How many push ups at age 50 are usual?

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679999#Comment_123679999

You seem to be the one with confusion around a simple sentence. It being a goal does not diminish his sentiment that 10 pull ups is base level fitness. Simple. Not sure why you are having such trouble with this.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680082#Comment_123680082

A base level to aim for. Did you fall on you head trying do a pull up?

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680220#Comment_123680220

A base level to aim for. Meaning anything (in his opinion) that isn't 10 is not base level. Your comprehension skills really some serious work.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680051#Comment_123680051

Would be hard to make any overall assessment on such limited info.But of the two, the BW bench press is the better strength level. There are plenty of guides to novice/intermediate strength levels, etc

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680223#Comment_123680223

”With solid training behind you that should be the goal”

That is not ambiguous. He was refering to it being a goal.
By all means to continue to fixate on “base”, despite the clarification.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680282#Comment_123680282

Interesting.

Why is the bench press the better strength level?

Your lifting 60KG either way.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680376#Comment_123680376

Different movements, different muscle groups. A 60kg squat or deadlift would be much easier again. A 60kg bicep curl (@60kg BW) would be a world record.

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680362#Comment_123680362

That is not from his first post which is what we are discussing. So don't start the "Lies"!!

air

Any exercise is better than none but I'm inclined to think distance running is one of the worst choices in middle age.

It promotes muscle loss at a time of life when it is naturally declining anyway, and muscle mass is highly correlated with longevity.

A well rounded mix of strength, mobility and cardio is far more appropriate.

The ability to run middle or long distances quickly is of zero benefit in daily life.

Escapees

This thread has become so pedantic. Who would have ever thought it could spiral this way. I wonder if it's because the over 50s are predominantly posting. :)

fatbhoy

This is a great thread.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680706#Comment_123680706

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680732#Comment_123680732

Agreed, a great thread, goal posts have just moved to a question of what is the best type of general fitness, how to get there etc rather then pushups/bench presses at a certain age. But it is an interesting question none the less.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680697#Comment_123680697

As a distance runner I'm extremely biased but I don't believe what you say is true to an extent.

I personally know lots of older runners 40+ who have lots of muscle mass. By lots I mean more then what you expect for pretty good runners. Running itself doesn't cause loss of muscle mass though. It typically redistributes muscle but not loses in my opinion.

I've only been running 2-3 years and when I started I was 87kg ish (Am 6ft) Now am 76kg(Used to have a decent upper body). Legs are more jacked then ever and no doubt some mass lost was fat (am much leaner now too) and I know my upper body has lost significant mass but I'm not a skinny kenyan. The @S&C stuff I do nowadays helps with the muscle mass.

Now I am aware in my later years the lack of muscle mass surrounding the shoulders, arms etc may cause me issues but I accept that.

For most people to run healthily they need muscle mass to do so - we aren't 5'5 55kg kenyans and will never be able to get to that weight safely. Most good distance runners will be doing some sort of leg work in the gym/their home gym whether that be running specific exercises or otherwise.

Runners will naturally be leaner as the sport typically rewards lighter weight (within reason as long as its a healthy bodyweight for the individual).

To be fair, most specific exercises have no benefit in daily life and even if they did it would depend on what life the individuals live. If I was a construction worker I imagine my complete lack of upper body strenght would be a problem, an office worker? Probably not. Do you need to do DIY stuff at home or are you constantly calling out tradesmen to do your stuff for you?

There is nuance to these things.

tom1ie

Running exercises the heart and lungs which are muscles also.
Strength training is also very important.
IMO it’s 50/50 as to importance between cardio and strength to maintain fitness and muscle mass respectively.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680913#Comment_123680913

Can also be done via cycling if your legs/lower back can't handle the impact of running. Is great as its zero impact.

I agree that its probably closer to 50/50 with regards to cardio and weights for general health. Runners are notorious for neglecting upper body work (people who exlusively run that is). Lord knows I probably should do some.

Flexibility is important too - thats at least something I keep on top of for recovery purposes.

As @Mellor notes - people doing exclusively one thing for performance rather then general health will neglect something even if that one thing does improve their health.

air

The primary health benefits of running are improved bone density and cardio fitness.

Performance focused distance running is entirely weight dependent and the correlation between low weight and performance extends far below what is considered healthy by any metrics as alluded to you regarding elite runners above.

You mention your legs are more "jacked" but this is far more likely to be a side effect of reduced BF% from your significant weight loss than from any strength or muscle gain if you are only running.

76kg as a 6ft male is not where I would like to be approaching old age.

The benefits of a strong upper body are myriad and directly transfer to all areas of day to day life.

The ability to lift heavy objects or even children without putting your back at risk.

Improved resilience to slips trips and falls which are the leading cause of hospitalisation in the elderly.

Reduced risk of back injury which is the leading cause of absence at work.

Improved personal safety

Increased muscle mass radically improves blood sugar regulation.

Exhaustive list here:

https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness/benefits-of-strength-training#tips

Improving your strength will improve all these areas of your life.

Improving your 5K time by dropping yet more fat & muscle will improve nothing but your 5K time at a significant cost to your health.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123682427#Comment_123682427

It’s probably worth mentioning strength training 3 times a week, using a progressive overload approach, coupled with a caloric surplus (slight), coupled with walking 10-12k steps a day would AND getting 8 hours good sleep would probably put a lot of pharmaceutical companies out of business!
Lots of benefit to be had employing those four tactics.

Also I’m interested in seeing the science behind how running increases bone density?
Surely that’s strength training and the food you consume?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680551#Comment_123680551

It clarified his first post. He made that clarification before you responded.
It made it clear you misunderstood.

