Working out and growing older

[wes]

He sounds like he needs a pint of ice cream a blanket and a chick movie 

Or a fresh T-shirt and a handful of cashews.

[IroNat]

You’re right about one thing, anyone can be 5’ 10” 185 naturally. Whether you can look like a bodybuilder at that height/weight is another story. A black guy with good genetics can carry enough muscle at that weight with a low enough body fat percentage to pull it off. A white guy with shit genetics, which is most people, doesn’t have a chance no matter how long and hard he trains and how good of a diet he keeps.

Anybody with sh*t genetics will not look good, doesn't matter if white or black.  Plenty of blacks with lousy genetics.

This guy is 160 lbs now with 16 inch arms.  He can very likely get to 185 in good shape, particularly since he is an ectomorph type (lean).

[Tapeworm]

Eat well and train regularly. You'll look better than 95% of the population. That's good enough for vanity's demands.

Don't just do iron imo. Calisthenics/bodyweight/gymnastics movements translate to functionality better. You may be surprised how many weak links exist in those movement chains for weightlifters.


Its fun too, especially if you're bored with the barbell. And if you're an ecto like me then you'll never be a monster but you can destroy the big guys when it comes to strength/bodyweight ratio.

[Coach is Back!]

Beats being a whiny bitch like the OP.

Coach is annoying AF with his BS ridiculous business schemes and political talk but he’s one of the very few here who actually walk the walk when it comes to bodybuilding.

Oh c'mon. I've been training people for over 25 years, now I just do it online. The only thing that I added was my apparel biz. I don't have schemes and although I was offered capital to re-open another facility, that would have killed me faster than anything.

[Primemuscle]

Yes, you have been living a lie about your physique all those years on drugs just like all the other people who take steroids to have muscles are living a lie.
Take their drugs away and they become Clark Kent.  Those muscles exist only as long as they take drugs.  They can't stop because mentally they can't handle  reality.

How long did you train before you started taking steroids?  Sounds like you jumped right on.  

Now you have to learn how to train natty.  You have to learn how to eat to gain weight so you can naturally be 185.  

5'10" and 185 is very do-able if you eat right and train right.  

Right now you are emotionally depressed and most likely this is the from drug withdrawal.  Your loss of mass is from test levels being low until they resume normal function.  After some time they will normalize.  

I do not regret having taken steroids the few times that I did. They gave me a jump start when I was young and got me over a hurdle a bit later. Once I hit 225 lbs @ 5' 11" in my late 20's I was done wanting to be big, artificially or otherwise. Most of the time since then, I maintained a weight of 185-190 lbs. By design, I have dropped back to 165-170 lbs @ about 5' 10" (degenerative disk issues) in the last couple of years and I feel great. I'm over my fear of becoming too skinny again, but it took me most of my adult life to get to this point.

Some might contend that I'm still 'juicing' since I inject about .75 ml testosterone Cypionate weekly that my urologist prescribes me for hypogonadism. Personally, I doubt it is enough to make a noticeable difference in muscle strength and size. I feel healthy and my blood work confirms that I am. So, all is good, in my opinion.  

[IroNat]

I do not regret having taken steroids the few times that I did. They gave me a jump start when I was young and got me over a hurdle a bit later. Once I hit 225 lbs @ 5' 11" in my late 20's I was done wanting to be big, artificially or otherwise. Most of the time since then, I maintained a weight of 185-190 lbs. By design, I have dropped back to 165-170 lbs @ about 5' 10" (degenerative disk issues) in the last couple of years and I feel great. I'm over my fear of becoming too skinny again, but it took me most of my adult life to get to this point.

Some might contend that I'm still 'juicing' since I inject about .75 ml testosterone Cypionate weekly that my urologist prescribes me for hypogonadism. Personally, I doubt it is enough to make a noticeable difference in muscle strength and size. I feel healthy and my blood work confirms that I am. So, all is good, in my opinion.  

