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

[grubman]

It's because the human body is a machine. In this day and age we live longer than we really should (if you look at life spans in the past, anyone over 40 was ancient), and the majority spend that time very passive and inactive.

People who are healthy and in shape (not necessarily talking built and muscular) are active, working the body, keeping the machine oiled. Too many people sit around at work, then watch TV or sit around at home doing other lazy man activities. Without being worked, the body breaks down.

It's not odd to me at all that so many older people are out of shape...just sad, because it's so easy to live a longer healthier life with so little effort, and it can even be fun. Too many people discover this too late. Imho

[Cass40]

For me exercise is an antidepressant more than anything else. I just cannot NOT exercise without becoming depressed.
Also, I cannot get fat. It's like a phobia, so no matter how many jobs or responsibilities I have, I will never allow myself to become overweight.
I don't really care what other peoples priorities are, but I do wonder the same question the OP does.
I think about it often.
I just can't figure it out why people let themselves go.
It's not because I think I'm more energetic or they are lazier etc. I MYSELF am extremely lazy and low energy person. Also, I like to eat a lot.
That's why I can't understand how people that are more energetic than me, let themselves go.

[x-trainer ben]

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 everything you said above and a lack of passion for active sports. Think about it....
1. you wake up early sleep deprived
2. you pop meds that may interfere with your weight
3. you stress at work( weight gain) and eat whatever is fast and available
4. you stress in traffic and rush home
5. kids, family, wife and social obligations, parties , dinners ( eating whatever)
6. get to bed and repeat.
So when is weight training or running or team sports inserted into the equation? You have to actively add a few nights for your own health and most don't or will not do it!

[Brackneyc]

It is everything you said above and a lack of passion for active sports. Think about it....
1. you wake up early sleep deprived
2. you pop meds that may interfere with your weight
3. you stress at work( weight gain) and eat whatever is fast and available
4. you stress in traffic and rush home
5. kids, family, wife and social obligations, parties , dinners ( eating whatever)
6. get to bed and repeat.
So when is weight training or running or team sports inserted into the equation? You have to actively add a few nights for your own health and most don't or will not do it!

0330. No one has ever asked me of my time at 0330.

[x-trainer ben]

0330. No one has ever asked me of my time at 0330.

Well your a "freak of nature" you and those morning runners when it is 20 degrees out.

[mcbourque]

It's because the human body is a machine. In this day and age we live longer than we really should (if you look at life spans in the past, anyone over 40 was ancient), and the majority spend that time very passive and inactive.

People who are healthy and in shape (not necessarily talking built and muscular) are active, working the body, keeping the machine oiled. Too many people sit around at work, then watch TV or sit around at home doing other lazy man activities. Without being worked, the body breaks down.

It's not odd to me at all that so many older people are out of shape...just sad, because it's so easy to live a longer healthier life with so little effort, and it can even be fun. Too many people discover this too late. Imho

Just go watch WALL-E and you'll get your answer

Physical laws state that everything wants to go to a low energy level so human are no different. We have built inventions to make our lives easier. So now we have to go to the gym counteract that.

[Gneejack]

I saw a clip on youtube about a bodybuilder who was a guest on Dr. Phil, he put a high priority on looking fit and exercising at the expense of neglecting his wife and children. I'm sure many of us would rather be out of shape and be a good husband and father rather than be that guy. It's all about finding the right balance when we try and have it all knowing time is so limited. Most bodybuilding enthusiasts are pretty obsessive in my opinion, so it can be quite the challenge.

[Corbi]

Hmmm, another thinly veiled "we are better than them" thread.

Except it's not all that thinly veiled, no different than the "i'm so hooge I can't buy clothes that fit" threads that pop up all the time. Or the ones claiming they are oh so superior to their work mates because they eat tuna and half salad while everyone has pizza.

I cannot decide if you are rude or just a Jerk overall.

This is a bodybuilding forum. Of course it is about biceps.

You really have an attitude.

Matt

You look great in your avi, fukkin douche.

[brit-iron]

I think there are lots of reasons why someone lifts on the regular, but whatever the reason everyone must have discipline and commitment to keep at it.

That is what I find of the people I know that WANT to get in shape lack, very few have the commitment, most want a short term fix.

