What is your goal now

[CalvinH]

Healthy with cuts.

[Papper]

Healthy with cuts.

That is achievable.

[James28]

jut to stay as lean and healthy as possible  i am in my 30's now

the allure of being  the biggest  and strongest guy  is no longer there, in my 20's thats all i wanted.

This.

I now lift weights that I didn't even bother warming up with in my 20s.

I think I maxed out on Monday with the 50lbs dumbells on chest presses. I used to warm up with the 60s for a million reps. Poundages doesn't even come into the equation any more. I look x3 better now than I ever did in my 20s and that's because I don't bother with stupidly heavy weights anymore. Light-medium, each set till failure and all muscle groups every time I go there. 3 sets only per body part.

I understand guys in their teens and 20s trying to be 'tough' and 'hardcore' in the gym. At that age they don't know any betters and still trying to find their place in the world. When you're in your 30s I should hope these things don't matter anymore.

Well, unless you're short or going bald, then it's hoody on, tattooed from arsehole to head and heavy weights all around trying to compensate. For something.

[The_Iron_Disciple]

I guess the old yardstick of "10 lbs of muscle for each inch of upper arms" is no longer operable? It was probably a Weider thing. Or something that the "Always Squat" guys thought of.

No, it's still operable. Trust me.

[Papper]

This.

I now lift weights that I didn't even bother warming up with in my 20s.

I think I maxed out on Monday with the 50lbs dumbells on chest presses. I used to warm up with the 60s for a million reps. Poundages doesn't even come into the equation any more. I look x3 better now than I ever did in my 20s and that's because I don't bother with stupidly heavy weights anymore. Light-medium, each set till failure and all muscle groups every time I go there. 3 sets only per body part.

I understand guys in their teens and 20s trying to be 'tough' and 'hardcore' in the gym. At that age they don't know any betters and still trying to find their place in the world. When you're in your 30s I should hope these things don't matter anymore.

Well, unless you're short or going bald, then it's hoody on, tattooed from arsehole to head and heavy weights all around trying to compensate. For something.

Another aspect is that most want to look their best as you grow older.

A lean and rejuvinated face with alert crispy eyes tend to look better than bloated cheeks with a blemished surface around depraved weary eyes.

The dawning realization that your traps or your legs is not noted nor appreciated by anyone outside your lifting circle of reclusive cave dwellers.

And that you don't tolerate hard living as easily as when you were a spring chicken.

[James28]

Another aspect is that most want to look their best as you grow older.

A lean and rejuvinated face with alert crispy eyes tend to look better than bloated cheeks with a blemished surface around depraved weary eyes.

The dawning realization that your traps or your legs is not noted nor appreciated by anyone outside your lifting circle of reclusive cave dwellers.

And that you don't tolerate hard living as easily as when you were a spring chicken.

Yep, a lean face is very important. Forgot to add that.

[Waller]

This.

I now lift weights that I didn't even bother warming up with in my 20s.

I think I maxed out on Monday with the 50lbs dumbells on chest presses. I used to warm up with the 60s for a million reps. Poundages doesn't even come into the equation any more. I look x3 better now than I ever did in my 20s and that's because I don't bother with stupidly heavy weights anymore. Light-medium, each set till failure and all muscle groups every time I go there. 3 sets only per body part.

I understand guys in their teens and 20s trying to be 'tough' and 'hardcore' in the gym. At that age they don't know any betters and still trying to find their place in the world. When you're in your 30s I should hope these things don't matter anymore.

Well, unless you're short or going bald, then it's hoody on, tattooed from arsehole to head and heavy weights all around trying to compensate. For something.

I have some lifts from my twenties that I couldn't do now, but on the other hand am stronger in other exercises now than I was then.

I still want to get stronger, I still want to get bigger. But I do train a whole lot more sensibly now than I ever used to. My goals haven't changed at all, only how I go about achieving them.

[240 is Back]

240 or bust.

[njflex]

I have some lifts from my twenties that I couldn't do now, but on the other hand am stronger in other exercises now than I was then.

I still want to get stronger, I still want to get bigger. But I do train a whole lot more sensibly now than I ever used to. My goals haven't changed at all, only how I go about achieving them.

THIS^^^I have found some exercises /wghts peaked and at max with reps -8-12 range and some have gone up over in my 40's than 20/30's like squats ,do more now and rep wise 315/365/405 still 12-15 to low 8 on 405,,but my leg press has gone down weird could be the press but still I fo 7/8 plates a side I remember 20/30's putting 9-10 aside easily,but I hack stlill 4-6 plates depending..i agree team lean face as u age not gaunt but good jaw/cheek if u could attain esp with a tan..abs always ,perma bulk over 40 for what...