Be honest with yourself.  You're still juicing.  You can't be half-pregnant.

The guy who cuts back from 2 packs of cigs a day to 1 pack is still a smoker.

You have hypogonadism so you have a medical reason to take steroids. 

[The Scott]

I've yet to stop growing older, ergo I've yet to stop training.  My training spans five decades now.  I was told that if I could keep training on a regular basis for 6 months, I could keep training for my entire life and so I have.

Outside of some kinda serious accidents, such as being hit by a 20,000+ pound crane and dragged by it for about 30 or so feet  or the rare vacation,  I rarely miss training.  I now train between two and five times a week for about 30 or so minutes.  Primarily H.I.T. or a variation thereof. How do I know when I've missed "enough" training?  

I miss it.

If you stop forever, I can pretty much guarantee you will forever regret it. I know this to be true as I occasionally run into former gym mates that no longer train.  They are reeeeeally fat, or skinny-fat and on top of that they feel awful.  They tell me they wish they had never stopped and while some have good reason for having stopped (severe injuries not training related), most just walked away from it because they thought they no longer had anything to gain.

I tell them that as we age it's not so much about what we have to gain but rather what we have to lose.   Training slows down the loses, if you will.  

Exercise because it is a part of your life that adds to your life. It isn't all of your life and never should be.   There are plenty of smart folks here that can inspire you more than I and there are a few idiots than can still inspire you more than I can.

Like I said, it should add to your life, not take away from it.

[Coach is Back!]

I've yet to stop growing older, ergo I've yet to stop training.  My training spans five decades now.  I was told that if I could keep training on a regular basis for 6 months, I could keep training for my entire life and so I have.

Outside of some kinda serious accidents, such as being hit by a 20,000+ pound crane and dragged by it for about 30 or so feet  or the rare vacation,  I rarely miss training.  I now train between two and five times a week for about 30 or so minutes.  Primarily H.I.T. or a variation thereof. How do I know when I've missed "enough" training?  

I miss it.

If you stop forever, I can pretty much guarantee you will forever regret it. I know this to be true as I occasionally run into former gym mates that no longer train.  They are reeeeeally fat, or skinny-fat and on top of that they feel awful.  They tell me they wish they had never stopped and while some have good reason for having stopped (severe injuries not training related), most just walked away from it because they thought they no longer had anything to gain.

I tell them that as we age it's not so much about what we have to gain but rather what we have to lose.   Training slows down the loses, if you will.  

Exercise because it is a part of your life that adds to your life. It isn't all of your life and never should be.   There are plenty of smart folks here that can inspire you more than I and there are a few idiots than can still inspire you more than I can.

Like I said, it should add to your life, not take away from it.

Although I take it somewhat to the extreme, this is why still keep chugging along after 46 years. Hell, my pops died at 54. Smokes, drank, over worked didn’t workout. His biggest worry was about what to do next to remodel the house

[oldtimer1]

Lifting weights is hard if you're a natural. The gains come slow but the best part is you can look decent year round instead of the steroid yo yo. One thing I have found about juicers is when they eventually stop for good they stop training. Several have said it's a waste of time to train without the assist. That is really sad.

Someone else said on this thread and I think it was Ironat, everyone must find their physical passion. Maybe weights isn't the route you want to take. Some really athletic body weight trainers. Nothing wrong with being a runner, swimmer or bike rider. Just pursue it with passion. My son in law and son in law to be are really into jui jitsu.  They grapple on the mats several days a week. That's their passion. A man is meant to be physical.  

I have found that the combo of lifting and cardio really keeps you young. I know guys are completely delusional about how they look. I bet there isn't a guy around that doesn't  think he's an eight or above. Having said that I look at guys my age and they look like old men both physically and facially. They couldn't run around a block if their life depended on it.

