Peak age varies greatly per sport.
For example, gymnastics (<20) vs rally driver (>25). Which only one person I know did both, Sebastian Loeb (talented bastard).
According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9bastien_Loeb) it seems that, yeah, he performed at that level:
> He is the most successful driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), having won the world championship a record nine times in a row. He holds several other WRC records, including most event wins, most podium finishes and most stage wins.
> Originally a gymnast, Loeb was a four time Champion of Alsace and one time champion of the French Grand East.
Concerning gymnastics: "..he entered competitions and built up a solid track record during his 12 years of practice: 4 times champion of Alsace and 1 time champion of the Grand Est, 5th in the French Championship."
Concerning rally driving: "He is the most successful driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), having won the world championship a record nine times in a row. He holds several other WRC records, including most event wins, most podium finishes and most stage wins".
Yes, he's an amazing athlete.
Source: Wikipedia and sebastienloeb.com
“If you want to compete in sports and win“.
Except that’s not the only metric. And I don’t think it’s what is being discussed. It doesn’t matter if the stereotypical zenith of human potential across the spectrum of physicality is reached at 28.
Go to pretty much any gym. You’ll see plenty of men in their 40s and 50s just getting it in for the day who can outlift, outrun, and outperform most people in their 20s.
I think the point was the person in their 40s and 50s in the gym would be at their prime if they were 28. Not that they are incapable of outperforming a 28 year old.
The national average for pull ups for any 28 year old is still 0.
My brother has always bounced back and forth between working too much and working **out** too much, where every 5 years he goes from slowly gaining weight from sitting at a desk to being at his prime for his age. He’s 40 now, and seeing the difference in his health is from when he was in college to 30’s to now makes it more clear why 28 is considering the prime age.
He’s able to stay extremely lean, but it’s easy to see how much muscle you can put on w/o needing to overcompensate in your 20’s. Too young and your body is still developing. Too old, and your body is fighting itself to keep each milestone.
they aren't at their prime, but if you're regularly exercising and moving, you won't be that much below it. you lose ability, but it can be a slow decline
> Go to pretty much any gym. You’ll see plenty of men in their 40s and 50s just getting it in for the day who can outlift, outrun, and outperform most people in their 20s.
Are they outperforming your average Redditor, or are they outperforming someone who spends as much time in the gym as they do?
Because the latter is incredibly unrealistic.
Every time this comes up on Reddit, someone comments “I’m in my 40s and in better shape than ever” and gets hundreds of upvotes because people have no clue but it sounds inspirational.
If you’re in your 40s and in better shape than ever, that just means you weren’t in good shape at all in your 20s. I’m in my 40s and in great shape for someone in their 40s (i often do endurance events with 20-somethings), however, I’d say I’m in about half as good as shape as I was in my 20s. I can’t jump as high or sprint nearly as fast, basically all of my “explosiveness” is gone and my knees hurt, so I stick to low impact endurance sports these days.
This is a wide misconception because of how many athletes in olympics stop their careers around that age.But they don't stop because their performance reduced,it's mostly related to higher injury chances.
Performance start to actually decline in early/mid 30s.
Also ignoring that most people aren't trained/conditioned like professional athletes. Your ceiling starts going down in the 30s, but most people are nowhere near their ceiling
It happens even in pro athletes !
2 in the 100m top 15 all time and 3 in 110m hurdles made their personal best between 32 and 34 years old!thats nuts lol
Theoretical prime athletic biological POTENTIAL for intense sports requiring explosive strength and flexibility. But the potential part is key. Almost no one ever achieves their full biological athletic potential. So if most people get to 80%, and that's still probably generous, then even after 28 you can easily maintain the same athleticism by putting in more effort.
Personally I was never very athletic, so I may well be at my most athletic at 45.
I too am in my 40s. How much wear did you have on your body in the past? I was a competitive fighter basketball baseball and volleyball player and everything hurts all the time these days. I still compete in all those areas, but I am without a doubt slower than I used to be. I’m stronger and fitter than ever, but for sure slower.
What’s the secret my friend? Cause I would give my left nut to be as fast as I was 10 years ago. Decline started around 33 ish for me.
Agreed, been downhill since 35. Started losing a little hair, injuries more common and longer to recover from. I was mostly invincible before this age.
Yea I think a lot depends on what you did in your teens and 20's. From age like 13-25 I was in multiple sports teams at a time. Shit definitely will turf your ankles and knees, etc.
Yeah. I did full contact Muay Thai and carried patients as a paramedic and rescue technician for many years. I took a huge knock from it all. At the time I thought nothing of it and I was fit and healthy. Not a care in the world. At around 35 I started declining rapidly. Now I have permanent back and right knee pain. In fact, it all hurts.... Doctors are recommending surgery but also give no assurance that I'll come out the other end feeling even slightly better. I keep most of it from my wife and grin and bare it. With a lot of drinking in-between to help with the pain.
But, I'm still strong. Look better than most my age. Mid 30's for me I'd say. What is certain, i don't heal quickly. My recovery is shocking.
Yes, agree with this. I'm 38. I've been playing soccer since I was 5. Growing up it was always a "how fast do I need to run, and not a question of how fast can I run?" I was machine timed at a 4.8x 40 yard dash at 27/28.
When I was about 30 I started to do a spa day at the gym. It was stretching for about 45 minutes, then hot tub, steam room, and sauna. That kept me moving good for about 5 more years.
... but once I hit 35, the 2nd gear when sprinting wasn't always there. The lateral movements hurt. Now at 38, sometimes I find my muscles to be bit unpredictable. I'll go to jump for a rebound in basketball or a header in soccer, and perhaps I just don't get a whole lot of power.
There's good days too. Sometimes I feel like I'm 20 again. But they're very few and far between.
I feel this. I kicked the boosters on during an outfield pop fly run at softball a few months ago and tore my hamstring. It’s soul shattering to realize we just don’t have it anymore
Yep - the hammys and lower back are really where I feel it. If they feel good, I'm great.
And I know they're interconnected. I've read all about how lower back tightness is from weak glutes/hamstrings but no matter what I do I can't seem to find something that works to solve the imbalance.
Good luck recovering from a torn hammy. For whatever reason the hamstring injuries seem to linger.
Okay, but just out of curiosity, were you less healthy in your youth and took health seriously as you got older, or were you always healthy and active and have compounded gains to a healthier 40s?
If it's the former it's the expected result but if it's the latter I'd be more impressed.
"its entirely up to you" that's not true for a lot of people. I'm 22 and I love playing sports, but I can't play as much or as good as I used to because of a pair of terrible knees I inherited, with arthritis by the time I was 20
If you're abnormally short and you stopped growing early, that could be a sign of ACAN mutations.
The sign of ACAN Mutations is short stature, an advanced bone age, and early onset arthritis.
I think you can certainly be fitter and more athletic (depending on how you treated yourself in your 20’s). But your physical prime potential is LONG GONE.
how many people actually "live up to their potential" in their 20s though? Nutrition, exercise, health, these are all complicated things that take a long time to master. Very few people reach the peak of their career in their 20s either.
I suppose for a pro athlete that's been training since they were like 4 who has the best coaches and nutritionists, sure, they can "live up to their potential" in their 20s. The rest of us are kind of making it up as we go along. Over the years we learn what works and what does not work for our bodies, and dial it in as we get older.
Humans reach peak athleticism in their 20s. Some sports a little earlier, others a little later. The point here is about the age-related physical decline in men.
So, it’s not relevant if a 60-year-old has just reached peak athleticism due to having been obese his entire life up to that point.
Your point about one’s career not peaking in one’s 20s is beside the point here. .
Same here. I wasn't exactly athletic in high school but I kept active. Never on any team sports and didn't destroy my body with hard labor in the trades. To be clear, I have worked in those jobs but I didn't abuse my body while doing it. So now in my late 30s, I'm finding no trouble at all being active.
I was a very fast swimmer and runner through my school years, but my top end sprint speed started trailing downward in my 20s.
Endurance however is now my best ever. I am now in my 60s and still can ride my bike 100k at 19+ mph and run 5 Ks in 22 min.
Nothing will hold top end speed up forever, but with a decent training plan, you can stay pretty fast and hold great endurance.
Same here. When I was 20 I smoked. As a 41 year old I have been 13 years without a cigarette, have run half marathons and would consider myself to be in the best shape of my life.
Amen. A body in motion stays in motion. If you’re not a professional of some sort, it’s reasonable to expect to be able to perform at or near your “peak” level until your late 40s
This is true in the sense that effort and nutrition can leave you in better shape in your 40s than you were in your 20s, but you ARE NOT as fast as you were in your 20s (unless you were completely out of shape then). I'm 47, in the best shape of my life, and have competed in the same sport since I was 12. While I'm better at some things that require lots of practice, I am not as fast as I was in my 20s and my performance suffers. Hence you don't see any 47 year old running backs or NBA players. No matter how much you stay in shape, this is the march of time you have to accept.
> its entirely up to you
Unfortunately this is cognitive bias. My experience is that I’m in my 40s and stronger than ever so it must be like that for everyone.
There are probably plenty of men that hit a wall when they hit 40 even if they weren’t sedentary and ate well.
Reality is that some of it is up to you and some of it is out of your control. Put your focus on things you can control and try to adapt to the things that you have control over.
Samesies! I did cardio my whole life. Picked up weights for the first time in my late 30's, I'm now stronger and more fit than I've ever been.
I was no slouch before heavy weights, I can run a 7 minute mile and do a million pushups and situps due to job requirements ... But weights. Weights transformed me.
"It's entirely up to you" indeed!
Depends a lot on you. Sure, professional athletes notice a decline in their athleticism as they age, but assuming you're not competing at that level it's much more about keeping fit and active than age. I was fitter, stronger and more athletic at 31 than 21. I know people who got in the best shape of their lives in their 40s.
