Question for the guys 50+

[pryme]

So now that I'm past that 35 midway hump to 40 I've been thinking of when the body naturally declines in performance.
I'm not there, but unlike my 20s, I actually think about this stuff now.

I'm also talking natural guys trying to stay at a decently high level of strength.

And what did you guys notice first? Longer to recouperate? Longer to warm up? What and when caused the poundages to drop? Lack of caring as much? Joint pain?

Thank you.

[yakabebe]

So now that I'm past that 35 midway hump to 40 I've been thinking of when the body naturally declines in performance.
I'm not there, but unlike my 20s, I actually think about this stuff now.

I'm also talking natural guys trying to stay at a decently high level of strength.

And what did you guys notice first? Longer to recouperate? Longer to warm up? What and when caused the poundages to drop? Lack of caring as much? Joint pain?

Thank you.

I sort of started in my mid 50's.

As time has passed Ive found Im sore for days afterwards but in that DOMS way...some say you dont need to go thru that but for mine DOMS is MY way of,knowing I hit the muscle hard enough to generate a response that hopefully includes anabolism.

Injuries are a bit more of an issue having had a fair few but when you do psuh past the limits the body is used to there is always the capacity for this. I do find now that recovery from those little niggly things does take longer.

I gotta say Im as strong now as ever. Still lift to the poundages I was doing 10 years ago...probably more so in the legs.

Warming up...I rely on things like Deep Heat for the joints and quite a few light, high rep sets to get the blood flowing and get the flexibility there

Flexibility is a real issue and generally the imbalance between power and flexibility (in both directions) is the cause of many injuries.

You're in your late 30's...prime time, my man...prime time!

[pryme]

Yeah I am stronger now than 10 years ago but even now I notice little tinges of pain here and there and they only annoy me on certain lifts. They may go away for a bit and come back to remind me they are still there haha. That never was the case in my 20s.

Man mid 60s. Good going I have a long way to get there. Thanks.

[JerryB]

What I noticed first is when getting older is being annoyed by questions from younger people about things I was not concerned about when I was weight training in my younger days.

You should be more concerned about making it to your senior years.

[MiklaDfar]

I'm a rookie that has been lifting for less than a year. I train with my son many days of the week who is in his 20's. I train just as hard as he does and I don't think I am any more sore than he is. Our gains are similar, though is he far more physically fit (also trains in jiu-jitsu).

My advice is to not worry about 20 years from now and keep your focus on improving today and how to get better tomorrow. Your in a far better position than I was at that age, so just keep it up (hmm... ok... so keeping it up may be the one thing that is harder at this age .

[pryme]

I'm a rookie that has been lifting for less than a year. I train with my son many days of the week who is in his 20's. I train just as hard as he does and I don't think I am any more sore than he is. Our gains are similar, though is he far more physically fit (also trains in jiu-jitsu).

My advice is to not worry about 20 years from now and keep your focus on improving today and how to get better tomorrow. Your in a far better position than I was at that age, so just keep it up (hmm... ok... so keeping it up may be the one thing that is harder at this age .

Hahaha! Thanks for your reply

[1Fuzzy1]

I'm almost 47 and in better shape than I have been since mid 20's...the only thing I notice is little injuries/pain hang on a little longer than they used to. Strength, energy, attitude, etc all as good as ever. Keep plugging you got a ways to go before you need to worry.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

What I noticed first is when getting older is being annoyed by questions from younger people about things I was not concerned about when I was weight training in my younger days.

You should be more concerned about making it to your senior years.

This is a great reply ^^^^

[Squid24]

What I noticed first is when getting older is being annoyed by questions from younger people about things I was not concerned about when I was weight training in my younger days.

You should be more concerned about making it to your senior years.

lol...I am going to disagree Jerry...lol. This is a great opportunity to tell ppl the truth..lmao
You will have more grey hair. Your body will have more aches and pains almost everyday where it used to be when it just happened. And you will find out that you have to go to the bathroom more often than you used to....lol. But I am in better shape than I was in my early 30's if that helps...lmao

[Phattso]

Your body and mind will naturally decline in performance the moment you start not using them, at any age. I'm in my 50s and I am still progressing.

