Growing Old: The Myth

Training Over 35 Lifter
61

[quote]streamline wrote:
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!

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!! [/quote]

I love your attitude. I too hate the morons who turn 30 and say that their life is over and act like Florida senior citizens. I dont say that its all in your head but for some people it really is.

62

[quote]streamline wrote:

I will improve until I don’t. Then I will maintain until I die. Totally enjoying every moment in between.[/quote]

Thats the smartest quote I read in this entire post…
That is it … right there in a nutshell. E’nuff said !

63

A couple of things.

Yes there are some late 40’s athletes at the games. I am talking of strength power speed athletes not game players like equestrian sailing shhoting etc.

Funny thing is even though some were former world champs they performed significantly below past levels. There was a Bulgarian womens discus thrower who won the worlds in the 80’s who if she had thrown even 5 metres less than what she threw in the 80’s would have won instead of coming in bottom 1/2 of the final. Then there is Merlene Ottey who tried very very hard to make the OG, it would have been a record 8th games, and she missed the B qualifier. She had previously won a worlds.

They are at the top of there game and were among the best resourced and motivated there are, but they are not getting better.

If you are in the best shape of your life in your 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s then only one thing is for sure. That if you are 50 it will be around 90% of what you could have archieved when younger.

I have found from my own experience and watching others, very litle change from 30-40.
A little from 40-50, but somewhere in the 50’s the tipping point is reached.

I was at our national coaches throwing convention, and was in better shape than any of our ex olympians from more than over a decade ago. Funny thing is that, they did not seem to care.

The throwing world has come to a harsh finding. That your maximun power potential is partly determined by how strong you are when you are in early twenties. Again if you were not on board then, well sorry guys, but you will only ever by x% of what you could have been.

And for some of the board members here who are in the best shape of their lives, go compete with a good twenty year old (not some kid mucking around in your local gym)stop competing in masters comps and go in the open catergory. Me personally, I will stay in masters.

Me, I am hoping this year to be equal to a walk on in a Div 11 uni, in first year.

In a few years time I hope to be comparing myself with top high school athletes.

64

well there’s a cold dash of reality…:slight_smile:

Actually, my point is that to whatever extent I’m able, I intend to improve my performance relative to what I accomplished yesterday. I have constant reminders that I’m at the bottom of the heap for my weight class, but that is neither here nor there. The idea for me is not to become better than someone else but to become better than what I am now.

There will indeed come a time when regression begins to occur, but it doesn’t have to be soon. And I will still find ways to improve other aspects of performance relative to my age when that time does come.

65

[quote]skidmark wrote:
well there’s a cold dash of reality…:slight_smile:

Actually, my point is that to whatever extent I’m able, I intend to improve my performance relative to what I accomplished yesterday.

There will indeed come a time when regression begins to occur, but it doesn’t have to be soon. And I will still find ways to improve other aspects of performance relative to my age when that time does come.[/quote]

and skidmark that is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

very well put,

66

So put me on a highway
And show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more time

Take it to the limit
Take it to the limit
Take it to the limit one more time
(Eagles)

Rock on Streamline-your all right in my book.

Happy new year.

67

[quote]GMH454 wrote:
A couple of things.

Yes there are some late 40’s athletes at the games. I am talking of strength power speed athletes not game players like equestrian sailing shhoting etc.

Funny thing is even though some were former world champs they performed significantly below past levels. There was a Bulgarian womens discus thrower who won the worlds in the 80’s who if she had thrown even 5 metres less than what she threw in the 80’s would have won instead of coming in bottom 1/2 of the final.

Then there is Merlene Ottey who tried very very hard to make the OG, it would have been a record 8th games, and she missed the B qualifier. She had previously won a worlds.

They are at the top of there game and were among the best resourced and motivated there are, but they are not getting better.

If you are in the best shape of your life in your 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s then only one thing is for sure. That if you are 50 it will be around 90% of what you could have archieved when younger.

I have found from my own experience and watching others, very litle change from 30-40.
A little from 40-50, but somewhere in the 50’s the tipping point is reached.

I was at our national coaches throwing convention, and was in better shape than any of our ex olympians from more than over a decade ago. Funny thing is that, they did not seem to care.

The throwing world has come to a harsh finding. That your maximun power potential is partly determined by how strong you are when you are in early twenties. Again if you were not on board then, well sorry guys, but you will only ever by x% of what you could have been.

And for some of the board members here who are in the best shape of their lives, go compete with a good twenty year old (not some kid mucking around in your local gym)stop competing in masters comps and go in the open catergory. Me personally, I will stay in masters.

Me, I am hoping this year to be equal to a walk on in a Div 11 uni, in first year.

In a few years time I hope to be comparing myself with top high school athletes.

[/quote]

Dara Torres, 41 year old swimmer, 3 silver medals Bejing Games. Dianne DeNecochea 41 year old beach volleyball player, ranked 11th in the world, olympian.

There will be more and more as the years go by. We have to remember that very few individuals are of Olympic caliber in the first place. Those that are now realize they can continue on, some may some may not.

Athletes have been forced into retirement for decades. Told they’re to old to compete or some other bullshit story. Many simply retired to enjoy themselves, playing golf. These athletes have no desire to compete in anything, except a round of golf.

I’m more interested in what I can do than what I can’t do. I’ll turn 52 this year and I will be Bigger, Stronger & Faster than last year. I have no idea how long I’ll be able to continue improving. I do no one thing however, I’m not going to be told when that is.

Even when one reaches their zenith. A good solid maintenance program will allow them to live their life anyway they wish. We are capable of far more than any of us realise. We’re breaking new ground every single day.