Fact is they just don't want it enough, for whatever reason.

Most people I know however are not interested being in shape in the first place, and who am I to judge, so I don't.

All I know is my kids are proud of me keeping in shape, and they notice how all the other dads are letting themselves go physically, so this on its own is why I will keep going.

[Recumpence]

You look great in your avi, fukkin douche.

Wow, another loving human being.

Wonderful.......

Isn't this forum moderated for this crap?

[Cass40]

I don't judge people who don't exercise. I just don't understand them.

[Cass40]

Wow, another loving human being.

Wonderful.......

Isn't this forum moderated for this crap?

No. This is the way we communicate here. It's our way of showing love.

[silverlightning]

it's easier to live the good life out of shape than in shape. when i use to train in the afternoon i noticed it took more time away from my family. plus it was easier to go have beers than lift weights.

[Corbi]

Wow, another loving human being.

Wonderful.......

Isn't this forum moderated for this crap?

Obviously not, you got in here. We have seen these same exact style threads over and over, the "we are better than them" $hit got old a long time ago.

No. This is the way we communicate here. It's our way of showing love.

Someone rep Cass for this.

[DuracellBunny]

Wow, another loving human being.

Wonderful.......

Isn't this forum moderated for this crap?

If you act like a b!tch, you get treated like a b!tch.

For comedy gold, I will quote you from your other thread.

First my background;

I trained for 4 years in my early twenties. Then I got married, had kids, started a business, etc and was so focussed on paying bills that the training gradually ended. I am 5'10" and gradually went up to a chubby 206 pounds.
Last question;

My goal is size. However, I do not want to be fat. Even at my lightest (163 pounds) I still had flab around the belly. I want this to minimize, but I want to gain muscle size. I know the whole "Bulk, then cut" philosophy. I guess my question would be, how do I gain muscle size without gaining flab around the waist? Oh, I should say, I gain flab around the belly VERY easily, but really not nearly so much anywhere else.

1) you did exactly what the people you created this thread about did.

2) your goal is size, not health.

Not only are you a total idiot, you are also a hypocrite.

[Brackneyc]

I saw a clip on youtube about a bodybuilder who was a guest on Dr. Phil, he put a high priority on looking fit and exercising at the expense of neglecting his wife and children. I'm sure many of us would rather be out of shape and be a good husband and father rather than be that guy. It's all about finding the right balance when we try and have it all knowing time is so limited. Most bodybuilding enthusiasts are pretty obsessive in my opinion, so it can be quite the challenge.

Everyone gets 24 hours a day. We make time for what is important. Family is not an excuse for everyone not to train, but it is a reason for many to get up and train.

We all have different priorities. Not lifting is not a crime.

[Gneejack]

Everyone gets 24 hours a day. We make time for what is important. Family is not an excuse for everyone not to train, but it is a reason for many to get up and train.

We all have different priorities. Not lifting is not a crime.

Everyone gets 24 hours a day, but not everyone's 24 hours are the same. Some people have one job, some people two. Some people have no kids, some people have 10. Some people care for elderly parents, some people don't. Some people are going through health issues (mental or physical), some people aren't. I'm not saying there should ever be an excuse not to exercise and stay healthy, but I'm not going to try and judge somebody for not exercising and being fit when I have no idea what that person's life is like or what he/she is going through.

[Fishman15]

They start to believe that the privileges the have are for their pleasure, instead of their purpose.

That sums it up nicely...well stated

[Fishman15]

Someone rep Cass for this.

Done before I read your request...lol

[bigtallox]

Threads like this remind me why I've never had any friends who are gym rats. As much as I love training and nutrition, I ****ing despise the fitness community.

Yeah, I tend to agree.

[JimmyJonny]

Everyone gets 24 hours a day. We make time for what is important. Family is not an excuse for everyone not to train, but it is a reason for many to get up and train.

We all have different priorities. Not lifting is not a crime.

I agree. The crazy part is that the overweigh part takes no time out of your day, just some thought in the kitchen.

[Dazzling]

Most people get so tired of their daily jobs that they don't have the urge/will to go train.

[mcbourque]

No. This is the way we communicate here. It's our way of showing love.

