Just a quick survey of the forum:
Are you in better shape now than you were 10 years ago?
Do you see yourself being in better shape 10 years from now?
1) Yes, by far.
2) Yes, hopefully (barring injuries)
1) Yes. Though in part because I couldn't afford to eat much at age 21, and my weight was below what was healthy. Am I in better shape than I was 13 years ago? Sort of; I'm bigger, stronger, and more muscular now, but back then I was a cardio animal and at around 5% bodyfat (wrestling).
2) Yes, hopefully.
10 years ago I was out partying every night. I'm definately in better shape now and hopefully I will maintain my good health for the next 30+ years.
I'm much stronger, but in somewhat worse cardiovascular shape than I was 10yrs ago.
I have every opportunity to be in better shape in 10 years time... it all comes down to building better habits along the way. I think I'll manage it.
-Gary
1) 2 years ago I'd have given an emphatic yes but these days my goals are a bit different. I sure as hell can't run as far I could 10 years ago but then again I'm about 40 lbs heavier and a heck of alot stronger. Plus I can smoke my old self in pull ups.
2) I plan to continue on the path I'm on and like everyone else I hope to be stronger, healthier, and fitter in 10 years barring serious injury.
The main issue with posting a question like this on this forum is the fact that we are not the normal gym monkey. We train because we love to train not just to look good nekkid or to satisfy some kind of ego issue. Training is one of my main hobbies. I love to read, I love spending time with my family, and I love to train. It doesn't matter if it's at the gym or in my front yard.
Alot of guys become obsessed with their training whether it's MMA, strongman, bodybuilding, or powerlifting and then they gets hurt. Most just give up after they grind themselves into such a physical mess that they can't even walk right or pick up a 2 pound dumbbell with one hand. But then you have guys like Dave Tate, Dorian Yates, even Rickson Gracie. They know they aren't the top of their respected games any longer and yet they still take great care of themselves and in the case of Dave Tate they come back from a deep hole and make improvements in their health and lifestyle. But these three examples are men who looked at training not only as a way to be great in their respective sporting endeavors but as a way of life.
So even with an injury, so long as it's not debilitating we can still take steps to remain healthy and that is the most important goal we can have.
I know I know FRAT but a sense of purpose is important. This is why we need to compete in something. Whether it's amateur strongman, powerlifing, sub wrestling, or highland games. It gives trainees something to work for and I'm one of the least competitive people you will ever meet.
But this is why I think Crossfit is such a great thing for most people. Even though I'm not a fan of going 100% Crossfit it is a good thing since no matter your fitness level you can do the workouts and then compare yourself with others. Plus it's not the mind numbing crap you see people doing day in and day out in the gym. It's fun even though it is hard as hell and can be discouraging to look at other peoples accomplishments but if you keep track of your own then you will begin to see progress and that is a good thing especially when you start kicking other peoples' rears on the WODs.
Now I gotta go do something even though it's my week off.
Sorr about the ramble.
I think I just threw up in my mouth
Damn I'm strangely aroused.
And the scary thing is I don't know if it was WizzleTeats or ToddSeney's post that did it.
definite yes, i'm 34 now and 10 years ago i was drinking way too much, smoking way too much and eating really bad.
possibly...
"a sense of purpose is important. This is why we need to compete in something. Whether it's amateur strongman, powerlifing, sub wrestling, or highland games. It gives trainees something to work for and I'm one of the least competitive people you will ever meet."
agree w/ the above statement 100%. i tend to slack off when i'm just working out w/ out any goal or purpose.
No. Too many injuries and I'm only 25... elbow tendinosis, irreperable subscapularis damage without surgery (the odds arent so great), nerve impingement in my hip, now I've started getting wrist pain for no apparent reason... I started lifting heavy when I was 10 years old, and had a big emphasis on strength for most of my training years... not such a great idea.
1) absolutely, and I have the pictures to prove it. As a matter of fact, I have a picture of me at my 40th birthday on a shelf next to my bathroom sink. I'm 49 now soon to be 50. I use it as motivation - what a fatass I was then, no going back to that.
