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Have your workout methods chanced with age/health?

Posted on 4/13/18 at 6:51 am
Posted by Tiger in Gatorland
Moonshine Holler
Member since Sep 2006
9605 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 6:51 am
Seems my 20s-early 30s were spent mostly running before a lazy period with young kids. Got started with lifting in mid 30s, went into crossfit for 3-4 years, oly lifting, and over the last 2 years just lifting in the gym (big four lifts plus auxillary lifts).
Now, I'm 42. I've had knee surgery, shoulder surgery, and thyroid surgery all in the last 3 years. (I know thyroid not related). After some gym sessions, I feel sore knees, sore back etc. All that said, I don't want to be a senior with debilitating arthritis, needing multiple joint replacements and my enjoyable time spent doctor hopping which seems to happen to so many seniors.
Has anyone considered a wholistic change to workout patterns in the interest of preserving bodily functioning? Would I be better off to lay off the 300lb squats and just get into body weight workouts, light weights, cardio? Perhaps biking?
I don't plan on setting around stagnant and letting a chronic sedentary disease kill me so save that logic. Just interested in knowing if others have hit a crossroad where you consider if your workouts are in the best long term interest of your body.
This post was edited on 4/13/18 at 7:22 am
Posted by Hulkklogan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2010
43482 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 6:59 am to
Most research shows just to keep lifting, but eat well and take care of yourself. Supplement fish oils, glutamine, maybe potassium. . Leg strength was a major indicator of longevity; once your legs are weak, the rest of the body follows because you can't get around well anymore.
This post was edited on 4/13/18 at 8:18 am
Posted by tiger94gop
GEISMAR
Member since Nov 2004
3312 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 8:09 am to
Lower the weights and up the reps. You are not trying to be the swollest guy in the gym at 40. Do basic full body workouts and try some alternatives, kettlebells, mace, etc. Also, up your cardio, include mobility training, yoga. I'm 48, the biggest issue I have is mobility and time.
Posted by LSU alum wannabe
Katy, TX
Member since Jan 2004
27951 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 8:55 am to
quote:

Would I be better off to lay off the 300lb squats and just get into body weight workouts, light weights, cardio?


Many on here will disagree, but YES! I know plenty of dudes our age (45 here) are doing crossfit. Good for them. More power to them. It is case by case. If something is hurting joints and connective tissues, its not a "no pain no gain scenario". You will only injure yourself and quit.

As mentioned, pay more attention to eating clean. I find when I do this I feel great. I went as far as going Vegan for 6 months. Not saying you should or pushing it as an agenda. Just saying eat clean. Whatever "clean" means to you. Plenty of diets out there that are ALL better than eating like shite.

My own experience. Heavy lifting is over. Also crossfit would be out for me as it always SEEMS to have a deadlift or snatch component to it. That shite hurt me at 17, no way it wont injure 45 year old me. Just light weights or body weight work, as long as it is to point of failure. #GAINZZ
Posted by Tiger in Gatorland
Moonshine Holler
Member since Sep 2006
9605 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 9:11 am to
Thanks for the feedback. After my shoulder surgery (labrum repair) the doc basically said you can lay off the over the head movements forever and you’ll be better off. Now I won’t take that quite so literally but more to mean that my body can’t tolerate what it once did. I’m just looking to preserve that and not to be under the knife every few years.
Posted by tiger94gop
GEISMAR
Member since Nov 2004
3312 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 9:39 am to
You can use the landmine for shoulder work. It is like a barbell exercise. I use that for my overhead lifts, as well as kettle bells. There are some full body workouts for that and landmines alone.
Posted by MWP
Kingwood, TX via Monroe, LA
Member since Jul 2013
11340 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 10:16 am to
quote:

Just interested in knowing if others have hit a crossroad where you consider if your workouts are in the best long term interest of your body.


I am 46 and probably all around in better shape and probably just as strong on most exercises now than I was in my 20's. I hit a few milestone personal best lifts on deadlift and squat last year so I may back off going really heavy but my short term plan is too still train hard, but smart. In other words, try not to fricking injure myself. My long range goal is to try to maintain as much muscle mass as I can into my 50's and 60's while still trying to keep some level of decent flexibility.


Posted by Rep520
Member since Mar 2018
10476 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 10:39 am to
I'm hitting 37 shortly. I've never considered laying off heavy weights and am still pr-ing on squat/dead/bench. Serious lifting can cause problems, but stronger muscles can alleviate a lot of negative effects of aging too. People with weaker muscles are more likely to suffer major bone injury when older, as well as other things.

I do think it's smart to change as you age. Here are my major changes:

1. Form. I didn't pay attention to form when younger. As I got older, that lack of attention triggered more injuries. My approach to form changed. I do more form work and have better form than ever, and it has paid off with i jury reduction.

2. Day to day intensity. I used to go balls to the wall every day, every set. That started breaking me down. Now I vary with certain workouts focused only on speed/form work. It hasn't compromised my progress and has really cut down on nagging injuries.

3. Warming up. I used to throw 135 on the bar and go. Now, there's at least 5 min of targeted activation before I break out a bar.

4. Recovery. Sleep and diet are no longer really options, they're necessities. Mobility and active recovery is huge.
Posted by litenin
Houston
Member since Mar 2016
2852 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 1:19 pm to
I'm about your age. My workouts have only added stuff over the years (not taken away), although I've never really gone that heavy with dead lifts or squats.

While I seem to get more minor injuries now, I feel that all of the information available online helps greatly and have been fortunate to avoid major injuries.

At some point, I will likely need to modify a bit and agree that it's difficult to know when and how much to change.