If you expect to decline in performance, you will probably succeed. If you strive to progress at any age, you probably will succeed.

[JerryB]

lol...I am going to disagree Jerry...lol. This is a great opportunity to tell ppl the truth..lmao
You will have more grey hair. Your body will have more aches and pains almost everyday where it used to be when it just happened. And you will find out that you have to go to the bathroom more often than you used to....lol. But I am in better shape than I was in my early 30's if that helps...lmao

Like I said, Make it there then be concerned. LOL

[bodyhard]

lol...I am going to disagree Jerry...lol. This is a great opportunity to tell ppl the truth..lmao
You will have more grey hair. Your body will have more aches and pains almost everyday where it used to be when it just happened. And you will find out that you have to go to the bathroom more often than you used to....lol. But I am in better shape than I was in my early 30's if that helps...lmao

Speak for yourself.

I don't have any pains, I don't go to the bathroom more, I do have grey hairs and yes I am in better shape now then in my 20's 30's and 40's.

[JerryB]

This is a great reply ^^^^

Just playing my part as a grumpy old man. LOL. You think we should be visiting rest homes and answering the patients questions?

[Squid24]

Like I said, Make there then be concerned. LOL

True dat...lol

Speak for yourself.

I don't have any pains, I don't go to the bathroom more, I do have grey hairs and yes I am in better shape now then in my 20's 30's and 40's.

I might have been...lmao...TMI?...

[bodyhard]

I might have been...lmao...TMI?...

Nah not TMI, it just appears that your 50 is older than my 50

[silverlightning]

lol...I am going to disagree Jerry...lol. This is a great opportunity to tell ppl the truth..lmao
You will have more grey hair. Your body will have more aches and pains almost everyday where it used to be when it just happened. And you will find out that you have to go to the bathroom more often than you used to....lol. But I am in better shape than I was in my early 30's if that helps...lmao

what does this have to do with weight training. people that are sedentary experience this things as well.

[Squid24]

Nah not TMI, it just appears that your 50 is older than my 50

Aww man.......

[Squid24]

what does this have to do with weight training. people that are sedentary experience this things as well.

..lol...hey you're not 50+...lol

Well lets see if I can fix that...lol. I have shotty knees, cause Marine LT's were telling me to jump out of a 5ton with a full pack on my back numerous time...cause of getting shot at or something of that nature. They never really started to bother me till I hit 45, then it really got bad when I got back into working out and squating. Ok..lol...that takes care of the knees. I have about 20 more I could give you if ya want the list..lol. Like I said, "your body will have more aches and pains almost everyday where it used to be when it just happened." I have noticed in some areas more so when working out. Now on the positive side, because of working out, some areas the pain is not so noticeable yea me!!

[pryme]

Some pretty funny replies. I see what you all are saying about mindset and I belive that to be very true and I know what some of you are saying about being better now then you were in your 20s and 30s etc. but it all depends on how you were in those years?
Personally I am sitting at a 1,300+ pound total life long natural so I may not be able to say when I'm 50+ that I'm better now then I was in my 30s.

Now if I was not lifting in my 30s or was doing a very basic routin then yeah I can only go up.
One thing I will say is if the body truly was better at 50+ then it is in your 20s and 30s I have to ask why no one even close to that age is playing in the Seahawks-panthers game I'm watching right now? Or any pro sport for that matter.

The body does decline. Ability declines. Just wanted some first hand answers.

[yakabebe]

Some pretty funny replies. I see what you all are saying about mindset and I belive that to be very true and I know what some of you are saying about being better now then you were in your 20s and 30s etc. but it all depends on how you were in those years?
Personally I am sitting at a 1,300+ pound total life long natural so I may not be able to say when I'm 50+ that I'm better now then I was in my 30s.

