I’m 51, but my WHOOP biological age is 37—here’s how I did it
episodePreviously titled “My WHOOP biological age is 37 at 51—here’s exactly how I did it” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 5, 2026
Transcript
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What does biological age mean and why is it important?
Welcome to the MindBodyGreen podcast.
How does family history influence personal health choices?
I'm Jason Wachub, founder and co-CEO of MindBodyGreen and your host. Welcome back to the MindBodyGreen podcast.
What motivates the host to prioritize fitness and health?
Today's episode is a little different.
What data metrics indicate improved health and fitness?
This isn't about a landmark study or research breakthrough.
How does rowing contribute to cardiovascular health?
This is about me, my own end of one experiment, my own data, my own journey.
What does an efficient strength training routine look like?
So I recently turned 51, but according to Whoop, my biological age is 37.9.
How can personalized nutrition impact health outcomes?
My heart rate variability recently hit an all-time high of 178. My resting heart rate dropped to 35.
What are the essential components of a recovery routine?
My VO2 max climbed from 45 to 52 all in the past year. I'm actually getting better with age. I'm not sharing this to brag. I'm sharing it because I want you to know what's possible. And I want you to understand why this matters so much to me. Because if you know my family history, you'll understand why crossing 50 wasn't just a birthday. It was emotional. It was heavy. And it was something I wasn't sure I'd ever see. This is part of our series where we explore the science of living better, healthier, and longer. And today it's personal. Let's dive in. Now, if you're a regular listener, you know some of my family history and you'll understand why crossing 50 was emotional.
My dad died of heart disease at 47. He never reached 48. His father, my grandfather, died of cancer at 44. My mom's dad, heart disease, gone at 49.
So when I turned 51 this year, I officially outlived multiple generations of men in my family. That's heavy. There's a joy in it, but it's also this strange mix of grief and gratitude. Some days it feels like I'm staring down ghosts.
On those days I remind myself, our genes are not our destiny.
That story ends with me. So what's my why? I have two little girls, eight and six, both athletic, full of energy and competitive in the best possible way. Now I want to be the dad who's sprinting up the hill next to them, not the one out of shape catching his breath at the bottom. I want to play with them, train with them, live life with them, not just watch from the sidelines. And truthfully, I don't want to be the older dad who looks or feels old. I want to be the strong jackdad who surprises people, the one keeping up with the 30-year-olds in the gym. That's my why. That's what drives everything I'm about to share. Some more context. Before we go further, let me clear something up. I am a full-time CEO running a growing company.
I'm a husband. I'm a dad. Time is scarce and I do not have a million dollar longevity budget. I spend a fraction of what most self-proclaimed biohackers spend. Sure, I spend money on supplements, a weekly chiropractor tune-up, and of course my gym membership, but I am a strong believer in the basics. Precision nutrition, exercise, and data to make better choices without sacrificing my day-to-day. Now look, I never work out for more than an hour, often less. But when I do work out, I work out hard. There's no scrolling, no wasted movement, no fluff. It's all about efficiency. And I do this five to six days a week. You don't have to be a full-time biohacker or influencer to get the results like this. In fact, my sense is most of them don't have metrics they're actually proud of.
I'd bet there aren't many men over 50 who are also a husband, dad, and CEO with an HRV of 124, a resting heart rate of 40, and a VO2 max of 52. My bet? I'm outperforming most of the health influencers out there. And I'm going to show you exactly how I did it. My VO2 max improved from 45 to 52 in less than a year. My resting heart rate reached an all-time low of 35 and went from 47 to 40 on a yearly average over the last five years. My HRV recently hit a high of 178 and improved from 82 to 124 on a yearly average also in the last five years. And here's the thing. I don't take testosterone. I don't take GLP-1s. I'm not opposed to either. And at a certain point, it's likely I'll turn to pharmaceutical interventions because I believe we've made tremendous advances there, particularly when it comes to cardiovascular disease.
But right now, 100% lifestyle. So let's talk about rowing because this is the foundation of my cardio routine and the reason those metrics move so dramatically.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What does biological age mean and why is it important?
0:00–0:02
2
How does family history influence personal health choices?
0:02–0:09
3
What motivates the host to prioritize fitness and health?
0:09–0:11
4
What data metrics indicate improved health and fitness?
0:11–0:14
5
How does rowing contribute to cardiovascular health?
0:14–0:20
6
What does an efficient strength training routine look like?
0:20–0:27
7
How can personalized nutrition impact health outcomes?
0:27–0:34
8
What are the essential components of a recovery routine?
0:34–12:14
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The mindbodygreen Podcast
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664: High-achiever? Here’s how to prevent burnout | science writer Elizabeth Svoboda
663: Daily choices that shape brain health in your 30s, 40s & beyond | David Perlmutter, MD
662: The truth about peptides, NAD, & other longevity treatments | Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D.