over 40 with a six pack

trainhard8624 · 02-12-2008, 09:45 PM

ok first im only 21 but for some reason or another today i started thinking about maintaining my physique as i age. I know there are plenty of people 40 and over with excellent physiques, six pack and all and im wondering how they maintain if metabolism slows as you age. obviously adjusting calories, macronutrients, and cardio can all come in to play but is it true that if your body is so well conditioned from years of training( think lou ferrigno or other older legends) that your physique is easy to maintain?? im just curious who on here has kept definition and mass over the years and how did you do it??

meanmo · 02-12-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

ok first im only 21 but for some reason or another today i started thinking about maintaining my physique as i age. I know there are plenty of people 40 and over with excellent physiques, six pack and all and im wondering how they maintain if metabolism slows as you age. obviously adjusting calories, macronutrients, and cardio can all come in to play but is it true that if your body is so well conditioned from years of training( think lou ferrigno or other older legends) that your physique is easy to maintain?? im just curious who on here has kept definition and mass over the years and how did you do it??

You also gain discipline and body knowledge as you age so in some ways its easier, diet is huge of course. Another problem besides diminishing hormones is time. Most people acquire additional responsibilities as they age as well and finding time can really become difficult when your working and trying to raise a family.

trainhard8624 · 02-12-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momod

You also gain discipline and body knowledge as you age so in some ways its easier, diet is huge of course. Another problem besides diminishing hormones is time. Most people acquire additional responsibilities as they age as well and finding time can really become difficult when your working and trying to raise a family.

The time thing is very understandable but assuming that one has time to train frequently and do cardio as needed is it still relatively easy to maintain ab definition if you stay almost anal retentive about it as you age?? im almost obsessive when it comes to definition and i have a feeling thats not going to change as i get older and i know after i hit 25 or 30 my metabolism will slow. I think i just want to ease my own mind/worries about losing what im working so hard to gain just because of getting older. I understand diet is probably 70 to 80% of it but i already eat clean even when bulking and i drink alchohol in very strict moderation if at all....does it seem like im on the right track to maintaining my physique as i age??

meanmo · 02-12-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

The time thing is very understandable but assuming that one has time to train frequently and do cardio as needed is it still relatively easy to maintain ab definition if you stay almost anal retentive about it as you age?? im almost obsessive when it comes to definition and i have a feeling thats not going to change as i get older and i know after i hit 25 or 30 my metabolism will slow. I think i just want to ease my own mind/worries about losing what im working so hard to gain just because of getting older. I understand diet is probably 70 to 80% of it but i already eat clean even when bulking and i drink alchohol in very strict moderation if at all....does it seem like im on the right track to maintaining my physique as i age??

It depends on the person, like at any age.. I see lean guys 40 plus with abs, they were probably lean their whole life. Ive been leaner the last 3 years then ive ever been. In my twenties I was 240 @ 15% now im 215 at around 11% but have been as low as 190 and 9% when cycling season comes around. You cant do much about diminishing hormones other than get on HRT which is certainly a valid solution as it really can contribute to the quality of life as you age.

trainhard8624 · 02-12-2008, 10:11 PM

Thanks for the feedback......i dont know why i worry about this at my age but i dont want to be one of those overweight guys at the gym talkin like "yea i used to have a six pack back in '95".....i guess i want to prepare myself now with all the knowledge i possibly can about staying lean/maintaining definition as i age. I figure its better to get an early start than waiting till i actually start to lose definition

meanmo · 02-12-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

Thanks for the feedback......i dont know why i worry about this at my age but i dont want to be one of those overweight guys at the gym talkin like "yea i used to have a six pack back in '95".....i guess i want to prepare myself now with all the knowledge i possibly can about staying lean/maintaining definition as i age. I figure its better to get an early start than waiting till i actually start to lose definition

if your intense about it now you will be probably be the same guy in the future.. fat guys who talked about how cut they were probably lying or just were skinny when they were young.. You gotta love the pain and training or you wont last regardless, some people have it some people dont... I lost it a little in my 30s but I jumped right back on track and my body handles it pretty well if I let it recover..

good luck

trainhard8624 · 02-12-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momod

if your intense about it now you will be probably be the same guy in the future.. fat guys who talked about how cut they were probably lying or just were skinny when they were young.. You gotta love the pain and training or you wont last regardless, some people have it some people dont... I lost it a little in my 30s but I jumped right back on track and my body handles it pretty well if I let it recover..

good luck

again, thanks for the replies. Considering how intense i am about it now im starting to gain confidence in the fact that with proper diet/training regimen i can maintain and even better my physique as i age. Hell, most of the pros dont even seem to peak till their 30's(im not trying to compare obviously but it still pertains to the subject) and youre right about gaining knowledge i figure i can learn even more about how my body responds to different things over time. All your feedback has been greatly appreciated

67fastback · 02-13-2008, 09:07 AM

I'm already over 40 but am determined to shave off that last 1/2" of BF and show my abs (at least that's the goal)

I seem to get the obliques, but not the washboard.

namtrag · 02-13-2008, 09:25 AM

I never had a six pack in my whole life, so might as well get one. It's on my personal "bucket" list.