Now if I was not lifting in my 30s or was doing a very basic routin then yeah I can only go up.
One thing I will say is if the body truly was better at 50+ then it is in your 20s and 30s I have to ask why no one even close to that age is playing in the Seahawks-panthers game I'm watching right now? Or any pro sport for that matter.

The body does decline. Ability declines. Just wanted some first hand answers.

Difference between reflexes, speed, agility, flexibility, eye-hand coordination, cardiovascular condition, explosive plyometric ability...all of those do fall off to the pt where holding your own against a younger man/women aint gonna happen at the highest levels

I think most who say their body is better say at 50 compared to how they were @30 are comparing themselves NOW @50 as a fit, buff, lifting, active SOB as compared to having been a sedentary lardass way back then.

[JerryB]

If a person cannot understand the obvious that strength declines with age, why waste time explaining it to them by responding to their patronizing with personal experiences.

[IronCharles]

I think most who say their body is better say at 50 compared to how they were @30 are comparing themselves NOW @50 as a fit, buff, lifting, active SOB as compared to having been a sedentary lardass way back then.

This is how I feel, too. To the OP: What I do notice now is slightly longer recovery periods, and a few nagging joint pains here and there. But nothing that a little extra stretching an warming up doesn't take care of. (And a good joint supplement. I've used Labrada Elastijoint for years. And I really notice a difference when I stop taking it.)

[tobymax123]

Some pretty funny replies. I see what you all are saying about mindset and I belive that to be very true and I know what some of you are saying about being better now then you were in your 20s and 30s etc. but it all depends on how you were in those years?
Personally I am sitting at a 1,300+ pound total life long natural so I may not be able to say when I'm 50+ that I'm better now then I was in my 30s.

Now if I was not lifting in my 30s or was doing a very basic routin then yeah I can only go up.
One thing I will say is if the body truly was better at 50+ then it is in your 20s and 30s I have to ask why no one even close to that age is playing in the Seahawks-panthers game I'm watching right now? Or any pro sport for that matter.

The body does decline. Ability declines. Just wanted some first hand answers.

Ah, but you see this is a bodybuilding website, not a pro sports website. While the ability to sustain the body-pounding and substance-enhanced recovery periods in a major professional sport may decline after 35, and maybe strength gains slow down or eventually begin to reverse (there are always exceptions, such as BH), it's entirely possible to keep looking better and better from a bodybuilding standpoint, at least up to a point. Judging from the guys at this site, that point is different for everyone. It may not be until you're 70. At age 36 you're not there yet. Not to be an ass, but judging from your avi and your ht/wt stats, you've got a lot of potential for physique improvement over the next 15-20 years. You may not lift the same 1300 lbs (you might though), but you can be a better bodybuilder. Don't sweat it yet.

[pryme]

Some better replies for sure now.
To the above poster. I'm not a bodybuilder. I just enjoy lifting. And my avi is at least 7-8 years old. I'm 240 now and still only lift 3 days a week. I don't care about updating that stuff much. Pic not at all.

To those that mirrored my hunch about starting later in life therefor you will be better at 50 then 30, thanks for your logical and to the point replies.

I can agree with all that it's not where you start but where you end. It's a personal pursuit. A great individual sport whether it bb, pl or something in between.

[bodyhard]

Some pretty funny replies. I see what you all are saying about mindset and I belive that to be very true and I know what some of you are saying about being better now then you were in your 20s and 30s etc. but it all depends on how you were in those years?
Personally I am sitting at a 1,300+ pound total life long natural so I may not be able to say when I'm 50+ that I'm better now then I was in my 30s.

Now if I was not lifting in my 30s or was doing a very basic routin then yeah I can only go up.
One thing I will say is if the body truly was better at 50+ then it is in your 20s and 30s I have to ask why no one even close to that age is playing in the Seahawks-panthers game I'm watching right now? Or any pro sport for that matter.

The body does decline. Ability declines. Just wanted some first hand answers.

