Guys 50+ Questions on Fitness Longevity?

[FLAK]

@54 I don't exercise just for the sake of exercising anymore, other than walking.
Just try to stay busy with projects like yard work, put a roof on my back porch, gardening, just rotated the tires on my 4x4. Just don't sit round.
I will pick up the pace and walk with a weighted pack several weeks before any mtn hunts.

 

[ZDR]

Read Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. Great book on the positive effective of staying strong as you age.
Diet and exercise - there is no substitute. Plus a drink or two always in moderation

 

[Ross]

You will see a common theme so far stay light, active, get sleep, drink water and do something all while protecting your joints......what you have in the your 20s you are born with, what you are in your 50s you created

 

[Fatcamp]

Stretch. Flexibility is key.

Yoga. Walking. Move your body.

And rest. Make sure you are resting and sleeping with solid nutrition to give your body the building blocks to heal.

 

[SonnyDay]

I’m sitting at 47... but this thread caught my eye. Others have said it:

Keep the weight off.

Eat meat and lots of veggies.

Drink less (workin’ on that)

MOVE your body every day.... enough to sweat.

Last one that maybe is underrated: drink water. You should piss clear most of the day...

 

[Elk97]

OP- you're right to be thinking about this now in your 30s. As you get older your metabolism changes so even though you still work hard during the day you will need to cut down on the quantity of food you eat or you'll start packing on pounds. I first noticed this in my early 40s, I wasn't eating or drinking more and working the same but I started putting on weight. A pound or two a year adds up in 10-20 years. I try to stay in shape all year because if I don't it takes longer each year to get back in shape. Seems like it only takes about a week of not hiking, shooting my bow, etc for me to go backwards and have to work back up to where I was. Easier to just keep at it. I'm 69 and hope I have several more years left in me to chase critters in the mountains.

 

[wseidel]

I'm now 64 and hunting out west provides me with added motivation to stay in shape because hiking in the mountains is brutal....beautiful and incredible, but brutal. There are some great ideas in the previous posts and my keys include biking (easier on joints than running), skating/hockey in the winter, hiking with a weighted pack for 6-7 miles five times every week (not too heavy - 17-20 pounds), eating smart with healthy smoothies, and my regular routine of working hard around our landscape tree farm. That said, I still love eating chocolate with my wife! Hope this helps....

 

[wseidel]

And vitamins/supplements - good multiple vitamin, D3, B complex, C, CoQ10, zinc, curcumin, probiotics, fish oil and, wait for it....cod liver oil.

 

[Rich M]

Avoid injuries. It's easier to stay active and do stuff when things don't hurt.

Some guys I know w issues played sports and have bad knees, others hurt their backs, some had car or motorcycle accidents.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Some good advice here. Mid to late 30s is when I stopped being invincible. Start thinking about the kind of fitness you want to have in your 50s and 60s

There is no real secret but here are a few things to help:

- start to tweak your diet sooner than you think you need to. Heart disease and other metabolic issues doesn’t happen overnight. It started with shitty habits when you were a kids and builds over time
- wear sunblock and sunglasses - cancer and cataracts are not fun to deal with at any age
- supplements can help - joint stuff, fish oil etc. but not as much as cleaning up your diet
- Don’t treat your body like a DEA / ATF evidence locker. Booze and other recreational substances in moderation.
- wear hearing protection when shooting. Always. Full stop.
- flexibility and range of motion need to become a focus just to be maintain. They need to be a primary focus to be improved.
- start to mix in low impact stuff now - swimming, cycling, etc.
- maintain strength but bulk doesn’t help much
- keep your weight down - lungs heart and joints will work better
- mix HIITs with longer, low intensity cardio to train different energy systems
- get some active friends and do the stuff they do
- avoid injuries - start thinking of you body as a classic car that is really hard to fix and find parts for. Take it for a spin, enjoy the ride but don’t sign up for any demolition derbies.

 

[ScottinPA]

@51 - regular consistent workouts (even if light), diet (low carb with plenty of meat & fresh veggies), plenty of stretching/yoga, quality sleep (having trouble with this one now).
In my 30s I was in my worst shape. Changed that at 43. While flexibility and strength have decreased a little lately I'm in pretty decent shape. Dealing with reduced breathing capacity now, that'll be the new normal, but I still push to maximize what I can do.

 

[smoke]

I'm 60 and am 6'1" and weigh 195. I work out 2-3 times a week - weights and light cardio. My entire workout lasts about 40 minutes. I do a generic low-carb, low-sugar diet to keep the weight off. On my last birthday I was able to do 18 non-kipped pull-ups and bench 270 - nothing great but good for my age. I've certainly slowed down in the mountains but still able to cover distance and climb trees (for whitetails). Just keep after it and you'll be surprised by what your body can do as you age.

 

[ZDR]

Some good advice here. Mid to late 30s is when I stopped being invincible. Start thinking about the kind of fitness you want to have in your 50s and 60s

There is no real secret but here are a few things to help:


- wear sunblock and sunglasses - cancer and cataracts are not fun to deal with at any age

This might be one of the most overlooked and best pieces of advice yet...skin cancer is one of those 'occupational hazards' of an outdoor life, but so easy to prevent. Having had two painful surgeries now for it, I certainly wish I had been smarter with covering up and wearing sunscreen.

 

[Backyard]

Protect your knees: stick with low impact, less running, more biking and swimming etc..

 

[bbell]

I have seen yoga and flexibility mentioned numerous times. I would say flexibility is one of my weaker areas. What do you guys do for yoga? You follow a program, take a class, etc? Not sure where to start in that area but would like to.

 

[beachbunny]

and you got to have a sense of humor about the whole ,otherwise you're doomed.
i used to think i was tarzan.
then i realized ,you never saw an old tarzan in any movies,did ya?
(whenever i am on my knees,i wear kneepads too)

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I have seen yoga and flexibility mentioned numerous times. I would say flexibility is one of my weaker areas. What do you guys do for yoga? You follow a program, take a class, etc? Not sure where to start in that area but would like to.

I just picked up a beginner yoga tape at Target. Cost like 15 bucks.


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[Okhotnik]

What advice, tips, and tricks do you have for younger guys to stay in shape and keep injury free?

I'm late 30's and enjoy running and lifting. The aches and pains and old injuries creep up from time to time. What do you recommend for keeping things at bay so guys my age can keep up 20 years from now?

I'm sure diet becomes more important. What about rest days? What about vitamins? What about stress? You get the idea...

Let us know what you think.

Im 57 with many surgeries from pretty severe injuries in the military and at work.

I ve lifted weights for 40 years and would have started lifting different ( fewer reps, no super sets, olympic type lifts) once his mid to late 30's. Less running and more mountain biking, swimming, hiking hills, and more kettle bells. I personally think crossifit is bad on your joints and not do too much after 40.

Yoga is great too. And of course your diet- limiting simple carbs and processed food.
Good advice on taking anti inflammatories.]\ like fish oil, turmeric, boswelia

This is simple great stretching mobility routine to start

 

[TxxAgg]

 

[Oregon]

Don’t play team sports. Give up the thought of playing team sports.
I’ve had 6 surgeries because of basketball. My last was at age 50 that’s left me somewhat immobile.
well, at least if you play team sports do it with people not half your age.
Competitiveness hurts!