[honest]

Haven't missed more than a few days in 32 years, still there 4am everyday except sunday sometimes later on a Saturday, weights and cardio no matter where always found a gym.

[che]

I am naturally an ectomorph with small structure but good shoulder to waist ratios. I managed to always have a good V even while I was skinny.

To put into perspective I have minimal fat and trained naturally from around 130lb to 165lb in 3 years naturally at 5'10.   Juiced to about 185-190. I floated at this weight for awhile as I wasnt willing to go over 700mg of test. So I cruised on 300mg for a solid couple years, while blasting for one year.  


So when I came off this was not your ttpicaly fat marshmallow keeping gains or thinking I lost what I didnt already have.   Steroids are 100% temporary as I sit here weighing 160ish lbs again.


It took about a year for me to hit baseline again. Goes to show the importance of building a natural physique and base, because that's what you truly hold when you retire the syringe.  I am not huge but content with my 16 inch lean arms  

5'10'',  160lbs , no way your arms are 16''

[IRON CROSS]

Agree with Oldtimer , working with a resistance bands is much harder than using free weights  + U must concentrate 100%.

[oldtimer1]

5'10'',  160lbs , no way your arms are 16''

I was thinking the same thing.

[OlympiaGym]

Anybody with sh*t genetics will not look good, doesn't matter if white or black.  Plenty of blacks with lousy genetics.

This guy is 160 lbs now with 16 inch arms.  He can very likely get to 185 in good shape, particularly since he is an ectomorph type (lean).

No way he’s 160 lbs with 16 arms. If you think 5’10 185 in bodybuilding shape is easily naturally attainable you don’t know the game. Guys doing Physique who weigh 185 on show day walk around at 215-225.

[che]

No way he’s 160 lbs with 16 arms. If you think 5’10 185 in bodybuilding shape is easily naturally attainable you don’t know the game. Guys doing Physique who weigh 185 on show day walk around at 215-225.

Exactly

[Oblique]

Getting older seriously sucks. I turned 39 in May.

I am feeling it lately.

My prime is long gone.

[Bevo]

Anybody with sh*t genetics will not look good, doesn't matter if white or black.  Plenty of blacks with lousy genetics.

This guy is 160 lbs now with 16 inch arms.  He can very likely get to 185 in good shape, particularly since he is an ectomorph type (lean).

This

Shit genetics is shit genetics, doesn’t matter black or white

There are MANY shit black genetics at the gym, I would say most are average

Average genetics plus gear = very good physique, if you are consistent with training and everything else

[Bevo]

5'10'',  160lbs , no way your arms are 16''

Maybe he has safety fat

[benchmstr]

I got to the point a few years ago where I only workout to get stronger, healthier, or maintain.

I have had a pec tear, bicep tear, broke both legs, arms, right elbow twice, had a synthetic disk put in my spine that I ended up cracking..

It's just not worth it anymore..I cycle 6 weeks of GVT and 8 weeks of sheiko and run almost everyday....and I stay hard on my diet!

If anything, lifting and wild shit has proven to me that you can get old, really fast

Whenever I stand up after resting for a while it's pure pain everywhere....combine that with a TBI to the occipital that causes extremely loud timing with no hearing loss and it really makes me want to tell people younger than myself to calm the fuck down

Bench

[Axe71]

I have trained since I was 15.   Started back in 1986.   So thats 33 years now.   

What I found is that  if you keep at it it will fix your mind, body,  and spirit. 
It becomes like a therapy for you in tough times.     It is one of the foundations or passions that you need when life gets tough.   

I notice now that the guys my age start to really fall apart if they don't do any training.   Your bodybuilding will set you apart from guys your age when you get older.

Each week when I do my routines it is like visiting an old friend.     
I always kept my interest up with the magazines or reading articles.   But you have to really work it out for yourself.   You have to find your own way.

