This is a great thread. Its good to read and see other people that have discovered that the “over 40” myth is bullshit.
I was 40 in 2001 when I won the Norwegian Bodybuilding welterweight class in my greatest shape ever. Much better then when I tried to win in my twenties. This year I was third out of 11 competitors, and I am 45.
After the competition in october, I went on vacation to Florida to visit family and relax. After a day on the beach I went into Target to get a bottle of redwine, wearing shorts and a shirt in almost contest shape. Then I had to show ID that I was over 21!
This is a wonderful thread. Believe me, most of aging is in the attitude and mental state of the individual. You can see how positive many of the responses are concerning age, growth, virility, strength, etc.
I’m 48 and have set PRs this year for all my lifts (385 bench, 515 squat, 545 deadlift, raw) while sporting a slipped disc in my lower back and both knees bone on bone. I’m 6’0, 232 lbs, 10% bodyfat. My goal is to bench 405, squat 600, and deadlift 600 when I’m 50, God willing. I’m certainly going to train for it and obtain it.
I look forward to hearing of all your progress and to hearing more from the great people of this board. You inspire me.
Can’t believe I have not read this thread sooner. I’m gonna be 43 in two months. I like the information I read so far. Lots of good advice. I like that how everone says to avoid the 40 + and exercise myth.
Me? I had hip replacement surgery one year ago. Although I can’t lift heavy like I use to I still do more than a lot of younger people do in my gym, which is a sad commentary on the fitness world.
My goals are pretty similar to lots of those posted on this thread. My only additions are to get 15-20 Bdwt pullups and military press my bdwt again.
I am also 47 and still in the military. I have a crazy schedule but I am still up at 0430 and at the gym at 0500. My gains are slow, my eating habits suck because I am on the road alot…Do you have any helpful tips…Thanks
Just hopped on this thread after lurking about for a long time. I can say this: I started getting serious about training again in September and the 44 year old body responded FAST.
Now, it’s a matter of how efficiently I can get back into shape (my best was about ten years ago) and then surpass that.
Wow guys, great motivation here , thankyou !!!
I just joined and this is my first post.
I just started working at getting into shape last Feb. which was a month before my 48th birthday , started out just walking and working out with my truck hitch and it just got me wanting to do more , which I did.
I do everthing at home with Hoist machine, incline bench and dumbells , and barbells , plus have pull up tree and an old gym leg ext. bench.
I started out at 250 lbs and a waist at fourty or so , down to 190 or so and a 33 waist.
I now want to add mass now (goal) and just ran accross this site and this over 35 forum.
I just wanted to say hello and give you guys thanks for all the great info that you guys are shareing , I’m just here to learn.
just a great thread. i’m 42, father to 5 boys (18 college, 15 h.s., 12 jr hi, 6, and 4 y.o.) i had found this site 2-3 years ago but did nothing with it. about 2 hours ago ordered 1 bottle of HReX. we’ll see how it goes.
my 6 yo has begun to call me ‘fat dad’ (not nice, but true) and i wasn’t able to fit into my old ‘winter pants’ during a trip to cold detroit in late october.
i had became lazy and as a result, way out of shape. i was ‘watching what i eat’ as i pulled it from the bag/frig/cabinet and put it into my mouth. how nicely it fit into my hand.
after h.s., i tried and used many different sports for fitness…bicycling, running, competitive powerlifting. during the powerlifting phase, i competed in the 242# class. did ok for local area (socal) but quit immediately after a mid thoracic back tweak. continued to lift and ride bikes. got married, added lots of children, work lots of overtime, and generally became a total slacker.
now i am out to change the ‘slack’ part of life. i’ve got to keep up with the boys, look hunky to the wife and be able to perform the job well.
thanks for the inspiration!
I will turn 50 next year and I have been at it for about 23 years and am still gaining…in fact, I am in just about the best shape of my life and will continue to compete till the day I die…IMO there is no end to progress. It just comes a little harder sometimes but knowledge is power, and realizing that we can go on and on as we learn the new and utilize the tried and true
I’m 63. started working out year ago. I have been gaining.
I take 200mg shot twice a week. Self injected.
I use Machines. Chest press 260Lbs 25 reps 6 sets ever other day.
Lat pull 255Ibs 10 reps 10 sets EOD
Preacher curls 210 Ibs 20 reps 6 sets EOD
ab machine 210 Ibs 25 reps 4 sets EOD
Leg press 495 Ibs 45 reps 6 sets EOD
Lower Back Machine 210 Ibs 25 reps 4 sets EOD
I started working out in Nov. 05. about 50 Ibs on each machine, adding wieght every month. I was up to current wieghts with in six mo.
Hope this will help you understand your never to old to gain.
Thanks NevadaRod
No one knows the answer to the question of how long gains can be expected (to what age). I’d say that one should just keep on going with an abbreviated program of high intensity compound exercises (squats, dead lifts, dips, presses, rows, etc.)get plenty of rest and good nutrition, and not neglect aerobics.
I’m 74, and in 2006 I gained 9 kg of lean body mass, and kept my body fat to under 10%. So, I’m not going to worry about how much longer this can keep up. I will just keep on keeping on.
Well, I just turned 40 in October, and since then I’ve put on a few more pounds of lean mass - I’ll let you know how it goes from here, but I’m pretty confident things won’t change much as I continue to age. As long as I maintain proper nutrition and intense training, I look forward to seeing how I look at 50 and beyond…
I feel great, and most of the pics in my profile are fairly recent. There’s one I took just yesterday - I sure plan to continue to improve, so we’ll see what I can do with myself by the time I turn 41. : )
I’m 47 and thought I was “waisting my time” at the gym. My doctor found out I have hypogonadism, and put me on TRT. I have lost 20 lbs of fat (close anyway) starting adding a plate every three weeks ( so far) and get a woodie if the wind blows…
Life is so much better now. A lot of us “old guys” qualify for TRT, we just don’t know it. I have a great doctor, and I am grateful to her for listening to my symptoms, and getting me tested. I now aqm not depressed all the either. I hope this inspires someone to see their doctor too.
This thread is genius!!! I’m 40 now and have been involved with weights for several years on and off. I’m back in the gym full time now (last 3 weeks) and still love every minute of it. I have noticed that it is taking a few more days to recover. But none the less, I want to gain as much as possible and shed the flab.
I’ll be keeping a close tab on this section now.
I love T-Nation!!!