I am approaching my 30th, so appologies for jumping onto your forum.
I have always looked forward to my 40’s. I hope to have children, live abroad and generally be fit and most importantly happy.
However, through my rose tinted glasses, i fear that this will not be the case.
so i put it to you. is “40 the new 30” or even 50 the new 40?
Good point.
At 31, I’m single yet still desire to settle down, have kids, and buy a mini-van. Well, maybe not the last part. Breaking from tradition, many persons in our boat have chosen to establish themselves through their 20s and postpone other pursuits (namely marriage, children, and the family life). Now, I am in better condition mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially to do so. And, if I would have been tied down, I would have probably never had the time to find T-Nation. How bad would that suck?
BFG
I’m 47 sneaking on 48 and I like the Forties and I’m looking forward to my Fifties. Financially, things are good, my daughters and I can talk about all kinds of things beyond “Choo, choo, choo here comes the whirled peas,” and I am in control of most of my life.
The problem with 30 is that you suddenly lose all your excuses. If you were supposed to get your degree(s) and you just blew them off, you can argue at 27 that you “had things come up.” The day you turn 30…it’s up.
At 47, you shouldn’t have someone breathing down your neck…so to speak…you should be the master of your ship in at least a few areas of your life. You should have a few friends worthy of the name and lots of connections with people.
You should be “close” to being in shape at whatever age you are…
So, I think 47 is the new 30.
[quote]Danny John wrote:
I’m 47 sneaking on 48 and I like the Forties and I’m looking forward to my Fifties. Financially, things are good, my daughters and I can talk about all kinds of things beyond “Choo, choo, choo here comes the whirled peas,” and I am in control of most of my life.
The problem with 30 is that you suddenly lose all your excuses. If you were supposed to get your degree(s) and you just blew them off, you can argue at 27 that you “had things come up.” The day you turn 30…it’s up.
At 47, you shouldn’t have someone breathing down your neck…so to speak…you should be the master of your ship in at least a few areas of your life. You should have a few friends worthy of the name and lots of connections with people.
You should be “close” to being in shape at whatever age you are…
So, I think 47 is the new 30. [/quote]
Man, I totally agree with you !!.. I’m 34, and a person better have their shit together by 30 !
[quote]Danny John wrote:
I’m 47 sneaking on 48 and I like the Forties and I’m looking forward to my Fifties. Financially, things are good, my daughters and I can talk about all kinds of things beyond “Choo, choo, choo here comes the whirled peas,” and I am in control of most of my life.
The problem with 30 is that you suddenly lose all your excuses. If you were supposed to get your degree(s) and you just blew them off, you can argue at 27 that you “had things come up.” The day you turn 30…it’s up.
At 47, you shouldn’t have someone breathing down your neck…so to speak…you should be the master of your ship in at least a few areas of your life. You should have a few friends worthy of the name and lots of connections with people.
You should be “close” to being in shape at whatever age you are…
So, I think 47 is the new 30. [/quote]
I think you got it wired here. I am 49 staring 50 in the face. I think by this time in your life, you should be in control of most of the areas of your life. I did one of those health/biological age calculators the other day, and got a real ego massage out of it. If you keep active, and watch what you eat, and don’t do stupid stuff, I think 50 can be the new 30.
I like this thread and am going to stay right here for a while 
I am 34 and will be 35 in August. I can't cay how STRONGLY I believe that age is in no way a determinant of ability, conditioning, strength etc., etc.
I like to tell my story about one of my "older" female clients. She was 55 at the time and on business in Philadelphia. She was mugged/attacked and the bastard grabbed her purse and knocked her to the street. She never let go of the purse even though the perp dragged her across an entire city intersection with it. When she bumped into the opposite curb, she gave the purse a HARD yank and tore the strap right out of the guys hands. He must've been so shocked by the display of strength that he took off running! Now, one may argue that she should've just let him go with her purse but she dicided to fight back and WON.
The LAST excuse I am willing to listen to is age. I feel it’s a huge misconception that you can only be an athlete in your 20’s. Look at Dan John for example.
JOHN GLENN
Dude was shot into space ( for the second time!) at 77!
Hey, Dan. I just saw you were one of the posters here AFTER I refrenced you in my post. I think I’ve read and’or printed just about everything you’ve written!
Enough kissing up, any advice for entering my first Highland Games (aside from “showing up” and training the oly lifts?)
The Games nearest me in MA. such as at Loon Mtn. in NH was invitation only. At least that’s what Art McDermott told me.
Okay, here’s one: Get a Kilt. Click on sportkilt.com and order away. GET IT NOW!
Next, unless you were a college thrower/high school thrower (a good one), the problem will be “throwing.” I know that sounds stupid, but most guys come in with a “I bench 400 mentality.” The caber doesn’t care about benches…so, you need to start throwing stuff. Buy a medicine ball with a handle…no, I don’t sell them and I always get mine in the mail for free to “try it out”…and another med ball. Throw away. Seriously, make stuff up and start tossing three times a week at least.
It may or may not help to be coached. The key…and you know it…is to show up and start.
A buddy of mine, Mike Rosenberg, once showed up just “to cheer us on” and the crazies from “Kip’s House of Hurt” (a great damn site…the link is at crossfit.com) decided Mike needed to throw so one of the C’s could move up to B and a B to an A and whatever. He had a good event, a bad event, a great event, a few laughs, but the bottom line: he wasn’t carrying someones doo rag and water bottle…he was kicking butt.
Enough stories from grandpa…
Call 1-800-456-SHOT and buy John Powell’s discus II video and “Shot Putting with the Big O.” No, you won’t throw the shot or discus (stones, though) but you need to see the feel of movement with an implement. After that, check into some of the HG videos. There are very good, but I think they assume a base in some throwing first…hence, the rec to buy the throws stuff first.
Good thread, by the way.
Thanks, Dan. Actually, “real men wear kilts” (from sportkilt) is my screensaver! I will put your advice into action starting now! I don’t drink alcohol as a rule… should I learn to drink Guinness?
Well I’m 34 and I’ve never been married and am currently rethinking my career, so that puts me in the same position as a lot of 24 year olds. By that reasoning, my 40 could well resemble their 30.
Career women are regularly having their first children well after 30 now, people are living much longer, more people than ever do 1 or more degrees after highschool, everything really is “extending” forward.
I just had to pipe up on this topic. I’m 49 going on the big 5-0. I didn’t get married until I was in my mid-thirties (I highly recommend this strategy). I got all of my wildness out before marriage. although turning 35, 40 and 45 had its depressing moments for me, I find that I am much, much happier now than at any age before. I make more moola than ever before, am much more mature personality-wise, have a lot of cool toys and, importantly, I can appreciate things now, simple things, that I never gave any attention to when younger. The most important factor in my self-confidence and happiness is the fact that I feel good about being in shape. Man, I am in way better shape than most young punks and virtually 98% of people within 20 years of my age (in spite of my mild heart-attack last November. See my thread called “heart incident”) I have to tell you, this feels awesome. If you stay in shape, the future is yours for the taking. The age milestones will have much less impact on your mind. I believe this with all of my once-again healthy heart.