Why do Men between 30-50 need to strength train?

camzestfitness

Folks what's going on? I'm putting out some content at the moment on strength training for older guys who've tried to get in shape before and have come up short.

I'd love to know what these guys struggle with, and then come up with a way of helping them overcome those struggles. If anyone fits that demographic then please get involved.

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?

Don't have to answer all at once. Any input or opinions would be great!

Alf Veedersane

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation? Time.
2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Other people using stuff when I want to. They're perfectly entitled to. I just have limited time so I don't need to be faffing about. No one is in the wrong really. It's just the nature of the beast.
3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go? No and no.
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs. Other people.
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? A 200kg squat.

I must officially be an older dude.

Blacktie.

A home gym would sort out the majority of your issues Alf...

Triceratops Ballet

are men in their 30's older dudes now?

Alf Veedersane

Blacktie. wrote: »

A home gym would sort out the majority of your issues Alf...

It would except I would still have limited time. It's only a 5 minute walk to the gym anyway.

But I do like the gym despite my protestations. I rarely have to hang around too long anyway.

asteroids over berlin

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Time, young family

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
This selfie crap, some of the new "in" routines (it's good to mix things up but a good diet and correct form will beat anything)

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
Used to train 6 days a week for the guts of 15+ years, last 2 years i had kids, no time, missed it most days, thankfully started training again 6 weeks ago, the first 2 weeks were a b***h, i can bench just over half the weight i used too, concentrating on form though - don't intend to lift heavy again.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs. Nothing that much

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? My family are healthy (and happy).

In essence, i sacrificed for my family (i found fatherhood quite tough/exhausting at the start), happy to have done so but getting back on track but with a view to cutting and being fit for my family. I am a late father so i want to stay agile for the kids growing up!

From another old dude!

Reps4jesus

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
- Doing cardio
2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
- Too many Cardio machines
3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
- possibly - due to lack of cardio
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
- Knowing cardio would help me get fitter and generally be healthier but hating it
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
- be aerobically fit without the need for cardio

PauloConn

I'm liking the feedback on this

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Young family, new job, moving house and don't make the right food choices more regularly than I'd like. As mentioned earlier, i'm hoping to get back in on a more regular basis, was training over the holidays so aiming to keep at it. Just getting back into the routine I find the hardest

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Very little, maybe having to change the order of lifts due to lack of benches or squat racks. Apart from that, its always grat to get in and catch up wit people, while training.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
No, it could still be better. Not letting myself go, just need to get back into the routine.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
Not having enough hours in the day to do a proper training session, spend time with my wife and kids, do a good days work, be able to relax with family and get a good night sleep to allow me to repeat this regularly.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
To have more discipline around what I eat when the wheels start coming off.... for whatever reason they come off for

rpurfield

At 34 I don't consider myself old but here goes:

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation? Work, a young family and a sweet tooth
2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why? Groups of teenagers hogging the machines, people wearing big beats by Dre type earphones on their temples, snapbacks
3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go? I'm more working to undo the damage done already, 11 years of working shift work and poor eating habits have me in bad shape, but it's getting better
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs Not being able to talk on the phone and walk at the same time got me motivated to get back in action
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? Losing the belly, its where all my weight goes

Alf Veedersane

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

are men in their 30's older dudes now?

Yes. 30 is the new 60.

And 40 was the new 30.

So its a slap in the face when they comforted themselves upon turning 40 that they were really only 30...

Triceratops Ballet

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Yes. 30 is the new 60.

And 40 was the new 30.

So its a slap in the face when they comforted themselves upon turning 40 that they were really only 30...

Hopefully it only applies to men!
I always thought I wasn't into older dudes turns out I have been for a while!

redzerdrog

I am 32 and was recently over 16 stone, down to 14 and half just before christmas and afraid to weigh in since.

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Diet and the prep needed, busy job and can sometimes struggle to to eat at suitable time. Time after work as have young family.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Time basically - 15/20 minutes to and from gym
Price - quite expensive to have this on top of golf club membership


3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
Yep but approaching my first goal of 14 stone but lots of ups and downs this far

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
Aches, pains, strains particularly hips and sometimes Achilles.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?