I've been training hard since my 20's and I have gotten better over the years, so I am not sure where you are getting at. Are you saying that folks who have trained in the past can't be better later on?

Ah, but you see this is a bodybuilding website, not a pro sports website. While the ability to sustain the body-pounding and substance-enhanced recovery periods in a major professional sport may decline after 35, and maybe strength gains slow down or eventually begin to reverse (there are always exceptions, such as BH), it's entirely possible to keep looking better and better from a bodybuilding standpoint, at least up to a point. Judging from the guys at this site, that point is different for everyone. It may not be until you're 70. At age 36 you're not there yet. Not to be an ass, but judging from your avi and your ht/wt stats, you've got a lot of potential for physique improvement over the next 15-20 years. You may not lift the same 1300 lbs (you might though), but you can be a better bodybuilder. Don't sweat it yet.

Thanks for the props.

[pryme]

I've been training hard since my 20's and I have gotten better over the years, so I am not sure where you are getting at. Are you saying that folks who have trained in the past can't be better later on?




Thanks for the props.

No, but I'd say if a guy was already performing at a pretty high level as a natural for life 20-30 some year old it would be very rare to better then that level at 50-60. If that individual stayed 100% natural the whole time. I know its a lot more common for older guys to get prescribed test when older. That's not being natural anymore.

Not saying it can't be done, just saying it would be rare. Maybe more because at the older ages most stop trying to be at that same level. If a guy were to keep it up that long, some could continue to progress though. The exception doesn't make the rule though.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Not there are guys past 50-60 still doing great and looking great. Shows what's possible in the future for us 30 something's.

[plumher]

1. Don't sweat the petty stuff, just pett the sweaty stuff

2. What I used to be able to do all night, now takes me all night to do

[pondman]

So now that I'm past that 35 midway hump to 40 I've been thinking of when the body naturally declines in performance.
I'm not there, but unlike my 20s, I actually think about this stuff now.

I'm also talking natural guys trying to stay at a decently high level of strength.

And what did you guys notice first? Longer to recouperate? Longer to warm up? What and when caused the poundages to drop? Lack of caring as much? Joint pain?

Thank you.

I'm 54. I've never been stronger. The only noticeable difference between now and when I was 20 is my inflexibility. I really need to do a lot more stretching now. If I don't stretch out my legs frequently my muscle tightness will prevent me from doing deadlifts and squats with good form.

[BrotherWolf]

So now that I'm past that 35 midway hump to 40 I've been thinking of when the body naturally declines in performance.
I'm not there, but unlike my 20s, I actually think about this stuff now.

I'm also talking natural guys trying to stay at a decently high level of strength.

And what did you guys notice first? Longer to recouperate? Longer to warm up? What and when caused the poundages to drop? Lack of caring as much? Joint pain?

Thank you.

well i only started when i was already 44 and I am 50 now so I am not sure of any decline yet (I am stronger now then ever)
but takes longer to recover, joint hurt more easily , flexibility yeah definitely lost a quite bit
but overall I feel and look better than when i was in my 30's generally speaking .

also the older i get the less ****s i give .. true story

[Dutchman]

I'm 73 and the Dutchess is pushing 72 soon. I know we are among the strongest in Florida for our ages and certainly could earn a spot to compete in anything national. Our interest though is limited to strength, health, fitness and life extension for ourselves not competition. At 40 I could do 8 reps @ 225 in the BP and 405 in my Deads. Now since I can't find good spotters I usually just use the safety of the Smith machine. Last week I managed a set of 5 @ 260 (bar is only worth 10 lbs), and a single @ 300 with a little to spare. That's probably not getting better but it is beating Father Time by a wide margin. You see, 40, 50, 60, 70 are all immaterial. What counts is how bad you want to beat yourself and aging. I am convinced that I control how much I can do and my age is not a controlling factor. At your age you have an unlimited potential to improve. Read up, discuss with the experts here and work your butt off and you can and will have decades and decades of improvement in front of you. Good Luck!!