Old and young people build muscle in the same way. But as you age, many of the biological processes that turn exercise into muscle become less effective. This makes it harder for older people to build strength but also makes it that much more important for everyone to continue exercising as they age.
People in their 40's and beyond often experience progressing muscular breakdown due to a condition called sarcopenia, which is responsible for the shrinking of muscle tissue and an overall decrease in strength and stamina.
It's never too late to build muscle and strength. You can build muscle no matter your age. A proven strength training program for building muscle after 50 is to lift two or three days per week, doing 10 sets per muscle and week, with about 8–15 reps per set.
In older people's muscles, by comparison, the signal telling muscles to grow is much weaker for a given amount of exercise. These changes begin to occur when a person reaches around 50 years old and become more pronounced as time goes on.
With the right type of training, you can still build muscle and get strong well into your forties, fifties, and beyond. You can start by trying out a new routine, like the Men's Heath MA40 program.
“You can get in shape at any age if you live an active lifestyle and are in good health,” says personal trainer Warren Gendel, winner of the Mr. Santa Barbara 1992 NPC bodybuilding contest and owner of Well-Fit by Warren, a company focused on fitness for men over 50.
At this age, it's probably hard to think that it's still possible to have a perfect, fit body and thinking about it makes some people feel a little negative. The good news is that even in your 40s, it is still possible to get into better shape.
If you are currently in your 50s or 60s and have been lifting weights for many years, then it is likely that you will be able to continue doing so for many years to come. However, if you are in your 70s or older or have not been lifting weights for very long, you may need to start considering stopping.
Late teens and early twenties are the perfect age to start bodybuilding. Puberty and bodybuilding are closely related because this is the fastest time for muscle growth. Between, 17-25, you will experience testosterone driven growth burst in your muscles.
On average, strength performance in men is at its peak at the age of 26 years in weightlifting, and at 34 years in powerlifting. Lighter weight class athletes tend to reach their peak performance earlier than athletes competing in higher weight classes.
“To achieve a six-pack, you'll need a low-calorie, high-protein diet coupled with a training program that includes core strength exercises at least three times a week,” says Stone. “To make the body leaner, a low-calorie diet coupled with regular general exercise is a must.
Weight Train Three To Four Times A Week Max
Regardless of whether you're new to weight lifting or are already quite experienced, as someone who is over 40 you really want to consider the total number of days you're hitting the gym for weight training.
Taking two to three days off from intense exercise each week while engaging in some form of active recovery will allow you to get your blood flowing to help facilitate muscle repair.
Once you reach ages 40–50, sarcopenia, or losing muscle mass as you age, begins to set in. To prevent this and to maintain independence and quality of life, your protein needs increase to about 1–1.2 grams per kilogram or 75–90 grams per day for a 75-kilogram person.
Muscle mass decreases approximately 3–8% per decade after the age of 30 and this rate of decline is even higher after the age of 60 [4,5]. This involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength, and function is a fundamental cause of and contributor to disability in older people.
The long bones of the arms and legs are more brittle because of mineral loss, but they do not change length. This makes the arms and legs look longer when compared with the shortened trunk. The joints become stiffer and less flexible.
Resistance training promotes muscle growth. Examples of resistance training include the use of free weights, weight machines, your own body weight or resistance bands. Suggestions include: Train just two or three times per week to give your muscles time to recover.
The deadlift is one of the ultimate leg exercises to build strength and increase muscle mass in the lower body. Plus, deadlifts also force you to engage your core while also targeting your back and deltoids. This makes deadlifts a great total body weightlifting move for men over 40.
Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week for adults up to age 64. (1,2) That works out to about 30 minutes a day, five to seven days a week.
It is recommended that adults aged 40 and over lift weights at least two to three times a week. Each session should last between 30-60 minutes, with 8-10 exercises focusing on all major muscle groups.
“The study shows that even though you begin late in life, you can still make a difference. Of course, the sooner you start, the better, but it is never too late – even if you are 65 or 70 years old. Your body can still benefit from heavy weight training,” he stresses.
No matter what your age, you can improve your fitness.
If it's been a long time since you've exercised and you're feeling less than fit, you might think that it's too late to make a change. But you're wrong. You can improve your fitness at any age.
Creatine is a natural source of energy that helps your skeletal muscles flex (contract). It helps create a steady supply of energy in your muscles so they can keep working, especially while you're exercising.