Robert “Moon” Mullins could use every excuse in the book on why he shouldn’t exercise. First, because he is 74 years old and a disabled veteran.

Secondly, the former marine suffers from a number of bone and muscle issues such as degenerative spine disease, sciatic nerve damage in his legs and arthritis in his knees.

But Mullins refuses to let any of these physical problems keep him from working out five days a week at Welcome All Park & Multipurpose Facility and Godby Road Recreation Center.

“When I retired all of these things started tightening up on me,” he said. “So I decided to get back in the gym. Even though I can’t eliminate these things I can control them the best I can. I decided to do a little pain management. I hurt everyday but when I work out I don’t hurt as much.”

As a result of his consistent exercise habits, which became noticeable at Fort McPherson alongside fellow ex-Marines, Mullins is unofficially a personal trainer for fellow senior citizens.

“One person would ask me something at Fort McPherson,” Mullins said. “I would tell them how to do it and before long I was being referred to a bunch of folks.”

Mary Johnson, who will be 62 next month, was also one of those people pointed in Mullins’ direction but over at Welcome All.

“He encourages me,” Johnson said. “He’s a great teacher and a great encourager. I don’t think I would be in the gym today if it wasn’t for him.”

“I try to motivate folks who are senior citizens to do what they need to do to take care of themselves,” Mullins said. “I tell them the older you are the more physical exercise you need to have.”

Like Johnson and many others, Mullins has helped them eliminate the use of negative words.

“One of the motivators I use with people is to take the word ‘can’t’ out of their vocabulary,” Mullins said. “If you’re already telling yourself you can’t do it then you won’t do it.”

Mike Brady and Ronald Brown are also two products of Mullins’ workout and eating philosophy.

“If a person is overweight, I say for two weeks take bread, desserts, starches and soda out of your diet,” Mullins said. “Weigh yourself when you start.

“Then two weeks later with the exercise program and the elimination of things I just mentioned, you should have a weight reduction between two and eight pounds based on your body’s metabolism,” he said.

According to Mullins, Brady is down from 306 pounds to 238 and Brown went from 326 pounds to 296 and counting.

“It makes me feel good to see people improve their life,” Mullins said.