Growing Old: The Myth

Bigger Stronger Leaner Over 35 Lifter
1

This is my theory on growing old. In a nut shell it only happens if you let it. It is possible to keep the body in a constant state of improvement. The body is capable of continuously improving itself if it is constantly bombarded with with a continuous array of physical and mental challenges. I’m not talking about doing regular exercises. The body needs to be pushed, it basically needs a carrot on a stick. There can never be a time when you say I’ve gone as far as I can. If you’ve about to reach a goal or mile stone it is important to create another.

Old age is when you decide to sit back and wait to die. I have seen those in their senior years do amazing things. I don’t believe this because of genetics, but more a state of mind. The desire to be young at heart and healthy in body and soul. One of the most damaging saying is “You’re to old to do that”. That is plain and simple bullshit.

Keeping yourself healthy and challenging yourself both physically and mentally is the secret to never growing old. Or maybe it’s not wanting to grow old. Personally I don’t want to put my feet up and live out my last years waiting to die. I want to die on the go, reaching for that carrot. Live is what you make it, so stay strong everyone life has just begun. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and it’s looking real awesome.

2

I agree, but my body doesn’t recuperate like it did when I was in my 20s and had an “S” on my chest.

3

[quote]hawkcapt1912 wrote:
I agree, but my body doesn’t recuperate like it did when I was in my 20s and had an “S” on my chest.
[/quote]

Recuperation will never be the same, but it can be pretty damn close. I always like to refer to the come back kings. Those that think they can make a come back to their former status, with only a year or two of training. One must remember the amount of time and training it took to get there in the first place.

With a set goal or better goals one can bring their body back into amazing condition. Start slow and never give up. Mental exercise will be just as important as one will continuously come across negative energy. People don’t like to be reminded of what they could be if they got off their lazy asses.

The trick is putting that juicy carrot out on a stick. Make sure the stick isn’t to long or to short, just out of reach.

Before you know it that “S” will be back on your chest. Will power is one of our most powerful weapons. There are a lot of book out there on the subject, but you don’t need them. You just have to believe in yourself and remember, “CAN"T” is a bad four letter word! Stay strong and never give up, that’s what losers do!!

4

To say that your age is a state of mind is nonsense. Being 56 is not a state of mind. Having joints that ache the morning after a hard workout isn’t a state of mind.

To deny your circumstances is to believe they matter.

How you live your life is a choice you make every day, regardless of your age. That the choices we make determine our lives more than the circumstances we are in is hardly a profound idea. Any bright thirteen year old has already figured that out.

5

[quote]streamline wrote:
This is my theory on growing old. In a nut shell it only happens if you let it. It is possible to keep the body in a constant state of improvement. The body is capable of continuously improving itself if it is constantly bombarded with with a continuous array of physical and mental challenges. I’m not talking about doing regular exercises. The body needs to be pushed, it basically needs a carrot on a stick. There can never be a time when you say I’ve gone as far as I can. If you’ve about to reach a goal or mile stone it is important to create another.

Old age is when you decide to sit back and wait to die. I have seen those in their senior years do amazing things. I don’t believe this because of genetics, but more a state of mind. The desire to be young at heart and healthy in body and soul. One of the most damaging saying is “You’re to old to do that”. That is plain and simple bullshit.

Keeping yourself healthy and challenging yourself both physically and mentally is the secret to never growing old. Or maybe it’s not wanting to grow old. Personally I don’t want to put my feet up and live out my last years waiting to die. I want to die on the go, reaching for that carrot. Live is what you make it, so stay strong everyone life has just begun. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and it’s looking real awesome.[/quote]

I agree…all of my friends I went to school with say this all the time and guess what, they look and feel 20 years older than they are. I hear people say all the time say " I’m getting old". I’d rather meditate that “I’m getting stronger, healthier, and better lookin”…lol"

6

I suppose I’m still a “pup” at 38 but… I know that I have more abuse injuries than many other guys I know. I also know that I am more active, and healthy, and pain free than most of the other guys I know who are my age. Either I’m an incredibly gifted physical specimen or I’m doing something right with my physical regimen. I’m smarter, stronger and faster, just as horny, but less “elastic” in my recovery than I was 20 years ago.

Also, I personally know several “older” gentlemen (mid 50’s to early 70’s) who are capable of seemingly incredible feats of agility and youth. They must also be incredibly gifted physical specimens.

The point being, I don’t believe that I’m doing anything anyone else can’t do. It’s a matter of motivation and action. Do we age? Of course. Will we become less “elastic” in our recovery over time? Of course. Is it important to “train our age”? Yup… you’re supposed to get smarter as you mature. Does that mean that you have to put one foot in grave at 35 or 40 and wait to die? Nope.

Live your life, train your age, and enjoy it. Adjust as necessary but don’t die until it’s time.