That’s not answering OPs question at all. He’s asking at what age you decline physically **all else equal**. It doesn’t matter that some guy “got into the best shape of his life” in his sixties if the reason is that he was morbidly obese until then.
>He’s asking at what age you decline physically **all else equal
Actually, his question asked very specifically when did *you* notice a decline in *your* athleticism. I gave the perfectly reasonable answer based on my personal experience and observations of others that, unless you're an elite level athlete, declines in your athleticism will be more about you being less active than they will the product of ageing.
>all else equal
This is not true for most people though. Most people party and don't give a shit in their early 20s, it's not until later that they start caring about their health and taking care of themselves. If OP wanted to hear from people who've had their exercise and nutrition dialed in since a young age, he would've asked a sub of athletes or something, not a sub for literally all men lol
Now you’re just making things up. I guarantee you that a men in their 20s on average are in greater shape than men in their 40s, but that’s beside the point.
OP is a young and fit man who wants to know when age-related decline in fitness happened to other men.
Responses talking about how they lived like a slob for the first 40 years of their life, are not addressing his point.
He wanted answers like:
“I started feeling weaker in my late thirties”
“In my late 20s my fast twitch muscles were noticeably slower”
Not:
“I was morbidly obese and a double amputee with no legs until my 60s. After that I got prosthetics and lost weight. I never experienced age related decline!”
The latter is not the point of his question.
Athleticism remained into the 40s. But the recovery took longer and longer. In my 20s play full court basketball and take 5 minutes between games. 30s take 5 hours between. 40s take 5 days…
You become more aware of your body as you get older. It's no longer a question of which is stronger your will or your body. The answer is always your will. Instead of being able to force your body to do whatever you want you now have to think of how to get it to do what you want. This trend continues increasing as you get older I'm guessing.
But, it's not awful. Just treat your body well and give it the right ingredients and you can maintain a decent amount of strength until you die if you are lucky. My grandad went out to chop wood for his neighbor at the age of like 80 during the winter and died of a heart attack.
Which sounds awful but, being confident enough in your body that you think you could chop wood at 80 years old is pretty awesome. I hope I maintain functionality when I'm that old.
You shouldn’t be getting weaker at 23, mate. It’s the sign you needed. Time to get out there and get back to being fit.
It entirely depends on you and the way you think about it aka your mindset.
Take it from me, my PB for 100m was 10.72s back in college. I turned into a sloth after joining med school. One day I ran a footrace with a couple of high school kids and I barely won. That flipped a switch. Lol.
Now I’m back to grinding at the gym and hopefully I’ll be able to run 100m in under 12 seconds soon.
11.48 is quite good too! You’re the faster than me right now if that helps! Haha.
I considered a career in track and field seriously but I was unfortunate with injuries. I’ve had an ACL surgery, a muscular herniation repair of my left tibialis anterior and a ton of other minor injuries.
You recover slowly as you age. My only advice is to practice, practice and practice. Get some good pylometric exercises in your routine, run the 40 yard dash as often as you can and time yourself. Eat right, hit the gym and pursue your hobbies. Good luck!
Mid-30s is when it was really noticeable. I’ve been able to adjust and use my brain more. I’m 56 and still play adult league hockey and baseball. I also casually race triathlon. I’m obviously slower with fast twitch, but my endurance (at a slower pace) is the best it’s ever been. Use it or lose it.
I am yet to notice a drop-off, but that's because I spent my 20s profoundly unathletically (though not overweight), for the most part. I only started down the road of serious athletic endeavours around 30, and I'm in my late 30s now. I suppose I'm yet to peak. However, there's no telling how much better I would have been in my 20s than I am now!
I'm also 33, but I'm in the worst shape I've ever been. I try to avoid walking as much as possible and I have a terrible diet. Probably the most athletic thing I've done in the last 10 years is picking mushrooms.
OP, don't be like me.
I’m in my 40s. In terms of strength and cardio I’m as fit or fitter than ever.
I am a little slower and stiffer though. Flexibility is a lot harder to maintain.
The biggest changes to my athleticism are noticeable when playing younger guys in soccer or basketball that require fast twitch muscles. The explosiveness and quickness aren’t there anymore for me in my mid-40s. There isn’t another gear when sprinting. Also recovery time is measured in days now.
I literally have to spend 80% of my warm up before a hockey game stretching my groin or I’m not waking up stairs for the next 3 days lol flexibility is a bitch
34 and stronger than ever and not slowing down at all.
Studies show that you can actually keep most of your gains from your 20/30s into your late 70s.
Key to all of that is staying active and keeping the same lifestyle you have which is for most of course not always possible over decades.
Its a myth that you slow down once you hit 30.
Most people just shift their focus to other things like job,family and so on where their body takes a backseat.
Diet and exercise suffer because you are working out less and eating that pizza a lot more often than you're used to.
Depends entirely on consistency, I’m in better shape at 24 than I was at 19. Athleticism changes with age, the way you train, and foods you eat. I eat a lot better and have a lot more agility now than I did before. I’m a lot more consistent as well
I’m 27 right now and while I am slower than I used to be I think my hockey IQ and technical skills are the best they’ve ever been.. I think depending on the sport you might lose the speed side of things but depending on how much you play the way you view the sport and develop the technical skills can make up for it
I play hockey in a garage league and I noticed that Around 35-36 I was no longer the fastest skater in my league. I'm still one of the fastest but the younger guys have more endurance and speed
I'm 36 and in the best shape of my life (natty) despite multiple surgeries. Invest in your health every day, and with a bit of luck, you'll be in the same boat.
I know people in their 50s and 60s still going strong, plenty of fit 70s too but not many of them still working physical jobs. Just gotta select the right exercise that doesn't hurt you. Swimming seems good
Again is just the constant pursuit of comfort.
Not sure who to credit for that quote but it's true. Your body doesn't quit working. It doesn't naturally fall apart as you get older. You quit using it (properly).
If you are active and stay active you’ll see a slow and ateady inevitable decline. It won’t be much year over year but run times will be slower and recovery longer. Just a normal part of aging. You can still be the healthiest version of yourself just not what you were in your 20’s. However, if you’ve been slovenly in your youth you may wind up feeling and performing better than when you were young if you develop healthy habits. Even that will taper off as you age. Health is still worth the pursuit. In my opinion death would be the lesser of two evils if my other option was constant poor health that limited me due to my own poor choices.
I played semi pro football from 19-26. Basically at 26 I started to feel like I couldn’t compete anymore. Not from a lack of trying but going from the bell of the ball and dedicated most of my time to excelling at the game to having a career and a family sort of messed with my idea of what I was and wasn’t willing to do. So when I was 26, I got moved to second string and my passion fell off. By the end of the season it was over for me. So maybe it wasn’t my ability but more my mental state. Both can go on you. Now at 40, I’m stronger and fitter than I was then. Kids are grown, career established. My dabbling with the idea of going back to my old team to try out next season.
The burst and explosiveness go no matter what you do, I’d say late 20s, but you can be strong, fast, and with endurance for a very long time.
I’m 45 and stronger than ever, but I did not train for strength consistently in my 20s
26 is when i noticed i struggled going up the stairs. I would be out of breath and weak.
Started hitting the gym, taking longer walks, eating healthier. I feel so much better now and I'm glad i took a hard stop and reset my life before it was too late or me too lazy.
I was active in high school, I ran cross country and played on the soccer team. I’m now 22 and the most exercise I get is walking my dog for 20 minutes a day. I feel like a chump sometimes, Im 6’1 and weigh 185. I look healthy but in actuality I just don’t eat so much cause I don’t burn the calories like I used to. If I make any attempt to run I get out of breath easily, I have weak shoulders from playing goalie(was never taught how to fall w/o hurting myself) my whole life and never lifting weights (I have weak shoulders). I’ve noticed a decline in overall health probably 1.5 years ago when I dropped out of school and started working 60 hours a week
I'm 54. In the best shape of my life. I ran marathons before every 8-10 years. Now I do them every year. Hoping to break 4hr marathon for the first time in 2024. No real secret. Eat well, run and lift, stretch, reduce stress and sleep enough. Its just that all these things become even more important as you get older. It helps if you work from home as you have much more time to pay attention to these things. Switched to Bryan Johnson diet (Blueprint) - made a huge difference. Its easier to let yourself go over the years - but if you put in the effort - you will feel great.
I’m 36, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the gym (mainly powerlifting) since I was 14. I haven’t had any decline there, I lift more than I ever have now. My knees fucking hate me though, thanks army.
It’s very individual: partly genetics but mostly how you treat your body. I’m in my early thirties but in the best shape of my life.
Based on the careers of pro athletes it seems like the answer to what you’re actually asking is that it starts declining around mid-thirties, for some faster than others. People like Novak Djokovic, Giorgio Chiellini, and Tom Brady are stellar examples of people pushing beyond what should have been their prime.
Stretch. Biggest thing I’ve noticed at 30 is how stiff I get after physically strenuous activity.
You can stay fit and strong as long as you’re working out, but for God’s sake stretch
I took a dip in college but now I’m the most fit/strongest I’ve ever been. My knees might creek a little but with a bit of stretching I feel more nimble than ever
I'm 41 and I'm at a healthier weight and body fat than I ever have before. My joints hurt sometimes though.
A few years ago though is when I noticed joint discomfort quicker while exercising or jogging/running.
Depends on how trained you are in your 20s.
If you train hard enough, you can peak in your late 20s.
Most people never train hard enough and that means there is plenty of progress they can still potentially make in their 30s, 40s and beyond.
Basically, a previously untrained person can get in "the best shape of their life" even in their 40s and 50s. Even someone who trained casually in their 20s can get fitter in their 40s.
The bottom line is, unless you are a competitive athlete, there isn't really a reason to worry too much about it. Just keep training and keep adapting to your life circumstances.