2) when I'm 60, I hope to be the in the best shape and the best martial artist that i can possibly be. 'the greatest victory is to conquer oneself' - that's what i'm shooting for.
no question about it, I'm a much better athlete now than I was 10 years ago.
I don't see any reason why I won't be a better athlete 10 years from now...heck, I'll just be hitting my prime as far as I'm concerned
Are you in better shape now than you were 10 years ago?
Yes, definitely. 10 years ago was pretty much the beginning of my journey to get fit and treat my body better. I am at a far better fitness level now than ever before in my life.
Do you see yourself being in better shape 10 years from now?
Definitely - assuming I don't incur a serious injury or illness.
"Are you in better shape now than you were 10 years ago?"
Similar. I was stronger and bigger by about 15lbs in college. My diet was pretty good. I was grappling a ton so cardio wise i was in good shape.
Now, dont roll nearly as much. I do tri's every now and then and box when i can. Im lighter but at a much better weight imo.
"Do you see yourself being in better shape 10 years from now?"
Similar shape i predict
No, Yes.
""a sense of purpose is important. This is why we need to compete in something. Whether it's amateur strongman, powerlifing, sub wrestling, or highland games. It gives trainees something to work for and I'm one of the least competitive people you will ever meet."
definitely agree with this. i haven't done shit since i stopped training mma.
my answers:
1) no
2) hopefully
"I know I know FRAT but a sense of purpose is important. This is why we need to compete in something. Whether it's amateur strongman, powerlifing, sub wrestling, or highland games. It gives trainees something to work for and I'm one of the least competitive people you will ever meet.
But this is why I think Crossfit is such a great thing for most people. Even though I'm not a fan of going 100% Crossfit it is a good thing since no matter your fitness level you can do the workouts and then compare yourself with others. Plus it's not the mind numbing crap you see people doing day in and day out in the gym. It's fun even though it is hard as hell and can be discouraging to look at other peoples accomplishments but if you keep track of your own then you will begin to see progress and that is a good thing especially when you start kicking other peoples' rears on the WODs. "
Agree on both counts --
Having a goal definitely helps. I do adventure races with friends, BJJ tournaments when I'm training in BJJ, etc. At the CrossFit affiliate I teach at, we also have competitions every few months -- like for example one time it was a 1000m row. People had a week during which they had to set a benchmark for their best 1000m row. Then 8 week later we had a special day where everybody came in and rowed again. The winners were determined by scores that equally weighted how they placed in the final rankings as well as how much they improved from their original time. It was a great motivator and people really got into it! Oh, also I should mention everyone put in $30 to participate and the winners (one male and one female) split the prize money.
And on the second point - I always advise all my students/clients to keep a journal and log their progress. It's a really great thing to be able to look back through it and see definitively and quantitatively how much you've improved.
1.) Ten years ago, I was 17 and could not do ONE pushup. So, yes, by far. It's not even much of an accomplishment.
2.) I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually lose interest in physical culture and just exercise enough to maintain bone density and a low resting heart rate? I feel myself getting close at times these days, but that's another topic for another thread.
Excellent thread, btw. Raelly makes you think!
Yes. I've got more lean mass (not a ton, but more), definitely.
It's almost surely due to training methodology. The problem is age, kids, and two jobs don't let me train like I want to.
I wish I had been on this site back in '96. '86 for that matter.
Yes and yes. I was about 160lbs 10 years ago at the age of 22. Now Im about 195 and I intend to continue getting stronger and bigger. Its a long, hard journey but certainly worth it...
The reason why I asked these questions on this forum is to confirm a suspicion that I've had for a while:
People who live an active, athletic lifestyle do not suffer from the typical view that advancing in age meant a decrease in physical performance.
Many of us know of sheeple who subscribe to the view that once you hit a random number in age that you somehow, like clockwork, just start physically declining NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. This attitude, more than anything, leads to their own self-fulfilling prophecy.
I'm glad to see that many on this forum do not subscribe to that view. I'm glad to see that many people see themselves actually getting better with age.
As someone in their early 30's, I actually can't wait to hit "old man strength" levels when I'm in my forties and fifties.