Posted by NOLALGD
Member since May 2014
2821 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 1:59 pm to
Lifting heavy, but smart is fine, but should spend as much time working on mobility,flexibility and form. In your 20s you can probably get by lifting heavy with average form and "natural flexibility". That doesn't work when you get older.

Also use a lifting progression program that works for you and don't ever, ever think about skipping a deload week. I told a young guy I was doing a program with a deload every 4 or 5 week, he looked at me like I was crazy!
This post was edited on 4/13/18 at 2:00 pm
Posted by Rossberg02
Member since Jun 2016
2591 posts
Posted on 4/13/18 at 3:48 pm to
From 18-26 I was so focused on regiment and keeping track and pushing everything to the max as if it was a job.
After marriage and kids, I just want to have fun in the gym. I’m on a big kettlebell kick lately. And I’m more into flexibility and rotational movements.
I wouldn’t be caught dead doing that stuff 10 years ago.

I couldn’t see myself going through sheiko or some type of conjugate routine these days.
Posted by hogfly
Fayetteville, AR
Member since May 2014
5378 posts
Posted on 4/14/18 at 3:35 pm to
I was huge into kettlebells for a while. Then I got into deads, squats, bench, pull-ups, military and just did those for a few years, trying to get bigger and heavier.

Now, at 45, I pretty much do light weight CrossFit style metcons in a group setting: Tabata, AMRAP, EMOM, etc. Also do cycling and cycling classes. All of that is because my wife and I now workout together and we can both do all the above together. We do that because we both work demanding jobs and our kids are in a lot of activities that require us running them around at night. Our morning workouts are some of the main quality time we get to spend together without the kids. I miss picking up heavy things and feeling yoked, but it’s worth it for our relationship.
This post was edited on 4/14/18 at 3:38 pm
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
39254 posts
Posted on 4/15/18 at 1:23 pm to
36 this year for me. Only things that have changed is I focus more on intensity more than volume with weights. I still lift heavier than ever, but I focus on form more and make sure I don't do anything stupid that forces me to take time off.

Also I do way way way more bodyweight stuff, way more stretching. My training is very goal oriented too compared to my younger days.
Posted by frankenfish
Crofton, MD
Member since Feb 2008
866 posts
Posted on 4/16/18 at 8:59 am to
Just hit 46 and now have crepitus (defined as a grating sound or sensation produced by friction between bone and cartilage or the fractured parts of a bone) in my left knee, hip and both shoulders. I just did a 6 week stint in PT for rotator cuff weakness and have moved from the big lifts to more body weight/dumbbell/kettle bell/ HIIT. I have a gym in my office and am currently doing 30 minutes on the elliptical and leg curl/extensions on Monday and Wednesday, theraband rotator cuff exercises and ~40 minutes of mainly upper body (though I do squats and skier swings) HIIT exercises on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Friday is something from my wife's Beachbody on demand firestick- either 21 Day Fix abs or a cardio HIIT, depending on how I'm feeling.

I've also appreciated that as I age my cravings have decreased somewhat so eating clean is easier. I'm just trying to stay moving and in good shape and focused more on that than putting up numbers.
Posted by 3nOut
I don't really care, Margaret
Member since Jan 2013
32957 posts
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:27 am to
i've changed a good bit over the years. i'm fortunate to not have any major injuries that have sidelined me as i approach middle age. some dudes in their late 40s i run with have to pull out for weeks at a time due to stuff and i don't look forward to that.

teens were all about weights.
college was all about getting fat.
early 20's kids years were trying to lift and run a little and get un-fat
late 20s/early 30s i got into p90x and Insanity and got permanently unfat (lost 80 lbs between 24 and 30)
early 30s were back in the gym with a mix of cardio and weights. i found a lot of lingering injuries and aches from HS athletics came back into play when i was lifting a bit heavier.

late 30s are all about running and with HIIT. a little lifting in there. i have no desire to crossfit, but do love the concept.

i feel like that's been the best path forward with me. i honestly just don't enjoy lifting and my body lets me run and cycle with minimal pain and quick recovery. also, i have a kid who loves to run and one who loves to bike, so it lets me bring them in to my world.

when i start getting into heavier weights, i start feeling shoulder and chest pain i aggravated in HS. every time i do leg presses or a heavy squat, i can't walk for a week.

it's just not something i want to relive. most of the HIIT bootcamp classes i do never trigger those aches.
This post was edited on 4/16/18 at 10:29 am
Posted by lsu5803tiger
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Member since Feb 2006
1824 posts
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:34 am to
I'm 33 now, started training seriously at 20...Training intensity? Nahhhh. I don't have any nagging injuries, had a partially torn rotator cuff in my mid's 20s which I managed to fix without surgery and had umbilical hernia surgery. The only difference is now I get bloodwork done on a semi regular basis and take health supplements.
Posted by Tiger in Gatorland
Moonshine Holler
Member since Sep 2006
9605 posts
Posted on 4/16/18 at 12:25 pm to
What kind of supplements do you (and others) take? I take preworkout, protein, vitamin B, D, magnesium and calcium but wonder about something for my joints. I take the preworkout and protein inconsistently.
Posted by Rep520
Member since Mar 2018
10476 posts
Posted on 4/16/18 at 12:37 pm to
In the vein of this thread, age has taught me supplements pale in comparison to the benefits of a solid workout plan, solid diet and good recovery practices.

Supplement wise, I have general health supps and lifting specific supps. Protein powder, Creatine, Arginine and Citrulline are the main workout supps (although the Arginine/Citrulline has a general health effect. General health, Fish Oil, Multivitamin, Carnitine and Fish Collagen.

I've never had a ton of joint issues, so I don't supplement heavy in that area. I'd add that good form and recovery will do more for joints as any supp.
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