How realistic is to start body building at 39?

[John34567]

I am 39 years old. I am pretty healthy and look much younger as others for my age. I do not smoke do not use alcohol. I have same body constitution now as person here: reddit.com/r/Brogress/comments/ha8xat/m17510_140lbs_to_170lbs_1_year/ before he started training. I want to archive same results that person in above link achieved. Maybe not as fast as he did but at least in 2 years.

So how realistic is for me to achieve transformation linked above in 2 years?

[TolerantLactose]

I have same body constitution now as person here: reddit.com/r/Brogress/comments/ha8xat/m17510_140lbs_to_170lbs_1_year/ before he started training.

He was also 16 and recovering from GI problems, according to his history.

[John34567]

He was also 16 and recovering from GI problems, according to his history.

I just took his picture in order to only demonstrate how approximately my body looks now and what I want to achieve. Everything other in his and my case are not related.

[TolerantLactose]

Think 4-5 years if you take no detours.

[2nd_chance]

Why does your profile say your age is 50?

[John34567]

Why does your profile say your age is 50?

It maybe some forum bug. I was not asked for age when registering in forum.

[xTeTe]

What you achieve is on you and how consistent you are.

But realistic to start bodybuilding at 39? Of course. 39 isn't that old when it comes to building muscle.

[RestoringTally]

I am 39 years old. I am pretty healthy and look much younger as others for my age. I do not smoke do not use alcohol. I have same body constitution now as person here: reddit.com/r/Brogress/comments/ha8xat/m17510_140lbs_to_170lbs_1_year/ before he started training. I want to archive same results that person in above link achieved. Maybe not as fast as he did but at least in 2 years.

So how realistic is for me to achieve transformation linked above in 2 years?

Yes, you can start bodybuilding at age 39.

But it is not realistic to think that you can come close to the same growth rate of a 17 year old when you are 37. For starters, a 17 year old is still growing naturally, compared to someone who no longer has the growth spurts of a teenager. Biology sux for us older guys.

If you are serious about training, follow proven beginner and intermediate programs to the letter, maintain proper nutrition, and do it for several years, yes, you can achieve a body like the after picture. It only takes time, effort, and determination.

[John34567]

Yes, you can start bodybuilding at age 39.

But it is not realistic to think that you can come close to the same growth rate of a 17 year old when you are 37. For starters, a 17 year old is still growing naturally, compared to someone who no longer has the growth spurts of a teenager. Biology sux for us older guys.

If you are serious about training, follow proven beginner and intermediate programs to the letter, maintain proper nutrition, and do it for several years, yes, you can achieve a body like the after picture. It only takes time, effort, and determination.

What degree of difference to expect at 17 and 39? I mean how many times it will be harder to achieve same result as 17 when you are 39? I mean 2 times, 3 times, or other longer? Is there any general consensus on that?
I am very seriously about it. It will be good for me to know what result I can expect.

[OldFartTom]

Impossible to guess as an individual what factor or percentage more difficult something will be due to age, it depends on a million things.

What I can say with 100% certainty... If you start structured/programmed training now, you will make infinitely more improvement than not training!

What I can also say, is that if you start initially with a progressive overload (by slowly increasing weight according to a program) then you will make good progress and repeatedly make and exceed personal bests for a while (maybe for the first 6 months? YMMV!) and that can be addictive.

Stop overthinking this Just start either Fierce5 ("sticky"/fixed article at top, in the program section) or maybe the free phone app Stronglifts 5*5

Enjoy...

[VicDumbbells]

What degree of difference to expect at 17 and 39? I mean how many times it will be harder to achieve same result as 17 when you are 39? I mean 2 times, 3 times, or other longer? Is there any general consensus on that?
I am very seriously about it. It will be good for me to know what result I can expect.

Who cares? I like to lift weights and the results are better than not lifting weights. That is all I need to know.

[air2fakie]

What degree of difference to expect at 17 and 39? I mean how many times it will be harder to achieve same result as 17 when you are 39? I mean 2 times, 3 times, or other longer? Is there any general consensus on that?
I am very seriously about it. It will be good for me to know what result I can expect.

There are lots of variables that affect results incl age, so no one can give you a results formula just based on age.

If you've never lifted seriously and are only willing to work out if you know what to expect in 2 years with some certainty, your mindset will likely lead you to disappointment long before you get there. If you're interested in being more healthy and developing a better physique over your lifetime, you can definitely achieve that if you get started.

[radrd]

My advice is to just lift. Are you trying to talk yourself put of it? You'll see positive changes regardless of your age.

