Heavy lifting for the over 50 crowd??

lizziebeth1028
lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Heavy lifting for the over 50 crowd?? Anybody doing it? Thoughts? Bro-science?

Replies

  • bethmac_va
    bethmac_va Posts: 65
    Bump, because I want to know! DH says I should not lift heavy (maybe he's worried I will get hurt) so I'm very interested in other opinions.
  • rmk20togo
    rmk20togo Posts: 353 Member
    51 here and lifting as heavy as I can possibly manage!!! :love:

    Here's why:
    http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/growingstronger/why/index.html
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    Why would that be broscience? Lift unless you have some physical limitation. Being over 50 years of age isn't a physical limitation.

    I have a friend on my FL over 50 and she lifts heavy. She's magnificent.

    Also, Google Tosca Reno, she's over 50, lifts heavy and looks dynamite.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I have done both actually, heavy lower reps, light higher reps. I notice this past year when I lift heavier I get way more sore and stiff then I used too. And it also takes longer to recover. This subject is talked about to death on the forums but I rarely see many people my age (50+) giving much input and I was just curious what types of lifting they are doing.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    51 here and lifting as heavy as I can possibly manage!!! :love:

    Here's why:
    http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/growingstronger/why/index.html

    Thanks for your response! Keep lifting you look great!
  • clohessy
    clohessy Posts: 394 Member
    I'm WAY over 50 like 60 and I lift heavy "Chalene Extreme Dvd's". 4'X' aweek.
  • cinblog1965
    cinblog1965 Posts: 133 Member
    My arthritis and lower back Problems keep me from LIFO g heavy free weights. I'm 47. I use the gym machines and go heavy as I can on those and I'm also doing some core stabilizing exercises to try to improve on my back problems. I say do what you can when you can. If it hurts a joint, stop doing it or find another way. There are so many different types of workouts and they all have their good points.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Why would that be broscience? Lift unless you have some physical limitation. Being over 50 years of age isn't a physical limitation.

    I have a friend on my FL over 50 and she lifts heavy. She's magnificent.

    Also, Google Tosca Reno, she's over 50, lifts heavy and looks dynamite.

    The bro-science comment was a joke...sorry, a poor one at that apparently. Usually with this subject matter people are posting graphs and charts already.

    I was simply looking for people my age, still lifting and what types of challenges if any are they starting to feel. I know for me...I'll never give it up god willing!!! But it definitely feels a lot different than when I was a young kid of 39 lifting!!!!!!
  • PLUMSGRL
    PLUMSGRL Posts: 1,134 Member
    Oh please:love::love: :love:

    http://www.insideedition.com/news/4418/meet-a-73-year-old-female-bodybuilder.aspx

    http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/2006-08-03/naked.shtml

    if they can do it, so can we!!!

    See "New Rules of Lifting for Life"

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Rules-Lifting-Life-Muscle-Building/dp/1583334610/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1340735469&sr=8-2&keywords=new+rules+of+lifting
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    I do not lift heavy any longer.
    The injury risk is too great. It's a personal choice, and if any other aged ones can still manage it, GOOD FOR YOU!
    I prefer calisthenics for resistance training.
    And at this age I am 5 times more jacked than most gym rats half my age:drinker:
  • mhotch
    mhotch Posts: 901 Member
    I am 53 and have been lifting heavy for over 5 years now.
  • fisherlassie
    fisherlassie Posts: 542 Member
    I think my dad is 83 or 84, he's just started slowing down! Go for it! Safely and gradually, obviously!
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    The bro-science comment was a joke...sorry, a poor one at that apparently. Usually with this subject matter people are posting graphs and charts already.

    Too true!
    I was simply looking for people my age, still lifting and what types of challenges if any are they starting to feel. I know for me...I'll never give it up god willing!!! But it definitely feels a lot different than when I was a young kid of 39 lifting!!!!!!

    I can appreciate that. You may need more recovery time and your "heavy" at 50 may not be the "heavy" you could do at 40 or 30 or 20. But you're still working and keeping strong, that's what matters. I hope there are others out there doing the same.
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    I am 55 and I just started heavy lifting about 5 weeks ago.I have lost 3.2 pounds.

    I have a dysfuntional scroiliac joint so I use the machines at the gym rather than the free weights to keep my back supported as much as possible. I have never felt so strong, starting to get definition already. My physiotherapist is very pleased with my progress. She says the stronger I can get my muscles the less flare ups I will have with my joint. I started with 60-70% mobility in my back and in 5 weeks I have improved to 80-90%. I am doing some cardio and also specific back excercises,

    The one thing that was stopping me was fear. Once I overcame the fear of "putting my back out" I have come on in leaps and bounds.

    Don't let age stop you trying it out. Heavy lifting is awesome. The other day a girl half my age got on the machine I had just left and had to put the weights down by about 20 kgs before she could even lift it. I admit I felt quite smug.

    I will probably still get flare ups from time to time but my back feels so much more stable these days it is a very good feeling.
  • LetsTryThisAgain54
    LetsTryThisAgain54 Posts: 381 Member
    I'm 57 and lift heavy for two weeks, then go light for 2 weeks. Gotta change it up at my age. :)
  • cevans_rr
    cevans_rr Posts: 44 Member
    I've been wondering this myself. I'm 51 and started lifting heavier in March when I started MFP with a trainer. I then started lifting with free weights instead of machines in May when I began NEW RULES OF LIFTING FOR WOMEN. I have noticed an increasing pain in my lower back and hip now that I'm 5 weeks in and lifting much heavier than before - probably due to the beginnings of arthritis in my lower back. I'm considering getting the newest NEW RULES FOR LIFTING that is specifically for people of our age. I have increased my strength a lot but I'm worried the squats and deadlifts are the culprits so I quit increasing the weight this week. I'm not sure where to go from here. I'm interested to see what others tell you. Btw - I have lost 17 of the 40 lbs I wanted to lose and about 20 inches as well as 2 sizes since March so I'm thrilled with those results!
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    I'm not over 50 yet - 49 next month- but I've started really lifting heavy (for me, that is) with my dumbbells at home and have had no problems - steady strength gains, no injuries, etc. I love the way it makes me feel!
  • MissMaggie3
    MissMaggie3 Posts: 2,464 Member
    I'm 54 and I'm several months into lifting heavy with the New Rules of Lifting for Women. I'll be finishing the programme in a few weeks, and then I'm going to go on to do 'Stronglifts 5x5', which is for both men and women.

    Lifting is absolutely nothing to be fearful of, and your age shouldn't make any difference. In fact, it's a really good thing to do for yourself in your fifties, as it can help prevent osteoporosis amongst its many other benefits.

    If you need inspiration, have a look at this lady: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18346128

    And do friend me if you like. :smile:
  • nannabannana
    nannabannana Posts: 780
    bump because my hubby says same thing...:)
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  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    You still have plenty of capacity to grow and develop after age 50. There are realities that must be recognized--longer recovery times, slower development of ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues, etc. Not everyone will be able to lift heavy, but there is no reason for anyone to put an artificial limit on themselves. I was able to bench press a lot more weight at age 56 than I could at age 26--and that was without having seriously lifted for 8 years or so.

    OTOH, there is also no reason to push everyone in that direction. 50 is still relatively young, but as we age, things like stability, balance, and flexibility start to play a role in our overall health and well-being. In many cases, lifting heavy would do the individual no good at all.

    The first thing we do when working with seniors is to determine where their most significant deficits are and then build a program around that. It becomes more important than ever to customize programs to meet the specific needs of the individual.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Some very nice answers everyone! Thank you for weighing in (no pun intended) :happy:

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