Too old to weight lift
sarnies
Posts: 2 Member
Hi everyone, im wanting to start weight lifting at the ripe old age of 51, im a runner so used to gym work, the problem is that I stopped exercising last year and put on weight but now I'm getting back into it, I need to loss 14lb of flab to get back to 9st 4, my question is am i too old to start this and get good results
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Replies
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No, you're not!8
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Nope.1
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My aunt is in her 70 and does weights and water aerobics as well as pilates. Personally, i am a big fan of yoga because of back injuries. but do what makes you feel good and get a good trainer.3
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I'm 66...started 2 years ago....no you're not...lol11
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I started lifting 45 years ago as a young teenager and still love it.
Go for it young lady!!
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I'm trying to remember how old @avietvet was when he starting lifting. I want to say 67 (but I also don't want to offend him
). His last powerlifting meet he hit 335 lbs on squat, 275 on bench and 352.7 on deads. And he is not a big dude (I probably offended him again 
).
It's never too late to start lifting.
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I'm 55. I'm not too old. You're not either.4
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16
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Ditto above. I would recommend following a structured program, dedicate ample time to warm up/cool down, and learning proper form for various moves before going nuts with the weight. I am following Strong (Schuler & Cosgrove) and I'm a 67 yo female 4
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Ernestine Shepherd started at 56. She's 80 and ripped as ever.
http://people.com/bodies/oldest-female-bodybuilder-celebrates-her-80th-birthday/
Svend Stensgaard is still lifting at 95.
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-35505803/meet-the-world-s-oldest-powerlifter2 -
51 isnt even that old....go go go5
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I believe that I put on about five pounds of muscle starting a serious lifting program at around 50 years. I might be kidding myself. But I don't think so.
So, yes, you can start lifting in your 50s and get results too!
And, I will add: I think going to the gym is actually probably the safest, most gentle form of exercise you can adopt.
Running involves a lot of pounding and they say that more than 50 percent of runners get injured doing it in any given year.
Bicycling is more gentle, but roads can be a bit dangerous for riders.
Tennis, or some other competitive sport, involves a lot of quick movement and changes of direction.
But lifting does not subject the body to violent or unexpected insult, and the movement is pretty controlled and limited. Nothing physical that we do is totally safe, but in the scheme of things...8 -
I just went back to lifting weights last fall and I was 47, now 48. I did find a personal trainer who was a woman my age who understood what it feels like to start up a program when you are older. It's been fantastic! I'm so much stronger. I just feel better all around. It hurt for the first month or two but it was worth it.
I started up because I'd taken up mountain biking as well last summer and really wanted to get more fit and strong to be able to do harder and more technical things on my bike. It has helped immensely. I got back on the bike last week and was even stronger than in the fall after taking off winter.
Go for it!2 -
i will be sixty in a couple of months. i've lifted on and off for most of my gym rat days. go slowly, find a trainer that realizes that you are closer to fifty than thirty, and give yourself six or eight months before expecting results and you will find that lifting is an excellent way to spend time in the gym.2
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My dad was a runner and started lifting two years ago, when he was 59. You've got this!6
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Def not too old! You can do it! If you are able to start with a trainer, find one who has experience working with older lifters- my mom has run into some issues with trainers who have pushed her to go way too fast for her joints. Learn good form, and enjoy the gains to your skeletal health, balance, confidence, and more! I'm excited for you.3
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If Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Notorious RBG, who is 85, lift weights regularly and sits on the Supreme Court, then so can you.13
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. . . my question is am i too old to start this and get good results
No, you are not too old to lift.
I am 67 and have been lifting regularly and heavily for 2 yrs resulting in increased strength and fitness and significant weight/fat loss when combined w/controlled caloric intake and other forms of exercise.
They key for anyone new to lifting is to start light and increase the weight gradually in order to lay the foundation for heavier lifting while also avoiding injury.
Two lifting programs that I (and others) have used with success are Starting Strength and Stronglifts. Just Google the names for more info. Either program (if followed as written) should provide you w/"good results" w/in 4-6 months.
Good luck!5 -
RBG = Beastmidlomel1971 wrote: »If Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Notorious RBG, who is 85, lift weights regularly and sits on the Supreme Court, then so can you.
Anyways, motto that's always in the back of my mind is "results, not excuses", esp. for exercise/diet/health
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Nope. Never too old. I’m 57 and I lift weights,do HIIT and anything else that interests me. I think it’s a fountain of youth.5
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you're NEVER too old! I started lifting at the age of 57 and became a competitive powerlifter. I'm 59 and I've competed in 8 meets so far. It's never late to start anything if you put your mind to it!6
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My dad is 90 and started strength training just a few years ago - he's made noticeable progress both in appearance and in the amount of weight he lifts. You're never too old! 8
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I started when I was 63, I'm now 64. I love it3
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JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I'm 55. I'm not too old. You're not either.
It was only yesterday that I bought the cheap stuff. It is only today that I have attempted to begin.2 -
I'm 62,started when I was 60. You're never too old! My doctor told me that retaining and building muscle is even more important as we age.
My progress has been slow and at times I've had to go backwards but that's because of other health issues not because of age.1 -
If you're too old, at 56 I'd have been way too old. So you're just right. I also have been a runner, although just this year I'm scaling back on distances and taking on other things--newest fascination is spinning. I figure variety keeps me interested.0
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The day after you die is too late to start lifting. Anytime (preferably sooner) before that is fine.8
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I started at 49. The one thing I would say is that if you have been sedentary, progress slowly at first. Old tendons develop more slowly than old muscles and it's easy to get injured - I was told to never do anything that hurt, but my injuries never hurt at the time. I would be lifting something that felt fine and the next day have an injury. I learned the hard way! So go slow at first, until you have a base to work from.2
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OP I am only a year younger than you, you are young.
Follow a structured lifting program for best results.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
Two additional links for helping with fat loss:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
and for when you get near or reach goal weight
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat#latest
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This thread also reminded me of the following recent article about a 90 yr old female "powerlifter" in Napa, CA:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/napa-woman-92-is-oldest-to-compete-in-sanctioned-weight-lifting-event
Of course, she's not lifting that much weight in an absolute sense and she "wins" because no one else her age in her class is competing but the point is that she doesn't think that she's "too old to lift at 90."
It's not the only such story that you can find on the Net.
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