For those strength trainers in their sixties, seventies etc. how do you reckon you feel physically compared to the non lifting community of the same age?
I am wondering how a lifetime of weight lifting affects you. I know there will be some who balance their strength training with flexibility work, foam rolling and other soft tissue quality work and feel great.
Generally though, are life time lifters less flexible, do they ache more, have joint problems etc?
I am a 36 year old lifter who still feels as strong as ever but can sense many years of mobility work ahead!
Hi, Rich, welcome to the old geezers’ home.
Hmm, good question. You just made me realize I don’t associate with many people my own age (54). Occasionally visit a high school chum, he runs a machine shop, some physical work involved. His handshake is strong, but he’s a little soft around the waist. Pretty sure I can outlift him, though.
I feel pretty good, but as you guessed, that’s after a lot of flexibility/soft tissue/etc work. Also don’t load up too much weight too quickly - that’s begging for injury.
If you check the threads, you’ll notice the people here are very reasonable on weight. A 300 lb bench might bring yawns at a world contest, but here is cause for celebration.
Am I in better shape than a 20 yr old? hard to say. When I was 20, I felt like crap and was weak as a kitten.
Hey Rich
I’m 45 and my dad is 70 hes been lifting over 55 years (OLY) has had some serious life threatning injuries that I’m sure would have killed others.Yet he keeps ticking , occasionally lifts with people 40 years younger, noticed he has terrific muscle endurance. Range of motion sucks. He now lifes 2 days a week and swims 2 days and is always in motion. His joints have taken a beating due mainly he says from trying marathon running in the 1970’s. He was a OLY alernate in 1960’s. He eats way to good has for most his life oatmeal for breakfast lots of chicken and always has his own garden. Has a weight pile in his back yard , about 600#s for the last thiry years.
[quote]Dude623 wrote:
Hey Rich
I’m 45 and my dad is 70 hes been lifting over 55 years (OLY) has had some serious life threatning injuries that I’m sure would have killed others.Yet he keeps ticking , occasionally lifts with people 40 years younger, noticed he has terrific muscle endurance. Range of motion sucks. He now lifes 2 days a week and swims 2 days and is always in motion. His joints have taken a beating due mainly he says from trying marathon running in the 1970’s. He was a OLY alernate in 1960’s. He eats way to good has for most his life oatmeal for breakfast lots of chicken and always has his own garden. Has a weight pile in his back yard , about 600#s for the last thiry years. [/quote]
That is impressive.
At the serious gym I went to for a while (before I started saving money), there were a group of late 60s, early 70s lifters, and they were strong, with good range of motion. Made me think, just to listen to them as they warmed up on the bicycles.
Thanks guys, some good info. Would be great to see some more posts from the long experienced on how to keep going. I am not convinced yet that lifting can wear out joints like some would think.