Get rid of the gut and better flexibility/mobility

drdeadlift

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? Diet,but im on day 2 of 2k cals a day.
2. What pisses you off about the gym? Nothing.
3. Does your current shape scare you? No
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? Relatives telling me butter is bad for me,and oh my you eat eggs every day.
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? Stronger joints.

mad m

A few questions for older dudes:

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? Eating the right food.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? Nothing at present, but can see Ben Dunne increase his prices in near future .

3. Does your current shape scare you? No,but scares my wife

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? Trying to get rid of my little pouch and trying to get faster in pool

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? Cure my lower back pain I get from time to time ( Pilates keeping it in check though)
__________________

Bob Harris

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation? None of the above.


2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?

I don't go and wonder why so many do when you can do so many exercises at home that are more than enough to keep you in shape if that's all you're looking for. With minimal equipment there are a lot of exercises you can do. Everyone has a floor. If you can add a bar (not the drinking kind) and maybe some rings, weighted vest, dumbbell/kettle bell you can do everything you need to do. For cardio put some runners on and just step outside your door.


3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
No.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
Mobility/flexibility.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
Better mobility and flexibility.

Daith

A few questions for older dudes:

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?

Diet for the most part. Working 9-5, Mon-Fri helps with the routine but at weekends I'm never in the humour to make food or I'm associating healthy food with work.


2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?

I have this feeling that if I ask someone if I could work with their rack, bench, whatever I'll be slowing them down but generally nothing. To each their own.


3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?

I've been a lot bigger and a lot skinnier (which scared me more). I'm trying to be Goldilocks in losing weight but not as drastic I guess.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs

Yes my cardio is terrible. I've been doing some cardio after weights but would really like to do a 5k to 10k consistently.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?

A heated home gym!

heroics

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? Time - Young family
2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why? - Nothing really other than the usual stuff like looking for a weight to find it left at other side of gym instead of the rack by some inconsiderate w*nker
3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go? No - no cardio for a couple of months (GAA off season) Be fixed from Monday
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs - Lack of sleep and other people
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? Fix my knees/ankles

Macy0161

Just for strength training or in general?

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?

Before I got fit (I was over 20 stone), motivation was the big thing. You have to want to get fit and healthy (same as giving up smoking), in terms of exercise and diet. Still in terms of diet - you have to be motivated to stick with the diet/ make better choices/ spend time prepping food.

Now, in terms of strength training, time is my biggest enemy, with a young family. I can generally fit in my cardio around work and family, but that doesn't leave much time for strength.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?

The money, and time. I don't mind waiting, but when you're time crunched it eats into that time. Now I do a S&C session with a trainer, and one or two sessions at home/ work using bands, trx and kettlebells/ dumbbells.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?

Lack of mobility and niggles from running. My upper body is fairly weak. I predominantly run and cycle though, but only really addressing core issues the last few months.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs

Lack of time to fit in everything I'd like to do, but priorities!

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?

How far back? I'd love to not have got into the shape I did, but then I did enjoy the beer and chips years too. More realistically, I'd go back to when I first started getting fit, and instead of all the walking I did initially, swap some of that time for mobility and strength work. Much harder to address it now when you have other goals than lose weight/ get fit. But again, I could do a lot of the walking around work and family life (who were obviously even younger then).

peewee09

A few questions for older dudes:

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? Injury to lower back prevents me from doing a lot of stuff id love to try.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why? People who don't put kettlebells, dumbbells etc back when they are fininshed with them.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go? Doing ok in this regard. Looking forward to these next few weeks to see what progress I can make from current situation.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? When lower back injury flares up, can be a few weeks without exercise.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be? Fix lower back. Id give anything to have it sorted.

PauloConn

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Yes. 30 is the new 60.

And 40 was the new 30.

So its a slap in the face when they comforted themselves upon turning 40 that they were really only 30...

So if i'm turning 40 this year does that mean i'm in the new 30? I've already done all that 30's stuff.... do I really need to do it again?:P

bladespin

A few questions for older dudes: Older > 70 imo.

