance, and enhance recovery from injuries. Whether training for your next adventure or just staying fit, peptides can help keep you at your best.

6. Try human growth hormone (HGH) replacement

HGH hormone levels — just like testosterone — start to dip once you hit your thirties. Unfortunately, this can spell decreased muscle mass, poor sleep, and poor concentration.

Enter HGH replacement. If you’re deficient, HGH replacement can help you lose excess body fat, boost energy levels, sharpen your mind, sleep better, and build lean muscle mass. As a bonus, it can also improve your skin elasticity. 

7. Reach out for help 

Transitioning from years of service to civilian life doesn't mean leaving behind your drive for excellence — and you’re not alone on this mission. Our team at the Performance Rejuvenation Center can help you stay strong no matter where you are in the United States or on assignment abroad, through our telehealth platform.

Call 202-251-4472 today to learn how we can help you reach your fitness goals. You can also click here to book your comprehensive exam.