OP, if you are going to stick around, you should know that bragging threads are not really classy over here.

This goes with the
"I'm so huge I can't find shirts that fit me" thread

Or the
"I don't know why but when I walk down the street, I can't keep guys hands off my body" thread

Or the "I'm so hardcore, I need a spit bucket at my gym" thread

Or "I don't know why but everyone at my gym is always giving me a hateful look" thread

Or like yours "why is everyone not taking care of their body like I do" thread.

We are all here trying our best and what others do don't matter.

There are people on here who have incredible bodies and dedication, like say Kimm4 and Cmoore, and they never ever brag about how awesome they look and how come others don't look as good as them.

Train hard, stay humble

[Medtreker]

Up untill recently (keeping in mind how long our species has existed), most people Died by age 35.

Not all adults exist in a poor state of health. Many do, many do not

Get a grip OP.

[Marius_Ursus]

Everything goes back to how we were conditioned MENTALLY as kids. It's not our parents' fault. The people who loved and raised us did not know what they did not know.

We were told from the beginning to go to school, get good grades, get a college education, get a good job, etc... and you'd be set for life.

We did just that. But many became part of the rat race. 40 plus hours a week at work, marriage, kids, career, bills to pay.

For many people who followed the rules growing up, they live their lives based on obligations and not priorities. Their health is put in the backburner in order to continue to make a living, their relationships with their spouse deteriorates, stresses from their obligations take a toll physically and mentally. While these things are going on, they start to pile the weight. They start to believe that the privileges the have are for their pleasure, instead of their purpose. Their worldview on money and material things get twisted, and as a result, stress level increase, and they pile more weight.


They were told a big fat lie all along.

This is why most O35 are out of shape. It all began with the wrong information. Many, many, wrong information.


And before somebody accuse me of being judgemental, I'm not. I was really talking about myself when I said 'we.' But I know many people in this world can relate.

Me too, primo. I hate my career choice. I hate that I have a college degree. The only things I've ever been good at are playing music and killing people...shoulda been a jug band assassin.

[DuracellBunny]

Me too, primo. I hate my career choice. I hate that I have a college degree. The only things I've ever been good at are playing music and killing people...shoulda been a jug band assassin.

Or a mariachi singer

[Marius_Ursus]

Or a mariachi singer

Why didn't I think of that? Three years in Panama, except for the blue eyes, I coulda pulled that off.

[rmorris40]

I think as humans we are wired for instant rewards. Things like being fit, saving for retirement, or getting an advanced education, take years to get rewarded for. So people don't feel the consequences for years.

I was like most people in their thirties, slowly letting my health and fitness go, and what I did do was for vanity. Then I had a pretty bad health scare and that made me do a 180. Now at 40 I am a health and fitness freak but it all stems from that health scare. I admit I look at all the out of shape people and think do they really understand the health issues that are lurking, and why don't they turn it around now while there is time. Again since the consequences are usually far down the road it's easy to ignore.

This is why I also love fat to fit stories. I love trying to figure out what is driving one person inside to change, but not another.

[Brackneyc]

Everyone gets 24 hours a day, but not everyone's 24 hours are the same. Some people have one job, some people two. Some people have no kids, some people have 10. Some people care for elderly parents, some people don't. Some people are going through health issues (mental or physical), some people aren't. I'm not saying there should ever be an excuse not to exercise and stay healthy, but I'm not going to try and judge somebody for not exercising and being fit when I have no idea what that person's life is like or what he/she is going through.

We all make choices. If our choices lead us to needing two jobs, or having kids, that changes nothing imo. I'm not judging anyone. I do however tune out excuses as to why someone gets fat, knows they are fat, and does nothing to fix it, beyond talking about how they need to fix it.

Stop putting excess food in your (not you, but those doing it) mouth. If you do, and cannot stop, food is not your issue. There are certainly folks who have a dangerous relationship with food. They will need help beyond what others may need. I have no issue with that, but staying in any dangerous relationship is unhealthy, including food, drugs, alcohol, etc...

Life happens. IDC if a person stays fat. Just don't make excuses.

[pharmamarketer]

I am amazed what a little bit of muscle does to some people in a negative way.