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[quote]happydog48 wrote:
To say that your age is a state of mind is nonsense. Being 56 is not a state of mind. Having joints that ache the morning after a hard workout isn’t a state of mind.

To deny your circumstances is to believe they matter.

How you live your life is a choice you make every day, regardless of your age. That the choices we make determine our lives more than the circumstances we are in is hardly a profound idea. Any bright thirteen year old has already figured that out.[/quote]

Your age is a state of mind. If you think you’re old you will act old therefore you will be old. It is also possible that your joints ache from lack of, not enough or improper warm ups and cool down. It could also be from lack of cardio exercise that stimulates the production of synivial fluid in the joints.

The choices we make in life will reflect how we are able to live or lives. As we age our recovery time and elasticity reduces but our wisdom and knowledge increase to compensate for that, again the choices we make. I must say all though there are some very bright thirteen year olds not many ever think past the day they are living.

I do not lack some discomforts at times, but I do analyze them and correct the problem. Also the negative energy that we carry with us only serves to drag us down. To think positive is an exercise in its self and like all exercises it is difficult and requires continuous regimental workouts.

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I agree, there’s a hell of a lot you can do to preserve your physical abilities. Most of the time, it’s people that don’t make those choices that end up doing nothing but sitting on a rocking chair when they get old.

Anyway, here’s one guy that inspires me, he’s just a couple of years older than me:

Randy Couture.

http://www.thenatural.tv/

9

[quote]50_Caliber wrote:
I agree, there’s a hell of a lot you can do to preserve your physical abilities. Most of the time, it’s people that don’t make those choices that end up doing nothing but sitting on a rocking chair when they get old.

Anyway, here’s one guy that inspires me, he’s just a couple of years older than me:

Randy Couture.

http://www.thenatural.tv/[/quote]

I don’t even have to look at the link. The man is “The T-Man” what an awesome example of never say die. I love watching him exercise on the trampolines, the man has a blast while working his ass off. Never mind how he turn the world on its ass with his return to the octagon. A true example of will power and believing in ones self. Great example 50_Caliber, I guess he never came to mind because I for one do not look at him as aged, he’s as young as ever!!!

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[quote]50_Caliber wrote:

Anyway, here’s one guy that inspires me, he’s just a couple of years older than me:

Randy Couture.

http://www.thenatural.tv/

[/quote]

Randy rocks. And yes, he is a shining example of deciding to stay “alive”.

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while I agree that a lot of it is mental, you can’t deny the toll ageing takes.

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Also the negative energy that we carry with us only serves to drag us down. To think positive is an exercise in its self and like all exercises it is difficult and requires continuous regimental workouts.

streamline, I like the way you think. You are one hell of a manic inspiring guy.

13

To me, age is a statistic, not a burden. I competed in my first bodybuilding competition when I was 61. I will be 65 when I compete in my 27th show, the 2008 FAME World Championships in Toronto on June 14th, where I am entered in the Grand Master Pro (55+ age class) division, my third pro show. I am in the best condition of my life today and I will be better in 14 weeks. I am also in better shape today than I was when I was 50, 40, 30 or 20. It’s all about desire, dedication and grit.

I am keeping a journal in this Forum:

http://www.T-Nation.com/tmagnum/readTopic.do?id=1818131&pageNo=5#bottom

14

Uh, I forgot the question. Oh yeah. Of course we age. The real question is how we age and I think that’s what most of the talk is about. It also matters what shape you were in when younger. If you were in terrible shape when younger and great shape now you feel the effects of aging less. If you’ve been in top physical shape since you were young, say 40, you probably feel the affects of lose of physical ability more accutely.

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Good one!

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[quote]hel320 wrote:
Uh, I forgot the question. Oh yeah. Of course we age. The real question is how we age and I think that’s what most of the talk is about. It also matters what shape you were in when younger. If you were in terrible shape when younger and great shape now you feel the effects of aging less. If you’ve been in top physical shape since you were young, say 40, you probably feel the affects of lose of physical ability more accutely.[/quote]

I understand what you are saying; however, I believe that it doesn’t have to be as noticable. Of course there are greater obsticles to over come, family, careers etc. Which makes it much more difficult to find the time to train in all the areas that we need to. It is also important to approach this in a wise and well planned fashion.

We have aged and if we have let ourselves slip to the wayside or were never really in shape. Then the approach to getting in excellent shape must be veiwed as a long term project. One must start slowly, because we have aged injuries can really slow us down or even totally discourage us. Since we have lost our youth we must use our wisdom, knowledge, and patience to over come these new and forgein challenges that confront us.

The important princple to remember is that where is getting in shape, which is a relative term, and there is getting into T-shape. There is no reason that with the application of knowledge that is available that we should’t be able to achieve great things even as we age. This is of course not the goal of the common person, but on this site we are far from common. We are a different breed from others. While they maybe content to get in shape, we are more inclined to push ourselves to the limits of our physical abilities.