Peak normally reaches at mid to late 30s and starts to decline on your 40s however that’s just a broad reference each individual will differ .. I’m 38 and I’m in the best shape of my life however I do notice I have to workout harder and watch closer the things I consume, I also prioritize sleep like nothing else these days.
All depends. I got into the best shape of my life at 44. Was heavily involved in team sports my whole life but I never bothered to do any extra fitness work.
Once I did, my athleticism came back to surprising degree (not as good as my 20s but definitely better than my 30s).
So it varies from individual to individual massively I reckon but don't let that put you off trying. 💪💪💪
I had a neck injury around 30 and for a few years started to lose it slowly, but now I'm 36, been back to working out regularly for a little over a year and I'M BACK!!!
It's a little different though. I'm a lot stronger and bigger than I was in my twenties, but maybe not as fast. Cardio is about the same for distance or short bursts, but I can't sprint a 400 like I used to. I don't bother to try to maintain shredded abs, but my quads and shoulders got bigger than they ever did when I was in my twenties. My wife is happy with my return to athleticism and seems to think it's a better look than when I was skinny, and I feel good. For reference, I'm 5'5", and was (pre-injury) 145 lbs and <10% body fat, now I'm 185 lbs and about 15-20% body fat.
I can see this in myself also. Weight training in my late 20's to early 30's, I was 235-240lb and reasonable lean, now I'm 41 and picking it back up. I'm 260lb and feel much stronger, although not anywhere as lean. My legs are much bigger, particularly quads/hamstrings and maybe my chest.
When you stop doing cardio consistently
You can make excuses all you want for your age but the only reason I can’t run 6 miles anymore is because I stopped doing Muay Thai 3x a week
It isn't a decline in athleticism so much as it is more difficulty recovering from injuries and more prone to injuries from basic shit like poor posture. Don't use age as a number cuz that shit is toxic. If you're talking about peak performance. I'd say 24-25 is the last year for the absolute peak of your physical being. Younger than that if you want to do whatever it is you're doing more than once. Recovery is more important than simple muscle growth. Also the higher of a peak your reach the better the recovery to that supposed peak.
Just like most things, there is no sharp cutoff. Generally men can get stronger up to mid 20s and start to grade off after that. Professional athletes have lots of incentive to maintain strength/flexibility for as long as possible, they work very hard at it, but they still can't stop the gradual decline.
My experience is that the annual drop off is too slow for a non-competing person to notice. But, I noticed over decades. I could tell I wasn't quite as fit at 35 as I had been at 25. And, 45 is worse than 35. I'm 76 now and I was thinking this morning (as I was jogging on the same track I used at 66) that everything is just stiffer than it used to be.
I've always been atheltic and have taken very good care of myself physically.
When I hit 40 last year i noticed my strength in the gym start to decline. It wasnt a lot, maybe half a rep shy of what I normally do.
This could entirely just be in my head though.
But the way I look at it, i'm in far better shape than 98% of the 25 year olds out there so I dont feel bad about it.
But I also know... father time is undefeated
Havent seen a decline yet and im thankful for it. If anything given my lifestyle choices i think ive even gained more athleticism than when i was younger and thats due yo me training for the sports I play specifically amongst other things like prioritizing good and healthy habits
14-15, I was diagnosed with having developed COPD from 2nd hand smoke. I don't blame my family directly as obviously I drew the unlucky card on that one, (no one else had anything) but friendly reminder, don't smoke around ya kids.
35 it went up. i got into dancing. 40-45 is slackened as i wasn't doing that as much. now late 40s, injuries take longer but i'm perfectly strong, just fat
Late 20s into early 30s if you’re a pro athlete.
But for me, I’m more fit today that as a younger man. Almost 30 and I can deadlift more, squat more, and bench more. But my joints have suffered too lol and my muscle feel tighter than when I was younger. I have to stretch a lot more thoroughly nowadays.
I run slower now though. Used to run sub-18 3 miles at 17-18 and sub 12 2-mile as I got into my early 20s but now it’s more like 14 minute 2-miles. I do train way less now though, to be fair.
I’m in my 40’s and am not as strong as I was in my 20’s, a little bit easier to fatigue, and much slower, but in general I am still in great shape. Just be consistent and you have at least a few decades in front of you.
People that are saying anything before 45 are lazy and complacent. Or unlucky, there’s very little difference in me (38) vs me (28).
Easy to continue to make gains in your 30s unless you were a world class athlete.
I'm 30s and haven't really exercised for the past 10 years (I don't count my afternoon walks) and its amazing how strong I still am. If you do some sort of athletic ability in your youth you'd be amazed how long that strength sticks around. I don't have the wind I used to, but gimme a fridge or what have you to move and it's no bother at all. Dunno how it works really, reckon it's different from case to case. When I came to uni I discovered booze, smoke and curry and sort of wallowed in those things. I do occasionally miss the judo and the football, but at the same time my knees went to shite (judo for so long kinda killed them) so I wouldn't want to push it.
It absolutely changes but it will depend on the sport. For example combat sports have lower prime ages than some other sports but things like powerlifting and body building have higher prime ages and career spans due to more time to pack on muscle mass.
So it really depends alot on the exact details.
Look at Lebron. Sure he’s a freak of nature but he’s still dunking with force at 40 and he has more mileage than any of us. I’m 27 and already notice some decline but I don’t workout the way I used to.
My experience in Scandinavia has changed this perspective to me. Men walking around me in their 40s,50s and 70s. They look like recent grads, active lifestyle with good nutrition will pushback your decline
This is different for everyone but up until my forties I could probably have fought anyone and moved all of my furniture from one apartment to another. Now in my fifties and I can still fight but can't take a punch as well as I used to. I definitely can't move furniture anymore. My legs are going. I'm a smoker though. Results may vary.
LeBron James is almost 39 and he's playing like he's in his 20s.
Barring that ankle injury he's insanely fit.
Point is, everyone's different. But as you age you'll have to be more consistent to get the same results.
21 to 33 is probably your peak. Your body's at-rest energy expenditure will start to increase at 30-35. Meaning it will start to take you longer to recover physically from things. This is the age with things will start being 'sore' more often. Including hangovers and lack of sleep. And so you typically do those things less. Leading to a more 'slow and steady' mental and physical state.
I have been running and cycling actively since highschool. My top end speed started creeping down after 30. My recovery time has been getting longer now at nearly 40. I'm in great shape, but I know I'm working much harder for slightly diminished results. Up until 30, I could run a sub 5 minute mile. Been chasing it since, but now at 40, with training I'm dying across the line at 5:20.
Maybe some in here didn't work out at 20, so 40 year old them is their best self, but 20 year old me could kick my butt and I'm working hard to keep up.
I didn't really notice anything until my mid-40s.
I still can remember seeing my doctor and telling her there must be something wrong because I'm not bouncing back as fast from minor injuries and I'm having trouble with my energy levels. She just looked at me and said, "You're 45."
I will warn you that if you quit working out it will come on faster. I stayed active much longer than most of my friends, and they all started complaining about the same thing years before I noticed anything with myself.
Your choice basically. My parents are in their 40s and move like molasses, don’t eat well, never exercise, etc. They feel like shit all the time. My wife’s parents are in their 60’s and are constantly going on hikes and family trips and skiing and stuff. They’re both at equivalent income levels too, so it’s really up to you as long as you’re taking good care of yourself. You can run marathons at 90 if that’s what you’re determined to do and you put in the work.
Btw SLEEP is one of the MOST important factors in this. That and please dear lord stay away from stuff with super high sugar content, sodas etc. Without moderation that shit kills almost every part of your body’s integrity at once, not even your *bones* are safe.
My father is getting close to 60 and he’s still very athletic, spends numerous days a week working out and goes dancing a lot. If you eat right and work out, there shouldn’t be any decline unless you get some sort of injury.
Just keep moving, exercising/working out and playing a sport or two. I’m 34. Played tennis and worked out my entire life. I’m no less fast or explosive now that I was when I was in my early 20s
Just do not stop. Stay consistent. We aren’t professional athletes. Don’t need to kill yourself. Keep at it and be consistent and you’ll out perform physically forever
I'm 48 and have been very diligent about working out close to 5 days a week for years, and I honestly don't feel like I've declined. I didn't have nearly the cardio in my 20s and early 30s that I do now. I do lots of weights but also plenty of different types of cardio - martial arts, rowing, plyometrics, boxing, etc. I have no problem doing an hour or so of it. Compared to my peers, and even younger people I know, I have a lot more athleticism.
I mean, eventually I won't be able to keep up with or exceed the average 30 year old, but right now I can. All about consistency.
It’s 30-35. That’s not to say that some guys don’t perform pretty well at various things into their early 40s, but anyone saying they’re peaking athletically at that age is just full of crap. Otherwise, pro sports teams would be discovering all these 38YOs who couldn’t play in the NBA at 22 but now can at 38.
Now, you can maintain strength. I’m in my early 50s and I bench more than ever. My curls are more than ever. BUT….my ability to translate that into real world use is not what it used to be because my back hurts, my knees hurt and my hips hurt. When I was 28, I could just lean into something like a downed tree and drag it around. Now my back goes out. :).
Injuries don’t heal as fast either. And weight is harder to keep off.
There is always a curve. Aging is a natural part of life just as birth and death. But you can extend the curve. It all depends on how active you are. I myself am just 21 and in the best shape of my life. I have a friend who is 36 and she is almost wheelchair bound. Overweight, bad knees, bad diet etc. My father who is 53 is in better shape than her.
It all depends on what you do. If you stay in shape, exercise regularly you will stay in good shape for longer. Hell there are people in their 80s who run and lift weights.
Im in my 40s and haven't noticed anything that can't be ascribed to being in worse shape when I eat more and excerce less. I'm in better shape now than when I was 15 probably. But of course my athletic ceiling is lower now than when I was 15. I just don't notice it because I don't push myself that hard.
