Is 34 just too old?

[gbrice75]

Not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this question, but I couldn't find one more fitting, so here it goes:

I started working out a year ago when I was 33. Just about everybody I know who is in good shape from working out (and looks the part without question) started either during their teens, or very early 20's.

Now, I know it's never too late to start working out, but I have to question whether or not my goals are realistic based on starting this at 33 - I have to assume i've passed my prime, testosterone and HGH must be on the decline, etc.

Is it unrealistic to have a goal of 200lbs at 10% bodyfat - obviously given that I will be putting the hard work in and trying to do everything right? In general, is this attainable at my age considering I have no history of working out?

[FireGuy]

34 is not too old by any means. Your goals of 200lbs @10% is going to take quite a bit of work to achieve. A guy at 5'11 with those stats is going to look impressive. Considering your stated present stats of 195lbs and 20% BF you will need to gain 24lbs of muscle while at the same time losing 19lbs of fat. That should be a long term goal as realistically it would take 2-3 years minimum to accomplish. I would suggest setting some shorter term goals along the way. Putting on 9 lbs of muscle and losing 9lbs of fat would put you around 15% at 195lbs. Maybe make that your 18 month goal for now.

[MuscleScience]

Its never to late. I have a 54 year old women that I train that just starting working out for the first time last year. She dropped her BF about 10% from 37% to around 28ish% in a year and still weighs the same, around 135. That means she put was putting on muscle. Now it took her a year and she is a novel weight lifter but it goes to show that its never ever to late.

Good Luck.

Edit: I should add in that her exercise goals had nothing to do with me training her. It was the time she put in at the gym and at home by eating properly. She was 100% dedicated to diet, exercise and proper rest.

[gbrice75]

34 is not too old by any means. Your goals of 200lbs @10% is going to take quite a bit of work to achieve. A guy at 5'11 with those stats is going to look impressive. Considering your stated present stats of 195lbs and 20% BF you will need to gain 24lbs of muscle while at the same time losing 19lbs of fat. That should be a long term goal as realistically it would take 2-3 years minimum to accomplish. I would suggest setting some shorter term goals along the way. Putting on 9 lbs of muscle and losing 9lbs of fat would put you around 15% at 195lbs. Maybe make that your 18 month goal for now.

Thanks for all your help fireguy - I do realize this will take some time, and I am willing to do what it takes to get there. More recently, some of the members pegged me somewhere between 16%-18% - I hope they're right! Either way I am being measured with calipers tomorrow morning, so i'll have a relatively accurate number to work with.

My current short term goal is to get down to 10% bodyfat; I am hoping (and members have told me it's absolutely possible) that I can accomplish this by June. I am taking in around 2000 calories per day, on a 50/30/20 split. I am not even going to think of putting on muscle until the bodyfat is in check - i'm just too disgusted right now with it.

[gbrice75]

Its never to late. I have a 54 year old women that I train that just starting working out for the first time last year. She dropped her BF about 10% from 37% to around 28ish% in a year and still weighs the same, around 135. That means she put was putting on muscle. Now it took her a year and she is a novel weight lifter but it goes to show that its never ever to late.

Good Luck.

Edit: I should add in that her exercise goals had nothing to do with me training her. It was the time she put in at the gym and at home by eating properly. She was 100% dedicated to diet, exercise and proper rest.

Thanks man, i'm glad to hear this and won't give it another moment's though.

[elpropiotorvic]

prepare for some early morning cardio, and after work cardio


good luck with ur endeavors mate

[energizer bunny]

never to late mate....head down and hard work.....good luck!

[Dont wanna be old]

You might have a slight advantage .
You can add education and research to regiment .
I know I've made tons of mistakes and would do things different .

1. You have proper nutrition .
( optimal protein sources ) Diet support in diet section .

2. Proper workout routine .
( more people over train and several under train )

3. Proper cardio instruction .
( conditioning with correct heart rate levels )

How many times you see hollywood actors play roles as buff tough guys and do 1 movie before turning back to normal looking guy . Robert Deniro in Cape Fear . Charlie Sheen in Hot shots part deux .

This was a long winded answer telling you it's never too late !

[gbrice75]

You might have a slight advantage .
You can add education and research to regiment .
I know I've made tons of mistakes and would do things different .

1. You have proper nutrition .
( optimal protein sources ) Diet support in diet section .

2. Proper workout routine .
( more people over train and several under train )

3. Proper cardio instruction .
( conditioning with correct heart rate levels )

How many times you see hollywood actors play roles as buff tough guys and do 1 movie before turning back to normal looking guy . Robert Deniro in Cape Fear . Charlie Sheen in Hot shots part deux .

This was a long winded answer telling you it's never too late !

LoL, no problem man and i'm happy to hear the same answer from all of you vets!

[gcguiness]

The body is a machine, gotta do the maintainence to get the most out of it. It's those who sit on there butts, who are in real trouble. Work hard, and see the transformation a year from now.. Just don't quit...

[Turkey]

I have better results in my late 20s and early 30s than ever before: I'm more disciplined, more in tune with my body, better appreciation for a good diet, more open to different approaches (I incorporate a lot of functional strength and bodyweight stuff than ever before), and have a renewed interest (and respect) for cardio.

Make it a routine, something that just comes naturally, w/o you having to micromanage your life around it. May take a few weeks, or even a couple of months, but when the results start showing, you'll feel like you can't be stopped.

[gbrice75]

Thanks again guys! =)