@kasia7777 I'm 42 as well and have been consistently working out since I was around 28 or so. I have a 15 year old in high school and he saw his friends dad that is the same age as I am. He said that he thought that dude was in his 60s. Smoking cigarettes and never lifting weights will do that though. My sister in law smokes and looks way older than my wife, and my wife is the older one, but she takes care of herself and doesn't smoke cigs.
The only people who say, "It's all downhill after X" are those who were already going downhill the decade before
- Thread starter prestonmcghee
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@prestonmcghee I heavily agree with your overall sentiment but I will say there's at least a kernel of truth to what they are saying. I'm 40 and have been consistently working out the past 12 years. There's definitely been a bit of a decline in certain areas, mostly staying up late and drinking too much hits me a lot harder now, in my 20's I'd shake off a 3 AM night of drinking heavy by breakfast, now the next 2 days are shot. Keeping weight off is a bit harder and I'm sore a bit longer when I push myself. Also sitting still for long car/plane rides leaves my legs stiffer now.
That said compared to my peers (mostly 35-40 year old dads) it's night and day in what I can do vs. what they can do, I don't gas out playing with the kids, I can still do handstands and cartwheels with them etc... while they stay on the sidelines.
Basically the decline is coming, it might seem like it's not especially if you are new to consistently working out but you will start seeing cracks in the damn eventually. WAY slower than our inactive counterparts mind you, I'm definitely not falling apart at 40 like my mom made it sound like I would, still can probably run circles around my 30 year old self but I'd be more sore the next day, especially if I partied with him.
That said compared to my peers (mostly 35-40 year old dads) it's night and day in what I can do vs. what they can do, I don't gas out playing with the kids, I can still do handstands and cartwheels with them etc... while they stay on the sidelines.
Basically the decline is coming, it might seem like it's not especially if you are new to consistently working out but you will start seeing cracks in the damn eventually. WAY slower than our inactive counterparts mind you, I'm definitely not falling apart at 40 like my mom made it sound like I would, still can probably run circles around my 30 year old self but I'd be more sore the next day, especially if I partied with him.
passiflora
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@josipa I ran cross country and track in high school and college. It’s not pessimism, just realism, to acknowledge that my fastest days are behind me. And I’m only 36.
But I didn’t lift weights then, while I have for the past 5 years. I’m getting stronger every month. As fast as I would if I’d started at 18? Probably not. But a gradual uphill is still an uphill.
We can improve in some areas for a long time, and stave off decline for a longer time. Eventually things will start going downhill (unless you die young, and even then, that’s just a really steep downhill). I think it’s good to be realistic about that. But it’s also good to celebrate the fact that we have decades of good times ahead of us, and there’s something glorious in the fact that every workout is adding healthy time to the (hopefully far-off) end of our lives in addition to making us look and feel better right now.
But I didn’t lift weights then, while I have for the past 5 years. I’m getting stronger every month. As fast as I would if I’d started at 18? Probably not. But a gradual uphill is still an uphill.
We can improve in some areas for a long time, and stave off decline for a longer time. Eventually things will start going downhill (unless you die young, and even then, that’s just a really steep downhill). I think it’s good to be realistic about that. But it’s also good to celebrate the fact that we have decades of good times ahead of us, and there’s something glorious in the fact that every workout is adding healthy time to the (hopefully far-off) end of our lives in addition to making us look and feel better right now.
@passiflora Yes the decline for me has been MUCH slower than family and friends. And I definitely think it's great to pursue new things to improve upon, like you mentioned. I've been doing the big lifts (deads, squats, bench and OHP) for 12 years and haven't really hit any 1 rep max PRs in them since probably 2019. Part of that is because I don't go for them often anymore since it wrecks me for a while now but part of that is also I've run out of room to improve (could also be fear/laziness).
However in 2020 I got really into kettlebells and that opened up a huge runway for me to see consistent progress over time which has been reinvigorating and super fun. Also seeing a lot of real world transfer from that. Novelty stimulus is great, I think the next thing I'll pursue is odd lifts (zerchers, shovel deadlifts etc...).