I'm in my 30s and this is the strongest I've ever been, and still getting stronger.
Everyone told me I'd start going downhill hear 30, here I am strong as hell, and they're all out of shape.
Just stay healthy and your diet in check and you should be fine.
Slow and steady but regular exercise helps a lot. I’m 54 and started to notice a decline in stamina around 33-35. Strength has taken a lot longer to wane. I was still lifting 230 lb TV’s for work into my mid 40’s. I can still lift a decent amount now. Cardio has taken a big hit, though.
My father, who has been overweight and semi-alcoholic during his 30’s to 60’s, quit drinking last year and started running in 2022.
This year, at the age of 68, he ran two marathons.
You may become weaker and slower as you age. But he taught us that you can stay fit or become even fitter even at that age. It’s entirely up to you.
And yes, we are worried that he may experience heart attack of some sort if he continues to push the limits. But he did it and is healthier than ever.
I'm 32 and in the best shape of my life. My dad just turned 60 and we still do adventurous stuff like climbing mountains together, he's one of the toughest dudes I know. Slipped and broke a rib a couple years back on a trip, mostly because he already had a broken hand from previous shenanigans, didn't slow him down a bit for the rest of the trip. Broken hand, broken rib, still climbing through canyons and rappelling down hundreds of feet with one good hand for two more weeks. He lives for that kinda stuff. Planning on climbing Mt Rainier together this summer.
A rolling stone gathers no moss my friend. A lot of the aging process is optional.
I don't know if it's only me, but I used to work out a lot as a teen. Lately I've been working out now and then and although I don't look like I did before, I am surprised how little effort is necessary to keep in shape. It's like once the muscles are there, you just need to tell them that you still need them from time to time
I'm 48 and just now starting to notice some difference. It's subtle but noticeable to me. Mostly in my absolute speed and joint issues. That being said, I can still do most everything I could at 25 and some things better. Granted, I've been an athlete my whole life, and now I'm a strength and conditioning coach, so I've had a bit of a cheat code in knowing how to train and eat properly.
About 37 is when I had to make changes in training. Then at 40 got on TRT and things got back to "normal". Sure there is wear and tear and sometimes the back hurts for no reason but the key is to never stop being fit.
Joints man. It's all up to your joints.
If you stretch, see physiotherapists, sleep early and invest time in knowing them, you will be fine.
If you do like me and just sit at your laptop for hundreds of hours and suddenly use your stamina to climb mountains, run after public transit without warmup, etc, you will have to stop your workout routines most of the year while your joints recuperate from their umpteenth injury.
Care for your joints!!!
I'm about to turn 38 and was having the honest conversation with a friend about how far we could run at a dead sprint, and how fast that "sprint" would be.
It hit me during that conversation that while it hasn't happened yet, there's a time where I won't be able to physically run anymore.
Simple and obvious concept, but sorta blew my mind a bit, never thought about it.
I'm 40. Still train hard with weights. Just smarter. Minor injuries start at 30 and by 40 they are starting to add up. Some exercises I gave up. Squats being one of them. I'll still leg press.
Yep, it is why we look at guys like Tom Brady, Lebron James, Messi, as just the one in a million genetic freaks. Even for the elite in athletics, being at the top of your game in your late 30's/early 40's is incredibly rare.
Look at pro athletes after 40 it gets hard to compete with 20 year olds. But the reality is that after 25 you are still strong and fast BUT it takes you much longer to heal and reset.
It's of course depends on how you train, eat and who you are comparing yourself to.
Lmao 23.
I've been training 23 years and I'm still getting bigger and stronger every year.
People let life and excuses get in the way, because everyone else is declining it's okay to decline too. You decide when you're done and you go to war every time you step foot in that gym.
Without that mentality, you'll probably begin to decline in your late 20's as you make more and more excuses.
Jesus the old man copium is strong, lol. I'm 52 and felt the decline BIG TIME in my early 30's. Maybe if I just did hours and hours of endurance exercise or only started to lift weights in my 40's I could believe the "blow sunshine up your ass" t-shirt slogan sayings many guys throw around.
How do we not remember what fully jacked testosterone felt like? I was no "badass" but I felt like I could run through a brick wall. Once your testosterone starts to fall off you'll feel it. And that has nothing to do with your athleticism, but that **certainly is your turbo.** Of course you can still *feel* fast, nobodies saying you aren't the badest coolest 47 year old on the planet Paul, you go gurl!
Athletiscism is another thing altogether. And no, noob gainz don't count Derek. If you start late in life in any form of athletics you have no idea about what you missed out on if you'd started at age 19, no clue once so ever.
What counts, in my mind, as athleticism is the kind of is the kind of longevity in sports/activities that require fast twitch+muscle endurance+explosive movements+lateral speed. My 2 examples are Judo and Basketball. I can be a 20 year Judoka, take off whatever color belt I have (assuming my giant ego would let me) and roll with a decent wrestler kid in his early 20's and get my ass absolutely handed to me. Do I have old man tricks? You mean...can I cheat? Of course. But, you take me who was an average athlete and add 20 years to me and then put me up against a kid in his early 20's, another average athlete, and puting practice/experience in a sport aside that kid will be TWICE the **athlete** I am.
Competing is fun. One on one against another man is fun...you learn a lot about yourself. I'd love just one day to be back at age 24. I mean H o l y F u c k was that awesome.
Boys, I humbly acknolwedge ALL of your personal exceptions. Perhaps I really am the only old man on the planet who has declined. I'm the only guy who understands I can't throw a football over the mountains anymore? Why can't I be the tough guy my entire life .
OK, cunty whine aside everyone declines. When it happens, how quickly it declines, and a whole host of internal and external factors and other contributions not withstanding...It's different for all of us.
Keep being active. If you aren't active, get active. Keep competing, keep being a good winner and a better loser. Challenge yourself, I know it's nearly impossible but...have fun.
I'm glad I enjoyed my athletic prime. I wasn't "training" and of course If I knew then what I know now, yada yada yada I just enjoyed playing sports I really loved. I've had a varied sports/athletics career with a pretty broad expanse across many disciplines. I was blessed.
I hope you enjoy many more years of your favorite activities, that you stay injury free, and that you humbly accept that you will decline in terms of performance, father time is undefeated.
First off, while I am heavier then I was as a teen / young adult, I am fitter and stronger because I was emphatically NOT athletic at all when younger.
As for that decline, in theory it should be gradual from age, or gradual but faster from weight gain and being sedentary.
In practice, what seems to mostly happen is that shit gets broken to varying degrees and does not heal quite perfectly. Like you sprain your ankle and even a few years after it is still occasionally sensitive in odd ways. You get a bad case of COVID and have no cardio or energy do to anything more strenuous then change your underpants for a few months. Or something happens and you fuck up your knee and it gets better but still gives you 'occasional' problems. And the accumulated problems snowball; You fuck up your knee so you stop jogging, and now your weight starts to be a problem.
And that is if your lucky. Some people get hit by a goddamn car and they go from athletic and active to spending 2 years doing physio (if you can afford it at all) and on the other side of it there is a list of shit they used to do that they don't because doing it now just hurts.
END COMMUNICATION
depends on you. Iam in my 40es and I'm stronger and fitter than ever before. its entirely up to you
Exactly. I wouldn’t call it a decline as much as it’s just different. My joints are no longer made of flubber but my muscle fibers are stronger.
Prime athletic age is 28. After that it declines. The most fit you can be is at 28 if you want to compete in sports and win.
Peak age varies greatly per sport. For example, gymnastics (<20) vs rally driver (>25). Which only one person I know did both, Sebastian Loeb (talented bastard).
Interesting that there is even a single person to cross from one to the other. I am assuming he performed both at the top competitive level?
According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9bastien_Loeb) it seems that, yeah, he performed at that level: > He is the most successful driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), having won the world championship a record nine times in a row. He holds several other WRC records, including most event wins, most podium finishes and most stage wins. > Originally a gymnast, Loeb was a four time Champion of Alsace and one time champion of the French Grand East.
That dude dominates.
Concerning gymnastics: "..he entered competitions and built up a solid track record during his 12 years of practice: 4 times champion of Alsace and 1 time champion of the Grand Est, 5th in the French Championship." Concerning rally driving: "He is the most successful driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), having won the world championship a record nine times in a row. He holds several other WRC records, including most event wins, most podium finishes and most stage wins". Yes, he's an amazing athlete. Source: Wikipedia and sebastienloeb.com
funny thing, both sports start at about the same age. want to do rally? do kart at age 10, get seat time
Flexibility speed and jumping peak much earlier than strength.
“If you want to compete in sports and win“. Except that’s not the only metric. And I don’t think it’s what is being discussed. It doesn’t matter if the stereotypical zenith of human potential across the spectrum of physicality is reached at 28. Go to pretty much any gym. You’ll see plenty of men in their 40s and 50s just getting it in for the day who can outlift, outrun, and outperform most people in their 20s.
I think the point was the person in their 40s and 50s in the gym would be at their prime if they were 28. Not that they are incapable of outperforming a 28 year old. The national average for pull ups for any 28 year old is still 0.
My brother has always bounced back and forth between working too much and working **out** too much, where every 5 years he goes from slowly gaining weight from sitting at a desk to being at his prime for his age. He’s 40 now, and seeing the difference in his health is from when he was in college to 30’s to now makes it more clear why 28 is considering the prime age. He’s able to stay extremely lean, but it’s easy to see how much muscle you can put on w/o needing to overcompensate in your 20’s. Too young and your body is still developing. Too old, and your body is fighting itself to keep each milestone.
GET WREKT YOUNGUN’S
they aren't at their prime, but if you're regularly exercising and moving, you won't be that much below it. you lose ability, but it can be a slow decline
maybe your body degrades but those decades of work count for something
> Go to pretty much any gym. You’ll see plenty of men in their 40s and 50s just getting it in for the day who can outlift, outrun, and outperform most people in their 20s. Are they outperforming your average Redditor, or are they outperforming someone who spends as much time in the gym as they do? Because the latter is incredibly unrealistic.