Jules Verne · 02-13-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

im wondering how they maintain if metabolism slows as you age.

It doesn't. Hormones change, you may have less energy (maybe kids to deal with, or more stressful jobs), more injury prone so can't work out quite as often or intensely, recover slower etc.. often results in less physical activity. Basic metabolic rate does not appreciably change (unless your thyroid packs in or something). So if you can maintain activity levels, it should be no harder or easier for someone at 40 than 20.

The problem is maintaining activity levels.

Jules Verne · 02-13-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

Thanks for the feedback......i dont know why i worry about this at my age but i dont want to be one of those overweight guys at the gym talkin like "yea i used to have a six pack back in '95".....i guess i want to prepare myself now with all the knowledge i possibly can about staying lean/maintaining definition as i age. I figure its better to get an early start than waiting till i actually start to lose definition

Stay uninjured, or at least as much as you reasonably can. Read and practice injury-prevention (e.g. RC exercises, stretching etc..) now and if you do have an issue, go to a doc as soon as possible rather than trying to work though it.

trainhard8624 · 02-13-2008, 11:30 AM

not a fan of bumping threads but theres been more replies and i feel the need to thank you all for your feedback....i was also told metabolism slows as you age but if thats not the case and and it all comes down to activity level and intensity of a workout i dont think ill have any problems. Thank you all again for easin my mind about this and giving some great info

bodyhard · 02-13-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

not a fan of bumping threads but theres been more replies and i feel the need to thank you all for your feedback....i was also told metabolism slows as you age but if thats not the case and and it all comes down to activity level and intensity of a workout i dont think ill have any problems. Thank you all again for easin my mind about this and giving some great info

Not everyones metabolism slows down with age. If you are an ecto you wont have any problems getting/maintaining a 6 pack.

My least concern is getting a six pack as losing bf (the little I have) come relatively easy for me.

Now gaining mass it is very difficult for me.

trainhard8624 · 02-13-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodyhard

Not everyones metabolism slows down with age. If you are an ecto you wont have any problems getting/maintaining a 6 pack.

My least concern is getting a six pack as losing bf (the little I have) come relatively easy for me.

Now gaining mass it is very difficult for me.

Thats how i am now......getting lean was quite easy for me and ill admit before i started training i had a bit of a gut from years of eating absolute crap,drinking pop like it was water, and not excercising but cutting up and getting a six pack literally only took me 2 and a half months......its taken me almost 6 months to put on any mass though. Judging from your pictures i hope i have the body type like yours where i can easily maintain leanness and abdominal definition as i age and my metabolism wont slow much.

Fit Dude · 02-13-2008, 11:57 AM

You're way ahead of the game. If you keep training and maintaining a clean diet you'll be able to maintain a six pack for just about as long as you want (barring illness or injury). I'm working hard to reduce BF right now. Not sure I'll get strict enough with my diet to have abs showing, but I'm working on more definition in my midsection.

By the way, I'm almost 42 and my metabolism hasn't slowed much.

Inthegrass · 02-13-2008, 01:03 PM

I eat well, meaning I don't eat ANY junk food so I guess that's a big part of it. I also workout pretty hard compared to most. It's worth it though!!!!

I've also spent a lot of time on my core, much more than most would be my guess. I started off with pilates and I built it from there. Best thing I ever did!!!!

Jeff

tonester · 02-13-2008, 05:47 PM

You are what you eat and do. Genetics of course come into play as far as maintaining metabolism and balanced hormones but that being said everything you do should be a lifestyle.

The base you lay now will be there for you when you need it

chodan9 · 02-13-2008, 06:16 PM

Not sure if your are in the working world yet or a student or what.
One of the things that can interfere with your development is a job.
Expecially if you have a family and your trying to get ahead at a certain job by working extra hours or traveling. Then you notice one day "wow I forgot to workout last month!" and your eating fast food on the road and you all the sudden notice the gut is back!!!
it can creep up on you, having focus is good, but focus is like a spot light, not a flood light, if it shifts to something else then your training will suffer. That doesnt mean your focus is wrong, it may be required to meet new goals etc, but you have to be willing to shift that focus.
That being said, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle and even make gains without bodybuilding being your only focus.

StressMonkey · 02-13-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainhard8624

ok first im only 21 but for some reason or another today i started thinking about maintaining my physique as i age. I know there are plenty of people 40 and over with excellent physiques, six pack and all and im wondering how they maintain if metabolism slows as you age. obviously adjusting calories, macronutrients, and cardio can all come in to play but is it true that if your body is so well conditioned from years of training( think lou ferrigno or other older legends) that your physique is easy to maintain?? im just curious who on here has kept definition and mass over the years and how did you do it??

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Starting at the age you are you'll have plenty of time to figure out what is and what isn't working for you. I don't know anything about maintaining over the years because I started "late" in life (at least from my perspective).

Plus as you get older the things you think are important change. I see *so* many people my age that have let themselves go and are in terrible shape. Being lean was something I wouldn't have cared about in my twenties but now I'm thrilled that I've kept the bf down.