Social I think I'm quitting the gym

[Scrody]

I had a dude at my old job bragging about how he could get steroids in Mexico. Seemed like a sad life. He couldn't understand why I didn't care about it. Good for you sherbro. Muscle heads are usually compensating.

 

[Vergilius]

Yeah, I'm approaching my mid 40'ies and have had trouble with my lower back for years. Never been a big lifter or on steroids, but have packed 200 lbs on my 6'2'' frame of mostly muscle and it looks pretty good. There's always someone bigger or fitter around... but I'm mostly ok with that, personally.

Deadlifts are impossible for me now, though, due to my back and I just lift once or twice a week now.

Instead I focus on my martial art (karate in my case, with light contact), I run when the weather allows and I do 100 push-up burpees for a quick, effective workout when I'm strapped for time. I also enjoy doing mobility routines. I started doing it to keep flexibility and prevent injury as I get older and now I enjoy them in their own right. There are a lot of nice routines from 15-25 minutes on youtube.

Basically, any workout you will enjoy doing is the best workout, imo. It doesn't all have to be about chasing some goal.

 

[Shaun K]

Isn't 40 too young for TRT?

I am similar in that I've spent decades at the gym. This year, I stopped going to the gym for about four months for similar reasons. After four months, during a summer vacation, I used my hotel's gym and started enjoying it again.

Now I go five times a week. However, I have removed the big lifts like deadlifts and squats. I replaced it with lifts I can do quickly that has less stress on the back. I pair this with a lot of light cardio to maintain mobility.

It depends on your natural levels and when they start dropping. Some people need it in their early 30's-even 20's.

I think I got mine tested at 39 and it was 390 I think. Asshole doc wouldnt treat. Some doc's treat at levels higher than that, depending on if you're symptomatic or not.

 

[wlu.29]

Weight lifting has played a massive part of my life - for the past 23 years, I have dedicated myself to the routine of going to the gym, and at my peak, I was a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter. At one point, I weighed 293lbs and had tried virtually every steroid under the sun.

I recently turned 39, and I've noticed that my passion for training has fallen off a cliff. I use to get so excited to go to the gym - it was a social hub and my "happy place", but over the years it has become an inconvenience - something I have to do in order to look a certain way. Because of some pretty severe injuries, I'm in constant pain, and the lifts I used to love to do (bench, OHP, squat) I can no longer do. I'm still "strong", but I find myself navigating towards machines and full body workouts.

As of now, I am about 235lbs, still on a mild cycle, and training 3-4 days per week. My plan as I enter my 40s is to switch over to TRT, drop to 200lbs, and just focus on being really lean - I have a decent amount of equipment at home, and will try and focus on lifting for general muscle maintenance and some mobility.

This is actually a surprisingly difficult decision to make, as for my entire adult life, I was known as the "big guy", and so much of my identity was tied to my physical appearance. The last real "cycle" I did was back in the late summer (I stacked Tren and Superdrol), and I felt like absolute garbage), When I was in my 20s and early 30s I could get away with taking anything, but now, I just can't endure the abuse/toxicity.

I know there are alot of other lifters on here, and I would love to hear your thoughts as to how you transitioned you training and approach as you got older.

Try biking

It allows you to explore new places, easy on the knees, time to think and contemplate

 

[AFanNotAFighter]

It happens. I'm in my 50s now and my shoulders and elbow tendons are shot from decades of benching, overhead pressing, push-ups and chin ups/pull ups.
I no longer care how many pounds I can lift or how many reps I can do or having the best physique. It's pointless for me at this point.
I focus on conditioning for the most part. Circuit training with dumbbells, rope skipping, calisthenics, shadowboxing/shadowkicking, sprinting with little rest between evolutions..

 

[liner]

It sounds like a lot of the mid 40's guys with aches and pains need some yoga in their life instead of all that weight on the deads and squats. The best one for those that can't touch their toes is gonna be bikram hot yoga. Or if too scared to go to a proper studio with the real heat. Just do the poses at home in a warm room to start and it'll kick your ass in the best way possible. You won't feel like a pussy doing it, as it's intense as hell and is just the ticket for all those inflexible backs and frozen shoulders. It'll teach you how to properly breathe too, almost everyone does it wrong

 

[ChickenBrother]

5'11 - You are exactly right about body dysmorphia. When I was almost 300lbs, I still felt small, and always felt uncomfortable taking my clothes off (even when competing). Even though 200lbs is still big by 99% of people's standards, knowing what you once were, and trying to come to terms with that, is difficult.

It's important to challenge ourselves to keep things fresh. But if you've been lifting for 20+ years, have been on all kinds of gear and are pushing 40, you've been there, done that and are on the downswing now. Doesn't mean you can't still be strong and look great but your best days in that arena are past. If you need to hit fresh PRs to stay motivated, best to work on areas you've neglected and would like to improve.

