Don’t be depressed… start working out and build that new baseline. It’s a new peak whatever age you hit it and it comes back quickly after you take time off abs restart in the future.
I didn’t start lifting until I was 47. Started a strength building program and had great success the first year. Since then, now 9 years later, I’ve had numerous times where I took time off due to vacation or work getting crazy… and it always ended up being longer than I intended. Months and even 1 yr once. Still when I resume I build back strength so much more quickly than I put it on originally.
Starting pt for bench now is 225lb, 5 reps and sets, which is where I ended after my first year. I can get back to 1 rep at 315 in 3 to 4 months, which took several years for me to get to originally. Latest max of 1 rep 350lb, not quite sure how long to get back to it. I was there first in Aug 2024 and again Aug 2025 but I’ve had 6 months off so we’ll see. Nonetheless still far ahead of where I used to be.
Just get started. Don’t beat yourself up over how you’ve disappointed yourself in the past… you can’t change it anyway. Just start now and make a better you for your future.
that’s actually really uplifting to know, thank you for posting this. :)
Its uplifting if you were previously a college athlete who let themselves go, but has the potential to bounce back quickly.
Depressing for someone like me who took up sport and fitness later in life and doesnt have that athletic foundation to build on.
But i guess it also applies to short term injury recovery, so thats good news
Don’t be depressed… start working out and build that new baseline. It’s a new peak whatever age you hit it and it comes back quickly after you take time off abs restart in the future.
I didn’t start lifting until I was 47. Started a strength building program and had great success the first year. Since then, now 9 years later, I’ve had numerous times where I took time off due to vacation or work getting crazy… and it always ended up being longer than I intended. Months and even 1 yr once. Still when I resume I build back strength so much more quickly than I put it on originally.
Starting pt for bench now is 225lb, 5 reps and sets, which is where I ended after my first year. I can get back to 1 rep at 315 in 3 to 4 months, which took several years for me to get to originally. Latest max of 1 rep 350lb, not quite sure how long to get back to it. I was there first in Aug 2024 and again Aug 2025 but I’ve had 6 months off so we’ll see. Nonetheless still far ahead of where I used to be.
Just get started. Don’t beat yourself up over how you’ve disappointed yourself in the past… you can’t change it anyway. Just start now and make a better you for your future.