Why is nearly everyone [I know] over 35 so freaking out of shape?

[DuracellBunny]

1 cookie a day adds 5 lbs of fat a month? I disagree. If you ate one cookie a day, you would lose a ton of weight, and likely die of starvation.

They might be special cookies; relatives of special brownies. After eating a cookie you get the mega munchies and eat everything in sight, leading to weight gain.

Reading some of the posts in this thread leads me to believe that many of the posters have been eating special brownies.

[bustasinclair]

Reading some of the posts in this thread leads me to believe that many of the posters have been eating special brownies.

QFT^^

Mods, can we get this gem stickied??

[kimm4]

They might be special cookies; relatives of special brownies. After eating a cookie you get the mega munchies and eat everything in sight, leading to weight gain.

Reading some of the posts in this thread leads me to believe that many of the posters have been eating special brownies.

I just had a piece of chocolate, but there was nothing special about it.

*sigh*

[Brackneyc]

I just had a piece of chocolate, but there was nothing special about it.

*sigh*

It's chocolate. It is ALL special.

[Cass40]

Btw, at seventy I do Yoga daily sessions since age and brutal experience has blessed me with enough aggregate wisdom to realize range of motion is likely far more important than lift poundage… Actually sadden to see so many in the over 35 group punishing their fragile joint/tendon/ligaments into irreversible damage… Yet Alpha males many times persist till their injuries end their game… It really doesn’t have to and shouldn’t be that way…

Hmmm..I didn't start yoga because I know a lot of yogis that have done permanent damage after years of putting their bodies into weird positions. Talk about ego and pushing yourself or "punishing their fragile joint/tendon/ligaments into irreversible damage."
Weightlifting seems much more beneficial long term, and I try to avoid injuries as much as I can.

[thor93]

Once I hit 30 I began noticing my friends were complaining that they [we] are "Getting old". Hmm, the day after we were born we were a day older than before......

Many of these same people have a row of medications they take daily because they "Need" them. I wonder how much of that perceived need is symptoms caused by lack of exercise?

Anyway, I wonder why people get like this? Is it because they are married and no longer trying to impress anyone? Is it because they are working too hard [stress] and do not have time to eat right? Is it because they are getting lazy? Could it be that they have acquiesced to a soft physiche because "Everyone else" is soft?

Maybe it is a bit of all of the above, along with other things I have not thought of.

So, who else has noticed this?

Age is real, but frailty is in the mind, for the most part.

Matt

It is modern day america,or just modern day world. This is the way people have evolved..,into a state of mind that highly emphasizes convenience and aspiring to be king or queen of the world. It is looked down upon nowadays to be physically consciencess. Fatness is looked upon very fondly nowadays,while thinness is mocked and muscularity combined with thinness(as in my case) is looked upon with utter disdain and contempt. Very weird and unusual but that is the sign of the times. I only have a few seconds left at the library. Bye for now.

[61customrebuild]

Once I hit 30 I began noticing my friends were complaining that they [we] are "Getting old". Hmm, the day after we were born we were a day older than before......

Many of these same people have a row of medications they take daily because they "Need" them. I wonder how much of that perceived need is symptoms caused by lack of exercise?

Anyway, I wonder why people get like this? Is it because they are married and no longer trying to impress anyone? Is it because they are working too hard [stress] and do not have time to eat right? Is it because they are getting lazy? Could it be that they have acquiesced to a soft physiche because "Everyone else" is soft?

Maybe it is a bit of all of the above, along with other things I have not thought of.

So, who else has noticed this?

Age is real, but frailty is in the mind, for the most part.

Matt

One theory says it's just the normal aging process that you can't do anything about. Another theory says that the modern diet and lifestyle are designed (intentionally, incidentally or accidentally) to shorten our natural lives. And yet a third theory says it can all be overcome with enlightenment and self-discipline. I've set out to prove number three.

[Brackneyc]

One theory says it's just the normal aging process that you can't do anything about. Another theory says that the modern diet and lifestyle are designed (intentionally, incidentally or accidentally) to shorten our natural lives. And yet a third theory says it can all be overcome with enlightenment and self-discipline. I've set out to prove number three.

Pretty sure #2 covers just about every possible occurrence, ever.

[GnomusMaximus]

The only problem with that is that our lives keep getting longer. At 48 I am already beyond my life expectancy at birth (47) in 1900 back when we all ate so much better. Hand me that twinkie bishes...

