Being in shape at an older age.

[bodyhard]

I am NOT trying to start a debate about being strong vs looking strong so please lets not go down that route as we all know looking strong is way better than being fat and strong LOL I kid I kid


But seriously an observation I made on the cruise ship I was in (I mean you see the same 2000 + people for 7 straight days on the ship) was that almost 90% of the men I saw over the age of 25 or so (I could be wrong in age but that is my guess) were completely out of shape and I mean completely.

The only men (or I should say boys) that were in decent shape where the teens. I received more compliments regarding my build on that ship from men (younger and older than me), more so then I have in my entire adult life. And when I told them I was 54 they were shocked and asked me stupid question, like if I lived in the gym, do I follow a salad diet, am I on roids etc etc.

So I started wondering what do you think is the percentage of older men (in the US) who are in great shape, physique wise? I mean here on BB.com we kind of all share the same goals to some extent, but what do you think is that % of men in their 30's 40's 50's 60's?

[tnthudson]

Man, I agree completely. I've been on several cruises and we go to the beach every year, so of course you notice it more there in swimsuits, etc.
But my wife and I both are fit and we are always blown away at how un-fit the gen pop is getting.
Not even just older people, my 21 year old and his friends aren't even close to as fit as we are. That's not bragging, it's just saying how bad it is, I feel bad for them, they don't even seem to have an interest in looking good. In fact, we've been basically called vain by both of our kids, but I realize it's a different generation and they get all kinds of weird views thrown at them.
But yeah, I'd say way less than 5% of people over 30 even look like they're in good shape, much less having any real strength.

[401Delta]

Face it, OP, the reason you still look good at 54 is the same reason you looked good at 24 (or at least had the potential to - you could've been fat for all I know ). Your parents provided you with good genetics.

Only about ~12% of the population routinely go the gym, and you can pretty much guess who most of those people are - those that are genetically blessed and predisposed to already having good physiques, which makes it ENJOYABLE to be in the gym (where they get good results from most anything that they do, sometimes IN SPITE of what they do).

When I first started as a trainer I thought I was going to change the world, but didn't realize that genetics played such a big motivational factor in being and looking 'fit'. It's easy to want to put in the work when the result is being able to look 'like a bodybuilder' or a fitness model, athlete, etc., but when the result for an average person that isn't so genetically blessed it that they end up just looking like a 'healthy' average person, the motivation isn't the same.

Imagine being on a cruise ship when the most someone is going to say is "How do you manage to stay looking so remarkably healthy and average looking?", lol .

[JeremyM07201978]

I think it is definitely an awareness thing that we, people pursuing more muscle/less fat, are more sensitive to than your average Joe or Jill....at least that was the case for me. Once I made my lifestyle change, I was aware of those who did, and more commonly, those who did not share this lifestyle.

To answer your question, I would guess at least 60-70% of the people I observe are carrying more fat than is healthy. I don't judge them (it was me just over a year ago), but I notice this as well.

[Cantplankwell]

You can look in shape, and not be in shape..it can be very deceiving. What is your definition of being "in shape"?

I dont get any complements, just comments; "how do you stay so skinny" and stuff like that.

I was in two different "Spartan" races a number of years ago and I seen quite a few big jacked dudes that could not handle the running up and down the mountain or all the obstacles and stuff, it was the skinny, lanky, rawboned, young farm-boy looking dudes that could handle it, and there was lots of obstacles where you had to be repeatedly stronger than your body-weight to negotiate the obstacles. There are also a few guys my age who are "heavier" and "stockier" than me and dont look in shape and they play soccer/rugby in and adult leagues all summer in the heat...they look like their diet consists of beer and bratwurst. I would say they are in shape.

That all being said its a fact that most folks do not take care of themselves.

[Garage Rat]

Cantplankwell has a point^^^ above but i think bodyhard means physical appearance with high body fat a and loose physique.
Yes a marathon runner can be in good cardio shape but look stringy and thin.
The older you get the lower the percentage is.
Health reasons,work and life just gets in the way for many and they choose not to make anytime for any kind of training and if they do it's a casual thing for many.
Only serious people make that time for an intense training session that challenges them.
Having more lean muscle mass has been reported to be a health factor to older folks as well as strength.
You loose it and your health declines.
For me in the 60's group i would say maybe 8 out of 100 guys may be in what most consider good shape.

[OldFartTom]

I made a recent post "notes from the beach" making a sort of similar point. I was surprised that "average" shape was worse than I'd assumed. So this phenomenon isn't limited to US cruise ship passengers.

Maybe we're influenced by spending time in
gyms and forgetting that their average is better than the average for the wider population?

