Working out, middle age and physical jobs

[Mike Islander]

I never had any issues at all with working out (or working hard) and recovery.......until this year. I'll be 61 next month. I kind of laugh at some of the ages you guys are posting in here......youngsters in your prime, LOL.

I built over 400 feet of privacy fence in the last month. Dug every post hole by hand, and mixed ~8000lbs of concrete in the wheelbarrow overall. My body is just not recovering like it should be. Has me questioning what elk season is going to look like this year. Muscle-wise I feel fine, just overall feel like crap. Wake up every day feeling like I have the flu or got hit by a truck. Still have about 200 feet to build. If there's a miracle drug out there......I want it.

You are probably a very good candidate for the magic T.

 

[5MilesBack]

You are probably a very good candidate for the magic T.

Every time I have them test it, they tell me it's already higher than normal for my age range. Check thyroid and all those things.......normal. I think I might just have higher expectations than most 60 year olds. Attitude, personality, and emotionally........I'm still in my early 20's.

 

[Cedarsavage]

Highly variable. But probably average 2-3 days per week. My job as a land manager is a lot of walking too. I do bike some also.

I think my job and life is physical enough to keep me in shape but I need strong legs and good cardio to hunt steep mountains where I am. Last couple years I have sustained injuries from working out and lifting that took very long to recover.

After 40 I have switched my focus to diet and stretching/yoga/dead hangs and hiking/cardio. Pretty much just trying to keep the strength I have and not push it past that. I do some dumbbell workouts occasionally but keep it pretty light.

I’ve dialed weights back a lot the last few years. I wonder if a lot of this is stress, I recently changed day jobs so I wouldn’t have to work ot and focus on my side business. Maybe mental fatigue from being in a new environment?

 

[Truck24hr]

I’ve dialed weights back a lot the last few years. I wonder if a lot of this is stress, I recently changed day jobs so I wouldn’t have to work ot and focus on my side business. Maybe mental fatigue from being in a new environment?

Just stress altogether. I gave up a very successful business 5 years ago and bought a truck. Best health decision I've made

 

[Mike Islander]

Every time I have them test it, they tell me it's already higher than normal for my age range. Check thyroid and all those things.......normal. I think I might just have higher expectations than most 60 year olds. Attitude, personality, and emotionally........I'm still in my early 20's.

I have noticed that one of my favorite things to do is lay back on the sofa and watch dirt bike videos. When I was younger I felt a drive to go do stuff.

I'm thinking dopamine is reduced as you get older. Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter that drives ambition.

 

[5MilesBack]

I have noticed that one of my favorite things to do is lay back on the sofa and watch dirt bike videos. When I was younger I felt a drive to go do stuff.

I'm thinking dopamine is reduced as you get older. Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter that drives ambition.

I think I have the opposite problem. My youngest daughter (19) is always telling me "Dad, you're about 2 seconds from stupid". Ya, well......that keeps life interesting. But also keeps my body in disrepair. There's always a tradeoff with life, no matter what we do.

 

[*zap*]

70 yoa.

Recovery time is as important as workout time. A good aerobic capacity program is very important as is strength training.
Center of body strength and mobility (chassis) is paramount as we age. Look at someone's posture and you can tell their 'actual' fitness level.
As close to perfect nutrition as you can get is very important.
Adequate protein&healthy fats.
Proper body fat levels are very, very important.
Proper sleep (8 hrs. or more daily) is very important.
Do hard things and crush them. (Kudos to 5MilesBack on the fence).

My last all natural total t # was over 900. Been a few years. Need to get blood work done again this summer.

You bring your aerobic capacity up over time with frequent long duration low intensity workouts and the harder jobs will get less taxing. But, there are no shortcuts and the e-z day was yesterday.