I never used any drugs.    A few friends did use at various times but I was still strong around them.   It made me laugh that I could still use comparative weights.
So I never had to deal with the lows of coming of.    What I was is all I ever had.    And it was enough.
I have outlasted everyone that I trained with.   

I train alone in my fully equipped gym.   It doesn't matter that no one is around.   I have had my hardest workouts alone.


The best system out of everything that I tried.   In case anyone is interested.

Is    split the body over three workouts.        You must do the three workouts each week.   You cut rest days until you get up to five days a week.   And you will burn out on that.   So you drop back to the three workouts.   

So for me that was the key.   

Don't just do the basics.    Get your routine perfect and practice all the angles.   

For me I need to push myself  in my mind , body, and spirit.    Each area needs training.   


Training will be one of the best things you will ever do for yourself.      Just keep turning up,   you don't realize how much good you are doing for yourself.

[Tapeworm]

I have trained since I was 15.   Started back in 1986.   So thats 33 years now.  

What I found is that  if you keep at it it will fix your mind, body,  and spirit.  
It becomes like a therapy for you in tough times.     It is one of the foundations or passions that you need when life gets tough.  

I notice now that the guys my age start to really fall apart if they don't do any training.   Your bodybuilding will set you apart from guys your age when you get older.

Each week when I do my routines it is like visiting an old friend.    
I always kept my interest up with the magazines or reading articles.   But you have to really work it out for yourself.   You have to find your own way.

I never used any drugs.    A few friends did use at various times but I was still strong around them.   It made me laugh that I could still use comparative weights.
So I never had to deal with the lows of coming of.    What I was is all I ever had.    And it was enough.
I have outlasted everyone that I trained with.    

I train alone in my fully equipped gym.   It doesn't matter that no one is around.   I have had my hardest workouts alone.


The best system out of everything that I tried.   In case anyone is interested.

Is    split the body over three workouts.        You must do the three workouts each week.   You cut rest days until you get up to five days a week.   And you will burn out on that.   So you drop back to the three workouts.    

So for me that was the key.    

Don't just do the basics.    Get your routine perfect and practice all the angles.    

For me I need to push myself  in my mind , body, and spirit.    Each area needs training.    


Training will be one of the best things you will ever do for yourself.      Just keep turning up,   you don't realize how much good you are doing for yourself.

I prefer to lift at home as well. It's right there and no waiting. And you can do goofball movements like glute isolation and neck work without being self conscious. Besides, I doubt I could find a gym that will let me squat in my jockeys.

Big yes on guys dropping away and sinking into the couch. In my 20s I was nothing special. Mid 40s and I'm the only one without a gut. Only one of any age on the building site who can muscleup into the roofspace without a ladder. Feels awesome.

[JuicedKangaroo]

What exactly am I missing here - why not just get on TRT...? Problem solved I would've thought. If you have somewhat decent genetics, you can look great training hard and eating well on 100-200mg pharma test cypionate.

[IroNat]

No way he’s 160 lbs with 16 arms. If you think 5’10 185 in bodybuilding shape is easily naturally attainable you don’t know the game. Guys doing Physique who weigh 185 on show day walk around at 215-225.

No, he's not going to look like a modern bodybuilder because he won't be on drugs.

When you say "bodybuilding shape" you mean a drug bodybuilder's shape.

No, that type of physique is impossible to attain by a natty.

That's why I told him not to compare himself to a drug physique.

1945 Mr. America Clancy Ross. 

[Dokey111]

Getting older seriously sucks. I turned 39 in May.

I am feeling it lately.

My prime is long gone.

dude you got 20 years shut up

[Tapeworm]

What exactly am I missing here - why not just get on TRT...? Problem solved I would've thought. If you have somewhat decent genetics, you can look great training hard and eating well on 100-200mg pharma test cypionate.

I'm in WA. Seems like they boot any doc off the roll who prescribes. I'm 46 so will be considering supplementation sometime in the next few years. Did you just go online or something? That stuff looks so scammy.