I'm 35 and Looking for Some Advice

Training Over 35 Lifter
1

Good morning everyone,

I am 35, 6’ and 240 lbs. I am sick of my tired ass and man boobs, etc. A few years ago my wife bought me a Bowflex Extreme 2 and I really loved it. It give you a good workout…not like free weights but a very good workout.

I was doing well, got down to 215 but then I got sick and just stopped (like an idiot!!). I found the stronglifts website and was very impressed, then found then one and am even more inspired!

I have just started back and very excited about it. Just a few questions:

  1. Stronglifts strongly suggests doing squats 3x a week. Back in the day, I would just do squats on my LEGS day. My routine is doing HITT cardio every other day and stength training on the opposite days. If I do squats 3x, they would never get any rest, right? What are your thoughts?

  2. As for my routine, Day 1 is back, traps and bi. Day 2 is chest, shoulders and triceps. Day 3 is legs. And the off days are my cardio. Am I doing too much, not enough?

  3. What is the best time to do ABS? After my cardio or after my workouts?

  4. My goals are to drop this blubber and get back to my body of before. I see a lot of article and ppl. talking about high protein and low carb. Does this really work? I would like to get back to 190. I have begun eating clean but it is hard to believe that I can eat all this protein and fat and lose the fat I have.

I am just looking for some hard and straight advice on what exactly I need to do to get back to the proud body I used to have. I thank you all in advance for your thoughts.

Take care,

Stogie

2

Stronglifts is a great program. It’s modeled after “Starting Strength”. I have issues with his diet recommendations, not enough vegetables. Instead of low-fat, it should be low grain. That’s not the message I see on his site.

Your legs will respond to frequent training. Start light and build up. You will build conditioning and will get used to the frequent workouts. The HIIT really doesn’t bother the legs. The limiting factor is the cardio.

As you progress you may have to switch to a heavy/light routine but that’s well down the road.

You can do your upper body push and pull each workout as well.

Abs are best worked as part of your warmup to prepare them for the leg workout. Squats and deadlifts will further work them. While you are starting out I think it’s prudent to hit them again at the end of the workout with heavy resistance. Low back is as important as abs. Work them both.

High protein and low grains really works. You need a balance of good fats as well. Don’t fill up on bacon.

Stu