What’s that saying about sharks?
“If they stop swimming they die” -or something to that effect -right?
Any of you fellow “over 35’ers” take this approach to your training and physical activity?
Now I know we’re supposed to get our rest and all that rot…but I’m finding that as I age (41 here) -I actually do better staying more active -training more often -and taking less days “off.”
Not to say I don’t slip in some light days here and there. But I find that if I take time off (ex: 2 days in a row)…it’s like trying to crank up an old Hudson getting ‘back into the groove’.
I’ve tried HIT and Mike Metzner’s Heavy Duty -damn hard training -exhausting -but didn’t do well on these protocols due to the long periods of inactivity (read “rest”) in between training sessions.
It was like I was starting from scratch each session.
I’ve been using Chad Waterbury’s High Frequency Training for the last 8 weeks or so and have been seeing the best gains of my life.
Just wondering what the rest of you are finding as you age.
I agree. I’m 44 and can’t get enough. I have severe guilt and worry if I miss a day. Not all days are balls to the wall, but I like to feel like I’ve done something even if its a brisk hour walk or 1/2 on the elliptical. I feel strong and healthy, when I’m tired I go to bed.
[quote]Miserere wrote:
Just so you old-timers know, sharks can stay still without dying. In fact, many hide under coral to ambush their prey.
Not that this has anything to do with the thread, but then I’m only 31 and am still aloud to act recklessly on this forum :-)[/quote]
Sure! You’re definitely allowed…but! (Always a but!)
But! -what do YOU think?
What has YOUR personal experience been?
Have you experimented at all?
Do you feel better when you’re in the gym more often?
“Overtraining” be damned!!??
What’s it like to be a recklessly active, Jacques Cousteau-like 31 yr old without a care in the world gym-rat?
I’m 35 and on a recent trip to Sea World I learned that there are some species of sharls that do require constant movement in order to stay alive, and there are some that don’t…
Okay fellas…I think we’re losing the central idea here.
So perhaps my theory could’ve been more aptly named -granted. But my point is not so much about sharks or what they do…I’m asking if you feel better overall if you train more or less frequently.
I posed the question primarily to the older trainees -but youngsters should feel free to chime in as well.
Is it easier to keep moving and maintain your ‘training momentum?’
-Or do you need the occasional rest, relaxation and recuperation of zero activity?
Sorry, didn’t mean to maintain a tangent. I feel like I’m pretty active all the time, even if not in the weight room. With an 11 y/o, a 4 y/o and a job that sometimes requires a lot of “box handling”, I don’t mind taking the occasional total day off. Last Sunday I did nothing but stay in the house and watch movies and play playstation with my son. Oh yeah, and nap. Of course the heat index outside was over 100.
If I don’t get to the gym I get cranky. I find the workout to be a great stress reliever. I may do a light workout once in a great while, but I never do a de-load week.
Does it ever bother you when you can’t get to the gym? -when yuor regular routine is interupted by “life”??
When this happens to me -or even on a scheduled day “off”…I feel antsie…like I can’t sit still. I almost feel like whatever progress I’ve made is slipping away -like I need to be doing SOMETHING physical.
It’s usually on these days that I’ll go take a walk …hit the heavybag …practice-up on my jumprope skills…SOMETHING!
[quote]Pauli D wrote:
I know what you mean about the ‘cranky’
Does it ever bother you when you can’t get to the gym? -when yuor regular routine is interupted by “life”??
When this happens to me -or even on a scheduled day “off”…I feel antsie…like I can’t sit still. I almost feel like whatever progress I’ve made is slipping away -like I need to be doing SOMETHING physical.
It’s usually on these days that I’ll go take a walk …hit the heavybag …practice-up on my jumprope skills…SOMETHING!
I just feel better when I’m active![/quote]
Agreed. My schedule has me in the gym Sunday AM, Monday PM, Thursday PM, and Friday PM. That gives me Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday off. By Wednesday afternoon, I’m looking for something heavy to pick up.
I have a pair of 30 pound dumbbells at my desk. If it gets too bad, I’ll do 50 shoulder presses (I really need to get some bigger dumbbells in here) or 25 triceps extensions or something.
Nobody said you had to sit on your duff on off days and complain that you feel bad when not working out. 3 times per week is fine with me. I have plenty of other interests in life to keep me from getting antsy. Creating this artificial stress will keep you from getting gains no matter how many hours per week you work out.
I’m trying to get into the gym every day, but now I need to learn not to overdo it.
It seems pretty related to sleep. If I am not getting proper sleep I suddenly seem to backtrack. Other than that the frequent workouts seem to work well.
Train 4 days a week. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Two days upper and two days legs and abs. I feel better resting body parts for at least 48 hrs best. I work high intensity and some low intensity high volume. My joints appreciate the time off, and so does my wife. Although just got her enrolled at the gym last night.
I’m 57 and strongly believe in the “Use it or Lose it theory.” I workout 3 or 4 days a week and walk or jump rope on most off days. I also have planned rest weeks which gives me motivation to come back strong.
[quote]vroom wrote:
I’m trying to get into the gym every day, but now I need to learn not to overdo it.
It seems pretty related to sleep. If I am not getting proper sleep I suddenly seem to backtrack. Other than that the frequent workouts seem to work well.[/quote]
I think you have something with that theory of yours. When I was 34…a long time ago…I took about two months off because work kept me so very busy (in other words it was my excuse).
When I did decide to go back to the Gym I was a real mess. I seriously couldn’t do anything. And it took me forever to gain back strength and stamina.
I learned from that and I have only taken off one week at a time after about every 8 weeks or so. And then it’s usually not a full week.
I am starting to think that having a really light week is better than taking one off completely.
[quote]Pauli D wrote:
Okay fellas…I think we’re losing the central idea here.
So perhaps my theory could’ve been more aptly named -granted. But my point is not so much about sharks or what they do…I’m asking if you feel better overall if you train more or less frequently.
I posed the question primarily to the older trainees -but youngsters should feel free to chime in as well.
Is it easier to keep moving and maintain your ‘training momentum?’
-Or do you need the occasional rest, relaxation and recuperation of zero activity?[/quote]
im 36 here,and ive just upped my training to 2 days on 1 off,tho i try and get in a quik cardio session on the off day.I dont always hit it this hard tho,but after 6 months of not much training and a shit load of boozing in asia id stacked on 10 non functional ugly kgs.so i decided to kick myself in the ass and get seriously back into it.
i actually seam to recover more quickly these days strangely,tho i do get more aches and pains in the joints.I agree with the keep moving theory tho,i ride my bike everyday,for transport and pleasure,and go a bit nuts if i dont do something physical daily.
you definately slow down rapidly after 30 if you dont stay active,and im far and away in better shape than any of my same aged mates,even after the lay off.oh,and carpet sharks and grey nurses are quite happy mooching around doing nothing,theyre the couch potato’s of the shark kingdom.hell theyd probably be on the playstation all day if the could get there fins round the controls!!
