Can you build strength after 40? (Pic shown is me at 46 đ )
Absolutely!
Many people think that we get weaker as we get older. And itâs true that weâll all experience some physical decline as we age.
But itâs a fact that strength can be improved at any age, and older adults who train regularly can become incredibly strong. With continued training, they can hold much of that strength very late in life.
Think of it like this: If you donât use it, youâll lose it. And you certainly wonât improve it.
People who are sedentary will start weak and become ever weaker if they donât train as they age. Similarly, an active person who stops training will grow weaker quickly and then gradually become weaker as years pass.
The flip side is amazing:
Inactive people who start working out at any age become strongerâoften quite quickly at first. As people continue to train, theyâll gradually gain more strength. If they continue working out over their entire lives, theyâll become very strong, and theyâll lose strength due to advanced age at a much slower rate.
These people retain their capabilities later in life even as inactive people around them lose their independence!
Weâve seen people well over 70 gain strength and dramatically improve function, so if youâre over 40, itâs definitely not too late to start. Â
Strength Training Over 40: Three SecretsÂ
Here are three tips for gaining strength after 40 (you arenât âover the hillâ):
1. You have to work out consistently.
Building strength is about momentum. If you train 2-4 times a week and do the right stuff (see below), youâll get stronger and stronger. But you canât work out for a month and then take a month off. If you do, youâll lose your progress.
2. You have to do the right things the right way at the right times.
Strength training is a balance of stress and recovery, and you can definitely do too much or too little. Similarly, doing the same things over and over will blunt their effect. You need some variety and something called âprogressive overloadâ to ensure you always make progress. And then you need to make sure you do the movements properly. Donât stress about all thisâour professional coaches take care of everything for you!
3. Nutrition is important.
You canât drive a vehicle without fuel, and your body wonât become stronger without the right food. Protein is important, and so are vitamins and minerals. Carbs and fats figure into the equation, too. Again, weâre experts and we can tell you how to optimize your nutrition so you get strong!
Letâs Start Lifting Together!
Remember, Itâs never too late to start working out. Hereâs the best part of all: People who start working out usually notice changes in strength fast. As the body âwakes upâ and connects the brain to the muscles that are already there, people get stronger very quickly.
Later, with great training and nutrition, people generally notice a few more changes. Their clothes start to fit differently, movement becomes easier and more fun, and they usually add a little bit of muscle.
Donât worry about âgetting bulky.â That just doesnât happen. If you gain muscle, it will happen slowly, and youâll look âfitâ rather than âbulky.â You donât have to be big to be strong.
Weâd love to help you accomplish your goals. We specialize in building strength in people over 40, and weâll tell you exactly how we can help you do it in a free consultation. Click on the consultation link below to get started on your fitness journey with CrossFit Unstoppable!
You came here to find out if you can get stronger after 40. Now you know that you can. You just have to start training.
Donât waste another dayâbook a consultation with us today and letâs get started!