Also I think it's important to note that as we age flexibility becomes significantly more important. Long hold stretching and/or yoga is a great way to stave off the aging process, not just for the increase in ROM but to keep tightness at bay. You'll see a lot of active guys 50+ that need to wear knee/elbow sleeves to reduce pain. It's not just because they're old, a lot of them just don't work on flexibility and have super tight muscles that cause their joints to hurt when they lift.
However in 2020 I got really into kettlebells and that opened up a huge runway for me to see consistent progress over time which has been reinvigorating and super fun. Also seeing a lot of real world transfer from that. Novelty stimulus is great, I think the next thing I'll pursue is odd lifts (zerchers, shovel deadlifts etc...).
Also I think it's important to note that as we age flexibility becomes significantly more important. Long hold stretching and/or yoga is a great way to stave off the aging process, not just for the increase in ROM but to keep tightness at bay. You'll see a lot of active guys 50+ that need to wear knee/elbow sleeves to reduce pain. It's not just because they're old, a lot of them just don't work on flexibility and have super tight muscles that cause their joints to hurt when they lift.
@prestonmcghee After false starts in my teens and Twenties, I finally got my momentum in my thirties. I was looking and feeling my best in my forties. I gotta say, my fifties have been rough. I’m not ready to give up yet though.
@prestonmcghee I work as a physician assistant and do emergency medicine and family medicine. The truth of this is 100%. There is always folks who can have unfortunate genetics...but honestly they are few and far between in my practice. I see people who dont move. People who dont get their heart-rates up, who do not lift anything, who live mostly sedentary lifestyles. They are sicker by far. I even used to hate on "getting your steps in", like I feel guilty at how much I would hate on it but now after doing medicine for 5 years I am 100% on board with getting 10k steps a day. It is simple, requires no equipment and increases your mase metabolic rate. Obviously there is MUCH better things to do, but this is the first thing I tell everyone who is sedentary and experiencing health problems to start with.
I started a new mantra that I share with my patients "Move or die". I am about to turn 40, and I eat more ice cream than I should, I do not have a six pack anymore but I still lift and hike and run and can do fun obstacle races/tactical games/half marathons. I am happy. My kids see fitness as a part of life.
I started a new mantra that I share with my patients "Move or die". I am about to turn 40, and I eat more ice cream than I should, I do not have a six pack anymore but I still lift and hike and run and can do fun obstacle races/tactical games/half marathons. I am happy. My kids see fitness as a part of life.
vincentnhedd413
New member
@vincentnhedd413 Heck yes! It can all be overwhelming when starting back after a stretch of nothing or less than ideal habits, but its just getting those consistent habits down! You will crush it!
prestonmcghee
New member
@joygurl A motto I've always told everyone who are worried about starting or feel like they have to go from 0-100; "Doing something is better than doing nothing."
And this applies to every single aspect in life. If we don't do anything and expect change, change will not happen. It could be your health, activity level, goals, your job, literally anything. Change requires time, work, effort, and patience, there is no way around it. Im feeling that right now myself with the patience parts since I got back to lifting hardcore 3 months ago. I'm seeing results on paper because nearly every week or 2 my lifts are going up, but Im not seeing the results I want in the mirror as fast as I'd like. So I'm continuously telling myself that if my numbers keep going up, that's all the proof I need that things ARE changing and once I get through the breakthrough point, Ill start seeing results faster than ever, like a snowball effect.
And this applies to every single aspect in life. If we don't do anything and expect change, change will not happen. It could be your health, activity level, goals, your job, literally anything. Change requires time, work, effort, and patience, there is no way around it. Im feeling that right now myself with the patience parts since I got back to lifting hardcore 3 months ago. I'm seeing results on paper because nearly every week or 2 my lifts are going up, but Im not seeing the results I want in the mirror as fast as I'd like. So I'm continuously telling myself that if my numbers keep going up, that's all the proof I need that things ARE changing and once I get through the breakthrough point, Ill start seeing results faster than ever, like a snowball effect.
