Lifting at 40+. Do we need to change routines?

[hurricane]

Ever since turning 40 a few months ago I've been wondering do I need to change things?? Should I lift lighter weights?? More machines?? Less days of weight training?? More rest days?? More cardio?? I wasn't sure till I read a few articles this morning stating there is no reason to stop lifting heavy at 40+. In fact they said its beneficial. At 40+ we should still be able to make quality gains as long as diet and rest are on point. For us older guys what's your opinion? Have you drastically changed your routine since turning 40? And if so how? Hope everyone is doing well. I'll try and find the links to those articles.

 

[rugerjitsu]

I just recently turned 40, but I haven't lifted consistently in over 10 years...I'm trying to get back into it, but I know I won't be lifting heavy like I was in my 20's.

 

[Oldschool]

I think it has a lot to do with how you lived the previous 39.

But I do think changes in certain things can benefit older lifters.

I will shut up now as there will be more knowledgeable people chime in shortly.

Nice thread topic 'cane .

 

[JC456]

Yes I've had to change things as I've gotten older. Progress needs to be made but for me at least certain systems don't recover as well anymore. Muscular work tends to be easy to recover from, ligament and joint heavy work not so much.

I also think I'm mostly done growing. So goals need to be tempered.

 

[hurricane]

Yes I've had to change things as I've gotten older. Progress needs to be made but for me at least certain systems don't recover as well anymore. Muscular work tends to be easy to recover from, ligament and joint heavy work not so much.

I also think I'm mostly done growing. So goals need to be tempered.

My shoulders I have to watch. Bad bursitis. I don't think my shoulders have felt good for years.

 

[Oldschool]

Back away from the barbells. Dumbbell the hell out of things.

 

[hurricane]

Back away from the barbells. Dumbbell the hell out of things.

Agree. I use dumbbells for chest and shoulder workouts. Only barbells for bent over rows. Love dumbbells way more then barbells. Used to be different in my 20's though.

 

[Oregongearhead]

Ever since turning 40 a few months ago I've been wondering do I need to change things?? Should I lift lighter weights?? More machines?? Less days of weight training?? More rest days?? More cardio?? I wasn't sure till I read a few articles this morning stating there is no reason to stop lifting heavy at 40+. In fact they said its beneficial. At 40+ we should still be able to make quality gains as long as diet and rest are on point. For us older guys what's your opinion? Have you drastically changed your routine since turning 40? And if so how? Hope everyone is doing well. I'll try and find the links to those articles.

I think it has a lot to do with how you lived the previous 39.

But I do think changes in certain things can benefit older lifters.

I will shut up now as there will be more knowledgeable people chime in shortly.

Nice thread topic 'cane .

I just recently turned 40, but I haven't lifted consistently in over 10 years...I'm trying to get back into it, but I know I won't be lifting heavy like I was in my 20's.

I think you guys in your early 40"s are overthinking this stuff ......STOP IT AND GET OFF THE PITY-POTTY !! Your not that damn old and you all got alot more lifting years ahead . I dont want to hear this "poor me 40"s crap again.... ~Ogh (57)

PS- use BARBELLS too if you can...

 

[fightandorflight]

Ever since turning 40 a few months ago I've been wondering do I need to change things?? Should I lift lighter weights?? More machines?? Less days of weight training?? More rest days?? More cardio?? I wasn't sure till I read a few articles this morning stating there is no reason to stop lifting heavy at 40+. In fact they said its beneficial. At 40+ we should still be able to make quality gains as long as diet and rest are on point. For us older guys what's your opinion? Have you drastically changed your routine since turning 40? And if so how? Hope everyone is doing well. I'll try and find the links to those articles.

Listen to your body. If you're on gear you're gonna recover faster and make progress unless there are joint issues or nagging injury. It's all very subjective to your health status vs age.

I'm lifting significantly heavier at 42 than I did in my twenties - my first cycle was at age 40, I'm now 42. One difference for me is volume is less. But that's mainly a preference issue than by necessity

 

[Cash43]

I just hit 40 but no plans to change anything. I'm by far in the best shape and look bigger than I ever have. I often stress on adding more restdays but if it's not broke don't fix it.
Plus I agree 100% 40 is not old, especially in this day and age.

 

[hurricane]

I think you guys in your early 40"s are overthinking this stuff ......STOP IT AND GET OFF THE PITY-POTTY !! Your not that damn old and you all got alot more lifting years ahead . I dont want to hear this "poor me 40"s crap again.... ~Ogh (57)

PS- use BARBELLS too if you can...

Damn it if I want to throw a pity party I will. LOL. Not upset about being 40 bud. I just wanted to know how us " older" individuals train. OK Gramps! LOL. Love you bro.

 

[Oregongearhead]

Damn it if I want to throw a pity party I will. LOL. Not upset about being 40 bud. I just wanted to know how us " older" individuals train. OK Gramps! LOL. Love you bro.

Keep doing what your doing , no reason you cant be stronger in 5 years than you are now... Kids.... lol

 

[Billy Batts]

Shit I hit a 500 bench at 42, basically I go extremely light on isolation movements and heavy as tolerated on compound movements. I train much faster as I get older, you can train intense or long as in length of workout.It's difficult to do both as you get older. I'd like to think I minimize injuries with this mentality.

 

[Oregongearhead]

Shit I hit a 500 bench at 42, basically I go extremely light on isolation movements and heavy as tolerated on compound movements. I train much faster as I get older, you can train intense or long as in length of workout.It's difficult to do both as you get older. I'd like to think I minimize injuries with this mentality.

Exactly , as I get older I dont have the long reserves I use to have for long sets/reps so I work-out fast/heavy , intense and short . Or I peter out...

Kudo"s on the 500 bench

 

[Oldschool]

No pity party here @Oregongearhead. Was posting pretty jokingly actually. Except the shoulder stuff. Laying off the barbells keeps my shoulders happy. Spent a lot of my life raising sirloin and ribeyes so I own some bumps and bruises.

 

[Oldschool]

Shit I hit a 500 bench at 42, basically I go extremely light on isolation movements and heavy as tolerated on compound movements. I train much faster as I get older, you can train intense or long as in length of workout.It's difficult to do both as you get older. I'd like to think I minimize injuries with this mentality.

Congrats on that bench!

 

[rated_rko]

I would say listen to your joints at that point

 

[JC456]

I'll also say I believe there's such a thing as 'training age'. The longer you've been under the iron, regardless of age will have an impact on how you feel.

 

[Billy Batts]

Exactly , as I get older I dont have the long reserves I use to have for long sets/reps so I work-out fast/heavy , intense and short . Or I peter out...

Kudo"s on the 500 bench

Thank you, not going to lie, I did have a partial tear of the pec a few years later. This was due to my ego not my age. I tell people it was my destiny.lol I can still hit mid 4s probably but no more heavy singles for me.

 

[ErikR]

I think guys should train smarter from the beginning, so as you get older you don't have to slow anything down. Then there's those guys that start training later in life after years of being sedentary, just train smart.