Thank you for more encouragement, because I am retired Navy and I work out every morning and I love it. Can you send me more information. Thank you
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January 24, 2009
Steve Anderson @ 6:55 am

You have got to be kidding. People over 50 can get adequate exercise working out once every six weeks – bull. Where in the world did you come up with that? I am 53 and work out with weights four days per week and perform cardio two days per week. I eat healthy and get plenty of rest. I am in better shape than many 35 year-olds. I assume this article was written on April Fools day because there is no sound basis for it.
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January 31, 2009
Pete Mears @ 11:06 pm

Thats great news. Ihave been working out religeously for the last three years every two days. Im 55 and the training has given me a great physique. Strangly I had to miss a couple of days of training which gave me enormous gilt. Finally when i was able to get back to my gym, I was absolutely stunned at the extra amount of weight that I could lift!!.Im back to my normal routine now because Im addicted, but I lift less weight on my workouts. Because of the guilt I feel If I miss acouple of days, how am I ever going to push my routines out to weekly training?
PS; I dont know where I rate on the over 50s scale, but I bench 110 kilos x 10 starting at 80kilos x 10 and working up, is this normal?
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March 19, 2009
ironpetal @ 7:25 pm

I too welcome this thread as I am 56 this year and I have been struggling with my diet and everything I used to train religiously for years in fact Ive been training on and off for the last 12 years. I need some encouragement to get back into it.
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April 1, 2009
Greg @ 7:39 pm

I have never known a bodybuilder who only lifts every six weeks. Must be an April Fools joke. I turn 50 in a few months and enjoy lifting 3-4 days a week. I don’t lift as heavy as I did when I was younger but I sure don’t look or feel like my friends of the same age who ride the couch. I don’t really ever intend to stop lifting. I saw one of the oldtime exercise show guys on TV, Jack LaLane I think, and he was still a hardbody in his 70′s. It can be done.
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April 10, 2009
Peter Jack @ 7:36 pm

Most bodybuilders these days recommend the ’4-way split’ -
dividing the workout into four sessions,one session per day,
and a day’s rest on the fifth day.
Older bodybuilders may split their schedule into five different sessions.
This gives a rest of four to five days before repeating an exercise. A muscle needs between three and five days to recover after being exercised.
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May 10, 2009
Jon Patrick @ 11:13 pm

Man, this is a great forum. I am 48 years old, and have just recently got back into the gym seriously over the last 6 weeks or so. I was a high school wrestler, and bodybuilder from age 18 to about 22. But life changes, as we all know, and my body went to puddy. But I did learn a lot as a young bodybuilder, and some things you do not forget. I am an advocate of high intensity training, as Mentzer was the big man when I was a young bodybuilder. I still find that I gain better when I rest less between sets and go to failure, AND not overtrain. I hope to learn from all of the people who post here. This is great.
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Jon Patrick @ 11:15 pm

Steve Anderson.

I agree. I’m guessing they may have meant a body part every six days.
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Jon Patrick @ 11:18 pm

Okay, one more thing.

Of course our metabolism changes. Does any over 50 bodybuilder out there have advice as far as aerobics / weight training ratios? I know that my waistline expands differently than a 30-year old. So I’m guessing more aerobics is okay for the over 50 bodybuilder. Suggestions??
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May 15, 2009
Jim @ 2:00 pm

I am 53 and I lift 4 plus days per week. I do cardio twice daily at over 80% max to keep my mitocondria levels high. I’m about 10% body fat at this time. What I hav noticed is Ihave to shed body fat over longer periods of time than I used to.
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June 7, 2009
Rudy Acosta @ 5:00 am

I have been training for over fifty years and at age 66 I feel great. I work out 4 days a week and still hold a full time job as a middle school assistant principal.
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June 10, 2009
BC @ 9:20 pm

I started going back to the gym this past December after a 25 year absence I am 53 now and it was definitely a good
move on my part for it has given me more stamina and a stronger physical appearance.

I go four times a week 30 minutes cardiovascular and 30 minutes weight training. I returned not to capture the
past but not to lose the present as long as I can.
I also changed my nutrition to go hand-in-hand with exercise and as we all know you really can’t
do one without the other and make any headway.

For any of you reading this who has passed the 50 year mark and want to try to hold on to your health and your active energy level this is the best thing you can possibly do for yourself. As I told my wife I want to be the most healthiest person to die of a heart attack.
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June 21, 2009
Richard Barton @ 9:27 pm

I’m coming up to 62…….after a life of almost total inactivity and gluttony I decided in February this year to start taking care of myself. I now jerk weights every 2nd day and use a spring bar and have seen my previously skinny arms gain definition and thickness, and my abs have come on amazingly well. I also “ride” 5 Km on my exercise bike every day and haven’t felt as great as this for decades !
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October 31, 2009
shaduk @ 10:51 am

I am 57 years old thorugh out my life I always wanted to have a good physic, but due to pressure of managing family demands most of my quality time has been spent in to provide a quality life for my family.

As the childrens have grown and moved on, I have more disposalable time in my hand, I have been doing aerobics regularly, now I want to build up muscles and six pack abs, any advise ??

Thanks
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November 30, 2009
k. lakshman @ 3:53 pm

good i m 53 was a wrestler and a body builder then but now i regularly do the exercises with my son 20 yrs amazing but i think our shcdule is old now its so improved so i will follow the rest period and see the results i want to be the bodybuilder fit on my death.
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December 11, 2009
carl @ 8:14 am

Anyone who lifts weights at this age I say “WOW” that great. I have done so on and off for years with an 11 year gape when I was 32. I slowed down and eventually stopped 2 years ago. After reading about you guys I now think its time to drag my sorry ass of the couch and begin that journey again. Its not only physically you gain its mentally as well. It is the fountain of youth. In the 2 years of no exercise I feel it’s knocked 5 years of life away. Cheers every one and ill see you at the gym. O and just for the record I hit 50 in Aug.
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December 17, 2009
Peter Mannion @ 11:35 am

Good to hear from the 50+ fraternity. I am 57 and train on a 4 day split routine. Chest/Biceps,Shoulders/Triceps,Back/Calfs and Quads.3sets of 10 on most exercises. 4 exercises for Chest and Back,3 for Biceps and Triceps, 3 for calfs and 5 for Quads. (Going heavy on Quads, upto 420kg for leg press.)
Quads rae done on the last day of the split giving me a 3 days rest.Only came to the sport in my late forties after a rugby career ( still playing once a week ), but am now lifting heavier
Diet is a dairly healthy mix including carbs and protein. I also take a protein drink and creatine.
Anybody got any tips, they would be much appreciated.
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December 18, 2009
Steve @ 11:21 am

Love the site; been active in weights, sports, power lifting and fitness since I was 16 years old. Now that I am 53 I still feel darn good about my weight, almost six pack abs and my fitness.

Variety is the key and I may start incorporating swimming into the program. The key in my mind is to get into activities you enjoy and change it up throughout the year. REST is key and diet is also very important.

Carpe diem