Middle Age Wellness

I saw an old guy in the gym lifting. 

He was huffing and puffing his way through a strength training routine I would have thought belonged to a much younger man. He seemed to be struggling. Oh well...to each his own.... 

I went back to my own training. 

Somewhere between muscle ups, I noticed him watching me. It was more of a curious glance but nowhere near creepy or strange. I could tell what I was doing baffled this guy, and he seemed curious. I pretended not to notice his continuous interest, because I knew he'd approach when he was ready.

Finally...

"Excuse me", he said. "I was noticing your bar routine. That's very impressive. How old are you?"

If I had a dollar for every time this happened.....lol

Turned out my new friend was a former weight lifter who was trying to get back into it but just couldn't work through his old strength training program. He felt weak...and his joints hurt more than before.  

WELCOME TO THE HUMAN RACE! 

As we age, our bodies can no longer tolerate the stress that produced results for us at age 22. I remember achieving insane lifts 30 years ago that'd cripple me today. I just can't do it, and too many old guys like my friend here try to recovered their youth doing the only thing they know to do: LIFT HEAVY! 

What usually happens is either an injury or lost resolve, but the result is the same. An old guy just quits trying and resigns himself to obesity and the ravages of  Father Time. The key to success is an altered training routine geared to achieve realistic goals more oriented toward overall health and wellness - not peak lifts. 

It's a hard transition. Inside every old guy is his younger self screaming "LIFT HEAVY YOU WUSSIE!"

I get it. As a man in his 50's, I understand my limits and  resolve to achieve peak fitness that still surpasses 99% of the male population but won't break my body. It's not easy.

You must unlearn most of what you learned in your 20's which is when most guys reached their peak. The rules have changed. You must realize your body's needs, adjust your expectations and set goals that increase fitness and raise health and wellness. It's not about the man in the mirror or your maximum squat but your quality of life.

Ignore this reality, and you're in for a long, hard ride. Receive and embrace this truth, and....

ALL IS POSSIBLE!