Muscle after 50

I will be 50 in a few weeks and my trainer says that I can no longer put on muscle, only limit how much I lose each year. I found this very discouraging. Does anyone have experience with body building after 50?

Wed. Dec 12, 9:37am

I almost positive that's not true! I saw an 80 year old woman turn herself into a muscular, thin, amazing woman. I think you should get a second opinion.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 9:52 AM

I agree! And maybe a new trainer - prove that person wrong :)

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 9:59 AM

Absolutly you can! Wow that trainer sucks. Your body doesnt know when your birthday is- "real age" comes into play. How healthy are you? do you get the right nutrients? DO you drink smoke, etc.
You can do anything you put your mind to. Isnt 50 the new 30?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 10:32 AM

I am 53 and started weight training in August. There is no doubt that I have a lot more muscle than I did 5 months ago. I squat 80lbs now and when I started I could barely squat my own weight. I'm pretty sure there's some muscle there that wasn't there before.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 11:09 AM

I am 55 and have been weight lifting for about 5 years. I am definitely lifting a LOT more weight now than I was at the beginning, even more than I was lifting 2-3 years ago. I am sure that if I had more time to devote to working out, I could still increase my weights.

I agree with the other posters: dump the trainer and go for muscles!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 3:53 PM

Thanks Girls

OP here..I have told my trainer about this thread and he said we will work to disprove the theory. He also said we'd make history..I'm choosing to ignore that comment. Thanks.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 5:50 PM

Is he just amazing otherwise? Why would you stay with him?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 9:01 PM

OP here...he is very good. He is competing for a spot on the 2012 US Olympic Team. However I have noticed there is very little information out there on body building for women over 50. Even the magazines (Oxygen, etc) consider women 40 +at the far reaches of the sport. That's why I asppreciate this forum so much. Thanks.

Thursday, December 13, 2007, 3:28 PM

I am the 3:53 poster and just want to add that today, Saturday, I was very well rested and not pressured for time when i went to the gym. As a result (and with a bit of luck) I was able to increase the weight I lifted for the dumbbell chest press (flat bench + incline) and inner-outer thigh machine (abductors + adductors). In all cases, the increase wasn't a lot = 1.1 lb (1/2 kilo) but I DID IT!!

The fact is: I am STILL increasing the weight I lift.

Good luck!

Saturday, December 15, 2007, 3:07 PM

OP here..I spoke with my trainer's father (they are a father-son team). He said his son was absolutely wrong and he had told him so. He told me about a friend of his in his 70's who still lifts. I know I can continue to put on muscle and gain strength. Thanks for all the support.

Sunday, December 16, 2007, 7:10 PM

happened to stumble on this thread

My my my... I'm newly 50. I had a personal trainer from age 48-49 (he was/is 20 years my junior) and I must say, I totally and absolutely SURPRISED him when it came time to get serious. You see, when I started with this trainer, he was concentrating on getting rid of the FAT before the weight game. Impatient as I was, weeks later (but to his credit faster results) I finally convinced him to let me "push". Man oh man was it fun to hear him say, "hey wait a minute, is there something wrong with the machine?". We surmised that MUSCLES HAVE MEMORY. That's right. I once pressed 150 lbs. on the barbell in 1983... Age is a factor, for sure. Tell you what though, you can leg press or whatever specialty you have at any age. It's GOOD for you. All we need worry about is our bones, quite fankly. IMO it's a bit late for competition... those were the old days when the 50s or even the 40s could compete. Good luck!
The video link shows my young trainer who couldn't believe I had strength, teaching me some capoeira moves. He is not only a professional, but he's been an athlete all his life. I proved him wrong!
Sounds like your trainer was more than an employee, but someone close to you.

Link

Friday, December 21, 2007, 4:09 PM

Old broads

I think this link just about says it all.

Link

Saturday, December 22, 2007, 6:31 PM

Kelly, age 77, began body building at the age of 52

Link

Saturday, December 22, 2007, 6:36 PM

Muscle after 50

I am 52, been weight training for years, working on arms and legs one day, back and shoulders next ect. ect. I am now training with 3 guys in their 30s and 40s, we do circuit training with weights 3 or 4 times a week. I have packed on some serious muscle in the last 2 months, so much so I have shaved all my body hair to show off my chest " sad or what" I feel in great shape now. Just got a bit to do on my abs,well quite a bit.
You don't need a trainer, find someone to train with.
Regard

Jayd

Thursday, July 23, 2009, 4:31 PM

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