Becoming deliberately less bulky in middle age.
Discussion
didelydoo said:
Metabolic rate generally drops when dieting due to energy restrictions, but returns to base level when the restrictions are lifted.
Resistance training (though not so much cardio) and carrying more muscle mass can increase your metabolism, but marginally, and not to the degree it’ll be noticeable tbh.
In general we have can’t do much to speed up metabolism, but it’s easy to slow it down. We can however, make out bodies energy systems and nutrient partitioning ability more effective and efficient at creating energy via exercise.
This thread has drifted away from what I was banging on about in my OP. My fault, I probably wasn't awfully clear.Resistance training (though not so much cardio) and carrying more muscle mass can increase your metabolism, but marginally, and not to the degree it’ll be noticeable tbh.
In general we have can’t do much to speed up metabolism, but it’s easy to slow it down. We can however, make out bodies energy systems and nutrient partitioning ability more effective and efficient at creating energy via exercise.
My query wasn't about staying lean in middle age, it was staying lean whilst being less muscly. Basically.
I would rather be 13 stone and lean than 14 stone and lean. But my body seems to want to be 14 stone. It is almost as though training when I was younger permanently changed the roadmap my body wants to follow when I train.
MC Bodge said:
Louis Balfour said:
This thread has drifted away from what I was banging on about in my OP. My fault, I probably wasn't awfully clear.
My query wasn't about staying lean in middle age, it was staying lean whilst being less muscly. Basically.
I would rather be 13 stone and lean than 14 stone and lean. But my body seems to want to be 14 stone. It is almost as though training when I was younger permanently changed the roadmap my body wants to follow when I train.
Are you unusually heavily muscled?My query wasn't about staying lean in middle age, it was staying lean whilst being less muscly. Basically.
I would rather be 13 stone and lean than 14 stone and lean. But my body seems to want to be 14 stone. It is almost as though training when I was younger permanently changed the roadmap my body wants to follow when I train.
A body is made up of bones, muscles, cartilage, collagen, fat etc. It's the same for everybody.
It seems unusual to have looked gaunt at 13st and 5ft 9.5
didelydoo said:
Your muscle mass will lessen with age, don’t actively try and get rid of it unless you have a good reason.
If you want rid of a stone of muscle- drop your protein, and don’t lift, and eat less. Good knows why you’d want to do that though.
I want to carry less bulk about. If you want rid of a stone of muscle- drop your protein, and don’t lift, and eat less. Good knows why you’d want to do that though.
Currently I can lose some fat and am doing so.
But I am looking a ways of staying strong enough going forwards without being as stocky as I was. I might look at yoga and start cycling again.
popeyewhite said:
Louis Balfour said:
MC Bodge said:
Louis Balfour said:
This thread has drifted away from what I was banging on about in my OP. My fault, I probably wasn't awfully clear.
My query wasn't about staying lean in middle age, it was staying lean whilst being less muscly. Basically.
I would rather be 13 stone and lean than 14 stone and lean. But my body seems to want to be 14 stone. It is almost as though training when I was younger permanently changed the roadmap my body wants to follow when I train.
Are you unusually heavily muscled?My query wasn't about staying lean in middle age, it was staying lean whilst being less muscly. Basically.
I would rather be 13 stone and lean than 14 stone and lean. But my body seems to want to be 14 stone. It is almost as though training when I was younger permanently changed the roadmap my body wants to follow when I train.
A body is made up of bones, muscles, cartilage, collagen, fat etc. It's the same for everybody.
It seems unusual to have looked gaunt at 13st and 5ft 9.5
If you want to stay lean then keep doing endurance based exercise - higher reps weights and long slow runs. As DD says, watch your diet.popeyewhite said:
Louis Balfour said:
An erstwhile friend of mine died on his 60th birthday, when I was fifty. He could squat, deadlift and bench me into the weeds. But in my opinion he looked weird.
He was carrying too much muscle?numtumfutunch said:
mcelliott said:
Never thought I'd see the day where a 50 something wants to carry less muscle.
Aren't you a cyclist?
I am off into the loft to dig out my SPD shoes later this morning actually. Then I plan to terrorise one of my 90s MTBs that was built for me when I was 12 stone.
popeyewhite said:
Louis Balfour said:
In my opinion yes. That wasn't what killed him, however. Or not directly anyway.
Just a comment - I have noticed that when men get to a certain age their weight training needs to be spot on and rather than just aim for heavy lifts there might be a shift in focus towards a more cosmetic type of lifting. A few 'older' Youtubers (not the old pros) now seem to possess saggy pecs and belly. Maybe it's just me... .The chap I referred to used to buy huge jeans to accommodate his thighs and needed to pull them in at the waist. Fine if you're a 20 year old bodybuilder, but not so much on a 60 year old gent in my opinion.
Even when I used to train a lot I was never as big as him. But I didn't like myself in a suit - I looked like a doorman.
It has been 3 years since I have trained hard, but I am now training regularly again albeit with the limitations of having no proper gym. I think I might major on endurance stuff and perhaps start yoga. HIIT a couple of times per week.
Edited by Louis Balfour on Sunday 28th March 12:22
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