[Brackneyc]

The only problem with that is that our lives keep getting longer. At 48 I am already beyond my life expectancy at birth (47) in 1900 back when we all ate so much better. Hand me that twinkie bishes...

Thank aliens for the increased life span.

[GnomusMaximus]

Thanks aliens, you guys rock!

[Brackneyc]

It is modern day america,or just modern day world. This is the way people have evolved..,into a state of mind that highly emphasizes convenience and aspiring to be king or queen of the world. It is looked down upon nowadays to be physically consciencess. Fatness is looked upon very fondly nowadays,while thinness is mocked and muscularity combined with thinness(as in my case) is looked upon with utter disdain and contempt. Very weird and unusual but that is the sign of the times.

Not really any of this. ^^

[GnomusMaximus]

It is modern day america,or just modern day world. This is the way people have evolved..,into a state of mind that highly emphasizes convenience and aspiring to be king or queen of the world. It is looked down upon nowadays to be physically consciencess. Fatness is looked upon very fondly nowadays,while thinness is mocked and muscularity combined with thinness(as in my case) is looked upon with utter disdain and contempt. Very weird and unusual but that is the sign of the times. I only have a few seconds left at the library. Bye for now.

[GuyJin]

--

He's talking about shampoo. What else?

[61customrebuild]

The only problem with that is that our lives keep getting longer. At 48 I am already beyond my life expectancy at birth (47) in 1900 back when we all ate so much better. Hand me that twinkie bishes...

The biblical characters were said to live hundreds of years. The written word can be/is dubious.

[GnomusMaximus]

The biblical characters were said to live hundreds of years. The written word can be/is dubious.

Dude, everybody knows those guys were aliens.

[Oirad77]

Few people lift

[61customrebuild]

Dude, everybody knows those guys were aliens.

Actually, I'm very interested in theories on our origins, as understanding that helps us understand our true fitness potential. Is there a thread for this, I'll participate if you start one. Garden of Eden, the "fall"? What was that really all about?

[chitown70]

The only problem with that is that our lives keep getting longer. At 48 I am already beyond my life expectancy at birth (47) in 1900 back when we all ate so much better. Hand me that twinkie bishes...

Whaaaaat? Lol there were plenty of older ppl in 1900. there were more child deaths which get factored into/lowers 'life expectancy rate'

[Tmax55]

I can explain what happened to me when I got out of shape, much of it would apply to a lot of other people who get out of shape.

When I was young I was making great gains - I went from a 185 pound squat to over 400 in one year of doing it (hard), but I ate like **** (generally not "bad" food, just sometimes way too much or sometimes way too little with no reason for it), slept like ****, drank, and generally didn't respect what I was doing. I expected that to go on forever. At this stage of life I still ran, and played sports a lot so it was quite easy not to put on fat relative to being an office worker.

By the time I was mid 20's I realized a few things, first it was extremely unlikely (read impossible) that I could make a living off of bodybuilding, and second to have any chance at all I would have to supplement heavily. Then I got some rather serious leg injuries (due to my drinking) and not fully understanding what I was doing in my training. I gave up on the idea of ever competing. I still lifted and lifted heavy, but I'd skip workouts and I ate whatever I wanted. Then I had kids and a career and that really put a crimp in working out. I'm an all or nothing person so I quit entirely for three years and I got up to 24% bodyfat - yuck.

I imagine for most 35+ out of shape people its either something like this or - they never have been in shape to begin with.

[dasaybz]

Beer.

Lots of delicious microbrews.

Pizza after beer and so on ... a vicious cycle.

I still love me some delicious beer, but I work out like a mofo. My bros that don't work out look very weathered, and I'm worried for them. Heart disease is a huge problem in this country, and what's a better way of combating heart disease then pumping through some heart pounding squats and deadlifts?

Just my 2 pennies ...

[Brackneyc]

Whaaaaat? Lol there were plenty of older ppl in 1900. there were more child deaths which get factored into/lowers 'life expectancy rate'

You mean this in the same way they calculate the divorce rate, right?

[GZeolla]

Whaaaaat? Lol there were plenty of older ppl in 1900. there were more child deaths which get factored into/lowers 'life expectancy rate'

If you have a population of 100 people, and half live to 100 while half die in infancy, then the “average” life expectancy for that group would be 50, but that gives you little idea of the actual lifespans of the people. So you are correct here. The reason for the longer life expectations today is a lower infant mortality rate. There is also our ability to extend people’s lives via “extraordinary measures.” But take away the medical advances preventing infant deaths and extending life, and the life expectancies would not be that different.

