3 Rules for Strength Training Over 40
I know what you’re thinking - but Luke, you’re not over 40! You’re right, but I’ve trained hundreds of people over the age of 40 and can speak to several important considerations for an aging body. 1. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Your body has probably sustained injuries over the years and your recovery likely isn’t what it used to be. For that reason, it’s important to learn to train more efficiently. While it’s certainly possible for some individuals over 40 to handle lots of training stress, most people need less. That means focusing on quality sets and reps. So instead of doing three or four heavy sets of back squats, you could aim to build up to one or two heavy sets. And instead of getting lots of volume from barbell work, use things like bands, cables and dumbbells to add more volume. 2. WARM UP THOROUGHLY No matter your age, you’re going to want to warm up. However, as you get older, you need to devote more time to it. And simply doing a few push ups, leg swings and arm circles won’t cut it any more. If you’re doing a full-body routine, emphasize mobilizing your hips and upper back and warming up areas like your upper back, core, glutes and hamstrings to protect your joints. So if you’ve got an hour to workout, you may have previously spent five minutes warming up and 55 minutes working out. However, now you may want to spend 15-25 minutes warming up and 35-45 minutes working out. 3. RECOVER HARDER You’re not going to be able to get away with training on five hours of sleep per night like you used to. Being intentional about getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night, de-stressing and fueling yourself properly will go a long way toward allowing you to train harder and make progress. If you want to reduce the risk of injury, you need to start with focusing on what you do OUTSIDE of the gym. If you’re coming into the gym after a night of poor sleep, a day of poor nutrition and a stressful day, do you think your chances of getting injured might go up? You bet. So remember, what you do BEFORE the workout is super important.Connect with Luke: Join my FREE Facebook Group: Men's Fitness and Health Instagram: @lukebriggsfitness YouTube: Luke Briggs Email: luke@lukebriggsfitness.com Info about Total Life Fitness coaching: Click HERE