When I was in the NAVY there was about a 40 year old Master Cheif that was strong as an OX. I used to lift with him but was no where near as strong. Some of the guys used to say that Master Cheif Dingis had, "That old man strength". Well now that I am 6 months from 40, heavier weight seems to come easier for me than in the past. A 225 bench used to be in my dreams. Now I find myself pushing around 315 although only recently and at max 2 times with full range of motion.
I see heavier and heavier gains in about all my exercises. I only lift 4 times a week for about an hour a day so I am not realy a gym rat and I rarely use any type of supplement.
I guess this is more of a story than anything but has anyone else noticed this?
Oh well I am not going to complain seeing as I used to struggle with a 135lb bench!!!! :-)
Wade
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11-17-2008, 06:41 PM #1
- Join Date: Mar 2004
- Location: Clover, South Carolina, United States
- Age: 54
- Posts: 110
- Rep Power: 260
Ever heard of "Old Man Strength"?
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11-17-2008, 06:44 PM #2
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11-17-2008, 06:55 PM #3
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11-17-2008, 07:05 PM #4
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11-18-2008, 12:10 AM #5
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11-18-2008, 04:39 AM #6
The answer might be found in finding a working definition of brute strength, what is it, when do you get it, etc.
I base this on the fact I was listening to one of the World's strongest men contestants talk about not having gained his brute strength. From what I got it did not mean that you gain a lot of muscle you simply gain strength by doing the same repititous thing over and over(years) for an extended period of time.
Bottom line you might have gained your brute strength and just not used it until now.
Just a pet theory of mine.HuH?
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11-18-2008, 05:54 AM #7
- Join Date: Oct 2002
- Location: Indiana, United States
- Age: 62
- Posts: 5,083
- Rep Power: 9380
I think its just a matter of like what Karl said....just training smarter now. I am much stronger now than when I was in my 20's when I thought I knew it all. Plus the information out there is much better also. You all think that some protien shakes just really suck as far as taste goes....shoulda been around 20+ years ago! They REALLY sucked!!!
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11-18-2008, 06:26 AM #8
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11-18-2008, 06:59 AM #9
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11-18-2008, 07:34 AM #10
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11-18-2008, 07:52 AM #11
- Join Date: Jan 2006
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Age: 65
- Posts: 29,893
- Rep Power: 114306
One word: Mandelbaum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFSOnumgZA"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."
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11-18-2008, 08:08 AM #12
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11-18-2008, 08:19 AM #13
I can put on bulk size better now than ever before in my life. To the extent my joints allow it, I am way stronger now than I was 20 years ago. I am still waiting for those big, thick old man hands to grow in; my grandfather had paws like a bear. But I think my old man ears and old man nose have started to ripen.
Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide.
-----R. W. Emerson
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11-18-2008, 08:29 AM #14
- Join Date: Oct 2002
- Location: Indiana, United States
- Age: 62
- Posts: 5,083
- Rep Power: 9380
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11-18-2008, 08:58 AM #15
- Join Date: Mar 2004
- Location: Clover, South Carolina, United States
- Age: 54
- Posts: 110
- Rep Power: 260
LOL!!! yeah my dad has those monster hands at 72 and I have little puny ones for my size. I am in the boat of over powering what my joints will take now. My elbows really hurt during bench days but I can really push the weight around now compared to my 20's.
Mike_198
When I was in boot camp i had 2 company comanders that smoked like freight trains. both in their mid 40's and one with a beer belly. Both could run circles around the company during PT. Amazing!!!
Wade
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11-18-2008, 10:27 AM #16
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11-18-2008, 12:55 PM #17
I agree with the above posts. I am in general, much, much stronger than I was in my mid 20's....Maybe not for one single lift or rep, but as a whole. More endurance, more definition, more discipline, and cumulatively stronger.
All of that was made possible by maturity, checking the ego at the door, and increasing my knowledge of lifting.
Speaking of discipline, I hear squats calling for me....
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11-18-2008, 01:32 PM #18
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11-18-2008, 03:16 PM #19
I don't believe it. I was strong a chit at 45, less at 55 and even less at 65. Compared to someone who just plays at working out I can still rip his arms off. Those antecdotal accounts of strong 70 year old men....bet my house they were stronger at 60 and doubly strong at 50. It goes downhill. Does not mean that they are not strong....just not as strong.
Old Man
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11-18-2008, 04:15 PM #20
- Join Date: Oct 2007
- Location: East Peoria, Illinois, United States
- Age: 35
- Posts: 152
- Rep Power: 204
i am a young ****, but a variety of athletic coaches have proven testimonial to "old man strength." It does seem that men who were once in the military retain a certain body structure. I'm pretty sure its obvious that its harder to stay in or get in shape when you're older BUT if you have good fitness when you're younger you beat the curve so to speak.
I can think of several men over 40 that have that "twang" that cast iron grip of a handshake that let you know they're still a force to be reckoned with. I shutter to think of their physique when they were "in their prime" or if the supplemental technologies available now were available back then.
peace out"It always hurts when you go as hard as you can" -Keith Bontrager
"Self destruction is the key" - Tyler Durden
"We like nightmares, they prepare us for the coming reality" - Jordan Vezina
My Journal --> http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=113090321
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11-18-2008, 04:27 PM #21
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11-18-2008, 06:15 PM #22
I'm stronger now than in my 20's just because of diligence and an attention to form and diet.
I'm my HS wrestling coach's age now and nobody wanted to get on the mat with him. I also worked for a 55+ yr old mover who had a chest like a bull, the guy could carry the other end of a piece heavy furniture down flights of stairs that had me groaning and straining, he wouldn't even sweat or breathe heavy.Don't put that on me Ricky Bobby, don't you ever put that on me.
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