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Balancing time - family, work gym etc etc
Also tiredness - drive a lot with work which can leave me drained when I get home.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Not much, have muyown, of course I'd like more equipment...

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
Nope, pretty close to what I consider my ideal for me.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
See question answer 1 really.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
Wish I had access to this forum and the likes 30 years ago when I was starting.

Morini

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?

- The Music. I'm not a fan of 'club' dance music, or high energy/BPM music but I can understand why a Gym would want to use it. But in every Gym I've been in it is really bad. Its the main reason why I won't join a Gym, I'd rather go for a run in silence than have that drivel hammered into my head.

CelticRambler

My children take every opportunity to remind me that I'm officially ancient, as I've been an "over 50" since my last birthday. Now I come on boards.ie and find that I'm not even young enough for the "older dudes" category.

I'm also not exactly one of the "guys who've tried to get in shape before and have come up short" but as you've asked for any input or opinions ...

camzestfitness wrote: »

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
I don't. I work in an environment where being fit and healthy is necessary to be able to do the job, and undoubtedly that mentality carries over into life outside of work, so all the diet/education/motivation is already taken care of. I would imagine that it's a lot more difficult to deal cross this threshold for people who've settled into a lifestyle of driving to work and sitting at a desk all day.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Just can't see the point of sitting/standing in one place doing exercise for no particular purpose. If I want to lift, I've got a ton of wood that needs to be shifted; if I want to use my leg muscles, I'd rather take a hike around a local mountain, or spend four or five hours dancing.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
No. Yes. Sort of. I don't have a six-pack, but neither do I have a beer belly. Seeing the shape my parents are in is enough to remind me of what's in store if I don't pay attention. But I'm not going to try and compete with my sons either, so these days I prioritise stamina over record-breaking, which means a certain amount of "letting go"

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
Having to wait for out-of-shape 30-50 year olds to catch up! For the reasons given in Q1, at the moment, my body does what I expect of if. But my 30-50 year old friends who don't work in a physically challenging environment all suffer with an overall lack of stamina. It's no one particular thing (although I've never noticed any of them having shortness of breath).

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
Better teeth! And more opportunities to learn and dance the Fandango basque :cool:

TRS30

42 at last birthday so pretty sure I qualify for the older category. On the plus side would be in the Master group if I ever decided to do a comp  

A few questions for older dudes:

1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Time- two young kids, full time job and a wife who works full time.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Work out at home- mainly weather, pissing raining so either work out and get wet or miss a session

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
No & No- am in the best shape of my life strength and body shape wise, not as 'cardio' fit as I probably should be

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
That I did start lifting and eating health in my 20's and early 30's.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
See above.

Caliden

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Diet majorly. Not an excessive one more a diet where I'm not eating enough.
I've always been skinny and ate sugar/crap but I've also drank a lot of coffee which could (and has) keep my appetite at bay for the entire day. i.e. I could get up and go to work and drink coffee all day until I'm home and I would only be hungry once I'm home.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
I can honestly say that there's nothing that 'pisses me off' in relation to the gym. I'm lucky to go to one that doesn't have that many posers and everyone there is accommodating to each other.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
No. I'm happy with my current shape but what scares me is the future when I will inevitably have less time to go to the gym.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
n/a
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
That I had better ankle & shoulder mobility.

Alf Veedersane

TRS30 wrote: »

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Work out at home- mainly weather, pissing raining so either work out and get wet or miss a session


5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
See above.

If you had a magic wand, you should probably put a roof over where you work out...

TRS30

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

TRS30 wrote: »

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Work out at home- mainly weather, pissing raining so either work out and get wet or miss a session


5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
See above.

If you had a magic wand, you should probably put a roof over where you work out...

No need for a magic wand, just build up some browie points with the missus so she'll agree I can put up a lean to beside the shed

tmabr

camzestfitness wrote: »

Folks what's going on? I'm putting out some content at the moment on strength training for older guys who've tried to get in shape before and have come up short.