It took me several years to arrive at this mentality in my 40's. I used to lift 6 days/week and would train like an idiot - attempted max or AMRAP every workout. I'm now down to lifting twice/week with BJJ/wrestling 3 days/week. If there is one lift I will do as long as possible, it's ATG barbell squats. More than any other lift, I'm convinced it maintains size/strength and boosts natural test as long as your diet and sleep are on point. But I go light now, never do 1RM and it's been months since I've even repped 1.5x BW.

Areas I've improved in my 40's are flexibility, grappling and oly lifts. I stretch for 5 minutes every night and can now invert and touch my feet to the ground again, which I couldn't do since early 20's. 2 years ago I couldn't do a front rack position with a barbell but can now do (dogshit but serviceable) snatch and C&J. And despite my SBD numbers going down, I'm a more effective grappler than I was 6 years ago - went from an aging lay and pray wrestler/Judo guy to a seasoned BJJ purple belt knocking on brown.

I'm also a lifelong runner but have dramatically cut back in the last few years due to knees hurting. If I ever get to the point of not being able to run, I will switch to biking for my outdoor cardio runners high. The point is there are always other directions to take our training.

 

[cmw43]

I'm 37 and got bored of just lifting eventually and over lockdown basically quit working out and ballooned to 30lbs heavier than I am now.

I picked up BJJ again about a year ago to get back in shape and just started doing 30 minute HIIT sessions with light dumbells just to work on muscle endurance and this was the change I made in 8 weeks getting ready for a BJJ tournament.

 

[cmw43]

It's important to challenge ourselves to keep things fresh. But if you've been lifting for 20+ years, have been on all kinds of gear and are pushing 40, you've been there, done that and are on the downswing now. Doesn't mean you can't still be strong and look great but your best days in that arena are past. If you need to hit fresh PRs to stay motivated, best to work on areas you've neglected and would like to improve.

It took me several years to arrive at this mentality in my 40's. I used to lift 6 days/week and would train like an idiot - attempted max or AMRAP every workout. I'm now down to lifting twice/week with BJJ/wrestling 3 days/week. If there is one lift I will do as long as possible, it's ATG barbell squats. More than any other lift, I'm convinced it maintains size/strength and boosts natural test as long as your diet and sleep are on point. But I go light now, never do 1RM and it's been months since I've even repped 1.5x BW.

Areas I've improved in my 40's are flexibility, grappling and oly lifts. I stretch for 5 minutes every night before bed and can invert and touch my feet to the ground again, which I couldn't do since early 20's. 2 years ago I couldn't do a front rack position with a barbell but can now do (dogshit but serviceable) snatch and C&J. And despite my SBD numbers going down, I'm a more effective grappler than I was 6 years ago - went from an aging wrestler/Judo guy wrestle-fucking blues to a seasoned purple belt knocking on brown.

I'm also a lifelong runner but have dramatically cut back in the last few years due to knees hurting. If I ever get to the point of not being able to run, I will switch to biking for my outdoor cardio runners high. The point is there are always other directions to take our training.

View attachment 1012905

Yeah I've been running for nearly 20 years and did all kinds of races up to a 100km ultra.

These days at 37 I mostly do 6-8km on soft woodland trails, to save my knees, as much uphill as possible and not usually more than twice a week at the moment. I find a lot of benefit from running hills though.

 

[deadshot138]

I had a dude at my old job bragging about how he could get steroids in Mexico. Seemed like a sad life. He couldn't understand why I didn't care about it. Good for you sherbro. Muscle heads are usually compensating.

The gym I used to go to had a lot of over 40 roid heads. None of them were happy despite being jacked and a couple even committed suicide.

 

[Cole train]

Yeah I've been running for nearly 20 years and did all kinds of races up to a 100km ultra.

These days at 37 I mostly do 6-8km on soft woodland trails, to save my knees, as much uphill as possible and not usually more than twice a week at the moment. I find a lot of benefit from running hills though.

Dam son at 100km ultra

 

[ringking1982]

Weight lifting has played a massive part of my life - for the past 23 years, I have dedicated myself to the routine of going to the gym, and at my peak, I was a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter. At one point, I weighed 293lbs and had tried virtually every steroid under the sun.

I recently turned 39, and I've noticed that my passion for training has fallen off a cliff. I use to get so excited to go to the gym - it was a social hub and my "happy place", but over the years it has become an inconvenience - something I have to do in order to look a certain way. Because of some pretty severe injuries, I'm in constant pain, and the lifts I used to love to do (bench, OHP, squat) I can no longer do. I'm still "strong", but I find myself navigating towards machines and full body workouts.

