Michael said "I agree with the regular theme that Greg, Gary, Slastonecold, and others preach here about growing old gracefully." Hopefully we will all grow old and older so why not do it gracefully and sensibly? Let's make the best of what we've got. We budget our income so that when we're older and can't work we have a reserve to live on. So let's use the same idea with our health and fitness. Do what we can now so to prepare ourselves for the future. Now if we could just get the "younger" generation to understand that.

"Not everyone likes the same things." Not everyone's the same and that's what makes life great.

Greg said "I want to be doing "SOMETHING" throughout my span of years and make them as productive as possible." Have to agree with that.

ddmoates29, I'm not going to copy all that, just going to say "yes what he said I agree thanks Greg and Michael."

Thanks also to all the other posters and contributors. Posting all your workouts, links, and experiences are appreciated and helpful. Please keep it up.

GB

"One thing that baffles me is if You're not using heavy weights then why shouldn't this be possible? It's totally possible."

Well, yes and no. As we age, and this starts in our early thirties, hormone production and other body processes start slowing down. The body doesn't recover as well; especially when it comes to the joints. That is human physiology. Our bodies wear out as we age. You can still work with relatively heavy weights, but you need much more recovery time, and you definitely need to warm-up more.

At different times I've considered doing a 5X5 program with military press, squat, and row once a week, with isometrics or bodyweight exercise two other days during the week. Could you get the best of all worlds doing that? I don't know. I do know Grimek wrote about doing a program like that back in the day and Louis Reicke trained something like that when he hit his stride as an Olympic lifter.

So anyway, it is an interesting thought.

Thanks for the well wishes and Prayers. I'm going to try and post when time permits. Good posts Greg, Dmoates and John. John what You wrote here is kind of the point I was trying to get across, very well put.

"I believe everyone benefits when different training ideas and approaches are discussed. As was stated, there are many ways one can train while promoting health and longevity."

Dmoates I'm also interested in the life ahead of me. Hearing You guys talk about this is knowledge everyone should listen to. One thing that baffles me is if You're not using heavy weights then why shouldn't this be possible? It's totally possible.

Michael

I know I've only recently started posting, but I've been a long time reader. In fact, I am familiar with most members here from the Transformetrics forum, and had followed that board from the early Bronze Bow days. It was a sad day for me when I saw that Greg had left. It was the end of an era, and the forum was never quite the same afterwards.

However, I was happy to learn that Greg had started his own forum. What I liked about Greg's posts on the Transformetrics forum was that he was always open and accommodating to different training ideas and approaches and how they could be assimilated into his larger training philosophy. And I assume that is still true based on the variety of the forums on this site.

I for one, hope you continue to post on the topics you have been once every one in your family regains their health. I believe everyone benefits when different training ideas and approaches are discussed. As was stated, there are many ways one can train while promoting health and longevity.

I want to add my two cents here, first in gratitude to MichaelS who is the day to day go to guy and keeps this forum up, running, interesting and challenging. I think that sometimes we take for granted "things as they are," and Michael is the biggest reason (along with Greg) that things are good here. So a sincere "Thank you" to Michael - your hard work is noticed and valued by us all I'm sure. As for what Greg says I'm 100% in agreement. I'm an old(er?) guy on here, and Greg hits it squarely in his approach. My athletic days of heavy weights and contact sports is long since over. Great memories and lasting injuries maybe sums it up; no regrets, the mistakes are what they are. I'm interested in the life ahead of me and that's what Greg is all about. Its just great to come here and be involved with other folks who see that and train accordingly. This is the only internet site that does this so very well, with courtesy and competence as the hallmarks of the discussion. So - Michael - please keep posting, and all my (and our) best to you and your family and thank you for your role here and to the contributions you have made in fulfilling it so very well.

I'll be praying for your family members Michael. As for conditioning style training, it is not a don't do it type thing - it is just that you have to be smarter about it as you age. That is one of the reasons I am a big fan of GB's countdown workouts. Those are doable as you hit your later years and still create and maintain a great deal of endurance and strength. The same with isometrics and other self-resistance exercises. You do what you can fit into your schedule and lifestyle.

The camera friendly stuff, the high intensity stuff, the train until you hit the wall stuff is dramatic and challenging, but doesn't last. This is not a dig against professional or amateur athletes, but the training lifestyle is a temporary thing. The majority of them discontinue training after time. I want to be doing something throughout my span of years and make them as productive as possible.

Now this is not directed at you, but something I've thought about a lot my own self here lately. I used to catch a lot of flack from certain quarters about following John Peterson's lead and shucking the common training memes. Where are those guys now some years later? For the most part they've aged horribly with cardio-vascular disease, joint deterioration, and an inability to do anything close to athletic anymore, other than to lambast others on internet forums. Meanwhile, at 57, I take no meds, which is an anomaly in itself, I am fit and active enough to continue in fire and rescue, I can still do athletic things, and I look strong and athletic for an older guy. That is something I hope to continue on as the next couple of decades go by.

A training journey should be a lifetime journey. You d0 what your genetics will allow and don't try to change things with PED's. The fitness media though, concentrates on the high flyers, the ones who have the youth, the genetics and the right combination of drugs. That is what sells, but what also dooms the average guy or gal to failure.

Anyway, this is all just a self-reflection. Stay strong, be safe and do good things as Gary would say.

i hope your sickness in the family gets better

I like that article Bob, Thanks for posting it. I've been thinking of getting a heart rate monitor. That's a great way to go about conditioning.

I might not be posting much for awhile. If I do I pretty much wanted to know what guys were interested in so I could use my time wisely. But for now since no one responds I just won't post until I take care of stuff I need to.

I’ve descried my exercises before; therefore, I’ll be short to avoid boring. I am a fan of co-contraction exercises, isometrics with a stick and belt, and Yoga. Why? Because I enjoy this exercises, can do it ~60 min daily without overtraining, and see positive results.

I think Maffetone's method of conditioning might be useful for older people when they perform any exercises of interest:

http://www.stack.com/a/this-conditioning-workout-is-easier-and-more-effective-than-hiit

However, the number 180 might be slightly reduced depending on individual health and genetics.