Is there an age limit?

[expatInsurance]

I have been told by a couple of friends that after a certain age, one must stop doing heavy workouts, lifting heavy weights but I have seen people in their 60s lifting heavy weights comfortably. So is it true then one should stop lifting heavy weights when they reach say 80s or it is mind over matter?

 

[bonacris]

That's rubbish.. listen to your body.. if your having joint problems or back issues then yeah don't go heavy but that goes for me aswell and I'm 25..

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[stevesmi]

totally depends on the person. if you start getting injuries and you don't back off going heavy then those small nagging injuries will become chronic and thats not what you want.

i have seen guys in their 50's who lift heavy every workout and i do mean HEAVY. one dude at my gym is a personal friend and I love the guy like a big brother but what he is doing is foolish. he wraps himself up like king tut and takes an anti inflammatory before his workouts to dull the pain and then he goes HEAVY. on non lifting days he admits he hurts. he has been doing that for years and he pretty much has chronic inflammation in his joints and tendons. he sleeps about 3 hours a night. now if that is what you want then continue to be wreckless and ignore your body.. to each his own.

but for me no thanks. i'm gonna be smart and take care of my body.

 

[Headholio]

I totally agree with the "listen to your body" comment above.
I always leaned toward lifting heavy, powerlifter style, all my life. But now I'm 52 and no one needs to tell me that I am better off with lighter weight, more reps, less time between sets, more stretching, and more cardio in my routine.
I don't want to throw 5 plates on a squat bar ever again. It doesn't feel good, and working back up to that strength more than likely would lead to an injury.

But when I was 45 or so, I was still lifting pretty heavy and competed in some natural competitions. What happened between 45 and 52? Just a change in priorities, and a feeling from my body of what I need, and what I no longer need. Everyone's clock is different. For some guys, their "strong days" are over after college football, for others it goes into their 60's or beyond.

I'm still pretty strong for an old coot, but I measure my strength by my best set of 6, rather than singles or triples etc.

 

[expatInsurance]

Thanks for your replies, Listen to your body sounds to be a pretty cool advice. This brings me to ask another related question, some people say that weight training in older age keeps you in better shape and makes you more mobile, is it true? Actually I am searching for more and more reasons to keep myself motivated because weight training can be such a pain at times.

 

[stevesmi]

weight training is great at any age!!

but isn't good though is being hurt and pounding away at an injury.. i remember when i was younger on the weightlifting team some kid just had hernia surgery and he went and did some clean and jerks and the coach lit a fuse. there is a difference between being smart and being stupid

 

[expatInsurance]

thanks Steve for the information. I am also slowly getting convinced after looking at several people in 60s doing heavy workouts, that age is just a number.

 

[kfriesen]

I watched a 70 year old man rip a 500+ deadlift Last week at my gym... He looks no worse for wear..

 

[Anthony1980]

There's a guy at my gym that's 60 years old. Looks low 40s. Benches 350+. Said never felt better in his life than he does now.

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[Headholio]

I watched a 70 year old man rip a 500+ deadlift Last week at my gym... He looks no worse for wear..

I know there are guys like that, and I admire them. But that is not a goal I want to achieve. I think the muscular strength part of it is achievable for me, but what about spinal discs, and other joints, tendons etc.
People at that age have lots of musculoskeletal problems. I think lifting intelligently can prevent a lot of those problems, but heavy powerlifts could possibly bring on lots of problems.
I've already had some disc problems, so I have to take that into account. If my back and neck still felt the same as it did when I was 20, I'd still be lifting like I was 20, but that's not the case.