As of now, I am about 235lbs, still on a mild cycle, and training 3-4 days per week. My plan as I enter my 40s is to switch over to TRT, drop to 200lbs, and just focus on being really lean - I have a decent amount of equipment at home, and will try and focus on lifting for general muscle maintenance and some mobility.

This is actually a surprisingly difficult decision to make, as for my entire adult life, I was known as the "big guy", and so much of my identity was tied to my physical appearance. The last real "cycle" I did was back in the late summer (I stacked Tren and Superdrol), and I felt like absolute garbage), When I was in my 20s and early 30s I could get away with taking anything, but now, I just can't endure the abuse/toxicity.

I know there are alot of other lifters on here, and I would love to hear your thoughts as to how you transitioned you training and approach as you got older.

The older you get the more we need to work out. Take up yoga, rock climbing, jogging, crossfit, what ever it take to stop heart disease and osteoporosis. Just do it bro. You'll be happy you did.

Also start intermittent fasting. Lots of problems later in life are from high insulin levels, shitty diet, fatty liver disease from too much sugar. 16-8 is the way to go. Start slowly. Like 12-12 and build it up.

Get your brain in the right frame of mind. Read some work by Marcus Aurelius. These tips will save you in the long run.

 

[boingyman]

Life happens. I don't know your situation, but as you get older life gets more busy. At least for me it's family and kids and less time for myself, which then makes it more challenging to workout and train the way I want to. Not to mention setbacks from various reasons including injuries. It's fine though. I've learned to be flexible with fitness. I still lift, but I also try to find other ways to stay active even it's just getting more steps in daily, wrestling with my kids, playing soccer with my 8 year old or doing pullups with my 5 year old at the playground.

I say whatever you do just put in some type of work and find something you enjoy. Prioritize health (both physical and mental) because that's one of the most underrated investments adults neglect.

 

[ssBaldy]

It does not seem like you are trading gym for lying on the couch gulping down milkshakes, you will still be a big man in good shape. I suggest you focus on something else that gives you joy and leave fitness as a tool for your body to not fall apart. Any hobbies you got @Brampton_Boy ?

 

[therealdope]

I managed to simultaneously injure my right shoulder and left elbow...while racking, wasn't even an exercise. I fucking hate getting old.

This^^^^ +1000. Eye sight has gone to shit.

 

[therealdope]

It does not seem like you are trading gym for lying on the couch gulping down milkshakes, you will still be a big man in good shape. I suggest you focus on something else that gives you joy and leave fitness as a tool for your body to not fall apart. Any hobbies you got @Brampton_Boy ?

I was going to suggest outdoor stuff like hiking or even climbing.

 

[Renard]

Being very bulky mostly only impresses other dudes. Transitioning away from it is no large loss anyway, as long you don't become a couch potato. Being lean and muscular is better in pretty much every metric.

 

[Ralph Wiggum]

I quit using a long time ago. I just don't like pinning all the time. You don't have any freedom and you need to bring your gear with you. Even something like TRT is disgusting. It's just using steroids. It still has the same issues of lack of freedom.

What do mean by lack of freedom? I'm 44 and I'm seriously considering TRT. I'm probably the fittest, strength-to-leaness I've ever been in life, but I feel I'm at the time in my life where I'd get the most from TRT, not just lifting wise, but energy and libido as well.

 

[I Am Legion]

I gave up on training for "size" a decade ago. I still go to the gym 5 times a week. I still do bro splits sometimes. But I have substantially decreased weight and focused on better reps and form. I also cut my sets down to the 12-15max range. I have dealt with tennis elbow, impingements in both shoulders and wrist tendonitis. I'm done with training heavy. Power lifting will always only lead to pain at some point. I do not dead lift and I squat with an empty bar. Funny thing is, I haven't lost much muscle. at 50, I look better than I did at 35. As for the roids, never did them, never will. My identity was tied to being athletic, but not a mass guy so I never needed them. I would get your blood checked 2-3x a year for Metabolic function. Everything comes at a price, but resistance training will be a part of my life forever. I also don't do heavy cardio---hikes and brisk walks only.

 

[I Am Legion]

What do mean by lack of freedom? I'm 44 and I'm seriously considering TRT. I'm probably the fittest, strength-to-leaness I've ever been in life, but I feel I'm at the time in my life where I'd get the most from TRT, not just lifting wise, but energy and libido as well.

Once you start you are on it forever and will need it to just to stay at baseline. Getting older will have some downsides but you can correct some of that through lifestyle changes like diet and removing processed sugars and chemicals from your diet. Lowering bodyfat also helps. So does better sleep and stress reduction. . It's like anything--people that use caffeine daily, NEED IT. People that take melatonin or sleep aids then NEED them because they fucked with their chemistry. Unless you have a medical issue, your body WILL do its job on its own.