At 39 I do find that I'm more susceptible to injury. Make sure your form is good and don't power through any pain during a movement. If a lift hurts, you're doing it wrong. DOMS after your workout is normal though and you'll probably be quite sore at first.

[powerliftingg]

Totally agree. Not to mention, what is the alternative here? To not lift?

I mean everyone has a different peak testosterone and a different decay with age. It is a good chance the 17 year old version was practically on testosterone compared to the 39yo version. That is hardly reason though to not lift at 39.

My advice is to just lift. Are you trying to talk yourself put of it? You'll see positive changes regardless of your age.
.

[adamgentile]

You can start at any age.

[Garage Rat]

You certainly can.
Educate yourself with training and diet.
Be dedicated to what your doing have small goals leading to the larger goal.

[MrCarrot]

Yes you can start at 39.

I'm 40 this year and I started 2 years ago. 1 year of that was trimming down so I kind of don't really count that.

I find it somewhat pointless to look at other people's physique and aim for the same thing. I find myself doing it at times, but in reality we're all different in both the way we look, and the rate at which we grow. I know people half my age which look many times better than myself, but I also know many people half my age who look many times worse. It's the "grass is always greener on the other side" kind of thing.

I know some really jacked people in their twenties, but I also know some really skinny ones too, who find it hard to gain anything. Like I said, we're all very different.

As Garage Rat said, start with some small goals and work towards those. If you have your heart set on the "after" picture in your original post, it's possible you're going to get disenchanted after a couple of months, because that's likely to take a few years. Whereas if you had a goal of gaining a few pounds of muscle, that's more achievable in a short space of time, and will motivate you to continue.

Good luck

[startingat56]

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/les...dybuilder.html


95 years old

started at 87

[2nd_chance]

What degree of difference to expect at 17 and 39? I mean how many times it will be harder to achieve same result as 17 when you are 39? I mean 2 times, 3 times, or other longer? Is there any general consensus on that?
I am very seriously about it. It will be good for me to know what result I can expect.

Stop worrying about how hard it will be. Either do it or don’t.

[pondman]

Why wouldn't you be able to gain mass?

As long as you are alive, you can add muscle.

Wouldn't compare yourself to others.

[brit-iron]

No point in what ifs. If you have a goal then stop procrastinating and get to it.
Good luck.

[bodyhard]

I am 39 years old. I am pretty healthy and look much younger as others for my age. I do not smoke do not use alcohol. I have same body constitution now as person here: reddit.com/r/Brogress/comments/ha8xat/m17510_140lbs_to_170lbs_1_year/ before he started training. I want to archive same results that person in above link achieved. Maybe not as fast as he did but at least in 2 years.

So how realistic is for me to achieve transformation linked above in 2 years?

You can start bodybuilding at 79 if you want to, just the same way you start anything else, not sure why you asking this.

[ParsleyTea]

I started at age 40 at 150lbs. It wasn't that difficult for me to make gains I found.

[lsiberian]

I think it's a smart sport to do as you age because muscle mass preserves you in the face of major health issues.

[TolerantLactose]

I'm relatively sure OP has already given up.

[cryoung]

Look at the link in the sig below. That will answer it.

[xsquid99]

I started at 43 (now 46), and have made some pretty nice gains (relatively speaking for a tall lanky old guy). Never too late, plus its a lot of fun.

[startingat56]

we'll wrap this thread up with this ...

If you don't start now, next time you are out in public, just look around and see what you will be if you don't

[Jdizzlean]

What degree of difference to expect at 17 and 39? I mean how many times it will be harder to achieve same result as 17 when you are 39? I mean 2 times, 3 times, or other longer? Is there any general consensus on that?
I am very seriously about it. It will be good for me to know what result I can expect.

the result you get, is comensurate with the work you put in. work like a 17 year old, and you can do it. there's plenty of folks on here that didn't start working out til their 50's, that put plenty of 17 yr olds to shame.

it's on you. no amount of articles, plans, diets, or anything else is the deciding factor, its on you and how much you want it. if you want it bad enough, you'll do it, otherwise you wont.

[fitnessguyuk]

Like others have said, you are never too old. I started just over a year ago at age 38 and have made some pretty good gains over the last year and a bit - even with lockdown! For me it was a complete lifestyle choice - going from not going to the gym at all to now going 4-5 times every week without fail and making sure I have a balanced diet with high levels of protein. I have lost a good 4% of body fat and definitely built muscle. So yes, you can do it - but like all things the extent of your success will be determined by the efforts you put in.