6 ms·

I didn't start lifting weights until my 40s. I now realize how great strength is in so many ways.

amelius 10y ago
Could you elaborate, in what ways? Also, I've noticed that people in the gym are somewhat narcissistic, so perhaps the benefits are only for this group?
- Normal_gaussian 10y ago
  I started climbing, people at the bouldering wall or at outdoor routes are awesome. Why is it so great? The control over your body. The feeling awesome and powerful. It has made my life a whole lot less stressful as well, even though I do more. If you don't have some kind of total physical exertion in your life I highly recommend getting one.
  - kzisme 10y ago
    This has always seemed like fun to me - is it hard to get started?
    - ieatkittens 10y ago
      Nope. Find a bouldering gym, buy a pair of shoes, go climbing and chat with everyone.
    - Normal_gaussian 10y ago
      Not at all. To start, do three things. Find a bouldering wall. Get a hold of some climbing shoes. Watch videos 5, 6, 7 of Climbing for Beginners [0]. Don't spend a lot on shoes, you will wreck them really quickly and you will certainly buy the wrong sizing when you start. Boulder a bit and have fun. I enjoy bouldering with a friend the most as it really challenges me. Bouldering walls are often full of really cool and helpful people. If you like it then watch some more videos to improve technique, think about what you are doing and practice. Consider trying rope climbing (you will want to take a short intro course for this, the rope skills are important). Then you will start watching super cool videos [1], find yourself at the wall waay too often, and be more interested in finding out somebodies beta than their name. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbIDnMmSLsc&index=5&list=PL-tQqcPz8GJBOC5WurzR7D3F3B8Ag5wgc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbIDnMmSLsc&index=5&list=PL-... [1] http://www.ukclimbing.com/videos/ http://www.ukclimbing.com/videos/
- tsumnia 10y ago
  Aside from labeling anyone that works out as a narcissist, the sheer 'ability' to do things is what makes it great. I'm not even referring to just being able to lift something, because plenty of larger framed people can do that. I remember the first time I realized I was no longer "big" came when I squeezed through a thin pathway in my closet. Last week, I ended up doing 7 chained backflips at a trampoline park. What was the point of both incidents? "To see if I could". If you do some forms of training, you can become very flexible. If you are martial art minded, you can find yourself very disciplined. Finally, you do get more confident (what someone might see as narcissist or how someone might manifest it).
- weavie 10y ago
  Being able to carry the shopping home without struggling. Being able to easily help people move furniture. Better tolerance for kids jumping all over you. More energy. Better sleep. Better mood. Confidence.
  - exodust 10y ago
    Also just the feeling of being firm and toned. When you bump into something or someone brushes by you in the street, that's when you feel the difference. Whatever you bump into doesn't sink into your flab, it bounces off instead. That's what I loved about being all toned from gym, you sort of hold yourself more confidently and it feels great... (I've since let things slide recently, it comes and goes! I'll be back there soon, I don't do gym all year.)
- jgrahamc 10y ago
  I'm well into my 40s. People's bodies, in general, decline in strength as they age. I wanted to delay that effect and also be stronger so that I could do things that required strength (e.g. I like scuba diving but lugging around tanks was hard work).
- gaius 10y ago
  Some are, sure, but those mirrors are actually there so you can check your form. A CrossFit instructor I know says the best reason to squat is that you will be able to go to the toilet unassisted when you are 80...
k__ 10y ago
I started with 30, still regret not starting before, haha.
highace 10y ago
There are two things in my life that I'm so grateful I became interested in. One is coding, the other is weightlifting. The benefits of each are so great I feel like they're the closest thing to having actual superpowers. "No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable." - Socrates
omegaham 10y ago
I got a coworker of mine into lifting. She's 62, and she's already enjoying a bunch of the benefits. Unfortunately, she only goes when I go, and she's retiring in seven months. I don't know if she's going to stick with it when she leaves. I hope she does, as she's been making some great progress.
- noir_lord 10y ago
  > I don't know if she's going to stick with it when she leaves. It's lovely that you got her into exercise, when she leaves you could still arrange to meet her at the gym for workouts assuming she doesn't live miles from the gym, retiring can be a nasty shock for lots of people since they go from full days to "what the fuck do I now" in a weekend.
  - omegaham 10y ago
    She's retiring to Pocatello, ID, unfortunately. That's a little out of the way for me.
tmaly 10y ago
what type of gym do you use?
- kzisme 10y ago
  I'm also curious - I find that location plays a much larger role than price (for me). I'm more inclined to go if it's closer and pay a little more. I still dislike paying as much as I do though.
- jgrahamc 10y ago
  A small personal training only gym with mostly free weights (dumbbell, Olympic bar, kettle bells) and a small number of machines.
simonbarker87 10y ago
This, I started lifting at 17 but didn't really work out "how" to lift until mid twenties and didn't get a good grasp of nutrition until 2 years ago.
- kzisme 10y ago
  How did you refine your daily nutrition and start eating more healthy?
  - simonbarker87 10y ago
    I cut out white starchy carbs (change to wholemeal bread and brown rice etc), removed refined sugars as best as possible, increased my protein to 1.5 g per lb of body weight, set my fat to 0.5 g per lb of body weight and then change my carbs depending on if I want to gain weight or loose weight - If It Fits Your Macros has a very good calorie calculator. I also do a lot of bulk cooking so my recipes are logged in MyFitnessPal ahead of time.
StavrosK 10y ago
I lifted for a few months two years ago, but stopped because of various factors. My physical therapist friend doesn't like weightlifting, though, she says the risk of injury is too high. I'd like to start exercising again, but I don't know what would be effective enough without as much risk of injury as weightlifting...
- andrewvc 10y ago
  I loved weightlifting, but you're right. Currently recovering from a nasty back injury despite doing all the right things, and having a dedicated trainer. You'll never do it all correctly every single time. I'd love to do it again, but I can't see how I'd ever justify the decision. Luckily swimming, running, yoga are all just as fun.
  - StavrosK 10y ago
    Yeah, the two options I'm entertaining now are running and tennis. Otherwise, maybe something like TRX or bodyweight exercises.
- chrischattin 10y ago
  In an athletic context, one of the key benefits from weight training is injury prevention.
  - StavrosK 10y ago
    Yeah, I'm not sure about that. Like your sibling comment, I also injured my back while deadlifting (with proper form and everything) years ago and it's been very tender and ever since. I also get back cramps in that spot around once a year, making me unable to move for about a day.
    - imsofuture 10y ago
      Weightlifting is definitely injurious -- but also provides you with a lot of strength and physical fortitude that prevents injury doing other random things/sports. Like other physically taxing activities, it's a bit of a double edged sword.
paki123 10y ago
My 50 year old mom started lifting weights. She's feeling incredible now, and her blood sugar has dropped. I'm waiting for the day she'll be able to backsquat my body weight!