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683108#Comment_123683108

No he didn't. Check your facts before posting. I responded to his very first post. In fact directly after it.

air

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683102#Comment_123683102

Agree fully on the first part although a calorie surplus isn't sustainable indefinitely obviously.

As I understand it most weight bearing exercise is beneficial for bone density, running would be preferable to cycling or swimming in that regard.

https://marathonhandbook.com/research-bone-tissue-health-running/

The study mentioned here appears to support it.

air

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680807#Comment_123680807

Out of interest, what was your 5K PB @ 87kg?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683113#Comment_123683113

I was taking about your response to me. As in the “what we were discussing” you referred to.

You know, where you insisted he meant something else after he clarified. Reading comprehension - lmfao

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683194#Comment_123683194

Running will improve done density more than swimming. But weight training will likely have a much bigger impact. One if the main benefits if weights as you age.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123682427#Comment_123682427

With regards to looking legs looking more muscular/leaner your probably right with regards to a lower BF% overall then just more leg muscle. I do have stronger legs(much more muscle mass) now - put on more muscle with regards to that however I am aware that of the 11kg lost its all upper body mass (would be a mix of fat and muscle lost).

I do strenght straining twice a week although its only legs - running specific strenght and conditioning stuff only.

I fully agree with you regarding a stronger upper body is important as you age, its just I'm willing to make concessions with regards to that for improved running performance.

Its worth noting that I don't believe pursuing running as far as I can go will come at a 'significant cost' to my health. I'll struggle to lift heavy objects sure and may have a brittle upper body as I age as an OAP but I'm not going to suddenly drop dead.

My 5k time of 19:08 won't be dropped with anymore weight loss - just increased training. Can't go below 74 ish healthily otherwise I find I get injured a lot so will be eating more to maintain that 76kg (give/take 1kg) weight.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683212#Comment_123683212

I hadn't ran for years - did it for fitness when playing GAA years ago but 2 years 2 months ago(my 87kg self) did my first 5k in ages and ran 29 minutes (give or take 10 seconds if my memory serves me correct). Decided to pursue it as a sport as just got a great buzz of it, joined an athletics club and within 2 years had knocked 10 minutes of my 5k time although improvements come slow and steady at this rate.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683194#Comment_123683194

Some peoples lower back can't handle the impact of running hence the cycling/swimming coupled with strenght training. Would be of better benefit then running and getting injured.

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683344#Comment_123683344

Keep trying! Moving those goal posts to beat the band!! 🤣I know it pains you so much to be wrong on the internet! Just take this one on the chin champ and move on. It'll be ok. Life goes on.

blackvalley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058418832/how-many-push-ups-at-age-50-are-usual

Going back to the original post in this discussion and to answer your question then probably the ability to do push ups is age related. In other words and just like in any sport or endurance event it’s likely that a fit twenty five year old will outdo a fit fifty five year old. What is possible is that you can work on and improve your ability no matter what age
In relation specifically to the push ups it’s possible through what I’ve just learned from this debate is called “ progressive overload “ to increase your ability hugely.
My own experience and I’m much older than “ Annascaul “ is as follows.
Couple of years ago the discussion about press ups and how many you came up among a few friends, I had a go and could do about fifteen without going into the “ wobble arms “ state . After the initial muscle soreness passed I continued doing my fifteen every day sometimes a couple of times a day for a month no more or less than fifteen. Start of following month had a go again and found that I could now easily do over twenty without losing form. Progressing this way and never over stressing myself I eventually amazed myself by being able to do one hundred press ups after several months.
Wasn’t really a “ happy ever after “ story as I subsequently broke my arm in a totally unrelated incident so I’m starting from scratch once again 🙄

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683729#Comment_123683729

The ability to do push ups has nearly nothing to do with age. There are thin 60-70kg proffessional endurance athletes (cyclists/runners) in their early twenties with twig arms who could get outdone by a 60 year old who has trained his upper body very well all his life.

blackvalley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683778#Comment_123683778

But you are comparing two completely different athletes and athletic disciplines and then suggesting that their ability to do a specific exercise is age related.
I can from personal experience tell you that most veteran cyclists would leave most young runners , footballers in their wake in a bicycle race but that meant nothing as it’s related to their chosen sport rather than their age.
If you think that the ability to do press ups is not age related then do you think that the fit sixty year old that you mentioned had he being practicing his press ups at age twenty five would be able to do more now or then.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683888#Comment_123683888

Where did I say their ability to do a certain activity is age related? I literally stated "The ability to do push ups has nearly nothing to do with age." The purpose of my example was to show that the ability to a certain sport whatever that may be (push ups in this case) is wholly linked to training and has nearly thing to do with age.

Of course if a 20 year old and a 50 year old were to do push ups the 20 year old would will have a natural advantage. However to suggest that the amount of push ups completed is linked even somewhat to their age is wrong.

The fit 60 year old (fit meaning a strong, well trained upper body in this case) would wipe the floor with a young 20 year old who has never trained upper body.

I imagine if the 60 year old has trained all his life then he might be stronger relative to his age at a given sport. He might be able to do a lot now then his 20s after 30-40 years of training.

Of course age will slow everyone down - no matter the sport or individual.

billyhead

I mentioned earlier in this thread that a good target for people who are into working out, going to the gym etc is 10 pull ups and I think that's although a challenging goal but also a realistic goal that can be achieved. If it means starting out with the assisted pull up machine or bands so be it but gradually building up the strength in the back, arms and good core and not relying on assistance, 10 wide grip pull ups is achievable for everyone. Obviously it will take longer to achieve for some people over others.