Paul Perkins, a 75-year-old Dutchess resident, wins national powerlifting championship

How does that song lyric go: “Older, better, faster, stronger…” ?

Well, maybe not in the original Daft Punk version, but it is so in the Paul Perkins remix.

Because while most people his age have slowed down, gradually becoming ensconced in a sedentary lifestyle during their twilight, this 75-year-old is more dedicated than ever to testing and pushing the limits of his fitness.

“Use it or lose it,” the Dutchess County resident said of his impetus in continuing to train hard. “I’m health-conscious and it’s very important to me to stay active.”

But he wasn’t talking about casual morning walks. Perkins has spent the last quarter-century tweaking his workout regimens, experimenting and expanding, and deepening his knowledge of wellness. With that, there is a willingness to incorporate health tips from a variety of sources, including books, exercise gurus and even social media.

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In fact, it was while surfing the internet — while on a surfing trip to Brazil ― last winter that he learned about a competition that prompted another adjustment to his routine and offered to him a tangible goal.

Perkins set two records en route to winning a title in his age group and weight class earlier this month at the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation nationals in Boston, accomplishing what Izzy Mandelbaum could’ve only fantasized about. (Kids, hit Google for that reference.)

“It’s so rewarding and it’s confidence-boosting,” said Perkins, who lives in North East, a small town in northeastern Dutchess, bordering Connecticut. “I feel validated and grateful because all those hours in the gym and running paid off. I was a competitive athlete growing up, but to win something like this and set a record is unbelievable.”

Perkins stands 6 feet, 165 pounds and does weight train regularly, but he was a relative novice to powerlifting. Nevertheless, he was among the standouts in a field of 55, setting tournament records in the squat and deadlift, and tying the bench press mark.

“We were all so excited,” Perkins said of himself and his family, who accompanied him to the July 13 event. “The night before in the hotel, my wife (Juliana) goes, ‘We didn’t drive all this way for nothing. You better win.’”

His best deadlift was 105 kilograms (about 231 pounds), he squatted 60 kilograms and hit 67.5 kilograms on the bench press. Each of those marks was tops within the 75- to 79-year-old bracket in which he competed.

After setting his mind to enter this tournament last winter, he compiled information from YouTube videos and adjusted his routine, concentrating more on core muscles for the lifts that would be required.

Perkins said he doesn’t use any drugs or supplements “whatsoever,” so he was intrigued after learning about the ADFPF, a nonprofit that promotes natural fitness and competition. The tournament rules were stringent, he said, with drug testing and the enforcement of specific form on each lift.

His wife, Juliana Vilalva Perkins, and children, Paris and Tiffany, all are bodybuilders, so there was a thorough appreciation of the accomplishment among them. It also helps in his training, having like-minded workout partners who easily provide motivation.

Paul Perkins plans to compete in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation championships in November in Cape Cod. “I just hope there won’t be too many 75-year-olds flying in to compete,” he joked.

He and his family built an elaborate home gym in 2020, converting their garage into a fitness den equipped with a weight rack and bench, cable machine, treadmill, stationary bike and more. Perkins said he spends 2-3 hours there each day. He also runs often and said his fastest mile this year was 8 minutes, 53 seconds. Exercising, powerlifting and surfing, he said, “are excellent brain flushes.”

Not surprisingly, he believes the key to his fitness includes discipline and diet, limiting alcohol and eating “mostly vegetarian” foods low in sodium with few spices.

The Missouri native played basketball, baseball and was a track and field athlete in high school. He later boxed while in the Navy and served in the Vietnam War. Perkins moved to New York in 1977 and worked for years as an international advertising director for the New York Times, then got into magazine publishing. Since retiring in 2006, he has focused on real estate development, building apartments for rent in eastern Dutchess.

Well, that and working out.

His interest in fitness intensified in the late 1990s after reading Body for Life, a nutrition and exercise book written by former bodybuilder Bill Phillips. Later, there was Mastering the Life Plan, Jeffry Life’s bestseller that delved into fitness for older people.

“Juliana and I liked the philosophies behind it, and we were inspired,” Perkins said. “I also noticed my memory improved, I felt better physically, and everything was easier. I started finding people online whose methods I liked and did their exercises. And I kept going.”

And going. Older, better, faster, stronger.

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Paul Perkins, a 75-year-old Dutchess resident, wins national powerlifting championship