Related to bodybuilding or powerlifting, I’m curious. Do you all think it’s harder when you are over 35 mainly due to biological reasons? Or, is it simply that by the time you are over 35, you probably have kids, a more career-like job, family, etc? And it is much more likely that someone around you will break something and want you ti fix it when it is time to workout…
I think it’s easier.
Because I’m married I’m not spending time chasing tail instead of training.
Because I have obligations, I’m not getting hammered on random nights and so have the physical resources to train.
Because I have a decent job I can afford my own equipment and so don’t have to pay gym fees and so have to put up with gym-related nonsense - unless I want to be entertained. And I don’t have to share my stuff.
Being older I’m able to set goals and pursue then in a more organized fashion and, being older, also recognize when others have pertinent experience and am hopefully not too full of oats to ask for advice and apply it.
I’ve made sure to let my family know that when I’m in the garage pushing metal around that that is my time. If I’m in the garage lifting, what ever it is you want done ain’t gettin’ done till I’m done.
Well, what’s hard for me (or just more of a pain in the ass) is doing stuff after I’m done working out.
One day I get home from workout and gf wants me to help hang a painting. Ok so I’m holding a 3ft wide painting above the bed against the wall while she’s standing at the other end of the room staring at it to see if it’s straight and my arms are shot and they’re shaking like jello and the paintings getting heavier and heavier.
One time I get home and I gotta carry a tv out to the dumpster and not a flat screen, one of those old ones, you know one of those cube shaped 200lb fuckers with no built in handles to carry it so you gotta wrap your arms around it bear-hug style and hope you make it to your destination before your hands get so sweaty you drop it on your foot and have to go get a broom and dustpan to sweep up the shattered screen. Good times.
So now I don’t do anything but eat when I get home, and even then I don’t like standing in the kitchen long enough to cook something.
So yea hard.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
I think it’s easier.
Because I’m married I’m not spending time chasing tail instead of training.
Because I have obligations, I’m not getting hammered on random nights and so have the physical resources to train.
Because I have a decent job I can afford my own equipment and so don’t have to pay gym fees and so have to put up with gym-related nonsense - unless I want to be entertained. And I don’t have to share my stuff.
Being older I’m able to set goals and pursue then in a more organized fashion and, being older, also recognize when others have pertinent experience and am hopefully not too full of oats to ask for advice and apply it.
I’ve made sure to let my family know that when I’m in the garage pushing metal around that that is my time. If I’m in the garage lifting, what ever it is you want done ain’t gettin’ done till I’m done.[/quote]
Ditto. It’s also easier at this age because the biggest problem of my youth…ie peer pressure…is no longer a factor in my life. My personal opinion is that if this is still a problem at 35+, you REALLY need to reevaluate your life.
since most guys over 35 are married, there is supposedly the “nesting” drop in testosterone that can make it a challenge to increase muscle. but if you train smart (do 5/3/1 or we’ll kill you) and eat right, you can make gains till you hit your mid 50’s.
that’s according to the research, but I think its possible to keep improving past that. the other thing is that now that you’re all growed up and over 35, there are annoying grown up things like jobs and family that can really interfere with your training if you’re not careful.
other than that, being an old fart is pretty awesome. except for the grey hair. and being fat.
[quote]mjnewland wrote:
“other than that, being an old fart is pretty awesome.”
Speak for yourself! Wait till you get over 65!!!
[quote]mjnewland wrote:
other than that, being an old fart is pretty awesome. except for the grey hair. and being fat.[/quote]
I thought those were the good things!
I just turned 50 last week and I feel like I am 35. If you are in the fitness lifestyle age doesn’t factor into how you look or feel as much as those couch potatoes in our age group. I think men do not see age related biological changes until well into the 60’s when our chromosones begin to shorten and don’t regenerate as fast as they used to.
There has been some interesting research written recently on how high intensity exercise can actually extend the life of TELOMERES - which are the ends of the chromosones that start to fray as we age.Check ou the New York times online.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
I think it’s easier.[/quote]
Wait till you are over 50, lol. Seriously, I found my physical rate of decline to be significantly greater from 45 to 55 compared to 35 to 45. Now I work my a** off in the gym just to stay close to what I was 4-5 years ago.
I didn’t start lifting until I was 50. Ask me again in 20 years what’s hard about training. Then I’ll have something to say.
Yeah. The reason I asked this is two-fold. First, because when I saw the “Over 35” category I thought, WTF? 35 is considered old? And second, because from what I’ve read I’m getting as good of results as anyone.
But I’ve only been doing this for just under a year, so had a lot of noob gains to grab. Just wondered what other people’s experiences were. Good to hear it doesn’t get too hard for another few years.
What’s harder about lifting over 50 is that when something breaks, the warranty has expired.
I believe it’s harder. Lack of sleep, obligations to family, etc.
I’m married with twin boys, who are about 5. Balancing my love for them, along with obligations is harder. It obviously takes a lot of communication. I believe I’m a better person now that I’m married with kids.
Everyone’s situation is different however. When I was single, I could singularly focus on work and bodybuilding.
By the way, I do believe I’m more efficient in my workouts and much smarter. If I have 45-60 minutes to train, I’m maximizing my time to the fullest. There are “Pro’s and Con’s” to everything.
I think when you are over 35 you train better. That is better form and less wasted energy. Yes the obiligations of life are easier in a sense because lifting is a part of what we do. The whole issue is injury, a 20 year old will recover from a minor lifting injury while someone over 35 has a longer healing time. That is medical facts. We can make gains and run with the young dogs, we just need a few days afterwards to recover. I know that if I tie one on(get drunk) I need at least 3 days to get over it.
I see one realy difference, and thats recovery time.
At 42 I still do everything I used to and am still competitive at it but I have to be smart about recovery, particularly sleep and food.
T-Nation just picked 35 because that’s where the T supposedly starts it’s downward spiral. I think at 35 you should be at your physical peak capability wise. I’m 20 years past that, no kids at home, financially secure, so training is a lot easier to get in. Physically recovery takes a little longer.