[blue9steel]

Being in shape takes a significant time commitment, you have to really want it and most people just don't have the motivation for it.

[ironwill2008]

So I started wondering what do you think is the percentage of older men (in the US) who are in great shape, physique wise? I mean here on BB.com we kind of all share the same goals to some extent, but what do you think is that % of men in their 30's 40's 50's 60's?

The percentage of 'in-shape' men goes down as age goes up; in their 30's, maybe 20-25%. In your age group (50s), maybe 5%, and that's probably high. In my age group, (70) probably less than one half of 1%, and again, that's probably high.



Basing this just on what I casually notice while out in public. And the fitness of the 'public' in general? Horrendous. And it's not just about appearances; as age advances, it's much more about good health and maintaining one's strength, especially in the lower back and legs.

[ectoBgone]

So I started wondering what do you think is the percentage of older men (in the US) who are in great shape, physique wise? I mean here on BB.com we kind of all share the same goals to some extent, but what do you think is that % of men in their 30's 40's 50's 60's?

Probably varies geographically, but for men like us who live in an area with a healthy dose of winter, I am going to say maybe 2-3% achieve anything like a bodybuilding hobbyist physique. That may even be generous.

[d2mini]

I've noticed this for years. Just in everyday life. If you really pay attention and analyze ever single person you come across, it's an EXTREMELY small number that you would consider in shape. Across all age groups.
Have you seen the animated movie Wall-e? The obese human race on the space cruise ship is not that far fetched!

[OldFartTom]

FYI.. According to this https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-in...ym-statistics/ 45 million American adults (14% of population) and 4.5 million British adults (7% of population) hold current gym membership

[supramax]

I can't believe that SteelBill is 70! Good stuff. I'm impressed.

[Mark1T]

Face it, OP, the reason you still look good at 54 is the same reason you looked good at 24 (or at least had the potential to - you could've been fat for all I know ). Your parents provided you with good genetics.

Only about ~12% of the population routinely go the gym, and you can pretty much guess who most of those people are - those that are genetically blessed and predisposed to already having good physiques, which makes it ENJOYABLE to be in the gym (where they get good results from most anything that they do, sometimes IN SPITE of what they do).

When I first started as a trainer I thought I was going to change the world, but didn't realize that genetics played such a big motivational factor in being and looking 'fit'. It's easy to want to put in the work when the result is being able to look 'like a bodybuilder' or a fitness model, athlete, etc., but when the result for an average person that isn't so genetically blessed it that they end up just looking like a 'healthy' average person, the motivation isn't the same.

Imagine being on a cruise ship when the most someone is going to say is "How do you manage to stay looking so remarkably healthy and average looking?", lol .

I do not 100% agree. People who are the same age or older and who are dedicated to training and who do not have the genetics BH have the opportunity to look really good. Genetics helps a lot, but for me at least, not having the genetics BH has, has not prevented me from having a nice physique. Additionally, even though BH has great genetics, he knows how to train. Genetics + poor training = poor results.

So, if you are BH's age or older and you look like shiit, don't blame it on poor genetics. It is because you don't know what the hell you are doing.

[MrCarrot]

I've also noticed this but not on a cruise ship, in every day life. It seems like almost everyone over the age of 30 is out of shape. As a minimum most males over the age of 30 have at least a small "beer belly". The only people with abs are the people who smoke and/or do drugs and don't eat anything, and are as skinny as a rake.

If I go swimming or to the beach and see a male with a flat stomach, big pecs and arms I always notice (no homo) because really the only time a see anyone in shape is via photos online or in a magazine.

I think as someone posted above, genetics do play a big part. As a good looking male (lol) I feel totally at ease in the gym, I enjoy it and make fast progress. I know people fat and out of shape that will always be that way and would have to try a hundred times harder to look good, so they don't bother.

As I've been watching my diet recently I've also been shocked as to the number of calories in regular foods. 1,200 calories in a medium pizza, 800 calories in a large bar of chocolate. Then you have all the "low fat healthy option" foods which are loaded with sugar, and for someone clueless about diet you can see why most people are unfit.

[d2mini]

Screw genetics.
If you have the drive and dedication to eat properly and workout properly/consistently, you can look fit with a shirt off, and at least slim and healthy with a shirt on.
Far from the "completely out of shape" people the OP was referring to.

[supramax]

Screw genetics.
If you have the drive and dedication to eat properly and workout properly/consistently, you can look fit with a shirt off, and at least slim and healthy with a shirt on.
Far from the "completely out of shape" people the OP was referring to.

Bad genetics predisposes you to a lot of horrible stuff.

[d2mini]

Bad genetics predisposes you to a lot of horrible stuff.

