Thread: How much Age affect your training.

I couldn't say. I think it doesn't really matter that much.

When you're fully grown, you have more natural muscle and a bigger bone structure though. That effectively makes you a lot bigger. Especially the legs and the pecs benefit from this.

p.s. Are you the digital that wrote the 'biceps peak' article?

yes, it matters.......

There are two phases in which human beings lose muscle mass (sarcopenia).

A slow phase, from age 25-50, which is characterized by a 25% reduction in muscle mass.

A fast phase from 50-80, where there is an additional 40% reduction in muscle mass, by the age of 80, half of your total muscle mass is lost.


Weight training can slow these phases down, although it can't completely stop the process of muscle mass lost to aging from happening.

P-Funk another great answer.thanks.this question has been in the back of my mind for a while

Originally Posted by P-funk

yes, it matters.......

There are two phases in which human beings lose muscle mass (sarcopenia).

A slow phase, from age 25-50, which is characterized by a 25% reduction in muscle mass.

A fast phase from 50-80, where there is an additional 40% reduction in muscle mass, by the age of 80, half of your total muscle mass is lost.


Weight training can slow these phases down, although it can't completely stop the process of muscle mass lost to aging from happening.

This is primarily because of what? Loss of hormone production? If so, then the benefits of even moderate HRT would seem positive.

withcblade no,

and thanks for replies.

Originally Posted by largepkg

This is primarily because of what? Loss of hormone production? If so, then the benefits of even moderate HRT would seem positive.

yes, HRT will help.

Aging results in a loss of fast twictch musclt fibers. These loss are because of several reasons, lower hormone levels and more innactivity (in some people).

Also, along with aging, there is a decline in the ability to display power effectively (also due to the loss of type II motor unites, as well as a decline in CNS functioning). This presents problems in loss of strength and loss of ability to generate certain amounts of tension, another reason why we lose muscle mass....we simply can't do what we did before, so there is less to adapt too.

Also, aging leads to a decline in VO2max, max heart rate and aerobic power. This decreases are work capacity and ability to perform certain tasks that we could do when we were younger.

All of these things can be slowed down via a proper training program, but they can't be stopped completely.

It is for these reasons that I feel most people need to be training on a more 'well rounded' training program, and focusing more on general health (strength, max power output, aerobic conditioning, balance, stabilization and hypertrophy) and less on just trying 'get bigger' (hypertrophy). In the long run, the well rounded program will serve you greater.

Originally Posted by P-funk

yes, it matters.......

There are two phases in which human beings lose muscle mass (sarcopenia).

A slow phase, from age 25-50, which is characterized by a 25% reduction in muscle mass.

A fast phase from 50-80, where there is an additional 40% reduction in muscle mass, by the age of 80, half of your total muscle mass is lost.


Weight training can slow these phases down, although it can't completely stop the process of muscle mass lost to aging from happening.

The assumption would be that this generalization applies to people that do not maintain or gain muscle mass from anerobic activity throughout their lives.


Another question along the same lines might be... what happens to hormonal levels (esp. Testosterone) as the aging process occurs? What levels are normal, high and low end, for age brackets? Is the difference between a naturally average testosterone level and a naturally high testosterone level significant to atheletic performance?

What role does testosterone play in muscle development... anyway?

How would my Average Joe testosterone level compare to someone that is "juicing"?

Maybe, other threads on this? Links?

Originally Posted by JimSnow

The assumption would be that this generalization applies to people that do not maintain or gain muscle mass from anerobic activity throughout their lives.


Another question along the same lines might be... what happens to hormonal levels (esp. Testosterone) as the aging process occurs? What levels are normal, high and low end, for age brackets? Is the difference between a naturally average testosterone level and a naturally high testosterone level significant to atheletic performance?

What role does testosterone play in muscle development... anyway?

How would my Average Joe testosterone level compare to someone that is "juicing"?

Maybe, other threads on this? Links?

1) It isn't a generalization. All of that stuff is evidence based on years of many longitudinal studies of human beings. Now, like I said, training is going to really help you maintain muscle, maintain strength and power etc. Can someone who is older not get in shape? No. It is just that they aren't going to grow and put on muscle or gain strength like they could have when they were 17. Even at 27, I don't put on muscle or gain strength like I did 10 years ago. I know plenty of people in their 50s or older that workout and have great results. But, the results aren't like those that they would have had when they were younger. Also, the ones that started training when they were younger (in their 20s) and continued it up through the years, have much better results than those that begin training at 52yrs old.

2) Your hormone leves begin to decline as you age. As far as what normal numbers are, I don't know off the top of my head. You can look as I think there was a thread (or maybe a sticky even) in the general health forum that had this information. I don't know what it would be for your age. But, I do know that Joe Average's test levels compared to that of someone who is on a cycle (especially a BB'er type cycle) is not even close.

3) Testosterone has both anabolic and androgenic qualities. One way that it can help you build muscle is by stimulating protein synthesis (muslce tissue synthesis).

I find, for me, my strength actually seems to be increasing more as I have aged. Those longitudinal studies hold true and probably would have for me had I trained properly when I was younger.

If you hold everything constant other than age, I think you would see a trend similar for everyone, downhill after 26-30.

yea, my strength is increasing also.....but, I find that it doesn't increase as fast as it did when I was younger.

Originally Posted by Jus10

better Gains..Age.

that thread has absolutely NO useful information in it what so ever.

Originally Posted by P-funk

that thread has absolutely NO useful information in it what so ever.

i know but he said he had done a search and couldn't find a thread related. so i searched myself and found it.

Originally Posted by Jus10

i know but he said he had done a search and couldn't find a thread related. so i searched myself and found it.

kenwood you idiot, why would you post an old thread of yours? You know me and P can see your IP address.

Log off and go back to school.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

kenwood you idiot, why would you post an old thread of yours? You know me and P can see your IP address.

Log off and go back to school.

Originally Posted by P-funk

A slow phase, from age 25-50, which is characterized by a 25% reduction in muscle mass.

A fast phase from 50-80, where there is an additional 40% reduction in muscle mass, by the age of 80, half of your total muscle mass is lost.

Thanks Patrick. Being 50 and reading this, I feel like gouging my eyes out with a fork .

Funny, I never touched a weight until I was 34 and have gained quite a bit of strength and muscle mass since. I will attest it is getting harder and harder to maintain...

Originally Posted by JerseyDevil

Thanks Patrick. Being 50 and reading this, I feel like gouging my eyes out with a fork .

As long as you realize you may need someone under the age of 25 to help you do that, it is fine.

Originally Posted by JerseyDevil

Being 50 and reading this, I feel like gouging my eyes out with a fork

Can I borrow that fork when you're done with it?

Sorry guys. It wasn't meant to discourage. I was just stating the facts.

But, you guys are prime examples of what good training can lead to in the 50+ crowd. You are both strong (in a lot of cases stronger then those 20 years younger) and in good health.

Originally Posted by P-funk

yes, it matters.......

There are two phases in which human beings lose muscle mass (sarcopenia).

A slow phase, from age 25-50, which is characterized by a 25% reduction in muscle mass.

A fast phase from 50-80, where there is an additional 40% reduction in muscle mass, by the age of 80, half of your total muscle mass is lost.


Weight training can slow these phases down, although it can't completely stop the process of muscle mass lost to aging from happening.

So depressing, I don't wanna get old Ive had nightmares about getting old and dying when I was younger

Takes for fuggin ever to heal up now ... I used to heal from an injury waaaaay faster.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

kenwood you idiot, why would you post an old thread of yours? You know me and P can see your IP address.

Log off and go back to school.