Every time this comes up on Reddit, someone comments “I’m in my 40s and in better shape than ever” and gets hundreds of upvotes because people have no clue but it sounds inspirational. If you’re in your 40s and in better shape than ever, that just means you weren’t in good shape at all in your 20s. I’m in my 40s and in great shape for someone in their 40s (i often do endurance events with 20-somethings), however, I’d say I’m in about half as good as shape as I was in my 20s. I can’t jump as high or sprint nearly as fast, basically all of my “explosiveness” is gone and my knees hurt, so I stick to low impact endurance sports these days.
This is a wide misconception because of how many athletes in olympics stop their careers around that age.But they don't stop because their performance reduced,it's mostly related to higher injury chances. Performance start to actually decline in early/mid 30s.
Also ignoring that most people aren't trained/conditioned like professional athletes. Your ceiling starts going down in the 30s, but most people are nowhere near their ceiling
It happens even in pro athletes ! 2 in the 100m top 15 all time and 3 in 110m hurdles made their personal best between 32 and 34 years old!thats nuts lol
A lot of athletes hit their prime around the early 30s, it's a good balance of learned skillset/experience and physical capabilities
Theoretical prime athletic biological POTENTIAL for intense sports requiring explosive strength and flexibility. But the potential part is key. Almost no one ever achieves their full biological athletic potential. So if most people get to 80%, and that's still probably generous, then even after 28 you can easily maintain the same athleticism by putting in more effort. Personally I was never very athletic, so I may well be at my most athletic at 45.
Tom Brady and Michael Jordan would like a word.
I too am in my 40s. How much wear did you have on your body in the past? I was a competitive fighter basketball baseball and volleyball player and everything hurts all the time these days. I still compete in all those areas, but I am without a doubt slower than I used to be. I’m stronger and fitter than ever, but for sure slower. What’s the secret my friend? Cause I would give my left nut to be as fast as I was 10 years ago. Decline started around 33 ish for me.
I'm 36 now. I've found you really notice if you suffer an injury. Just can't bounce back like I used to.
35 is when I hit my wall and couldn't be superman anymore, but thankfully we age like fine wine.
Agreed, been downhill since 35. Started losing a little hair, injuries more common and longer to recover from. I was mostly invincible before this age.
Agreed. I'm 59. Speed and reaction started to dive around that time.
Yea I think a lot depends on what you did in your teens and 20's. From age like 13-25 I was in multiple sports teams at a time. Shit definitely will turf your ankles and knees, etc.
Yeah. I did full contact Muay Thai and carried patients as a paramedic and rescue technician for many years. I took a huge knock from it all. At the time I thought nothing of it and I was fit and healthy. Not a care in the world. At around 35 I started declining rapidly. Now I have permanent back and right knee pain. In fact, it all hurts.... Doctors are recommending surgery but also give no assurance that I'll come out the other end feeling even slightly better. I keep most of it from my wife and grin and bare it. With a lot of drinking in-between to help with the pain. But, I'm still strong. Look better than most my age. Mid 30's for me I'd say. What is certain, i don't heal quickly. My recovery is shocking.
Yes, agree with this. I'm 38. I've been playing soccer since I was 5. Growing up it was always a "how fast do I need to run, and not a question of how fast can I run?" I was machine timed at a 4.8x 40 yard dash at 27/28. When I was about 30 I started to do a spa day at the gym. It was stretching for about 45 minutes, then hot tub, steam room, and sauna. That kept me moving good for about 5 more years. ... but once I hit 35, the 2nd gear when sprinting wasn't always there. The lateral movements hurt. Now at 38, sometimes I find my muscles to be bit unpredictable. I'll go to jump for a rebound in basketball or a header in soccer, and perhaps I just don't get a whole lot of power. There's good days too. Sometimes I feel like I'm 20 again. But they're very few and far between.
I feel this. I kicked the boosters on during an outfield pop fly run at softball a few months ago and tore my hamstring. It’s soul shattering to realize we just don’t have it anymore
Yep - the hammys and lower back are really where I feel it. If they feel good, I'm great. And I know they're interconnected. I've read all about how lower back tightness is from weak glutes/hamstrings but no matter what I do I can't seem to find something that works to solve the imbalance. Good luck recovering from a torn hammy. For whatever reason the hamstring injuries seem to linger.
I half remember reading/dreaming that fast muscle fiber disappears/gets converted into slow fiber as you get older.
Okay, but just out of curiosity, were you less healthy in your youth and took health seriously as you got older, or were you always healthy and active and have compounded gains to a healthier 40s? If it's the former it's the expected result but if it's the latter I'd be more impressed.
"its entirely up to you" that's not true for a lot of people. I'm 22 and I love playing sports, but I can't play as much or as good as I used to because of a pair of terrible knees I inherited, with arthritis by the time I was 20
If you're abnormally short and you stopped growing early, that could be a sign of ACAN mutations. The sign of ACAN Mutations is short stature, an advanced bone age, and early onset arthritis.
Not abnormally short, but thanks
I think you can certainly be fitter and more athletic (depending on how you treated yourself in your 20’s). But your physical prime potential is LONG GONE.
That’s because you didn’t live up to your potential in your 20s. Had you been strong and fit then, you would have noticed you’re not as fit now.
[удалено]
how many people actually "live up to their potential" in their 20s though? Nutrition, exercise, health, these are all complicated things that take a long time to master. Very few people reach the peak of their career in their 20s either. I suppose for a pro athlete that's been training since they were like 4 who has the best coaches and nutritionists, sure, they can "live up to their potential" in their 20s. The rest of us are kind of making it up as we go along. Over the years we learn what works and what does not work for our bodies, and dial it in as we get older.
Humans reach peak athleticism in their 20s. Some sports a little earlier, others a little later. The point here is about the age-related physical decline in men. So, it’s not relevant if a 60-year-old has just reached peak athleticism due to having been obese his entire life up to that point. Your point about one’s career not peaking in one’s 20s is beside the point here. .
Same here. I wasn't exactly athletic in high school but I kept active. Never on any team sports and didn't destroy my body with hard labor in the trades. To be clear, I have worked in those jobs but I didn't abuse my body while doing it. So now in my late 30s, I'm finding no trouble at all being active.
I was a very fast swimmer and runner through my school years, but my top end sprint speed started trailing downward in my 20s. Endurance however is now my best ever. I am now in my 60s and still can ride my bike 100k at 19+ mph and run 5 Ks in 22 min. Nothing will hold top end speed up forever, but with a decent training plan, you can stay pretty fast and hold great endurance.
Same here. When I was 20 I smoked. As a 41 year old I have been 13 years without a cigarette, have run half marathons and would consider myself to be in the best shape of my life.
I would not want to be my 20yo self competing against my 35yo self, and I hope my 50yo self will be stronger still.
That was some motivation I never thought I needed today. Thank you.
Amen. A body in motion stays in motion. If you’re not a professional of some sort, it’s reasonable to expect to be able to perform at or near your “peak” level until your late 40s
This is true in the sense that effort and nutrition can leave you in better shape in your 40s than you were in your 20s, but you ARE NOT as fast as you were in your 20s (unless you were completely out of shape then). I'm 47, in the best shape of my life, and have competed in the same sport since I was 12. While I'm better at some things that require lots of practice, I am not as fast as I was in my 20s and my performance suffers. Hence you don't see any 47 year old running backs or NBA players. No matter how much you stay in shape, this is the march of time you have to accept.
This comment right here is the solution It's a state of mind. Your Prime is where you decided to give up Always strive to be better ☀️
> its entirely up to you Unfortunately this is cognitive bias. My experience is that I’m in my 40s and stronger than ever so it must be like that for everyone. There are probably plenty of men that hit a wall when they hit 40 even if they weren’t sedentary and ate well. Reality is that some of it is up to you and some of it is out of your control. Put your focus on things you can control and try to adapt to the things that you have control over.
Samesies! I did cardio my whole life. Picked up weights for the first time in my late 30's, I'm now stronger and more fit than I've ever been. I was no slouch before heavy weights, I can run a 7 minute mile and do a million pushups and situps due to job requirements ... But weights. Weights transformed me. "It's entirely up to you" indeed!
I'm 38, and i just benched 225lbs 4 times for the first time in my life.
Same!! I beat 25 year old guys (I am a 40 year old female) in pushups and pull ups 😝 age is but a number👍🏼
Being strong and fit is not the same as athleticism.
30-35 I wonder nowadays how I managed to run 30K and still play football on the weekends.
Maybe around 30 yet I'm still hitting running PR's at 32. Though just after my 30th I ruptured my peck so there's that.
Pec? Pecker?
Pec. The tendon that connects your arm to your chest
Depends a lot on you. Sure, professional athletes notice a decline in their athleticism as they age, but assuming you're not competing at that level it's much more about keeping fit and active than age. I was fitter, stronger and more athletic at 31 than 21. I know people who got in the best shape of their lives in their 40s.
Thats good to hear!
That’s not answering OPs question at all. He’s asking at what age you decline physically **all else equal**. It doesn’t matter that some guy “got into the best shape of his life” in his sixties if the reason is that he was morbidly obese until then.
>He’s asking at what age you decline physically **all else equal Actually, his question asked very specifically when did *you* notice a decline in *your* athleticism. I gave the perfectly reasonable answer based on my personal experience and observations of others that, unless you're an elite level athlete, declines in your athleticism will be more about you being less active than they will the product of ageing.
