Ernie Hudson’s Daily Push-Up Routine Boosts His Strength at 80 – Muscle & Fitness

Ernie Hudson zaps the ghosts in the Ghostbusters film franchise, but away from the cameras the beloved actor tends toward longevity. The 80-year-old star reveals he never starts his day without doing a few push-ups. This is why.

Hudson’s tendency to turn on his pump made headlines last yearwhen the man known around the world as ‘Winston Zeddemore’ of Ghostbusting fame was training with fitness guru Tony Horton. Apparently the inspiration for staying active was living a pain-free life while keeping ‘Mr Jiggles’ at bay. Now 80, Hudson can still carry a heavy proton pack, and in a recent conversation with the Today Show, he explained his passion for push-ups.

How many push-ups does Ernie Hudson do every day?

Hudson told it Today Toon that he likes to do a few push-ups after he gets out of bed, “and throughout the day.”

“By the end of the day, I should have completed at least 100 push-ups,” he says. This surprised the panel, prompting Hudson to confirm that he performs this routine daily. “Every day,” he noted, adding that he doesn’t visit a gym, but he does have a setup at home where he also adds squats to his routine. “I’m going to do some squats, just to get the blood to the legs,” he explained. Hudson also puts planks in his regimen.

What is Ernie Hudson’s workout routine?

As Hudson is shown on the Today Show B-Roll lifting a barbell for the bench press, he is asked, “How much weight are you pressing there?” But Hudson isn’t deterred by such an ego-driven question. “You know, I don’t really think so,” the star replied. “I just think at this age it’s more important to just be flexible,” the Ghostbuster fanatic added. “To be able to present well and do the work that I do.” The actor also shared that a good friend of his now needs the help of a walker, so Hudson wants to avoid that situation as long as possible.

Why is resistance training important for older men?

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research actively promotes resistance training for those who are getting older and states: “…muscle disuse is an avoidable and reversible factor. Muscle use in the form of strength training has been consistently shown to be a viable and effective means of combating muscle weakness and physical frailty.”

So Hudson undoubtedly has the right idea. “You know, growing older is inevitable,” he said. “But in the meantime, let me do what I can. And you know, when you say 100 push-ups, we’re not talking about a matter of minutes. You do a set a day… I think the discipline we put on ourselves reminds us that we are capable. You know, when we set goals and don’t meet them, it diminishes something within us. So just being consistent is really important.”

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