[Flounderbout]

If you have a population of 100 people, and half live to 100 while half die in infancy, then the “average” life expectancy for that group would be 50, but that gives you little idea of the actual lifespans of the people. So you are correct here. The reason for the longer life expectations today is a lower infant mortality rate. There is also our ability to extend people’s lives via “extraordinary measures.” But take away the medical advances preventing infant deaths and extending life, and the life expectancies would not be that different.

There is some real fecking potato in this thread.

[GnomusMaximus]

Whether you look at life expectancy or life span both have increased dramatically so I still say pass me that Twinkie.

[tst313]

This one is really easy to answer. Unfit is easy. Fit is not. Metabolically we slow down as we age. That is why we eventually die. Im turning 45 and not proud of the shape that I have allowed myself to get into over 2014. I got tired of eating right, and making fitness a priority. And for that, I am at a bodyfat level that is way too high. I now have devolved high blood pressure. And guess what? It was my doing- no one else. The thing I have found that as we grow older, recovery takes longer, and inflammation/pain is higher. So the goal for people as they age is simple: 1) don't stop. 2) modify your workouts around your ability, 3) do your best to not pick up bad habits. Yes, it is hard to maintain the drive you had at 27....

[Maverick2015]

This seems like it should be in misc with all the answers. Some interesting conversations going on though.

[FatherOfMany]

Well, I'm one of those people who have let it slip for the past 20+ years and am only now 5 days into training. Must admit, my reason for joining this forum certainly wasn't to hear what a loser I am, but rather to get some advice and encouragement from others.
On that note, thanks for those who do seem to show a bit of understanding.

No need to sugar-coat it. I know I'm responsible for my own situation, but I'd much rather read about how you've succeeded than reading about what a loser I am.

[thor93]

This one is really easy to answer. Unfit is easy. Fit is not. Metabolically we slow down as we age. That is why we eventually die. Im turning 45 and not proud of the shape that I have allowed myself to get into over 2014. I got tired of eating right, and making fitness a priority. And for that, I am at a bodyfat level that is way too high. I now have devolved high blood pressure. And guess what? It was my doing- no one else. The thing I have found that as we grow older, recovery takes longer, and inflammation/pain is higher. So the goal for people as they age is simple: 1) don't stop. 2) modify your workouts around your ability, 3) do your best to not pick up bad habits. Yes, it is hard to maintain the drive you had at 27....

Good honest post. Especially the end part where you point out that it is hard to maintain the drive you had at 27.
I too am going to turn 45 in 2015. May 18th specifically. Right around that time i will be looking forward to my regular seasonal swimming sessions
i've made top priority once the weather enables. Usually sometime in June i begin my regular swimming sessions,usually going to a lake not far from
my residence,by bicycle usually. I like to feel like i earned the right to be there getting to enjoy the swim.

As far as resistance training,yes,i've been picking it up lately,starting out extremely early in the morning. Gives the whole thing/experience that certain hardcore Rocky-like feel to it. Now that my work hours have gone back to mostly exclusively starting at 7 am,i make it a definite point of going to bed earlier than 8pm,rising earlier than 3 am,and starting the working out before 4 am. Feels really hardcore,and almost eerily motivating.Like i'm one of those Exceptionally dedicated Freak eccentric movie characters. Today,i woke up at 2:39 am to pee and just stayed up and went at it,eating away,even though i wasnt particularly hungry. But not force feeding myself,just sort of in-between,like i could've waited a couple hours to eat,but i forced myself to get going with everything. So by 3:15 or so,i'm going at it,starting out with just bodyweight squats,followed by chins and pullups,hammer grip,overhand,underhand,i just kept going at it. I felt deep in my mind,"I'm Back !",and it was so Enlightening even though i felt so dreary at the same time. It was that genuine warrior type feeling. Like i'm at Battle with this Aging body i'm attatched to trying to maintain things. Trying to keep things from falling apart. I think thats what its really all about as we get well past that early past it point in life. We become at Battle with our own Mortality,or Mortal flesh body,which desires to just age peacefully,but our inner spirit says,"No !,not so fast you dont !" "Its not time to age so fast and crumple all up like a sack of sad humanity" !