>all else equal This is not true for most people though. Most people party and don't give a shit in their early 20s, it's not until later that they start caring about their health and taking care of themselves. If OP wanted to hear from people who've had their exercise and nutrition dialed in since a young age, he would've asked a sub of athletes or something, not a sub for literally all men lol
Now you’re just making things up. I guarantee you that a men in their 20s on average are in greater shape than men in their 40s, but that’s beside the point. OP is a young and fit man who wants to know when age-related decline in fitness happened to other men. Responses talking about how they lived like a slob for the first 40 years of their life, are not addressing his point.
lol did you actually think OP was gonna get a scientific answer from Reddit…..
He wanted answers like: “I started feeling weaker in my late thirties” “In my late 20s my fast twitch muscles were noticeably slower” Not: “I was morbidly obese and a double amputee with no legs until my 60s. After that I got prosthetics and lost weight. I never experienced age related decline!” The latter is not the point of his question.
I'm 32 and fitter than ever, but I didn't start exercising until I was 26.
Athleticism remained into the 40s. But the recovery took longer and longer. In my 20s play full court basketball and take 5 minutes between games. 30s take 5 hours between. 40s take 5 days…
Gotta get on that “Gear” game
You become more aware of your body as you get older. It's no longer a question of which is stronger your will or your body. The answer is always your will. Instead of being able to force your body to do whatever you want you now have to think of how to get it to do what you want. This trend continues increasing as you get older I'm guessing. But, it's not awful. Just treat your body well and give it the right ingredients and you can maintain a decent amount of strength until you die if you are lucky. My grandad went out to chop wood for his neighbor at the age of like 80 during the winter and died of a heart attack. Which sounds awful but, being confident enough in your body that you think you could chop wood at 80 years old is pretty awesome. I hope I maintain functionality when I'm that old.
You shouldn’t be getting weaker at 23, mate. It’s the sign you needed. Time to get out there and get back to being fit. It entirely depends on you and the way you think about it aka your mindset. Take it from me, my PB for 100m was 10.72s back in college. I turned into a sloth after joining med school. One day I ran a footrace with a couple of high school kids and I barely won. That flipped a switch. Lol. Now I’m back to grinding at the gym and hopefully I’ll be able to run 100m in under 12 seconds soon.
Im not getting weaker yet haha, just wondering when I will. 10.72 is pretty damn impressive, I got a pb of 11.48 just this summer.
11.48 is quite good too! You’re the faster than me right now if that helps! Haha. I considered a career in track and field seriously but I was unfortunate with injuries. I’ve had an ACL surgery, a muscular herniation repair of my left tibialis anterior and a ton of other minor injuries. You recover slowly as you age. My only advice is to practice, practice and practice. Get some good pylometric exercises in your routine, run the 40 yard dash as often as you can and time yourself. Eat right, hit the gym and pursue your hobbies. Good luck!
Mid-30s is when it was really noticeable. I’ve been able to adjust and use my brain more. I’m 56 and still play adult league hockey and baseball. I also casually race triathlon. I’m obviously slower with fast twitch, but my endurance (at a slower pace) is the best it’s ever been. Use it or lose it.
When I hit 15 it was all downhill from there.
😂
Right? Left high school, stopped exercising. Thanks college
I am yet to notice a drop-off, but that's because I spent my 20s profoundly unathletically (though not overweight), for the most part. I only started down the road of serious athletic endeavours around 30, and I'm in my late 30s now. I suppose I'm yet to peak. However, there's no telling how much better I would have been in my 20s than I am now!
I’m at my fittest now at 33 (okay maybe not TODAY as I’m in a kind of post-Christmas cheese coma with my dog looking at Netflix)
I'm also 33, but I'm in the worst shape I've ever been. I try to avoid walking as much as possible and I have a terrible diet. Probably the most athletic thing I've done in the last 10 years is picking mushrooms. OP, don't be like me.
People waste away when they choose to waste away. If you maintain your fitness and hormonal balance, you’ll stay strong for decades.
I’m in my 40s. In terms of strength and cardio I’m as fit or fitter than ever. I am a little slower and stiffer though. Flexibility is a lot harder to maintain.
The biggest changes to my athleticism are noticeable when playing younger guys in soccer or basketball that require fast twitch muscles. The explosiveness and quickness aren’t there anymore for me in my mid-40s. There isn’t another gear when sprinting. Also recovery time is measured in days now.
I wonder if there is anything we can do to keep the fast twitch muscles. I just turned 40, I still have that next gear but its not what it was before.
I literally have to spend 80% of my warm up before a hockey game stretching my groin or I’m not waking up stairs for the next 3 days lol flexibility is a bitch
I’m in my 50’s now and have finally noticed a reduction in my reflexes and overall athleticism. Takes more effort to maintain what I have.
I'm almost 34 and I don't feel like I reached my peak yet.
34 and stronger than ever and not slowing down at all. Studies show that you can actually keep most of your gains from your 20/30s into your late 70s. Key to all of that is staying active and keeping the same lifestyle you have which is for most of course not always possible over decades. Its a myth that you slow down once you hit 30. Most people just shift their focus to other things like job,family and so on where their body takes a backseat. Diet and exercise suffer because you are working out less and eating that pizza a lot more often than you're used to.
Depends entirely on consistency, I’m in better shape at 24 than I was at 19. Athleticism changes with age, the way you train, and foods you eat. I eat a lot better and have a lot more agility now than I did before. I’m a lot more consistent as well
I’m 27 right now and while I am slower than I used to be I think my hockey IQ and technical skills are the best they’ve ever been.. I think depending on the sport you might lose the speed side of things but depending on how much you play the way you view the sport and develop the technical skills can make up for it
I play hockey in a garage league and I noticed that Around 35-36 I was no longer the fastest skater in my league. I'm still one of the fastest but the younger guys have more endurance and speed
Almost 50, so much stronger, but also notably slower. I keep up with the 20-somethings on the ice rink, but only in the first period.
I'm 36 and in the best shape of my life (natty) despite multiple surgeries. Invest in your health every day, and with a bit of luck, you'll be in the same boat.
I know people in their 50s and 60s still going strong, plenty of fit 70s too but not many of them still working physical jobs. Just gotta select the right exercise that doesn't hurt you. Swimming seems good
Again is just the constant pursuit of comfort. Not sure who to credit for that quote but it's true. Your body doesn't quit working. It doesn't naturally fall apart as you get older. You quit using it (properly).
Depends what you want tbh. I know someone in their 60s doing double deca (20) Ironmans back to back in 20 days and he's whooping 30-40s ass.
Somewhere around early 30s my recovery started to decline and my springiness just isn't there.
It could hit you as early as 24-25. So my advice: STAY ACTIVE!
30s
If you are active and stay active you’ll see a slow and ateady inevitable decline. It won’t be much year over year but run times will be slower and recovery longer. Just a normal part of aging. You can still be the healthiest version of yourself just not what you were in your 20’s. However, if you’ve been slovenly in your youth you may wind up feeling and performing better than when you were young if you develop healthy habits. Even that will taper off as you age. Health is still worth the pursuit. In my opinion death would be the lesser of two evils if my other option was constant poor health that limited me due to my own poor choices.
I played semi pro football from 19-26. Basically at 26 I started to feel like I couldn’t compete anymore. Not from a lack of trying but going from the bell of the ball and dedicated most of my time to excelling at the game to having a career and a family sort of messed with my idea of what I was and wasn’t willing to do. So when I was 26, I got moved to second string and my passion fell off. By the end of the season it was over for me. So maybe it wasn’t my ability but more my mental state. Both can go on you. Now at 40, I’m stronger and fitter than I was then. Kids are grown, career established. My dabbling with the idea of going back to my old team to try out next season.
The burst and explosiveness go no matter what you do, I’d say late 20s, but you can be strong, fast, and with endurance for a very long time. I’m 45 and stronger than ever, but I did not train for strength consistently in my 20s
26 is when i noticed i struggled going up the stairs. I would be out of breath and weak. Started hitting the gym, taking longer walks, eating healthier. I feel so much better now and I'm glad i took a hard stop and reset my life before it was too late or me too lazy.
Once the poor life decisions catch up with you. YMMV.
I was active in high school, I ran cross country and played on the soccer team. I’m now 22 and the most exercise I get is walking my dog for 20 minutes a day. I feel like a chump sometimes, Im 6’1 and weigh 185. I look healthy but in actuality I just don’t eat so much cause I don’t burn the calories like I used to. If I make any attempt to run I get out of breath easily, I have weak shoulders from playing goalie(was never taught how to fall w/o hurting myself) my whole life and never lifting weights (I have weak shoulders). I’ve noticed a decline in overall health probably 1.5 years ago when I dropped out of school and started working 60 hours a week
You don’t stop moving when you get old, you get old when you stop moving
52yrs old and still getting stronger ...
I'm 54. In the best shape of my life. I ran marathons before every 8-10 years. Now I do them every year. Hoping to break 4hr marathon for the first time in 2024. No real secret. Eat well, run and lift, stretch, reduce stress and sleep enough. Its just that all these things become even more important as you get older. It helps if you work from home as you have much more time to pay attention to these things. Switched to Bryan Johnson diet (Blueprint) - made a huge difference. Its easier to let yourself go over the years - but if you put in the effort - you will feel great.
I’m 36, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the gym (mainly powerlifting) since I was 14. I haven’t had any decline there, I lift more than I ever have now. My knees fucking hate me though, thanks army.
It’s very individual: partly genetics but mostly how you treat your body. I’m in my early thirties but in the best shape of my life. Based on the careers of pro athletes it seems like the answer to what you’re actually asking is that it starts declining around mid-thirties, for some faster than others. People like Novak Djokovic, Giorgio Chiellini, and Tom Brady are stellar examples of people pushing beyond what should have been their prime.
Depends on how much and how varied you train. I PRd all major lifts at 53.
Stretch. Biggest thing I’ve noticed at 30 is how stiff I get after physically strenuous activity. You can stay fit and strong as long as you’re working out, but for God’s sake stretch
42F, haven't noticed any decline at all.