[James28]

I have some lifts from my twenties that I couldn't do now, but on the other hand am stronger in other exercises now than I was then.

I still want to get stronger, I still want to get bigger. But I do train a whole lot more sensibly now than I ever used to. My goals haven't changed at all, only how I go about achieving them.

Yea that's probably a better way of describing it. Although I don't really care much for getting strong. I'm already far stronger than the average guy. If it mattered, that would've been enough for me. I still try to get bigger too but priorities are to be healthy, fit and look good. In that order.

It's funny that I should think that way now. 10 years ago, hell even as little as 5 years ago I was throwing around the heaviest weight on the rack. I've always wondered about the day it all changed. I wonder what changed and when it changed.

[Waller]

Yea that's probably a better way of describing it. Although I don't really care much for getting strong. I'm already far stronger than the average guy. If it mattered, that would've been enough for me. I still try to get bigger too but priorities are to be healthy, fit and look good. In that order.

It's funny that I should think that way now. 10 years ago, hell even as little as 5 years ago I was throwing around the heaviest weight on the rack. I've always wondered about the day it all changed. I wonder what changed and when it changed.

Mine has been a gradual change over certain areas. Some injuries forced me to reassess training. Sometimes I've had eureka moments watching someone else act like a tool and realised that has on occasion been me. So many factors contribute.

[Waller]

THIS^^^I have found some exercises /wghts peaked and at max with reps -8-12 range and some have gone up over in my 40's than 20/30's like squats ,do more now and rep wise 315/365/405 still 12-15 to low 8 on 405,,but my leg press has gone down weird could be the press but still I fo 7/8 plates a side I remember 20/30's putting 9-10 aside easily,but I hack stlill 4-6 plates depending..i agree team lean face as u age not gaunt but good jaw/cheek if u could attain esp with a tan..abs always ,perma bulk over 40 for what...

Good squats dude. Squat is the same for me, I'm better at it than I ever was, I've learnt to squat better over time (I'm sure I have shitty body mechanics for it). I live in blighty so getting a tan is a luxury but I'm fully with you on permabulking. I see old photos and just think 'what the fuck was I thinking?'

[Dr Dutch]

Improving my PB in the Squat, DL and bench, and in Tbar, DBpress, Military......let's say all the nr 1 exercises per bodypart.

[funk51]

staying alive....

[Waller]

staying alive....

Always a good choice!

[Teutonic Knight]

winning "prestigious" mr.canada title like basile & get 5 blue stars 

[deadz]

To stay conditioned at 6' and 225lbs.

[The_Iron_Disciple]

To stay conditioned at 6' and 225lbs.

At 6 % bodyfat ?

[deadz]

At 6 % bodyfat ?

Lean enough to have veiny arms and legs, at least when pumped.

[The_Iron_Disciple]

Lean enough to have veiny arms and legs, at least when pumped.

Just messin with ya, bro. But good stats, nontheless.

[Rimstinger]

B..  

For you the only goal should be "Staying alive"

[Coach is Back!]

Today is a conditioning day. 4 x 300 yard shuttles. Have to get or beat each shuttle in a minute or under. I'm at 60 minutes.

[cephissus]

i just want to be able to squat without feeling like my knees are going to explode

im thinking of doing more calisthenics: one handed pushups, one legged squats, pullups, and the like

i'm reading "convict conditioning" and "solitary fitness" right now... very interesting.  if I can actually gain the flexibility and strength to do these moves, i doubt i'll sacrifice much (if any) mass by focusing on them in lieu of weight training.

the older i get, the more i start to suspect taking performance out of the equation and focusing only on looks is unavoidably disastrous.  besides, plenty of gymnasts and the like look better than i ever will, AND are strong and healthy to boot.

to put it briefly, my goal is to be healthy... that includes being lean while having muscle mass, strength, flexibility, coordination, and more.

[Papper]

i just want to be able to squat without feeling like my knees are going to explode

im thinking of doing more calisthenics: one handed pushups, one legged squats, pullups, and the like

i'm reading "convict conditioning" and "solitary fitness" right now... very interesting.  if I can actually gain the flexibility and strength to do these moves, i doubt i'll sacrifice much (if any) mass by focusing on them in lieu of weight training.

the older i get, the more i start to suspect taking performance out of the equation and focusing only on looks is unavoidably disastrous.  besides, plenty of gymnasts and the like look better than i ever will, AND are strong and healthy to boot.

to put it briefly, my goal is to be healthy... that includes being lean while having muscle mass, strength, flexibility, coordination, and more.

Interesting. I gravitate towards bodyweight exercise being older. Preserving mobitily and flexibility starting to be an issue now.