Hello, first post on this forum so please don’t hate me if I mess this up. Tried to post to Post reddit but it wouldn’t post for some reason. I just turned 46 this year and have never done a serious weight training program. I have started to a few times but never lasting more than a month. If my diet is spot on, I get plenty of rest, and pick a program and stick to it(also having trouble deciding what to start) what would be a realistic amount of muscle I could hope to gain per month , or per year? Is it possible that someone could do everything right and still not gain any muscle? I am 5’11 and 235 lb, probably 40-50lb overweight and have embarrassingly week lifts. I am going through a messy divorce and have motivation to stick to a program to get into shape for me as well as for my kids. Thanks in advance for any info, advice, or suggestions.
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09-12-2021, 04:52 PM #1
How much muscle can an over 45 beginner expect to gain each month
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09-12-2021, 06:12 PM #2
The mindset of this type of Q before you even pick up a weight is probably why you've never lasted more than a month in the past. And you're kidding yourself if you think this is the time you're going to be spot on with your diet and do everything right. Work out, eat better, be consistent & see what happens over time.
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09-13-2021, 07:40 AM #3
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Given that your priority is to lose fat, probably not a huge amount while dieting. Even if we could give actual numbers to you (we can't due to massive variance between people), what would they mean to you? As others have said, just do it and see what you get. Self improvement is a continuous thing - not something you do for 6 weeks then you're done...
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09-13-2021, 08:23 AM #4
Yes.
And by that we mean, there's huge potential for a newbie here.... as long as you do all the right behaviors. If not.... ZERO.It's never too late!
5'6", 215
Age: 51
Results:
2/26/22 USPA PNW drug tested championships: 501/325/540/1366 @ 209lb
11/7/21 IPL drug tested world championships: 463/319/529/1311 @ 205lb
6/20/21 USPA Western drug tested regionals: DQ (bombed squats) @ 192lb
2/27/21 USPA PNW drug tested championships: 468/308/501/1278 @ 202lb
10/10/2020 USPA FS meet: 407/303/474/1185 @ 212lb
Gym PRs:
529/336/555
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09-13-2021, 08:32 AM #5
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09-14-2021, 08:12 AM #6
Stop caring about it.
Lift and be consistent. That is all you need to worry about. If you are not super familiar with lifting, get a good trainer, tell them you want to focus on core lifts (deadlifts, squats, rows, bench press, overhead press) and spend a good 6 months to 2 years working on your strength and perfecting your form. At some point, if you want to toss in some accessory work, more power to you. I enjoy dips, barbell curls and cleans.
Get in the gym at least 3/week. Shoot for more.
Focus on your diet. Stop eating garbage if you are right now. 95% of people are eating a lot of trash. Just cut out or drastically reduce ultra processed foods of all kinds. Shoot for a good amount of protein, at your weight 150-180g sounds about right.
You're unlikely to be just 40-50lbs overweight. People always massively underestimate how fat they are. Most people your height, to be lean they'd need to be around 150-170lbs without much muscle. I doubt you have much. That's telling me you may be carrying around 80+lbs of extra weight. Don't worry. We all start somewhere but starting from a position of a unrealistic reality is only going to lead to frustration. I know guys 5'11 who are 220-230lbs and jacked up, they're still probably 20% bodyfat, meaning even a muscled up dude that height and around your weight is carrying 30+lbs of extra weight. You think you're within 10lbs of that? You're not.
Stick to it. Stick to your diet. Stop drinking if you are. Eat clean foods, things you make yourself without tons of sugar, flour and fried chit. Learn to make good salads, they exist, and eat them, leaner meats, green leafy vegetables, getting fats from better sources (fatty fish, avocados, nuts and such). No more drive-thru dinners. No more sodas.
No bullchit, just those numbers and the knowledge you do not exercise, you're probably 35+% bodyfat. That is very unhealthy. You're worried about muscle, worry about your waist. At your height, you should have a 32" waist. Not squeezing into 32" jeans, I mean you measure your waist around the bellly button and it's 32".
Sorry to pick on you, but this attitude of yours of being perfect with diet and all this and wanting to put on muscle as fast as possible? What? You're a major candidate for a heart attack and dying. You want to rush this? Why? You didn't turn to chit overnight, you probably spent years neglecting your diet, being lazy and not training. You're not undoing years of neglect overnight, stop even bothering.
Focus on being consistent in your diet and training and accept this is a long-term problem.
