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Originally posted by parabellum:

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Originally posted by Aglifter:
Spent my youth wrecking my body/having fun. The rehab has been excellent, but she mentioned that I would be reopening a bunch of injuries to get them to heal properly.

Well, the chickens eventually do come home to roost.

I will say, though, that any man who is getting older, who doesn't have reason to say now and then "I wish I would (or wouldn't) have..." or "I should (or shouldn't) have..." has likely lead a less than full life.

I was careful with my weightlifting/bodybuilding (never ego lifted or maxed out) but damn if you aren’t right about all the other stupid shit I did. “Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to jump the creek on that motorcycle….” I was young and dumb. Now I’m old and slightly less dumb. Derp.

I'm 42. Still train like a powerlifter. No injuries, healthier and better than ever.

High rep stuff to move the blood became a lot bigger for me in the last few years. Night and day difference. Serious warm ups too. And doing all the stuff that sucks I avoided for years like front squats, band movements, damn core work, etc.

Keeping the diet clean is huge too. Losing some weight, being ok with the lifts going down proportionally, and knowing when to walk away. Energy levels are way better when I keep this tight.

In the words of Pat Mac, "It's called fitness not brokeness."


My ace in the hole is to go on TRT one day if I want. I know a bunch of guys that did and they are skipping down the hallway in the morning.

Welcome to the club. Give it another five or ten years! My ankles pop or click
several times a day.

When I turned 60 I thought, what's the big deal.
Then around 63-64 i started to understand.
Now as I'm about 6 months from the odometer moving to the next decade I really understand.
Still better off than many others my age, but it sure would be nice to be back in my 50's for a few years again.

Here's a thought I came acroos: If you're like the average american, you've been sitting for a good portion of your life. Your legs all the way to your soles and all parts in between haven't bee doing much. So you shouldn't be too surprised.

I know this personally.

As others said, using your legs will bet the vitality back.

I’m 76 and I’m lucky to still be able to do everything I’ve always done, but at a much slower pace. I’m a little reluctant to run a chain saw tho and think back to those days when I ran a saw all day and wish I still could. Today I was on a ladder cleaning gutters from the nasty storm we just had. I’m too lazy to do my exercises and go for a walk, or at least get on the treadmill as much as I should. My neighbors are both in their early 60's. Both have had knee replacements and watching them go up the stairs to their front porch is painful. If they are carrying something, they will set it down on the step above, take the next step, then rest, pick up the package and move up the next step. I thought I was going to have surgery on both knees last year, but both stopped bothering me. I’d love to be back in my mid or earlier 60's. When I hit 70 is when I really started slowing down. I have my problems, but I do feel lucky. Everyone is different.

Im 69 have had both Knees replaced and my left ankle. I am going in for MRI for my left elbow today to see why its locking up. Dirt bikes and horseback riding put atoll on my knees. I still ride occasionally, but mostly sit on my ass a lot. I was doing some dumbell workouts but have messed my elbow and bicep up. It sucks getting old...but the alternative is worse.

I was always told that whatever I did in my youth would pay me back. Field bombs, dirt bikes, road bikes. I even broke a couple of heads with my windshield!

I'm 74 and have had both legs broken, and a kneecap is missing from my right knee. All my jobs involved walking, climbing, or standing all day. I still walk the dogs in the woods for at least two hours a day, and I get around OK, only slower. My running days are over. My biggest problem is getting up after sitting too long or driving more than a half hour. It takes the joints a few steps to loosen up.

You're 42? Trust me. It'll get worse.

A woman I shoot with every week is referred to as the bionic woman by others in the group.

She's had both knees replaced, a hip and a shoulder replaced as well and cataract surgery on both eyes.

Gets along fine, though, but does have a very slight limp. She's 70.

When I turned 40 I started feeling like I lost a few steps. I made the decision a couple years ago to make some permanent lifestyle changes so that I can enjoy the life I really want to have.
I pay close attention to my nutrition, lift weights and run 5 days a week, and get plenty of sleep. My knees and feet hurt like hell the first couple months but I stuck with it until my body acclimated. My joints all seemed to rejuvenate with the consistent use and I feel better than I did in my 20's.
I love hiking and mountain biking so I'll keep this up as long as I'm able.

I will be 72 next month. My legs have felt like a weak point for years. Especially since the Wu Flu hit, knocked me off my workout regimen, and my diet went to hell.

A month-and-a-half back, or so, I decided the fat had to go and the muscles had to come back. Got my diet on-track, then my gym announced it was closing. Said "to hell with this" and started putting my own gym together at home.

Was rowing and/or weight training 20-40 minutes/day.

Then another forum in which I'm a member started a "300,000 steps in December challenge." I decided to give that a go.

Ho-ly crap!

Just getting 10k steps/day was a challenge. It took so much out of me I did no rowing and very little weight training. It hit my muscles so hard I went out and bought a percussion massager.

Now I'm nearly 150k steps into the Challenge.

I haven't felt this good in years and years.

I did 9.84 miles of outdoor walking, yesterday. My legs got tired. Some bits got a bit sore. But I'm not in pain from walking anymore.

Point to the story: Try walking. It's harder than it would seem and more beneficial than you might imagine.

A word of caution about Strength Training, DO NOT OVER DO IT. Even if it feels fine and you aren't straining. When you are over 60 you can do some serious damage to your joints. Back in 2020 doing 3 sets of 25 on the Pect machine at 160 lbs. was part of my routine. Until it started hurting. Had to do Therapy which was shortened by Covid and lay off upper body work for 2 years. Now I set the weight to 80 lbs and limit each set to 20 reps.

Concerning "Pop" in the legs, that comes along with aging and the reduction of growth hormones. I'm 67 years old at present and cannot work at the same level of intensity as I could just 3 years ago. Asked my Primary Doc about Testosterone supplements and he advised strongly against going down that path. It's like gasoline for Cancer and even if you don't get the big C you'll be on it for life, because coming off Testosterone will leave you feeling weaker than a 6 week old kitten. So I don't take and supplements I just muddle along doing the best that I can. Good news is I can still go out for a 6 mile walk and enjoy every step.

BTW, tip for Walkers. When Plantar Fasciitis sets in the Elliptical Trainer is a great aid. Not only do you get in your workout with near zero impact the motion of your feet on the pedals will act as a massage on the soles of your feet and really ease the pain. My gym workouts now entail 4 made up miles on the Elliptical and then 1 mile on the indoor track.

Walking

One thing I've learned is that aging is not for sissies.

Just speaking generally, not suggesting you're a sissy.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This!

When I was young, dying “old” terrified me.

I figured if I made it to 45/60 by a miracle, that would be a good run.

I just planned to “keep going” until my heart gave out, or I had an aneurysm, or went out in a ball of fire.

Still terrified of “dying old” but I just feel damn old these days.

I’m feeling better, so I feel like I want to start training, but I know there’s “zero” chance I can take it again.

Preference; I'm not a doctor. In my experience issues with "tired legs" is associated with circulation which I've learned can be caused by many things. Just go get it checked out. It might be nothing or something that can be corrected or signs of other conditions. Self diagnoses is not always (seldom) the best option. Yeah, tests are a PITA but usually not invasive and should be covered by most insurance plans. Better to know.

By "pop out of your legs" do you mean "spring in your step?"

The last few months, it takes “effort” to stand, and they feel like there’s no way I could skip rope, etc.

I’ve been doing lots of very deep body weight squats in Pilates/working on pushing out of my heels (same as when I competed but different foot position).

But I put my feet down off a chair (I usually sit cross legged/ or lay back) and the muscles just don’t want to go. I either have to force it, or use my hand against my knee and brace.)