I'd love to know what these guys struggle with, and then come up with a way of helping them overcome those struggles. If anyone fits that demographic then please get involved.

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?

Don't have to answer all at once. Any input or opinions would be great!

1- information on diet,nutrition,exercises. So many different opinions
2- induction- day one what is etiquette- show me around. Show me the machines. All the machines. Have helpful staff not guys that ask you for 40€ for an hour if u have a simple question. Have staff that will deal with idiots that leave their towel on one machine their drink on another while using a third machine.
3- not scared but don't like the way the older I get the more weigh goes on.
4- the scales. But I know that I am putting on muscle and losing fat. Still annoying
5- free healthy smokes. Lol. Still a struggle off them 2 years. Or a belly fat exercise

johnnyskeleton

camzestfitness wrote: »

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?

Socialising. If you're eating healthily and going to the gym you can be tired on a friday night and people don't want to hear your gym stories. Or you can drink which can mean the next day is a write off and motiviation goes down or you can go out for a meal and you just don't know whats going into it.

Then after a while of not socialising it seems completely pointless and you chuck the whole thing in.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?

Having to do exercise when I'd rather do anything else, to be honest.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?

No and kind of. Re letting myself go I wax and wain over the course of a given year.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs

The fact that healthy living is so hard and living indulgently is so easy!

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?

To be physically 20 again I suppose!

FTA69

30 years old.

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?

Generally injury. Can't train like I used to and won't be able to compete again. Also being honest I love the session and probably drink too much when I'm out.

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?

Boxing gyms are fine. Commercial gyms? Selfies, selfishness, people who haven't a clue how to share a communal space, sh*t left everywhere, weights constantly left on the rack (default where I was training), groups of young men posturing (swearing and shouting etc)

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?

A bit to be honest, injuries flared up badly leaving me out for six months. Was working a hugely stressful job and travelling and also smoking and going out every weekend. Felt unfit and definite fat gain, thankfully am back in training now after loads of physio.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs

At the moment not being able to box to my full potential, off balance and no timing with injury a constant worry. Fitness is still shot but hopefully will come back.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be

Repair the SLAP lesion in my shoulder, fix my bulging discs, repair the tendons in my knuckles and the ligaments in my wrists and also alleviate my sore knees. That'd be a sweet deal.

mad m

^^^ Some amount of injuries for a 30 year old.

TheAnalyst_

A few questions for older dudes:
1. What do you struggle with when it comes to getting fit & healthy? eg. diet, motivation?
Illness and injury always seems to rob me of progress

2. What pisses you off about the gym? The culture? The people? Why?
Those that have the wrong equipment which is why I have a power rack at home, a fancy gym membership and my work gym. All three have their uses if I want more/less people around or a specific exercise.

3. Does your current shape scare you? Are you slowly letting yourself go?
No, close to my best. Its pretty easy once you don't let yourself go as it only takes a month to get into prime shape at most.

4. What frustrates you on a daily basis? eg. out of breath going up stairs
Running is still one of the hardest exercises when you do it at pace. Nothing comes close in my view and I wish I was fitter.

5. If I had a magic wand to grant you one health related wish, what would it be?
Zero injuries.

FTA69

mad m wrote: »

^^^ Some amount of injuries for a 30 year old.

Unreal. Boxing can really take a toll!

mad m

FTA69 wrote: »

Unreal. Boxing can really take a toll!

So I see lad.....Have you tried yoga. Before I got into Pilates, I tried Bikram Yoga for around 10 classes. I'm sorry I didn't keep it up but it made a huge difference in my flexibility and lower back problems.

Thinking of going back or trying plain Yoga as I want to improve my flexibility.

FTA69

mad m wrote: »

So I see lad.....Have you tried yoga. Before I got into Pilates, I tried Bikram Yoga for around 10 classes. I'm sorry I didn't keep it up but it made a huge difference in my flexibility and lower back problems.

Thinking of going back or trying plain Yoga as I want to improve my flexibility.

Seriously thinking about it lad, time is an issue as I’m busy some evenings but I’ll definitey look it up.