[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I recently hit 40 and I feel great. I have gone through many physical adaptations in the last 20 years. From being a rugby athlete lifting some serious weight to getting injured and lazy with my diet and having a “full house” look while being fairly strong. Now I’m down to 185 with a decent six-pack and a stricter diet.[/quote]
You’re 185!?!)#$!)? I thought you were like 250.
Anyway you haven’t even finished peaking yet if you’re only 40. 35-45 are when men get their strongest. I don’t know what you old folks have to bitch about, you have it easy. I can’t wait to be 10 years older so the bench press fairy will come through my window and bless me with magical old man strength.[/quote]
I WAS 250ish for more than ten years. But after three knee surgeries and dealing with a decade of knee/ankle pain (from old rugby injuries), I decided to lose some weight. I hired a former British forum member to take charge of my training/diet/supps and over the last year I dropped about sixty pounds and feel a lot healthier. When I hit 10% BF, he will change the program up and put me on a more of a mass building plan to bring me up to a lean 205 - 210. I am at 11% right now, so I’m looking forward to changing it up soon.
I’m still pretty strong, but it’s not like I’m squatting 600 pounds or anything - some of you guys are fucking BEASTS.
[quote]fiftyplus wrote:
Having recently turned 60, I know ‘fiftyplus’ may have to go, I agree with the staying active while you can. It does get more difficult. I still work out, run, bike, lift, etc. 5 -6 times a week. I can’t get away with things like I used to - too little sleep, not eating or hydrating enough, recovery takes longer. I don’t feel like I am getting stronger, just maintaining with the same amount of work. for me, I feel there was a significant change somewhere in my late 50s. so relax, enjoy, you have a lot of time to go[/quote]
My dad is going to be 65 in september. 4 yrs ago he tore his patellar tendon on a tennis court. After that he kinda fell apart. He used to have 2 motorcycles and played tennis/handbal and lifted. Now he just lifts a little.
He was big into distance running when he was younger (30’s/40’s) and now he needs 2 new knees and an ankle surgery.
Basically what I am saying is I noticed the same thing around the 60 mark, a quick downturn for the people who are very active.
Carbiduis,
kind of what I am seeing. I hate to admit that my back, knees, etc. feel better when I cut back on running, jump rope, box hops, etc. but it is undeniable. on the other hand, my orthopedic doctor did say that I am likely doing more good staying active versus stopping. Like it or not, I have to accept that I am older and need to be smart about what I do and don’t do.
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
Just turned 42. imho, if you have your health (general good health, flexibility, mobility, strength, etc), no chronic diseases, a way to handle stress, and positive people around you, you can stay young until the day you don’t wake up.
Once the chronic disease starts, it’s a slow slide towards old age.
(My mom just turned 72. She went rafting in Atlanta a few weeks ago and broke her ankle the first day. Wrapped that sucker up and limped through the next 4 days of rafting. Went skydiving for her 65th birthday. Nothing old about her at all. Sharp as a tack, going bungee jumping in Costa Rica sometime this summer)[/quote]
Turning 43 this month, but I look better now than I have for 20 years (even when working out during that time). Decided to shit-or-get-off-the-pot a couple years ago and finally got visible-abs lean (for the first time). Best thing I ever did. Workouts and diet have been a bit spotty since then, but I can still see abs.
Now if I could just tighten up the face a bit…the force of gravity seems to be increasing just in that one area, dammit.
[quote]chillain wrote:
reversed) with lifting and explosive-type movements (ie. jumps and sprints) in particular.
[/quote]
Interesting you say this. I do tons of explosive concentric only movements and largely attribute this type of training to my “come back” over the last three years. At 49 I’m in the best shape I’ve been in sinceI was 36 (and I never quit training). Do you have any reading material on this you can share?[/quote]
I’m almost positive it’s been discussed in an article here, something about engaging the fast-twitch fibers in particular.
I’ll try and find time this weekend to see what I can dig up here and elsewhere.
[quote]AliveAgain36 wrote:
I know the easy answer is when you think you are… But for real… Commercials about hearing aids and reverse mortgages are trying to make me feel older.
I’m 39 and fell like I’m still 12… Is there a moment when it happens?[/quote]
A lot more people here can give specific life experience advice.
FWIW, I refer to the classics when deep questions come up. From Dylan Thomas:
“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
My interpretation is the instant you suspect the grand clock is ticking, you learn to spot what you need to work on and fight like hell.
My interpretation is the instant you suspect the grand clock is ticking, you learn to spot what you need to work on and fight like hell. [/quote]
Agree. I find the further into my 40s I get, the more I realize that we’re all just marching towards death. Going from 20 to 40 is an eternity when you’re at the front end of that. When you hit the tail end, you realize how quick it went by (you don’t feel all that different, if at all) and how much closer 60, 70, etc. really is. Having kids puts that into perspective too.
I’m 43. Very active and fit, I still play competitive men’s flag football on Saturdays, and my lifts are overall my strongest ever. That being said, at 42 I felt my first “adjustment” in speed reduction, injury frequency, and overall reduction in explosiveness.
I’ve lost a few pounds, started the Agile 8, and dropped some of my heavier lifts to adjust. I was pursuing a 405lb squat, but the soreness just wasn’t worth it anymore. 275 x 20 is my new squat goal…more obtainable, and more fitness oriented. I also do sprints, spiderman crawls, superman planks, and burpee broad jumps.
My best advice is to address any injuries or health concerns head on, and adjust your routines as needed. No reason to stop being active, ever.
My new goal at 43 is to host my first ever 3-some at my house. Guys like Angry Chicken consider that a warm up to the weekend, but I’m just getting started!