A lot of people start a new diet/training program like you. Out of shape, in a bad spot in life, they want a change, they jump into it head first and make big changes quickly. Then it stalls. Then they get frustrated. Then they quit or fall off the wagon or whatever and 12 months later they're no better than when they started. Don't do that. Don't think you can be a jacked swimsuit model when you're very likely 35-40% bodyfat and weak as a kitten.
Rather than worry about how much muscle you've gained next month, worry about hitting every workout THIS month. Worry about making sure ever meal you eat is a good one. Worry about skipping out on drinks after work or ice cream or whatever else is garbage and you don't need. Do that and you'll be fine in the long run.Last edited by JUSA; 09-14-2021 at 08:22 AM.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
- Arthur Schopenhauer
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09-16-2021, 03:45 AM #7
I read your post...Im 48. I was 235, I just got off the scale at 168. I stopped eating **** and started eating better. I work out 3 and 3..nothing extreme. Ive never had defininition before, but even my kids said "wow dad, look at your muscles" lol...theyre 11. serious, I was the same...worked out for a month and would quit...never got anywhere.
dont listen to some of these bone heads. theyre not so motivating and are the kind of guys that kept me out of the gym...
i found someone who kept me going....youll find the same!
dont give up man, lifes too short
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09-16-2021, 04:03 AM #8
This right here send solid. Take this as motivation, not demotivation.
You’ll be fine. Work out, eat right and keep going. Visual Changes come sore specially at night bodyfat (think 1 to 2 years) but you’ll start feeling more confident and clothes will fit so much better on about a couple months.
**^^ gone ^^**
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09-16-2021, 04:11 AM #9
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09-16-2021, 04:34 AM #10
My son is about 6 ft tall. Started lifting at about 165-170 lb. About a year later and hes around 220.
His strength in TRAINING weights went up about like this
Bench training 65- 195
Incline 45- 145
Lat pulls 65- 180
Rows 44-200
Shoulder press 10- 45 dbs
Squats 65- 225 deep reps
Deads 135-315
He also regularly eats 4-5 times a day approximately 4000 k"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Old Guy deadlifting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zMrim-0Dks
bench press https://youtu.be/GaRzfueJVJQ
Every workout is GAME DAY!
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09-16-2021, 05:07 AM #11"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Old Guy deadlifting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zMrim-0Dks
bench press https://youtu.be/GaRzfueJVJQ
Every workout is GAME DAY!
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09-18-2021, 07:01 AM #12
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09-18-2021, 07:02 AM #13
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09-19-2021, 05:06 PM #14
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09-19-2021, 05:33 PM #15
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09-21-2021, 01:31 PM #16
I'm 40 (so a little younger), I spent almost a year losing fat, and 2 years building muscle. A few months back I started fat loss again and I'm now in a position where I think overall I've gained about 10 pounds of muscle. It's not a lot but I look 100 times better than I did before I started.
It's incremental though, you don't just look in the mirror after a month or 6 months and suddenly think, "Wow, I've made it." In a way you have to enjoy the process more than the actual progress, because the progress is painfully slow. Although now and again when you hit a goal or milestone it can boost motivation.
One thing is for sure, if you're consistent over a long period of time, you'll look better than the vast majority of people the same age as you (in many cases you can look better than the vast majority of people who are younger than you).
Good luck.
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09-22-2021, 03:18 AM #17
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09-24-2021, 08:37 AM #18
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09-25-2021, 11:03 AM #19
A lot of good stuff in this thread. Having been there done that a few times (and written a lot of studies of health in the U.S. vs Europe).
- Read 'Blue Zones' by Dan Buettner. (not BZ solution, happiness or kitchen).
- Think lifestyle change - to a healthier lifestyle - for the rest of your life. Not diet until I loose weight or workout until I can do whatever.
- You will blow it. Often. You'll over eat, miss a workout or whatever. Keep going. Just like most people on here you're human.
- Never try to make up for blowing it. The past is the past, the future is ahead.
- Be realistic / start slow. Eat somewhat healthier, move more. Then somewhat healthier and move more.
Personally I would focus on a basic healthier lifestyle (see Blue Zones above) for 3 - 6 months before doing much from a workout standpoint. Eat healthier (mediterranean) and ride your bicycle a little every day. You may not notice much diff in the mirror or on a scale but you'll begin to feel better physically and mentally which will prepare you for success in doing workouts. If you dive in too fast you will almost certainly fail.
Divorce is really really tough. Improving your health will help tremendously in getting through it and moving forward. Do whatever you can to maintain a good relationship with your former spouse.
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09-25-2021, 01:27 PM #20
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09-26-2021, 08:59 AM #21
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