I may end up with only the over fifty world record. That won’t be because I didn’t train everyday and I eat everyday to break the overall world record. It just means I wasn’t fast enough. Not everyone is world caliber, no matter how long they train. It’s called genetics.

Not everyone has an interest in pushing their physical abilities. Especially as people get on in life. I am interested in seeing what the human body is truly capable of. To go where no one has gone before.

68

I think a major factor we haven’t mentioned in growing old is the affects of complacency and acceptance. I don’t/can’t do x anymore because I’m x years old, ergo, I’ll just sit here and accept it. Where the mind goes the body will follow. Once we begin to “feel old” we begin to act old. Caught myself doing this after several injuries. Of course there are limitation and we must be realistic. I could convince myself I’m capable of making the Olympics put it just won’t happen. This shouldn’t stop me from becoming the best I can at this age.

69

[quote)

Dara Torres, 41 year old swimmer, 3 silver medals Bejing Games. Dianne DeNecochea 41 year old beach volleyball player, ranked 11th in the world, olympian.

Athletes have been forced into retirement for decades. Told they’re to old to compete or some other bullshit story. Many simply retired to enjoy themselves,

I’ll turn 52 this year and I will be Bigger, Stronger & Faster than last year. I have no idea how long I’ll be able to continue improving. I do no one thing however, I’m not going to be told when that is.

[/quote]

Dara Tores spent more money (she had it to spend) than anyone before her. The private coaches massage strength ocaches, nannies, all played there part. What she lacked in age she made up for in cubic dollars. What she spent she will get back many times over. It was a very sensible investment. She trained much smarter than when she was young with much greater resourses. I don’t think you can say she got better without examining the how, that was achieved.

The two I used as comparison had no such advantage.

You may not have any idea how much longer you can improve, but without chemical assist I am saying it will be 2-4 years.

One thing I have noticed with us hard training masters is that some of us get flu that hits us like the great plague. That comes from a guy who for 24 years had not one day off work, and felt in the best shape of his life.

And finally the reason most give up there sport is because they no longer win. I don’t know of any I have met who just decided they should because society thought they were old.

I hope you keep chasing your goals, and I wish you every sucess.

70

[quote]hel320 wrote:
This shouldn’t stop me from becoming the best I can at this age. [/quote]

No matter what our age that should be, what it is all about

71

[quote]hel320 wrote:
I think a major factor we haven’t mentioned in growing old is the affects of complacency and acceptance. I don’t/can’t do x anymore because I’m x years old, ergo, I’ll just sit here and accept it. Where the mind goes the body will follow. Once we begin to “feel old” we begin to act old. Caught myself doing this after several injuries. Of course there are limitation and we must be realistic. I could convince myself I’m capable of making the Olympics put it just won’t happen. This shouldn’t stop me from becoming the best I can at this age. [/quote]

I think you hit the nail right on the head. I know so many individuals that put all their faith into medical science. They totally believe all their problems can be cured by science.

Their aren’t a lot of people like us out there. I wish there was, but it’s just not the case. I don’t consider myself special, just different.

The main reason I workout all the time is to enjoy my life in my fashion. There are not a lot that enjoy a physical life to the same extreme as myself. Which is fine, but I wish they would do something. I really dislike having to watch individuals suffer through their latter years. Especially when an hour a day could have made a world of difference.

My line of thought is very simple. I know I’m going to die, at some point in time. I’m not sure exactly how long my life style will postpone the inevitable, or if it will at all. I don’t really care. Life without quality isn’t living it’s just existing. Growing old and sitting around doing old things with old people is not fun, it’s existing.

There are individuals out there enjoying themselves well into their eighties and ninties. These were the ground breakers. I’m just going to take what they learned and apply it to my life. They push it as far as I can, so those that come later will know it can be done. Then they will push it and on and on.

A hundred years ago the average life span was 45 years. I think this is where the old at thirty started. Time to get over that. We have learned a lot in a hundred years, and we have only just begun to learn.

Through out history individuals have time and again shown that we are only limited by our own limitations. Speed and distance runner have continuously gotten faster. The number of individuals that time and again believed those new records would never be broken. Strongmen and bodybuilders have constantly improved the dynamics of their sport.

On top of all that. We are doing it better and longer than ever before. So what is to say we have reached our zenith. I personally don’t think we are even close to accomplishing that. We do not know half as much as we think we do, but we’re learning.

Personally I dare to fight the status quo, just because I can. Plus I have zero desire to conform to anyones way of life except my own. I’m having way to much fun.

72

Streamline has called it well. I live in the world’s largest retirement community and I don’t know a single guy who doesn’t have one major problem or disease or other…unless he is committed to an active lifestyle.

There is never a day that someone in the gym or on the street doesn’t make some positive comment about my health, strength and fitness. I may still be getting stronger every year, even at 67, but the related health decisions I have made to support that effort have created a lifestyle for longevity. I will dance with mixed emotions at he wakes of my friends who don’t have the drive to survive.

73

[quote]Dutchman1405 wrote:
Streamline has called it well. I live in the world’s largest retirement community and I don’t know a single guy who doesn’t have one major problem or disease or other…unless he is committed to an active lifestyle.

There is never a day that someone in the gym or on the street doesn’t make some positive comment about my health, strength and fitness. I may still be getting stronger every year, even at 67, but the related health decisions I have made to support that effort have created a lifestyle for longevity.

I will dance with mixed emotions at he wakes of my friends who don’t have the drive to survive.[/quote]

Sixty seven years young, right on. I to live in a favorite retirement area, Victoria, B.C… The company I work for attracks retired people because of the extensive customer service we provide.

Seeing these individuals suffering through their lifes is heart wrenching. Plus the biggest motivator to get into the gym. The gym I’m a member at has a steadily increasing number of retired members. There is hope.