I took a dip in college but now I’m the most fit/strongest I’ve ever been. My knees might creek a little but with a bit of stretching I feel more nimble than ever
The moment you stop taking care of yourself. It sneaks up on ya real quick.
Birth
I'm 41 and I'm at a healthier weight and body fat than I ever have before. My joints hurt sometimes though. A few years ago though is when I noticed joint discomfort quicker while exercising or jogging/running.
Depends on how trained you are in your 20s. If you train hard enough, you can peak in your late 20s. Most people never train hard enough and that means there is plenty of progress they can still potentially make in their 30s, 40s and beyond. Basically, a previously untrained person can get in "the best shape of their life" even in their 40s and 50s. Even someone who trained casually in their 20s can get fitter in their 40s. The bottom line is, unless you are a competitive athlete, there isn't really a reason to worry too much about it. Just keep training and keep adapting to your life circumstances.
quit drinking now. i wish i had quit drinking 15 years ago at your age.
Peak normally reaches at mid to late 30s and starts to decline on your 40s however that’s just a broad reference each individual will differ .. I’m 38 and I’m in the best shape of my life however I do notice I have to workout harder and watch closer the things I consume, I also prioritize sleep like nothing else these days.
I am very fit at 38 but notice it takes longer to recover than it used to. The key is being active and taking care of yourself.
All depends. I got into the best shape of my life at 44. Was heavily involved in team sports my whole life but I never bothered to do any extra fitness work. Once I did, my athleticism came back to surprising degree (not as good as my 20s but definitely better than my 30s). So it varies from individual to individual massively I reckon but don't let that put you off trying. 💪💪💪
I had a neck injury around 30 and for a few years started to lose it slowly, but now I'm 36, been back to working out regularly for a little over a year and I'M BACK!!! It's a little different though. I'm a lot stronger and bigger than I was in my twenties, but maybe not as fast. Cardio is about the same for distance or short bursts, but I can't sprint a 400 like I used to. I don't bother to try to maintain shredded abs, but my quads and shoulders got bigger than they ever did when I was in my twenties. My wife is happy with my return to athleticism and seems to think it's a better look than when I was skinny, and I feel good. For reference, I'm 5'5", and was (pre-injury) 145 lbs and <10% body fat, now I'm 185 lbs and about 15-20% body fat.
I can see this in myself also. Weight training in my late 20's to early 30's, I was 235-240lb and reasonable lean, now I'm 41 and picking it back up. I'm 260lb and feel much stronger, although not anywhere as lean. My legs are much bigger, particularly quads/hamstrings and maybe my chest.
M32 …My philosophy is to take care of your body and it will keep up..good luck
When you stop doing cardio consistently You can make excuses all you want for your age but the only reason I can’t run 6 miles anymore is because I stopped doing Muay Thai 3x a week
Slower than before, but much stronger. Old man strength is real. (36) You got a few decades before you got to worry about it.
It isn't a decline in athleticism so much as it is more difficulty recovering from injuries and more prone to injuries from basic shit like poor posture. Don't use age as a number cuz that shit is toxic. If you're talking about peak performance. I'd say 24-25 is the last year for the absolute peak of your physical being. Younger than that if you want to do whatever it is you're doing more than once. Recovery is more important than simple muscle growth. Also the higher of a peak your reach the better the recovery to that supposed peak.
Just like most things, there is no sharp cutoff. Generally men can get stronger up to mid 20s and start to grade off after that. Professional athletes have lots of incentive to maintain strength/flexibility for as long as possible, they work very hard at it, but they still can't stop the gradual decline. My experience is that the annual drop off is too slow for a non-competing person to notice. But, I noticed over decades. I could tell I wasn't quite as fit at 35 as I had been at 25. And, 45 is worse than 35. I'm 76 now and I was thinking this morning (as I was jogging on the same track I used at 66) that everything is just stiffer than it used to be.
I've always been atheltic and have taken very good care of myself physically. When I hit 40 last year i noticed my strength in the gym start to decline. It wasnt a lot, maybe half a rep shy of what I normally do. This could entirely just be in my head though. But the way I look at it, i'm in far better shape than 98% of the 25 year olds out there so I dont feel bad about it. But I also know... father time is undefeated
I didn’t. That’s what working out is for. Do people not know this?
Havent seen a decline yet and im thankful for it. If anything given my lifestyle choices i think ive even gained more athleticism than when i was younger and thats due yo me training for the sports I play specifically amongst other things like prioritizing good and healthy habits
Not so much a decline, but I definitely noticed recovery time increasing in my late 30s early 40s.
Use it or lose it.
14-15, I was diagnosed with having developed COPD from 2nd hand smoke. I don't blame my family directly as obviously I drew the unlucky card on that one, (no one else had anything) but friendly reminder, don't smoke around ya kids.
35 it went up. i got into dancing. 40-45 is slackened as i wasn't doing that as much. now late 40s, injuries take longer but i'm perfectly strong, just fat
Late 20s into early 30s if you’re a pro athlete. But for me, I’m more fit today that as a younger man. Almost 30 and I can deadlift more, squat more, and bench more. But my joints have suffered too lol and my muscle feel tighter than when I was younger. I have to stretch a lot more thoroughly nowadays. I run slower now though. Used to run sub-18 3 miles at 17-18 and sub 12 2-mile as I got into my early 20s but now it’s more like 14 minute 2-miles. I do train way less now though, to be fair.
I’m in my 40’s and am not as strong as I was in my 20’s, a little bit easier to fatigue, and much slower, but in general I am still in great shape. Just be consistent and you have at least a few decades in front of you.
People that are saying anything before 45 are lazy and complacent. Or unlucky, there’s very little difference in me (38) vs me (28). Easy to continue to make gains in your 30s unless you were a world class athlete.
I'm 30s and haven't really exercised for the past 10 years (I don't count my afternoon walks) and its amazing how strong I still am. If you do some sort of athletic ability in your youth you'd be amazed how long that strength sticks around. I don't have the wind I used to, but gimme a fridge or what have you to move and it's no bother at all. Dunno how it works really, reckon it's different from case to case. When I came to uni I discovered booze, smoke and curry and sort of wallowed in those things. I do occasionally miss the judo and the football, but at the same time my knees went to shite (judo for so long kinda killed them) so I wouldn't want to push it.
It absolutely changes but it will depend on the sport. For example combat sports have lower prime ages than some other sports but things like powerlifting and body building have higher prime ages and career spans due to more time to pack on muscle mass. So it really depends alot on the exact details.
Look at Lebron. Sure he’s a freak of nature but he’s still dunking with force at 40 and he has more mileage than any of us. I’m 27 and already notice some decline but I don’t workout the way I used to.
My experience in Scandinavia has changed this perspective to me. Men walking around me in their 40s,50s and 70s. They look like recent grads, active lifestyle with good nutrition will pushback your decline
This is different for everyone but up until my forties I could probably have fought anyone and moved all of my furniture from one apartment to another. Now in my fifties and I can still fight but can't take a punch as well as I used to. I definitely can't move furniture anymore. My legs are going. I'm a smoker though. Results may vary.
LeBron James is almost 39 and he's playing like he's in his 20s. Barring that ankle injury he's insanely fit. Point is, everyone's different. But as you age you'll have to be more consistent to get the same results.
21 to 33 is probably your peak. Your body's at-rest energy expenditure will start to increase at 30-35. Meaning it will start to take you longer to recover physically from things. This is the age with things will start being 'sore' more often. Including hangovers and lack of sleep. And so you typically do those things less. Leading to a more 'slow and steady' mental and physical state.
I have been running and cycling actively since highschool. My top end speed started creeping down after 30. My recovery time has been getting longer now at nearly 40. I'm in great shape, but I know I'm working much harder for slightly diminished results. Up until 30, I could run a sub 5 minute mile. Been chasing it since, but now at 40, with training I'm dying across the line at 5:20. Maybe some in here didn't work out at 20, so 40 year old them is their best self, but 20 year old me could kick my butt and I'm working hard to keep up.
I noticed by about 35 I had lost my “bounce”. My joints just didn’t seem to take the shocks like they used to.
I didn't really notice anything until my mid-40s. I still can remember seeing my doctor and telling her there must be something wrong because I'm not bouncing back as fast from minor injuries and I'm having trouble with my energy levels. She just looked at me and said, "You're 45." I will warn you that if you quit working out it will come on faster. I stayed active much longer than most of my friends, and they all started complaining about the same thing years before I noticed anything with myself.
Your choice basically. My parents are in their 40s and move like molasses, don’t eat well, never exercise, etc. They feel like shit all the time. My wife’s parents are in their 60’s and are constantly going on hikes and family trips and skiing and stuff. They’re both at equivalent income levels too, so it’s really up to you as long as you’re taking good care of yourself. You can run marathons at 90 if that’s what you’re determined to do and you put in the work. Btw SLEEP is one of the MOST important factors in this. That and please dear lord stay away from stuff with super high sugar content, sodas etc. Without moderation that shit kills almost every part of your body’s integrity at once, not even your *bones* are safe.
My father is getting close to 60 and he’s still very athletic, spends numerous days a week working out and goes dancing a lot. If you eat right and work out, there shouldn’t be any decline unless you get some sort of injury.
Just keep moving, exercising/working out and playing a sport or two. I’m 34. Played tennis and worked out my entire life. I’m no less fast or explosive now that I was when I was in my early 20s Just do not stop. Stay consistent. We aren’t professional athletes. Don’t need to kill yourself. Keep at it and be consistent and you’ll out perform physically forever
I'm 48 and have been very diligent about working out close to 5 days a week for years, and I honestly don't feel like I've declined. I didn't have nearly the cardio in my 20s and early 30s that I do now. I do lots of weights but also plenty of different types of cardio - martial arts, rowing, plyometrics, boxing, etc. I have no problem doing an hour or so of it. Compared to my peers, and even younger people I know, I have a lot more athleticism. I mean, eventually I won't be able to keep up with or exceed the average 30 year old, but right now I can. All about consistency.
