The motivation is there once more
You better see this bad boy through to the end you manly son of a gun. I’m counting on you
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Deal!
I am not sore I totally agree with this. I get where you are coming from and it may well be true for you. But I think there are plenty of guys n gals who are progressing well into their 40’s or beyond. It just takes a different approach when you are a little more mature.
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That’s fair. It probably depends when you peaked and what your metrics are. I don’t watch strength sports, but those folks at the top of their game definitely seem to be older. On the other hand, n of 1, I was absolutely a much better athlete when younger. That comes down to a whole mess of variables, though.
I can definitely agree with this. My static strength may be better now, but my movement was so much better 20 years ago.
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Now we’re on the same page!
To be fair, I do simply move less nowadays
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Well I guess, like for many things, I’m a late bloomer because I’m better on every front than when I was 20 (but I’m only almost 31)
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The real test is how you will be in 15 years from now, when you have 3 kids and a stressful job !
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To add to the conversation about age and muscle, I find I’m able to add strength quicker now than when I was 20. However, as TfP noted, a host of variables affect us. Still, way back when I was 18, I read Bigger, Faster, Stronger. The author claimed that a man’s optimal age for peak strength is 39. Even as a teenager, that rang true.
When I was 19, I was able to do a 14-mile, round-trip day hike up and down a 14,300-foot mountain, without any prior training. I don’t think I’d be able to do that now. However, I think us late-30 and early-40-somethings aren’t nearly as old and decrepit as the media makes us out to be. The key differences seem to be recovery - it takes a little longer - and overall energy levels; I need a few more hours’ sleep each night to function well.
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I think this is true. Everything it’s relative, so it depends on your own “prime” I think. And the lifestyle of the average middle-ager is not exactly consistent with “athlete”
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We created machines to work for us then wonder why we’re not athletic or physically capable 
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Exactly, i’m aware of that ahah… Even then, i took a pic yesterday and here’s a comparison
2 years ago:
Yesterday:
I weigh maybe 2-3 kilos more, and I think I gained a bit of chest, shoulder and legs, but it just looks like my back ahsn’t changed at all.
Granted, top pic is with the pump and the best lighting you can dream of but still. I know I haven’t been ultra consistent or doing muscle-building programs but this sport can sometimes feel ungrateful ahah.
So maybe I’m already at the maintaining phase, or I’m at the level where I need specialization phases and bulk to gain muscle.
@TrainForPain that’s the session they did in their video right? Damn looks great. Eager to see how the speed work and box squats work for you
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I think it just becomes a slow grind at some point, man. Maybe you’re able to eat more while staying leaner or something? But the huge visual differences slow down for sure. Likely why the gents with more strength-based goals seem to have a bit more fun.
I didn’t sleep last night and had to go after work today, so it was a bit of a grind. I couldn’t let @ChongLordUno down, though, and I had to see if @simo74 was right that I could still do stuff like it was two decades ago.
Pull
- 10 minutes elliptical
20 years ago me laughed at me a little for this
-
C/S Row
-/15
1p/8
2p/6
3p/10
3p/10
3p/8 -
One-arm BB Row
25/6
50/6
75/8 x 2
75/8 + 50/6 -
Assisted Pull-up
-80/12 x 2
-80/12 + 15s mid-range hold -
Rear Delt Machine
40/10
85/20
70/30 x 2 -
Seated Hammer Curl
35/8 + 5 partials x 2
35/5 + 5 partials -
HS Preacher
1p/10
1.1p/8
1p/10
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Nice work mate. And did you answer the question?
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I believe so. I’m not sure if I’m:
A. Happy I was right
B. Sad I can’t do stuff
A conundrum
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Two things about the age discussion:
- Training age
- Adult life responsibilities
I almost wrote stressors on the second one but that’s not true. I’ve noticed a shift in my mindset. I’ve trained consistently for 18 years. I started to notice that I wasn’t going anywhere a few years ago. That led to a Iong, drawn out internal dialog that led to my current place - just don’t suck.
Could I do (fill in the blank)? Possibly.
Do I want to do what is necessary to achieve that? No.
I’ve reached a point where maintenance is the goal. If I stay consistent with exercise selection then I’ll see strength increases. Outside of that, I just need to do something to maintain my muscle mass. And to be quite blunt - I’m happy with the way I look. Do I want to be bigger? Yes, but see the above about the willingness to make it happen.
With the exception of one guy on here (of the people I follow), we all reach a point where we’re trying to get back a certain level of strength or physique. It’s as common as days that end in Y.
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Great post!
This is likely 99% of it for 99% of us. It’s just having the balls to admit and accept that most of us lack. Once we own that, though, we gain a ton of control
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Hmm 
now you have me thinking
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I think a lot of people say “That’s not possible” but what they really mean is “It’s not possible for me with my particular variables.”
If people would realize that then there would be a lot less back and forth about commitment and who’s a wuss.
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Perfectly put.
We try to explain this concept to my son: you truly can be and do anything, but not at once. One choice negates many other choices
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