How To Care For Your Body While Bodybuilding Over 40

November 19th, 2009

It’s always a good time to go from out of shape to fit. It’s not true that you have to be in your twenties to get in great physical shape, more and more people are learning that they can get into bodybuilding over 40. But there are different health concerns to take into account for a mature bodybuilder.

You have to understand how the body matures, and to do that you should look at other people who are bodybuilding over 40 to see why and how they are successful. Look at people who have a similar body type to your own and whose goals match your own, and consider using them as a template. Consider copying their training programs and schedules. They use a slow, gradual build up in their reps, weights, and cycles.

When bodybuilding beyond 40, you need a longer cycle that will give your body the rest it needs. Because it’s not accustomed to this sudden exercise, your body needs time to recover.

In an ideal program, you would exercise a muscle group on day 1, rest the next two days, train another group on day 4, and rest for two days. On day 7 you would train the remaining muscle group or groups and then rest another two days before starting the cycle again. As your skill and fitness level advances, you can shorten your rest and your cycle if you prefer.

Don’t start to work with too much weight. Many younger people begin with a higher weight. This isn’t because they’re healthier and stronger than you, it’s because their bodies can heal from strains and pulls more swiftly. Start at a low weight you feel comfortable with. Starting small gives you extra control while you learn to perform the proper lifts and work with the machines properly.

When bodybuilding over 40 you should be doing more reps with light weights. 15 reps are a good place to start. Some experts have suggested that you can begin adding slightly more weight every other cycle while doing fewer reps. It’s really up to you to know what your body can and can’t handle, and how much rest and recovery it needs. But, eventually, you will be able to add more weight and lower your reps as you get stronger.

And you shouldn’t forget to warm up if you don’t want to hurt yourself. Stretch first, and then perform a 5 to 10 minute cardio routine to gt the blood going. This should be followed by an exercise to target the muscle group you’re going to be working with by lifting only half the weight for ten reps. An example would be that someone who wanted to lift 200 pounds should warm up by lifting 100 or less.

If you have a prior injury, you will need to protect it. Even if your injury is more than a decade old, you will have to take caution not to re-injure yourself. Always talk to your doctor before beginning a bodybuilding routine, especially if you have been hurt before. Your doctor may recommend you use a brace or avoid certain movements.

These are simple tips for anyone interested in bodybuilding over 40. If you have other questions, or you’re worried about hurting yourself, ask for a trainer to help you. A trainer will be able to show you how to get the best out of your body. You can also visit my website if you want to find more tips and workouts. Be careful, and remember that asking for help is a good way to get ready for a stronger workout later, and getting you on the path to fitness the right way.

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