Could you elaborate, in what ways? Also, I've noticed that people in the gym are somewhat narcissistic, so perhaps the benefits are only for this group?

Normal_gaussian 10y ago
I started climbing, people at the bouldering wall or at outdoor routes are awesome. Why is it so great? The control over your body. The feeling awesome and powerful. It has made my life a whole lot less stressful as well, even though I do more. If you don't have some kind of total physical exertion in your life I highly recommend getting one.
- kzisme 10y ago
  This has always seemed like fun to me - is it hard to get started?
  - ieatkittens 10y ago
    Nope. Find a bouldering gym, buy a pair of shoes, go climbing and chat with everyone.
  - Normal_gaussian 10y ago
    Not at all. To start, do three things. Find a bouldering wall. Get a hold of some climbing shoes. Watch videos 5, 6, 7 of Climbing for Beginners [0]. Don't spend a lot on shoes, you will wreck them really quickly and you will certainly buy the wrong sizing when you start. Boulder a bit and have fun. I enjoy bouldering with a friend the most as it really challenges me. Bouldering walls are often full of really cool and helpful people. If you like it then watch some more videos to improve technique, think about what you are doing and practice. Consider trying rope climbing (you will want to take a short intro course for this, the rope skills are important). Then you will start watching super cool videos [1], find yourself at the wall waay too often, and be more interested in finding out somebodies beta than their name. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbIDnMmSLsc&index=5&list=PL-tQqcPz8GJBOC5WurzR7D3F3B8Ag5wgc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbIDnMmSLsc&index=5&list=PL-... [1] http://www.ukclimbing.com/videos/ http://www.ukclimbing.com/videos/
tsumnia 10y ago
Aside from labeling anyone that works out as a narcissist, the sheer 'ability' to do things is what makes it great. I'm not even referring to just being able to lift something, because plenty of larger framed people can do that. I remember the first time I realized I was no longer "big" came when I squeezed through a thin pathway in my closet. Last week, I ended up doing 7 chained backflips at a trampoline park. What was the point of both incidents? "To see if I could". If you do some forms of training, you can become very flexible. If you are martial art minded, you can find yourself very disciplined. Finally, you do get more confident (what someone might see as narcissist or how someone might manifest it).
weavie 10y ago
Being able to carry the shopping home without struggling. Being able to easily help people move furniture. Better tolerance for kids jumping all over you. More energy. Better sleep. Better mood. Confidence.
- exodust 10y ago
  Also just the feeling of being firm and toned. When you bump into something or someone brushes by you in the street, that's when you feel the difference. Whatever you bump into doesn't sink into your flab, it bounces off instead. That's what I loved about being all toned from gym, you sort of hold yourself more confidently and it feels great... (I've since let things slide recently, it comes and goes! I'll be back there soon, I don't do gym all year.)
jgrahamc 10y ago
I'm well into my 40s. People's bodies, in general, decline in strength as they age. I wanted to delay that effect and also be stronger so that I could do things that required strength (e.g. I like scuba diving but lugging around tanks was hard work).
gaius 10y ago
Some are, sure, but those mirrors are actually there so you can check your form. A CrossFit instructor I know says the best reason to squat is that you will be able to go to the toilet unassisted when you are 80...