So what I am saying is there does not have to been a set limit to those abilities just because we are ageing. There is away to beat ageing, not death, but ageing. The first hurdle is to get over is that preconceived notion that we are limited to what we can do because of age. The second is to take the right approach to achieving the goals we desire. Put the carrot out there and never stop reaching for it, know matter what anyone ever says. The challenge is to never let the obsticles of life bring us down. Stay strong and live life on your terms.

17

[quote]hel320 wrote:
Uh, I forgot the question. Oh yeah. Of course we age. The real question is how we age and I think that’s what most of the talk is about. It also matters what shape you were in when younger. If you were in terrible shape when younger and great shape now you feel the effects of aging less. If you’ve been in top physical shape since you were young, say 40, you probably feel the affects of lose of physical ability more accutely.[/quote]

Exactly. How many professional rugby, football, baseball or basketball athletes are over 50?

I played field hockey and rugby back in the day. There is NO way in hell, that at age 54, I can even do half of what I used to.

Age is NOT a state of mind. If that were the case, I would be 21 years old forever, frozen in a state of denial and false hope. I do keep the best attitude I can, in spite of some surgery, setbacks and rehab.

Perhaps, compared to other women my age, I’m in pretty good shape, and can do lots of things they cannot do. I can still lift and still play rock and roll. I don’t expect a long and healthy life, just because I keep fit and eat healthy. The odds are stacked against me.

Streamline, I do respect your attitude, I wish I were that energetic. But while I may not live long, I strive each day to live well, the best I can, and make tomorrow just a little bit better than today.

Age is a state of body AND mind. Having the wisdom to integrate these two systems, to function optimally, is priceless.

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A bit of wishful thinking.

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[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
A bit of wishful thinking.[/quote]

I agree. It is one thing to say that I am going to do my best to keep my body strong and healthful; it is quite another to say “it’s all in your head”.

Obviously if you just think that growing old means that you have to accept degradation and do nothing about it, then you are probably going to fall apart sooner rather than later.

If, on the other hand, you think it is all in your head, you are just telling yourself lies and life will serve you up its evidence. Besides that, I suspect you are going to be one of these middle-aged clowns that tries to act like he’s 20; it’s anxiety provoking to have to try to act like your are 20 when you’re 50. You’re putting on an act and if you don’t know it or don’t want to know it, let me tell you something. EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND YOU KNOWS IT AND IS LAUGHING BEHIND YOUR BACK.

I will admit that I question the motivation of any non-gay male to want to put on speedos and pontificate in front of another bunch of (mostly) males. However, when you’re over 45 and do this, you are really in a dream, if you think anybody wants to see your wrinkled ass strut around on a stage like a chicken.

Stay healthy, stay fit, stay strong but GROW THE FUCK UP ALREADY!

20

[quote]entheogens wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
A bit of wishful thinking.

I agree. It is one thing to say that I am going to do my best to keep my body strong and healthful; it is quite another to say “it’s all in your head”.

Obviously if you just think that growing old means that you have to accept degradation and do nothing about it, then you are probably going to fall apart sooner rather than later.

If, on the other hand, you think it is all in your head, you are just telling yourself lies and life will serve you up its evidence. Besides that, I suspect you are going to be one of these middle-aged clowns that tries to act like he’s 20; it’s anxiety provoking to have to try to act like your are 20 when you’re 50. You’re putting on an act and if you don’t know it or don’t want to know it, let me tell you something. EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND YOU KNOWS IT AND IS LAUGHING BEHIND YOUR BACK.

I will admit that I question the motivation of any non-gay male to want to put on speedos and pontificate in front of another bunch of (mostly) males. However, when you’re over 45 and do this, you are really in a dream, if you think anybody wants to see your wrinkled ass strut around on a stage like a chicken.

Stay healthy, stay fit, stay strong but GROW THE FUCK UP ALREADY!

[/quote]

I truly feel sorry for both of you. You are or are going to miss out on one hell of a good life. I also never said it’s all in the head, but that’s where it all starts. Without the right state of mind (which you do not at the present have) you will be swimming up stream.

I’m fifty and not a week goes by at the gym that some young guy doesn’t compliment me for my physic and cardio endurance. I train and will continue to train in a progessive fashion. I make myself better every single day.

Your attitude is already in give up mode, don’t for one second thing that your mocking me, laughing at me or talk behind my back will in any way discourage me. I have long ago learned to feed off the negative energies that others through at me.

If being a clown and being laughed at means not being a quitter, so be it, I’m a clown laugh your face off. I’m fifty, ripped and my ass will never sag or wrinkle. This is not by design but desire. It is to bad you have such a negative outlook on life, you’re going to miss all the fun.

Growing up means growing old and dieing, no fucking thank you, it’s all yours. I have much better plans thank you all the same, like dancing on your grave. Which I truly hope will not be for some time; however, with your attitude you may wish for it before it comes.

Staying strong in body and mind because the alternative really sucks!!