I'm talking about the average person taking a cruise vacation. Not some genetic outlier, someone with DS or other advanced medical condition, etc.
I'm looking around at everyone in my office right now. Not a single one of them (ok, maybe one or two considering their age aren't bad) is what I would consider fit/healthy looking yet not a single one of them has any genetic condition that would prevent them from being so if they had the will.
Not the 28 year old, the 65 yo, or any between.

[jlsnyderTypeR]

My wife & I took two trips to Florida last year, upper pan-handle, so not south beach. However, both trips we were the only in-shape people on the entire beach.

While I enjoy standing out, we were hoping to see some challengers...

[grubman]

I live in Wisconsin, and the only other place I can recall seeing anyone my age or older who looks like they lift is at the natural Mr. Wisconsin.

I mean, I see plenty of people my age or older who look “normal”, even “healthy”, but I haven’t seen anyone (even in the 4 gyms I’ve worked out in in the last 8 years) who looked muscular, like they lift.

Don’t get me wrong...I’m sure there are plenty out there, especially if I went to the right places and events (like big gyms, marathons, or the CrossFit games)...but in my day to day life, going to Home Depot and Walmart and out to eat, etc...I don’t see any older guys with obvious muscle.

I should say, I don’t see a TON of younger guys who look like they lift either...but at least I see them on a semi-regular basis.

[pondman]

I've had it drilled into me. There are 3 pillars of physical health. Cardiac , strength, and flexibility.

Cardiac health requires that you do enough physical activity to raise your heart rate enough every day.

Strength requires enough resistance every day.

Flexibility is being able to tie your shoes while standing up.

I'd say less than 30% of 50 year old people would be considered physically fit. It's great for the ED business. It's hard to compare young people today, but I don't remember too many fat kids in high school. Now-- most of the cheerleader at the local high school would be considered clinically obese. And they don't seem to care.

[401Delta]

I do not 100% agree. People who are the same age or older and who are dedicated to training and who do not have the genetics BH have the opportunity to look really good. Genetics helps a lot, but for me at least, not having the genetics BH has, has not prevented me from having a nice physique. Additionally, even though BH has great genetics, he knows how to train. Genetics + poor training = poor results.

So, if you are BH's age or older and you look like shiit, don't blame it on poor genetics. It is because you don't know what the hell you are doing.

Screw genetics.
If you have the drive and dedication to eat properly and workout properly/consistently, you can look fit with a shirt off, and at least slim and healthy with a shirt on.
Far from the "completely out of shape" people the OP was referring to.

My post never said that you couldn't stay in shape with less than optimal genetics, nor did it say that nobody with less than optimal genetics does stay in shape.

My post merely said that there is LESS motivation to stay in shape when you have less than optimal genetics, hence the overwhelming disparity of 'fitness' between those with optimal genetics and those without, especially as we get older.

Come at me, bro [insert humor emoji here].

[d2mini]

My post never said that you couldn't stay in shape with less than optimal genetics, nor did it say that nobody with less than optimal genetics does stay in shape.

My post merely said that there is LESS motivation to stay in shape when you have less than optimal genetics, hence the overwhelming disparity of 'fitness' between those with optimal genetics and those without, especially as we get older.

Come at me, bro [insert humor emoji here].

LOL!

My post was mostly in response to your opening statement...

Face it, OP, the reason you still look good at 54 is the same reason you looked good at 24 (or at least had the potential to - you could've been fat for all I know ). Your parents provided you with good genetics.

I took "good genetics" as above average. Like most of us wouldn't be able to attain the OP's physique or even close to it.
If you just mean he was blessed with normal, healthy genetics, then I agree with you.

[401Delta]

LOL!

My post was mostly in response to your opening statement...



I took "good genetics" as above average. Like most of us wouldn't be able to attain the OP's physique or even close to it.
If you just mean he was blessed with normal, healthy genetics, then I agree with you.

The first line of my original post was somewhat tongue in cheek . What are 'normal' genetics, though. The 'shape' of our muscles (insertions, etc) have a lot to do with how 'toned' we look, which in turn has a lot to do with staying motivated to keep working out.

I've trained many guys who have sh*tty insertions so much that no matter how hard they train or diet they're never going to have a six pack or a peak in their biceps. While those things certainly are not required to stay strong and healthy, they definitely play a role in the motivation to stay in that top 10%, 5% and 1% of each age group that has been referenced ITT.

I will close by saying this...if we ALL had choice genetics, there would be a lot more people willing to put in the work to stay in shape.

[Aristotelian]

I should say, I don’t see a TON of younger guys who look like they lift either...but at least I see them on a semi-regular basis.

The path from lifting to really looking like you lift is a long one for some of us. After 16 months or so I am now starting to get some compliments in the change room. Former lanky marathon runner here who had no appreciable muscle mass whatsoever.