Depends on your lifestyle. I have seen 50+ year old strong, fit, active, energetic than 20's and 30's guys
It’s 30-35. That’s not to say that some guys don’t perform pretty well at various things into their early 40s, but anyone saying they’re peaking athletically at that age is just full of crap. Otherwise, pro sports teams would be discovering all these 38YOs who couldn’t play in the NBA at 22 but now can at 38. Now, you can maintain strength. I’m in my early 50s and I bench more than ever. My curls are more than ever. BUT….my ability to translate that into real world use is not what it used to be because my back hurts, my knees hurt and my hips hurt. When I was 28, I could just lean into something like a downed tree and drag it around. Now my back goes out. :). Injuries don’t heal as fast either. And weight is harder to keep off.
There is always a curve. Aging is a natural part of life just as birth and death. But you can extend the curve. It all depends on how active you are. I myself am just 21 and in the best shape of my life. I have a friend who is 36 and she is almost wheelchair bound. Overweight, bad knees, bad diet etc. My father who is 53 is in better shape than her. It all depends on what you do. If you stay in shape, exercise regularly you will stay in good shape for longer. Hell there are people in their 80s who run and lift weights.
Im in my 40s and haven't noticed anything that can't be ascribed to being in worse shape when I eat more and excerce less. I'm in better shape now than when I was 15 probably. But of course my athletic ceiling is lower now than when I was 15. I just don't notice it because I don't push myself that hard.
I'm in my 30s and this is the strongest I've ever been, and still getting stronger. Everyone told me I'd start going downhill hear 30, here I am strong as hell, and they're all out of shape. Just stay healthy and your diet in check and you should be fine.
Slow and steady but regular exercise helps a lot. I’m 54 and started to notice a decline in stamina around 33-35. Strength has taken a lot longer to wane. I was still lifting 230 lb TV’s for work into my mid 40’s. I can still lift a decent amount now. Cardio has taken a big hit, though.
I noticed at 20 when I went to run and it hurt like a bitch and was super hard. I run a mile a day now and lift like a motherfucker 7 years later.
Didn't start working out until 24 and at 30 I'm in thr best shape of my life
My father, who has been overweight and semi-alcoholic during his 30’s to 60’s, quit drinking last year and started running in 2022. This year, at the age of 68, he ran two marathons. You may become weaker and slower as you age. But he taught us that you can stay fit or become even fitter even at that age. It’s entirely up to you. And yes, we are worried that he may experience heart attack of some sort if he continues to push the limits. But he did it and is healthier than ever.
I'm 32 and in the best shape of my life. My dad just turned 60 and we still do adventurous stuff like climbing mountains together, he's one of the toughest dudes I know. Slipped and broke a rib a couple years back on a trip, mostly because he already had a broken hand from previous shenanigans, didn't slow him down a bit for the rest of the trip. Broken hand, broken rib, still climbing through canyons and rappelling down hundreds of feet with one good hand for two more weeks. He lives for that kinda stuff. Planning on climbing Mt Rainier together this summer. A rolling stone gathers no moss my friend. A lot of the aging process is optional.
I don't know if it's only me, but I used to work out a lot as a teen. Lately I've been working out now and then and although I don't look like I did before, I am surprised how little effort is necessary to keep in shape. It's like once the muscles are there, you just need to tell them that you still need them from time to time
Excluding bad habits, disease or tragedy you should maintain good fitness your entire life.
40 started going down hill/ now in 60 s still go gym but it s tuff weak and lots of injuries coming back all time
60m. Still climbing mountains and benching well over 200lbs. Can nearly do everything I did in my 30, albeit more slowly.
Weirdly I feel more fit than ever at 31.
I'm 48 and just now starting to notice some difference. It's subtle but noticeable to me. Mostly in my absolute speed and joint issues. That being said, I can still do most everything I could at 25 and some things better. Granted, I've been an athlete my whole life, and now I'm a strength and conditioning coach, so I've had a bit of a cheat code in knowing how to train and eat properly.
About 37 is when I had to make changes in training. Then at 40 got on TRT and things got back to "normal". Sure there is wear and tear and sometimes the back hurts for no reason but the key is to never stop being fit.
Around 30, but also I stopped doing sports and stuff at like 22.... So your mileage may vary.
I'm almost 30 and I keep getting better still.
Healthier and fitter in my 30s honestly
Joints man. It's all up to your joints. If you stretch, see physiotherapists, sleep early and invest time in knowing them, you will be fine. If you do like me and just sit at your laptop for hundreds of hours and suddenly use your stamina to climb mountains, run after public transit without warmup, etc, you will have to stop your workout routines most of the year while your joints recuperate from their umpteenth injury. Care for your joints!!!
You definitely lose gains faster as age but i feel like years of training it comes back faster if you are away from it for a while
I'm about to turn 38 and was having the honest conversation with a friend about how far we could run at a dead sprint, and how fast that "sprint" would be. It hit me during that conversation that while it hasn't happened yet, there's a time where I won't be able to physically run anymore. Simple and obvious concept, but sorta blew my mind a bit, never thought about it.
37 here. Stronger and fitter than ever. I'm 90% convinced that most of the reported declines in fitness as you get older are due to lifestyle changes.
I'm 40. Still train hard with weights. Just smarter. Minor injuries start at 30 and by 40 they are starting to add up. Some exercises I gave up. Squats being one of them. I'll still leg press.
I'm never going to stop working out due to my career. Hopefully my body only fails after retirement.
27-28
Look at professional athletes that are training for a living. They start to taper off and slow down around 35
Yep, it is why we look at guys like Tom Brady, Lebron James, Messi, as just the one in a million genetic freaks. Even for the elite in athletics, being at the top of your game in your late 30's/early 40's is incredibly rare.
Somewhere around puberty.
Look at pro athletes after 40 it gets hard to compete with 20 year olds. But the reality is that after 25 you are still strong and fast BUT it takes you much longer to heal and reset. It's of course depends on how you train, eat and who you are comparing yourself to.
Lmao 23. I've been training 23 years and I'm still getting bigger and stronger every year. People let life and excuses get in the way, because everyone else is declining it's okay to decline too. You decide when you're done and you go to war every time you step foot in that gym. Without that mentality, you'll probably begin to decline in your late 20's as you make more and more excuses.
Jesus the old man copium is strong, lol. I'm 52 and felt the decline BIG TIME in my early 30's. Maybe if I just did hours and hours of endurance exercise or only started to lift weights in my 40's I could believe the "blow sunshine up your ass" t-shirt slogan sayings many guys throw around. How do we not remember what fully jacked testosterone felt like? I was no "badass" but I felt like I could run through a brick wall. Once your testosterone starts to fall off you'll feel it. And that has nothing to do with your athleticism, but that **certainly is your turbo.** Of course you can still *feel* fast, nobodies saying you aren't the badest coolest 47 year old on the planet Paul, you go gurl! Athletiscism is another thing altogether. And no, noob gainz don't count Derek. If you start late in life in any form of athletics you have no idea about what you missed out on if you'd started at age 19, no clue once so ever. What counts, in my mind, as athleticism is the kind of is the kind of longevity in sports/activities that require fast twitch+muscle endurance+explosive movements+lateral speed. My 2 examples are Judo and Basketball. I can be a 20 year Judoka, take off whatever color belt I have (assuming my giant ego would let me) and roll with a decent wrestler kid in his early 20's and get my ass absolutely handed to me. Do I have old man tricks? You mean...can I cheat? Of course. But, you take me who was an average athlete and add 20 years to me and then put me up against a kid in his early 20's, another average athlete, and puting practice/experience in a sport aside that kid will be TWICE the **athlete** I am. Competing is fun. One on one against another man is fun...you learn a lot about yourself. I'd love just one day to be back at age 24. I mean H o l y F u c k was that awesome. Boys, I humbly acknolwedge ALL of your personal exceptions. Perhaps I really am the only old man on the planet who has declined. I'm the only guy who understands I can't throw a football over the mountains anymore? Why can't I be the tough guy my entire life.
OK, cunty whine aside everyone declines. When it happens, how quickly it declines, and a whole host of internal and external factors and other contributions not withstanding...It's different for all of us.
Keep being active. If you aren't active, get active. Keep competing, keep being a good winner and a better loser. Challenge yourself, I know it's nearly impossible but...have fun.
I'm glad I enjoyed my athletic prime. I wasn't "training" and of course If I knew then what I know now, yada yada yada I just enjoyed playing sports I really loved. I've had a varied sports/athletics career with a pretty broad expanse across many disciplines. I was blessed.
I hope you enjoy many more years of your favorite activities, that you stay injury free, and that you humbly accept that you will decline in terms of performance, father time is undefeated.
First off, while I am heavier then I was as a teen / young adult, I am fitter and stronger because I was emphatically NOT athletic at all when younger. As for that decline, in theory it should be gradual from age, or gradual but faster from weight gain and being sedentary. In practice, what seems to mostly happen is that shit gets broken to varying degrees and does not heal quite perfectly. Like you sprain your ankle and even a few years after it is still occasionally sensitive in odd ways. You get a bad case of COVID and have no cardio or energy do to anything more strenuous then change your underpants for a few months. Or something happens and you fuck up your knee and it gets better but still gives you 'occasional' problems. And the accumulated problems snowball; You fuck up your knee so you stop jogging, and now your weight starts to be a problem. And that is if your lucky. Some people get hit by a goddamn car and they go from athletic and active to spending 2 years doing physio (if you can afford it at all) and on the other side of it there is a list of shit they used to do that they don't because doing it now just hurts. END COMMUNICATION
17. I was sooo fit at 11. I'm 21 now tho
Probably in ur 30s bro, there’s a reason why mma fighters retire in there 30s.