k__ 10y ago

I started with 30, still regret not starting before, haha.

highace 10y ago

There are two things in my life that I'm so grateful I became interested in. One is coding, the other is weightlifting. The benefits of each are so great I feel like they're the closest thing to having actual superpowers. "No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable." - Socrates

omegaham 10y ago

I got a coworker of mine into lifting. She's 62, and she's already enjoying a bunch of the benefits. Unfortunately, she only goes when I go, and she's retiring in seven months. I don't know if she's going to stick with it when she leaves. I hope she does, as she's been making some great progress.

noir_lord 10y ago
> I don't know if she's going to stick with it when she leaves. It's lovely that you got her into exercise, when she leaves you could still arrange to meet her at the gym for workouts assuming she doesn't live miles from the gym, retiring can be a nasty shock for lots of people since they go from full days to "what the fuck do I now" in a weekend.
- omegaham 10y ago
  She's retiring to Pocatello, ID, unfortunately. That's a little out of the way for me.

tmaly 10y ago

what type of gym do you use?

kzisme 10y ago
I'm also curious - I find that location plays a much larger role than price (for me). I'm more inclined to go if it's closer and pay a little more. I still dislike paying as much as I do though.
jgrahamc 10y ago
A small personal training only gym with mostly free weights (dumbbell, Olympic bar, kettle bells) and a small number of machines.

simonbarker87 10y ago

This, I started lifting at 17 but didn't really work out "how" to lift until mid twenties and didn't get a good grasp of nutrition until 2 years ago.

kzisme 10y ago
How did you refine your daily nutrition and start eating more healthy?
- simonbarker87 10y ago
  I cut out white starchy carbs (change to wholemeal bread and brown rice etc), removed refined sugars as best as possible, increased my protein to 1.5 g per lb of body weight, set my fat to 0.5 g per lb of body weight and then change my carbs depending on if I want to gain weight or loose weight - If It Fits Your Macros has a very good calorie calculator. I also do a lot of bulk cooking so my recipes are logged in MyFitnessPal ahead of time.

StavrosK 10y ago

I lifted for a few months two years ago, but stopped because of various factors. My physical therapist friend doesn't like weightlifting, though, she says the risk of injury is too high. I'd like to start exercising again, but I don't know what would be effective enough without as much risk of injury as weightlifting...

andrewvc 10y ago
I loved weightlifting, but you're right. Currently recovering from a nasty back injury despite doing all the right things, and having a dedicated trainer. You'll never do it all correctly every single time. I'd love to do it again, but I can't see how I'd ever justify the decision. Luckily swimming, running, yoga are all just as fun.
- StavrosK 10y ago
  Yeah, the two options I'm entertaining now are running and tennis. Otherwise, maybe something like TRX or bodyweight exercises.
chrischattin 10y ago
In an athletic context, one of the key benefits from weight training is injury prevention.
- StavrosK 10y ago
  Yeah, I'm not sure about that. Like your sibling comment, I also injured my back while deadlifting (with proper form and everything) years ago and it's been very tender and ever since. I also get back cramps in that spot around once a year, making me unable to move for about a day.
  - imsofuture 10y ago
    Weightlifting is definitely injurious -- but also provides you with a lot of strength and physical fortitude that prevents injury doing other random things/sports. Like other physically taxing activities, it's a bit of a double edged sword.

paki123 10y ago

My 50 year old mom started lifting weights. She's feeling incredible now, and her blood sugar has dropped. I'm waiting for the day she'll be able to backsquat my body weight!