Middle age working out

[SquinkY5786]

So I have a lot of friend who are doing the CrossFit stuff. I personally don’t think 35 to 40+ year old should be doing any heavy lifting. What does everyone here do? I have taken up biking as a great way to get cardio that’s low impact on the body. Try to get 50 to 60 miles in a week. I know some said that the orange theory stuff is good but haven’t had a chance to try it.

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

So I have a lot of friend who are doing the CrossFit stuff. I personally don’t think 35 to 40+ year old should be doing any heavy lifting. What does everyone here do? I have taken up biking as a great way to get cardio that’s low impact on the body. Try to get 50 to 60 miles in a week. I know some said that the orange theory stuff is good but haven’t had a chance to try it.

You don't start heavy with CrossFit, you work up to it when you're ready. Don't let that dissuade you.

Have also heard good things with Orange Theory but honestly thought it was stuff for suburban moms.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

I think there are plenty of repetitive movement patterns that aren't good for any age in CF. However, heavy lifting and olympic lifting aren't an issue in controlled reps. I would argue they are at minimum equal to the importance of cardio.

Crossfit is great for someone trying to learn a lot of movement patterns, but it's not something I would suggest for more than a year. High rep snatches are just stupid, and I regret doing them.

 

[Pokes15]

If you get in to Crossfit make sure you join a gym that has a cool logo. It's a requirement that you put the sticker on the back of your vehicle.

 

[BluegrassPoke]

I do hot yoga.

 

[1981grad]

I will be 60 next month and I have a fairly rigorous workout regiment.

I lift weights Monday thru Friday as I do a different body part each day. I workout with lighter weights as I just want to make sure everything is still working.

I begin in March, as I live in Utah, cycling 10 miles per day, three days per week. I increase my mileage 2 miles each week. I have a nice climb going out and a nice decent coming home. the descent still allows me to still pedal.

I also hike three days per week. I hike for four hours which is anywhere to 8 to 10 miles. My hikes are uphill the first two hours and downhill the last two hours. I try to do a different trail or segment each time.

Orange Theory is very expensive and is geared for trophy wives.

 

[SquinkY5786]

If you get in to Crossfit make sure you join a gym that has a cool logo. It's a requirement that you put the sticker on the back of your vehicle.

And also requirement you talk about it all the time. ALL THE TIME. In person or social media

 

[long-duc-dong]

12oz curls

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

I will be 60 next month and I have a fairly rigorous workout regiment.

I lift weights Monday thru Friday as I do a different body part each day. I workout with lighter weights as I just want to make sure everything is still working.

I begin in March, as I live in Utah, cycling 10 miles per day, three days per week. I increase my mileage 2 miles each week. I have a nice climb going out and a nice decent coming home. the descent still allows me to still pedal.

I also hike three days per week. I hike for four hours which is anywhere to 8 to 10 miles. My hikes are uphill the first two hours and downhill the last two hours. I try to do a different trail or segment each time.

Orange Theory is very expensive and is geared for trophy wives.

That is spectacular. Most people would do one of those three and call it good. Where in Utah do you live?

 

[1981grad]

That is spectacular. Most people would do one of those three and call it good. Where in Utah do you live?

I live in Cedar City, Utah which is in the SW part of the state

 

[AC_Exotic]

Walk 30 minutes a day.

We're not training for the Olympics. No need to push much harder than that.

 

[nathajw]

Barbell curls, 4 sets of 8 or to failure every 3 days. Make sure to use a squat rack or cage in case you drop the weight.

 

[nathajw]

Crossfit is great for someone trying to learn a lot of movement patterns, but it's not something I would suggest for more than a year. High rep snatches are just stupid, and I regret doing them.

Looking back, I'm ashamed of the fact that I would do a WOD that consisted of 400 meter runs and 1.5x BW deadlifts.

Deadlifting 315+ for reps while gasping for air? What a great idea.

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

Looking back, I'm ashamed of the fact that I would do a WOD that consisted of 400 meter runs and 1.5x BW deadlifts.

Deadlifting 315+ for reps while gasping for air? What a great idea.

Why would this make you ashamed?

 

[HighStickHarry]

 

[nathajw]

Why would this make you ashamed?

Well, I guess ashamed is the wrong word. More like thankful I didn't f anything up. Air is support and form naturally fades with being winded too. I still continue to deadlift heavy but it's in the garage and not after 3 rounds of 400 meter runs, burpees, etc. A lot of the WODs boxes come up with are dumb imo.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

Well, I guess ashamed is the wrong word. More like thankful I didn't f anything up. Air is support and form naturally fades with being winded too. I still continue to deadlift heavy but it's in the garage and not after 3 rounds of 400 meter runs, burpees, etc. A lot of the WODs boxes come up with are dumb imo.

On a similar WOD, I strained so hard (trying to maintain form without air) that I spewed some blood from the pressure. And... I kept going. Not great.

 

[nathajw]

On a similar WOD, I strained so hard (trying to maintain form without air) that I spewed some blood from the pressure. And... I kept going. Not great.

As you alluded to above, Isabel was my favorite WOD and probably my best one. Snatching 135 pounds for 30 reps as fast as possible.....smh. I can only imagine my form on those last 5-8 reps.

