How important is training your body?

[Tito Tapped]

My body is a temple, but it's that rat temple in India.

 

[TribalDrumz]

Very important

 

[whocares]

Of course its important but what is most important is recognizing in middle age and beyond that you should be moving away from training as the hare while you're becoming the turtle. Vanity becomes stupidity. Functionality and protecting your joints, your back etc is paramount but honestly a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight is most crucial to long term health. In my adult life I've been from rail thin, ripped and fit to fat as fuck and everywhere between. Can't emphasize how many ways extra weight harms your body. My entire training regimen from my teens through 30's is long gone because it was all too hard on my flimsy joints, and now I'm just happy to be able to go through an entire day mobile and pain free. I found out I had lax ligament syndrome when it was too late (yes thats an actual medical diagnosis lol).

There are many ways to maintain muscle density and strength (and flexibility) without doing hardcore heavy weight lifting, same as cardio without pounding the pavement 50 miles a week. Best bet is to find a hobby or activity you enjoy that qualifies your exercise needs. To each their own to customize their own fitness program but fuck up one joint, tear one ligament or one disc in your back in your 40's, 50's 60's+ and you will pretty quickly become an immobile fat sack of shit. Been there and then it becomes a big hole you have to dig yourself out of. Preventing injury should be at the top of your priorities as you age, you can't do much of anything with a serious injury or degenerative conditions (and god forbid reconstructive surgeries), especially older when physical overcompensation happens quickly and creates a chain reaction of further injury and imbalance.

I've torn 6 ligaments and 2 tendons in my left leg alone, with knee and ankle reconstrcutions coming from the Tony Ferguson camp of hardcore athletics. My extreme endurance was a gift as a peak athlete but became a detriment in my thirties as I didn't know when to quit until my body ultimately forced me to adapt. Train smart, know your body, we're all built different. Learn your limitations before they crush you into compliance. Most of us don't learn our lessons until we get hurt, that's just being human. But it doesn't need to be that way. If you made it this far, thats my 2 cents, take it or leave it. Stay healthy kids, its all we really have and life is shit without it, both mental and physical.

 

[usernamee]

Mental health mostly

Not training something everyday makes me feel like shit

Also anytime I see a male around my age looking soft and untrained, not even fat or skinny, just muscle-less and doughy I get appalled and think that's not what I want to be.

 

[Kal-El]

Mobility and cardio are more important than lifting

Might be to someone who isn't as physically strong to begin with I guess. Lifting is fine, just how many lifters do you see with terrible cardio and mobility ?

Strength deteriorates as we age, even if you're physically strong to begin with (which can still be improved at any age by lifting with major health benefits) we all get Frailer as we go on. Bone and muscle strength improvment/retention is one of the best things you can do to keep your quality of life into later years. This is best achieved by resistance training.

 

[Berserker13]

Strength deteriorates as we age, even if you're physically strong to begin with (which can still be improved at any age by lifting with major health benefits) we all get Frailer as we go on. Bone and muscle strength improvment/retention is one of the best things you can do to keep your quality of life into later years. This is best achieved by resistance training.

Pretty sure that's the whole point of mobility exercises...

 

[560ti]

I ask because it seem like most people fall into either the category of gymrats or those who never train.

I take it seriously, but I work in health and wellness so it's all I've ever known.

Problem with most of the gym rats in my area is all they focus on is being big and lifting weights. If they cut back the lifting a little bit but focused more on sleep, cardio, diet, and managing stress they'd be way healthier.

Mobility and cardio are more important than lifting

Both of those attributes are underrated, especially in my area.

Also, quality sleep, diet, and lowering daily stress.

 

[method115]

Pretty sure that's the whole point of mobility exercises...

Mobility exercises do not provide the same benefits as lifting weights. You should be doing them both and trying to decide which is better is pointless. Both should be done along with a proper diet.

 

[ferrisjso]

I read this crazy stat about how 90% of people never run for the rest of their life once they hit 30.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about that.

 

[Berserker13]

I read this crazy stat about how 90% of people never run for the rest of their life once they hit 30.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about that.

I wonder why the healthcare industry is making bank..?

 

[Kassitus]

I lift 3x per week, and one day I will have the strength of a certified sigma male.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Very important

 

[Kal-El]

Pretty sure that's the whole point of mobility exercises...

Mobility training builds muscle? Lol.

 

[Berserker13]

Mobility training builds muscle? Lol.

It helps with the aging process....

 

[Kal-El]

It helps with the aging process....

As does resistance training. So to your original claim, in what way is lifting worse than mobility or cardio training?

 

[Berserker13]

As does resistance training. So to your original claim, in what way is lifting worse than mobility or cardio training?

It's not worse, it just gets prioritized higher by most.

also excess muscle as you get older doesn't help

 

[Bacco]

41yo, i recently restarted train decent but kinda middle way... gym 3 times week, lighter quick exercise at home the days in between, absolute rest during weekend

 

[gspieler]

Very important try to me. Both for physical function, and mental health. Its probably the best preventative medicine we have.

 

[pugilistico]

I read this crazy stat about how 90% of people never run for the rest of their life once they hit 30.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about that.

A bunch of people I knew were making a big deal out of how they were going to join a 5k race. You get a t-shirt and everything and run with like a hundred other people. They asked me if I wanted to join to challenge myself.
This was when I was in my early 30s and still fighting. I politely told them I ran more than that 3-4 times a week. That was just my morning workout. I realized how inactive and unfit people are.
I'm currently the least fit I've been in awhile but people think I'm some kind of gym rat. If I compare myself to actual gym rats and fit people, I'm nothing, but compared to the average person, I'm an action hero lol.
A bunch of women have told me I'm the most fit and muscular guy they've been with and that's crazy to me because I'm not that muscular.

Training my body is important because the things I enjoy doing require some level of fitness. Hiking, surfing, dancing, meeting women, are all better if you're fit. It also somewhat offsets all the unhealthy shit I do.

 

[Yorick the Wiser]

Good input here.
Most if not all seems legit IMO.
Training becomes a lifestyle I guess.
The lasting benefits are obvious.