Is it harder to start being active at 50?

AnvilHead · November 2018

I think it's both harder and easier.

Harder in the sense that if you haven't worked out regularly at some point in your life, you have to develop new habits to make it a part of your lifestyle - which usually becomes more difficult when we're older and pretty set in our ways. Also, if you've never physically pushed yourself to the point of considerable exertion, it can be an uncomfortable/disconcerting (even scary) feeling at first. Recovery takes longer (not that somebody would notice that if they've never been physically active before), and at 50+, you're well past your physical prime as far as maximum performance/gains. Injuries are more probable, and recovery from them will be more difficult and take longer.

Easier (at least for me) in the sense that I now have patience, understanding and wisdom that I didn't have when I was younger. I've been physically active/athletic (on and off) my entire life - while I can't push as hard, as heavy, as far or as fast as when I was younger, I can still make progress and better myself from where I am now. I've learned a lot more about training, and I can train a lot smarter than I used to. I have a better understanding of my limitations, and a better sense of when to push and when to back off to avoid injury rather than just charging through every workout like a bull in a china shop. I understand and accept that my progress (and recovery) will be slower and more gradual, and I temper my expectations accordingly - which I would have had a real hard time doing when I was younger. Also, I have more time in my life to work out because life isn't as hectic as it was when I was in my 20s-40s.

Don't compare yourself against (similarly athletic) people who are significantly younger than you. While a lot of us 50+ folks can run, bike, swim, lift, row, etc. circles around a typical untrained/sedentary 20-30 year old, that's not a fair comparison. Trying to compare your 50+ self against a similarly athletic/trained 20-30 year old is going to result in disappointment, because they'll most likely smoke you in whatever aspect of performance you choose to compare. That's just a fact of aging. But it's not an excuse not to work out, and not an excuse to not expect improvements from yourself. Be the best that you can be with what you have now. It will pay dividends by improving your quality of life in a lot of ways.

frankiesgirlie · November 2018

For most of my adult life, I’ve been quite fit. The thing that is different for me at 57 is that I found out I don’t have to work out 60-90 minutes to be in shape. When I started HIIT bodyweight circuits several years ago, I discovered I could get similar fitness results that I had gotten in my 20s, 30s and 40s, but I only needed “all out” routines of 20-30 minutes several times a week. So while my friends and family are amazed that I can do things like burpees, switch lunges and pushups, back to back, for 20 minutes, and they think it’s hard. It’s actually much easier on my body than my former workouts of 60-90 minutes of various running and lifting. An orthopedic surgeon told me, the longer the workout, the more repetitive stress you put on your body parts, the more chance for injury. Plus, my 20-30 minute workouts 3 times a week, give my 57 year old body plenty of recovery & rest time.
I’m not entirely sure if this works for me because of my age, or if it’s something I could have benefited knowing about at all the stages of my fitness life.

hjeffers902 · January 2019

I have struggled with weight since my early thirties. Baby weight gain stayed for years. I was moderately active- tennis and biking but nothing too strenuous. WW worked for a time but my love is sweets and cream cheese dips took its toll. I headed to the gym seriously st age 48. Lost 60 lbs and felt great. Menopause and not as stringent an eating plan saw much of it creep back these past 5 years. It wasn’t a realistic weight I could ha e maintained I know. I started CrossFit st age 55. I certainly have to modify and scale many weights and gymnastic movements but the community is so welcoming and supportive I don’t mind. I can deadlift 185! But yes, my knees pain and my lower back yells a bit. But it does when I don’t do anything either so I decided it is better to hit the gym and keep moving. I highly recommend pickleball if anyone is looking to play a racquet sport designed for seniors. Great game!

pierinifitness · January 2019

To answer the OP’s question, I don’t know if it’s harder to start being active at 50 but do know it’s easier to be lazier.

JRSINAZ · January 2019

I'm 63 and do 10,000 plus most days on my Fitbit. I say get moving even if it's just walking

Is it harder to start being active at 50?

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