Also getting some thumbs up now that I hit a 3 plate deadlift (max). It is a laughable weight for some of the older guys but the thing is: some of the older guys were once me. Start in late thirties and go consistently for 15 years and yeah. You should look and feel pretty damn good in your 50s.

But Ironwill covered this in other posts- most people simply don't have the will to stick with it and in my experience they quit long before they could discover the limits of their genetic potential.

[PhantomMaxx]

I am NOT trying to start a debate about being strong vs looking strong so please lets not go down that route as we all know looking strong is way better than being fat and strong LOL I kid I kid


But seriously an observation I made on the cruise ship I was in (I mean you see the same 2000 + people for 7 straight days on the ship) was that almost 90% of the men I saw over the age of 25 or so (I could be wrong in age but that is my guess) were completely out of shape and I mean completely.

The only men (or I should say boys) that were in decent shape where the teens. I received more compliments regarding my build on that ship from men (younger and older than me), more so then I have in my entire adult life. And when I told them I was 54 they were shocked and asked me stupid question, like if I lived in the gym, do I follow a salad diet, am I on roids etc etc.

So I started wondering what do you think is the percentage of older men (in the US) who are in great shape, physique wise? I mean here on BB.com we kind of all share the same goals to some extent, but what do you think is that % of men in their 30's 40's 50's 60's?

It's nice to look strong and be strong. 30 is not that old IMHO. As the years go up the percentage of fit looking people go down. Me at 51, I would say that only 2-3 percent look fit at my age group and that includes the skinny runners But it's hard to say because fit people look younger. Someone may not see me as a fit 51yo guy because they think I'm 38? The people that see US and know how old WE are thinking three things:

1. He spends hours everyday at the gym because he has no life, and I don't have time for that.
2. He is lucky and born with great genetics so he doesn't have to work that hard, no matter how hard I work I can't get like that.
3. He must be on steroids, because I work out and I can never be like that because I want to stay natural.

People will make excuses for themselves and you. The older we get the more excuses they make.

[Plateauplower]

The percentage is small and getting smaller of people looking fit. Look at historical photos as compared to now. I don’t think genetics has much to do with it, crappy trainers can’t get results for their clients based on what I see (stability ball, single leg, poses are doing jack $hit)...People are inherently lazy, it’s our nature. Being in shape requires continued effort in training the right way combined with eating in accordance with ones goals. Hell most of the people I see at the gym aren’t even in shape and what they are doing on their own, or what their “trainers” have them doing isn’t going to get them there.

Our lives are easier, our food is worse, and it’s easier to take a pill for a condition that could be remedied with proper diet and exercise. So most people have very little motivation to even try to “be in shape” even if they go to a gym because that’s all that s needed right? Lol.

[OldFartTom]

Agree with PP
Genetics of the population hasn't dramatically changed in last few years, so we can't blame that, yet our perception is "masters" are looking worse these days than before. I don't think that's rose-tinted memory, I think it is getting worse.

The rise of BS continues unabated, you know stuff like: you only get fat if you eat after 6pm (and countless other examples I could add).

Either -- it looks like the "kids" can get away with it due to youth, but the adoption of all this BS is harming the "masters" worse, as they can't get away with it.

Or -- life is more inactive and stressful these days and so fewer and fewer "masters" can train or at least be as active and healthy (inc good diet) as before.

Maybe a bit of both?

[ljimd]

I think it is silly to compare those who train seriously with weights to the average Joe who doesn't. That's a false sense of elitism. Judge yourself against those engaged in your pursuits that standout.

Who cares who is in/out of shape? You do you, regardless of age.

Just my opinion.

[MrCarrot]

30 is not that old IMHO.

Many, many years ago I saw the "Over Age 35" section on this forum, and I assumed that it meant after that age building muscle and lifting were especially hard - hence a whole forum section devoted to the "oldies".

Now at the age of 37 I realise that's not really the case, the difference is we do it for ourselves rather than to impress girls/boys, and we don't care how much we can bench compared to others :-) And seeing how Grubman looks who is over 40 (I think?) really motivates me and shows that age doesn't have to be a barrier. In fact he looks better than I ever did even when I was lifting at the age of 18 and 28.

With that said, there are a load of "older" people at my gym (i.e. 50, 60+) who are seriously overweight and inflexible, they spend the whole time walking on treadmills, and I have no idea what their diet is like. In a way, without wanting to sound superior or patronising, I can't imagine how they would ever get in shape now because I'm guessing they've spent almost their entire lives out of shape. Obviously it's commendable that they've started doing something, but I do wonder if there's a point of no return.