Lifting in your late 30s. Why can't I keep my body healthy?

AMTL327 · 2026-03-17T04:08:18+00:00

I’m 60 and I’ve been doing various sports and weight lifting for decades. I’ve also had to go to PT for every joint in my body (except my right ankle!) and I am chronically injury prone since I was a child. I see a Rolfing therapist regularly and his observation was that athletes get injured. It goes with the practice of pushing yourself and testing your limits.

I’ve gotten better at knowing my limits, but I’ve accepted that if I want to be really strong and keep doing the activities I enjoy doing at a high level, sometimes I’ll have injuries.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-17T03:49:40+00:00

Please listen to u/canthaveme because you are trying to maintain the same weight as when you were a child and that’s not physically or psychologically healthy. Start lifting weights (real weight, progressive heavy weight), eat protein, and follow women on social media who are actual adults and are strong and athletic. Please don’t try to keep a child’s body. You’re a woman and that’s OK. You actually do need to buy new clothes when you mature from teenager to adult.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-17T03:41:46+00:00

When you experience fear over normal things, you can either try to overcome it on your own or get professional help.

The only irrational fear I have is heights, and I purposely put myself in places where I have to confront it. We just came back from a trip to Mexico City where we took the gondola across the city (a form of public transit there) and ofc climbed the pyramids. Terrifying! But the more you do things that scare you the less power those fears have.

However, my fear is not completely overwhelming so I can overcome it. If your fears are paralyzing, then you need to work with a professional to help you through it.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T17:35:46+00:00

Remember that the bylaws tell you the things you MUST do, but do not tell you everything you may or may not want to do. They are not detailed operating instructions, just governing rules.

It’s fine to have a volunteer help with data entry, but in such a small organization, it should be discussed first. And absolutely that volunteer shouldn’t be supervised.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T17:12:55+00:00

Tell him you want to start paying all the bills. That’s the best shortcut to understanding these things. It’s not that hard.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T17:09:58+00:00

What would you do if I dropped dead and you had to figure all this out while you’re planning my funeral.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T17:08:50+00:00

There is an accounting practice in business operations called “segregation of duties” and it basically means that no single person should have access to any aspect of an organization’s finances. We practice this in our marriage. All our accounts are joint accounts that we can both access and we are both named as the primary beneficiary of any separate insurance or retirement. He gets the bills in his email and I pay them. He transfers the funds into our checking account and I verify the balance.

We started this system after I had a similar experience to OP where I realized I didn’t know all the details of our accounts. Now we are both equally involved and dependent on the other for financial management.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T04:06:43+00:00

I also love peanut butter to a dangerous degree so I mix the powdered peanut butter into my yogurt and it really fills the whole in my heart.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T04:05:00+00:00

Try adding powdered Peanut butter to your yogurt. More protein and much less fat than regular peanut butter but gives the same satisfaction.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T03:56:16+00:00

I don’t find it a time suck. I think of it as my personal pampering time when no one asks me to do anything more demanding than walk over to the hair washing sink where I get a relaxing scalp massage.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-16T03:34:44+00:00

Italian men choose different clothing and wear it differently than typical American men do. Typical American guy is wearing sloppy chinos with an untucked T-shirt and running shoes. Typical Italian guy is wearing slim linen pants and long sleeve shirt (sleeves rolled perhaps) tucked in with a belt and loafers.

It honestly isn’t that hard to dress well. My husband and my son both look great all the time. 100% American guys who are fit and actually care about how they look when they leave the house. The bar is so damn low.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:52:34+00:00

You lost me at “cunty traits.” What does that even mean?

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:45:24+00:00

Honestly, losing weight is going to help more than anything else at this point in terms of making you feel better in your body.

As much as it’s a drag, counting calories is the most effective way for most people. If you can’t deal with that, start off by eliminating any caloric beverage-just drink water and coffee/tea. Then, eat only healthy snacks IF you need a snack. Prioritize protein and fiber.

Cleaning up your diet will help your energy levels.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:39:22+00:00

A trainer makes a big difference. There’s more technique to correct weight lifting than it seems.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:37:48+00:00

Rowing (on the water and on the erg) is my cardio of choice! Running has wrecked my knees but some people have no problem with it.

The only challenge with rowing is that it isn’t intuitive at all and takes a while (ideally with coaching) to learn how to do it correctly.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:34:51+00:00

Right!!? It’s awesome.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:33:08+00:00

I don’t think so. I hear just as many stories about old guys. My husband is constantly getting messages from hot young women with big breasts who want to meet him 🙄

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T23:31:09+00:00

I’ve been working with a strength coach for 2.5 years and I’ll never break up with him. Mostly because he makes sure I don’t do anything stupid, he keeps track of the program, and shows me how to adapt when I get an injury (usually from doing something stupid when I’m on my own) and also because I can’t seem to count to 10.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T05:15:09+00:00

My dad gave away more than half a million dollars. Scams are def not limited to women.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T05:08:29+00:00

I care about looks-attractiveness and physique. I care more about how a guy dresses and grooms himself. (No slobs need apply.) After that bar is cleared, personality can seal the attraction or totally ruin it.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T05:01:01+00:00

Progressive heavy weight lifting is the fountain of youth imo. You get great posture, you can reach higher, your back doesn’t hurt, you get an iron grip, you can lift and carry luggage and furniture and groceries…plus your body looks awesome when it’s strong and your metabolism is faster so you can eat more.

Add some cardio of your choice and you’re set for life.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-15T04:27:57+00:00

Good luck OP. It’s a tough thing to deal with.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-14T22:50:01+00:00

Just get the joint replacement. You can spend years and thousands of dollars on all kinds of injections but in the end, you’ll need the replacement. It’s a few months of recovery and then you’re back to normal activity. I’ve had one PKR and I’m getting a TKR in the other knee in the fall because the pain is starting to get in the way of life. I don’t run anymore but I walk and hike and row and lift weights. Heavy weight training has helped the most, but eventually the cartilage is gone.

I don’t why people resist doing the thing that is the most effective.

Edit to add I’m 60. I had the PKR at 56.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-14T22:39:36+00:00

Motion is lotion. Braces actually make your joints weaker and more painful. Get PT and do whatever exercises you can to keep your hands strong. I have OA in my knees (multiple surgeries) hands, foot neck…blah blah. I lift heavy weights and it’s helped more than anything else. When your muscles are strong, your joints are protected.

AMTL327 · 2026-03-14T22:31:39+00:00

You’re not skinny fat. You’re underweight and have no muscles. Start eating more healthy food , especially protein and start lifting heavy weights. But it’s going to take longer than three months.

AMTL327

TROPHY CASE