 

[BvillePoker]

I have started a crossfit exercise class. I have been doing it for about a month. Started very low weight, (like a 5 foot 1" PVC pipe filled with sand light) to learn good form and mechanics so I do not hurt myself and then started increasing weight. I am still not lifting a lot of weight, but lifting more each week. I am 45 years old. I started the program at 200lbs and weighed myself last weekend and I was 181. I am sleeping better, I have more energy, have more strength and flexibility than I have had in 20 years. I think other people are starting to notice a change in my appearance because they tell me that I am looking good lately. I had to do something because I was headed down the road to a heart attack at a young age like my father. I will keep doing it because I feel better and look better.

 

[BrettOSU17]

I have started a crossfit exercise class. I have been doing it for about a month. Started very low weight, (like a 5 foot 1" PVC pipe filled with sand light) to learn good form and mechanics so I do not hurt myself and then started increasing weight. I am still not lifting a lot of weight, but lifting more each week. I am 45 years old. I started the program at 200lbs and weighed myself last weekend and I was 181. I am sleeping better, I have more energy, have more strength and flexibility than I have had in 20 years. I think other people are starting to notice a change in my appearance because they tell me that I am looking good lately. I had to do something because I was headed down the road to a heart attack at a young age like my father. I will keep doing it because I feel better and look better.

This is the key. Do what you like (any and all exercises apply) and keeps you coming back to the gym. Consistency trumps everything. Do it safely and check your ego at the door. Great work!

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

I have started a crossfit exercise class. I have been doing it for about a month. Started very low weight, (like a 5 foot 1" PVC pipe filled with sand light) to learn good form and mechanics so I do not hurt myself and then started increasing weight. I am still not lifting a lot of weight, but lifting more each week. I am 45 years old. I started the program at 200lbs and weighed myself last weekend and I was 181. I am sleeping better, I have more energy, have more strength and flexibility than I have had in 20 years. I think other people are starting to notice a change in my appearance because they tell me that I am looking good lately. I had to do something because I was headed down the road to a heart attack at a young age like my father. I will keep doing it because I feel better and look better.

This is great and what I was trying to describe above. You'll learn a lot of lifts you can use throughout your life with or without Crossfit.

My only watch out is that by the time you can do all of the movements, you probably should drop it. And, to be honest, some damage is likely already done.

Here's a good instance: you shouldn't ever do kipping pullups or especially muscle ups unless you can do them strict. Most people will NEVER get to the point to do a MU strict, but they will rip their shoulders apart doing them kipping because of the Open.

 

[JohnVoight]

Barbell curls, 4 sets of 8 or to failure every 3 days. Make sure to use a squat rack or cage in case you drop the weight.

Pro-tip: Lift it above your head each rep to work your Lats/assert your dominance at the gym.

 

[BvillePoker]

This is great and what I was trying to describe above. You'll learn a lot of lifts you can use throughout your life with or without Crossfit.

My only watch out is that by the time you can do all of the movements, you probably should drop it. And, to be honest, some damage is likely already done.

Here's a good instance: you shouldn't ever do kipping pullups or especially muscle ups unless you can do them strict. Most people will NEVER get to the point to do a MU strict, but they will rip their shoulders apart doing them kipping because of the Open.

So I don't do the kipping pullups. I do strict regular pullups with band assistance. I modify the kipps to just do the front and back kipps to work my core, but do not pullup from the kipp.

 

[MegaPoke]

Used to do CrossFit. At 49 I don’t think it’s for me anymore.

I also don’t do low rep high weight stuff anymore because it’s bad for your joints north of 40.

For example on bench I warm up and the do reps of 225 and then I just use a max calculator and call it good. The gym by my studio is a planet fitness so that means Smith machines. Not sure if that makes it easier or harder but I can do 21 reps. I don’t believe the one rep max that calculates but it makes me feel good about it.

Recently I came up with my own challenge. Find something simple it takes you 12-15 minutes to do.

Could be running, circuit training etc. allow for rest time or being slow. For me it was 100 push-ups, 100 squats and 40 sit-ups. I started out taking 12+ minutes to do this and little by little I tracked it every day and always tried to beat my last time. Yesterday I got it down to 3:53.

Not sure I can get it down much further but that’s really motivating to see it drop a few seconds every time. And I feel like it really supercharged my cardio performance. Can’t recommend that enough. When you are done, go on and do some basic weight training. Once you get that as low as you can create another timed challenge and start again.

Problem now is the low carb diets that used to get me down to 200 pretty easy don’t work as well. Stuck around 215+

 

[MegaPoke]

I will be 60 next month and I have a fairly rigorous workout regiment.

I lift weights Monday thru Friday as I do a different body part each day. I workout with lighter weights as I just want to make sure everything is still working.

I begin in March, as I live in Utah, cycling 10 miles per day, three days per week. I increase my mileage 2 miles each week. I have a nice climb going out and a nice decent coming home. the descent still allows me to still pedal.

I also hike three days per week. I hike for four hours which is anywhere to 8 to 10 miles. My hikes are uphill the first two hours and downhill the last two hours. I try to do a different trail or segment each time.

Orange Theory is very expensive and is geared for trophy wives.

 

[wyomingosualum]

 

[SomeBeach]

12oz curls

They are only 12 ounce curls if you don’t drink any of it.

 

[long-duc-dong]

They are only 12 ounce curls if you don’t drink any of it.