One of those day's when you realise you are getting old

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Minimag May 2021 7:59pm, 31 May 2021 347 posts	0 Minimag I've always considered myself relatively strong. I'm not tall or particularly well built, but I've normally handled whats dealt to me. We had our fences replaced recently, my wife thought we could use the old concrete gravel boards as slabs. I couldn't carry the damn things, I'd seen our fencers lift these on their own, but I struggled to even drag them. I used to work out, but sincel covid. I haven't been in a gym in 2 years. I still thought I was relatively strong. We had my 2 boys around for a BBQ today, my wife told them of our problem ( the gravel boards were laying in an area I needed to slab, and I couldn't do it because, well, they were there). My boys just lifted and moved them. It made me realise that my boys where now stronger than me. First time I have felt this I'm getting old. I did tell them both that I could still run further than them though, but I still feel down about it all. Need to start working the weights again.
Velociraptor May 2021 8:54pm, 31 May 2021 52,875 posts	0 Velociraptor You're young enough to regain the strength you had before you stopped working out. But yes, use it or lose it. And eventually you lose it no matter what.
Minimag May 2021 10:57pm, 31 May 2021 348 posts	0 Minimag Thanks for your post, I do know you are right, and have always followed the mantra of use it or loose it, it's just the first time I've experienced the feeling of potentially loosing it. I will not let go easily, I intend to work the weights again, it really was just the shock of realising I might not be getting any younger and my boys are catching me up. It was a first for me. However, I am stubborn
Angus Clydesdale Jun 2021 10:30am, 1 Jun 2021 22,658 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale Last year, during lockdown, my Young Lad overtook me in height. Not that difficult as I'm only 5' 8" but I was really pleased for him. He's now 5' 10" (and still growing!) but it's really useful as he can now reach things down from high places for me Looking forward to him being stronger than me too - I've got a list of jobs....!!
swittle Jun 2021 10:41am, 1 Jun 2021 75,940 posts	0 swittle Weight training seems helpful when trying to maintain one's muscle mass in ahem more mature years. While it won't offset the gentle pull downwards of gravity, it seems to improve posture and stability, while not fully restoring the strength of earlier times.
Oranj Jun 2021 10:46am, 1 Jun 2021 2,658 posts	0 Oranj I've just seen this article which suggests that endurance is easier to maintain than strength, although resistance training does much to compensate for this loss. physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com Use it or lose it indeed.
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2021 3:51pm, 1 Jun 2021 38,869 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) I'm strong enough in muscles, but the skeleton and joining tissues seem to be a bit brittle (bad back, joints etc.) so I've very weary of heavy lifting, pushing, pulling. Ironically, I'm happy doing in the gym, where the effort is in a defined range of motion! G
halfpint Jun 2021 6:31pm, 1 Jun 2021 34,994 posts	0 halfpint I saw the title and thought yes this is me. I’ve just passed a young lady on my walk and wondered why she was walking around the village in her underwear. Feeling old but not in the way you mean.
GordonG Jun 2021 7:20pm, 1 Jun 2021 8,588 posts	0 GordonG I'm in my 50s as are most of my male friends. Those of us who run, can't run as fast as our kids but we can certainly run further!
um Jun 2021 11:02am, 2 Jun 2021 4,781 posts	0 um Laying or cafrrying slabs is a real killer. I find I can lift & level slabs once or twice. After that it's a real effort. But better failing to lift the gravel boards than doing it, then spending the next 2-3 days regretting it and feeling really old.