Is 30 too old?

[Angel]

Is 30 years of age too old for an unfit man to try and change and become a little bulked up?
I have a friend who has never done gym work and is quite unhappy with his body in that he is rather thin and dare I say it, weak.

I know weight training should be done in your 20's, so is 30 too late to start and could he reach any decent level of muscle tone at this age?

[NicoMoon]

Hello Angel!

Welcome to Livewire!!:hummers:

Weight training is good at any age. As we get older we lose muscle mass unless we build back up. We need muscle to be health as well as strong. Even 90 year olds can benefit from weight lifting. There are actually weight lifters who are that old.

Here's an article about a woman, Jackie Young who began lifting weights at age 66.
http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/future/Transcripts/s1153672.htm (http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/future/Transcripts/s1153672.htm)

It's not good to think that fitness is only for young people. Fitness is what keeps us young, which is why we're seeing so many gorgeous older people these days.

I have neighbors who I just found out are 72 and 68. I never would have guessed, I thought they were in their 50's. They are tanned, trim, muscular, fit, and both very sexy looking people.

Muscles control all the vital functions of our bodies, including our hormones, so we all need to have good muscle mass at any age, and that especially includes women who are often sold short on the value of weight lifting. They keep sending us into the aerobics classes like we don't need muscles!

Forget your friend, Angel, get moving and lift some weights yourself!! :D

[stargirl]

I think a man is at his peak in his mid 20s
If he has not done any weight training earlier in life, that doesnt mean he cant start now but he of course may not reach superman levels but as i always say... its never too late to start!

[vervilledeb1]

I think a man is at his peak in his mid 20s
If he has not done any weight training earlier in life, that doesnt mean he cant start now but he of course may not reach superman levels but as i always say... its never too late to start!

Isn't a man at his sexual peak in his 20's? Does that have anything to do with weight lifting? I didn't think so. I have seen older men not in shape start weight lifting and following a regimen and turn out very nice looking with great tone.

Maybe some of the guys could help here. Frankie?????

[chameleon]

It's definitely never too late for weight training, especially if he includes some aerobic exercise to get his heart rate up and pumping. It's about more than appearance - it's about health.

[stargirl]

Isn't a man at his sexual peak in his 20's? Does that have anything to do with weight lifting? I didn't think so. I have seen older men not in shape start weight lifting and following a regimen and turn out very nice looking with great tone.

Maybe some of the guys could help here. Frankie?????

Nup, not sexual peak (well maybe) but I was talking about "fitness peak"

Thats what I was told by a gym instructor anyway :)
Apparently a man puts on the most muscle in his early-mid20s and after that it slows down.

[NicoMoon]

Nup, not sexual peak (well maybe) but I was talking about "fitness peak"

Thats what I was told by a gym instructor anyway :)
Apparently a man puts on the most muscle in his early-mid20s and after that it slows down.

Right, we lose muscle mass as we age, unless we work to build it. There are lot of 50 + people who have more muscle than the average 20 year old. Muscle doesn't continue to develop on it's own after a certain age, it's a matter of use it or lose it.

I don't think that means though, that a person is at their fitness peak at any certain age. I didn't even find my fitness peak until I was in my 40's, and there's nothing stopping me from peaking beyond that as I age, except possibly my penchant for gourmet food! :worthy:

[Word2Action]

Nooo way is this too old. I mean i'm 19 and really fit so I've got a good head start but I did my transformation over the course of 5 years. By the time you're 35 if you workout steady and right you can be ROCK solid, pretty much anybody can be. :jump:

[LyricB]

There are some people who don't start weight training until they're much, much older as a means to stave off osteoperosis and such. The older someone is, though, the more careful they need to be about injuries.

[capitalist_junkie]

Yeah, definitely talk to a doctor or trainer before doing anything.

[palefrost]

Its never to late to get in shape. I think we tell ourselves this to stop the pressure of doing something about the problem. I know i do all the time. I have tons of excuses on why i cant get on my treadmill. Today its just to far away. :jump:

[nightgirl]

I don't believe 30 is too old, but to be safe, consult a doctor or get him checked. Even though exercise is good for the body, doing it the wrong way can also be harmful. And a trainor can help too, he can help him be ready with his exercise manual or routine on which is the proper exercise for him.