@prestonmcghee It was such a game changer when I found out you can just do your 40 minute HIIT workout 4 times a week and never get old and die
@prestonmcghee Yup, for the vast majority of people being out of shape/obese, its a choice. Its a choice to eat poorly, its a choice to sit around all day, its a choice not to exercise. Getting older doesnt have to hurt, depressing or stuck. You are the sum of every single choice you make in life.
prestonmcghee
New member
@jackson12 100%. It always blows my mind when people use the blame game or make excuses for why theyre overweight or obese, "slow metabolism" being the biggest one. Your metabolism is slow being you don't do anything! Not only that, but metabolism on it's own only accounts for 5% of your TDEE at MAXIMUM. Less than 1% of the population are overweight because of things outside of their control, the rest choose to ignore it or think it's fine because they should "accept themselves".
I want people to be healthy and care about themselves and being obese especially is not that.
I want people to be healthy and care about themselves and being obese especially is not that.
@prestonmcghee Yeah the whole metabolism thing is such a cop out excuse. The metabolic system that took billions of years to evolve into what it is today is a highly tuned chemical process. Nearly every persons metabolism or the rate at which we convert ATP energy into heat is nearly identical across all humans. Sure there can be some variations, but those variations do not account for the drastic number of obese people or even obesity it itself.
But there is no such thing as a "high metabolism". There are just people who are more active or less active. Its not like you can take two people, feed them the exact same amount of nutrients and calories, make them burn the exact same amount of calories and one of them end up obese.
But there is no such thing as a "high metabolism". There are just people who are more active or less active. Its not like you can take two people, feed them the exact same amount of nutrients and calories, make them burn the exact same amount of calories and one of them end up obese.
@prestonmcghee A nurse told me I wouldn’t have time to get back in shape after I had my baby. Meanwhile I’m in the best shape ever and my son loves going to the gym with us. Fortunately our gym has amazing childcare. He’s also obsessed with asking us about how much protein and sugar are in his snacks 
savedgirl2010
New member
@prestonmcghee I've been active/playing sports since childhood, i still do all that - play organized sports and go to the gym+yoga+physio year-round, while consuming a relatively healthy diet to complement my lifestyle. When i say it goes downhill after 30 i mean my recovery times have increased significantly compared to the decade before.
My resilience has dropped significantly while my performance is relatively similar. Which is normal for anyone my age and why you see pro athlete performances dropping off in their 30s ultimately leading to retirement.
But as the saying goes, if you don't use it you lose it. I have no intention on slowing down my activities.
My resilience has dropped significantly while my performance is relatively similar. Which is normal for anyone my age and why you see pro athlete performances dropping off in their 30s ultimately leading to retirement.
But as the saying goes, if you don't use it you lose it. I have no intention on slowing down my activities.
solarflare
New member
@savedgirl2010
This is it, for me. At 35, I'm in some of the best shape of my life. But as someone who worked out in my 20s and played sports in my teens... My recovery is just weaker, full stop.
This is it, for me. At 35, I'm in some of the best shape of my life. But as someone who worked out in my 20s and played sports in my teens... My recovery is just weaker, full stop.
carriekpali
New member
@prestonmcghee Great post. It’s all about personal responsibility and taking charge of your health. No one knows your body better than you do. Move it or lose it. I’m over 60 and in the best shape of my life. My father just passed with the “it’s all downhill from here” mentality and attitude. “I’m too old to change” It’s not about how long you live so much as about your quality of life while you live. His was not good all hunched over, in pain, and dealing with one illness after another for decades.
@prestonmcghee 51 and active with weights, cycling and anything else I can do. I feel strong and pretty much the same as I did in my 30s. I think it’s a combo of mindset and activity. Some folks like to be lazy and that’s fine but that whole “you don’t use it you loose it” sentiment has some truth behind it.
Edited to say it’s a lifestyle not a goal for a specific point in time. You gotta play the long game.
Edited to say it’s a lifestyle not a goal for a specific point in time. You gotta play the long game.