body mass

[Cormanus]

Gentlemen, forgive me, but this is a family-friendly motorcycle forum not the letters page of one of those strange pictorial magazines that some blokes buy just for the articles.

 

[Henrik_imp]

Nothing beats regular exercise to try and stay young. I have a habit of trying to do 30 minutes every morning of either an elliptic trainer or a treadmill during the cold season, and 30 minutes of bicycle outside when the weather permits. This has allowed me to maintain my legs in good shape, as my day of intense alpine skiing proved to me yesterday. My problem now is with muscle loss in the upper body, and I need to try and put some weight exercise routines in for that now.

At 56, I think I'm doing okay. Certainly I do not have any issues with riding as far as fitness is concerned.

 

[dave]

With mass loss (mainly muscles) of about 2% per year after age 40 ...
what do you do to keep your fitness up ?
PS: good drink and food doesn’t help or count !

I walk my dog 3 times a week. Also, the wife and I take the dog hiking usually every other weekend. I used to ride my motocross bike (YZ250), but I have a back injury that is preventing me from doing this now (I am seeing a chiropractor). I get the mountain bike out a few times a year, and I take the dual sport (XR650L) trail riding a few times a year also.

 

[emptysea]

I’ve read that it’s 3-5% per decade, not 2% per year. All the same, most of us are on losing muscle mass side of the curve, to put it delicately.

I used to be fairly disciplined with strength training. I’ve alway believed that a well designed weight training program had enough cardio sort of built in to it to reduce the need for pure cardio workouts for someone with decent heart/lung health.

“Used to be” is key here. I am currently not doing much except being careful of my diet and I need to reinvigorate my exercise program. Until I stop working full time, I cannot adopt Houtman’s fitness regimen (the one about working about the house, not working the bars and clubs) and so I’m in the process of getting back to my home gym in a more serious manner. This thread proved to be a timely reminder so thanks for posting.
Having said all that and after looking out my window at the blanket of white, I believe my new commitment to exercise will start with several sets of “shovel curls”.

Wish I could support this seeming relief with some science, but instead of arguing about statistical observations let me I suggest you look at (m)any average old man you see downtown in the park, age 80+. What you see quite often is ultra thin legs - very noticeable from a distance. His upper legs had once a circumference of 40+ cm. Now it's down to 25 - bones + skin. This is not the result of 4 x 4% (from 40 to 80) = 16% muscle loss. It is a disastrous 50% and sometimes higher.
Such can turn your motorcycle years (and -memories) literally into motorcycle fears.

Wish I could support this seeming relief with some science, but instead of arguing about statistical observations let me I suggest you look at (m)any average old man you see downtown in the park, age 80+. What you see quite often is ultra thin legs - very noticeable from a distance. His upper legs had once a circumference of 40+ cm. Now it's down to 25 - bones + skin. This is not the result of 4 x 4% (from 40 to 80) = 16% muscle loss. It is a disastrous 50% and sometimes higher.
Such can turn your motorcycle years (and -memories) literally into motorcycle fears.
Wish I could support your anecdotal observations, but I choose to follow the information provided by Harvard University reports on the matter which state that most men lose about 30% of their muscle mass over the course of their lives and at a rate of 3-5% per decade after age 30.

Your point about muscle mass is still important even if your statistics are way off. The report I read said that the best way to stave off this deterioration is through a higher protein diet combined with strength/power training.

 

[Houtman_imp]

Do "beer bellies" qualify as body mass ? For your info : I do not have one !
One of my friends has a "massive body "

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

I’ve read that it’s 3-5% per decade, not 2% per year. All the same, most of us are on losing muscle mass side of the curve, to put it delicately.

I used to be fairly disciplined with strength training. I’ve alway believed that a well designed weight training program had enough cardio sort of built in to it to reduce the need for pure cardio workouts for someone with decent heart/lung health.

“Used to be” is key here. I am currently not doing much except being careful of my diet and I need to reinvigorate my exercise program. Until I stop working full time, I cannot adopt Houtman’s fitness regimen (the one about working about the house, not working the bars and clubs) and so I’m in the process of getting back to my home gym in a more serious manner. This thread proved to be a timely reminder so thanks for posting.
Having said all that and after looking out my window at the blanket of white, I believe my new commitment to exercise will start with several sets of “shovel curls”.

Wish I could support this seeming relief with some science, but instead of arguing about statistical observations let me I suggest you look at (m)any average old man you see downtown in the park, age 80+. What you see quite often is ultra thin legs - very noticeable from a distance. His upper legs had once a circumference of 40+ cm. Now it's down to 25 - bones + skin. This is not the result of 4 x 4% (from 40 to 80) = 16% muscle loss. It is a disastrous 50% and sometimes higher.
Such can turn your motorcycle years (and -memories) literally into motorcycle fears.

Wish I could support this seeming relief with some science, but instead of arguing about statistical observations let me I suggest you look at (m)any average old man you see downtown in the park, age 80+. What you see quite often is ultra thin legs - very noticeable from a distance. His upper legs had once a circumference of 40+ cm. Now it's down to 25 - bones + skin. This is not the result of 4 x 4% (from 40 to 80) = 16% muscle loss. It is a disastrous 50% and sometimes higher.
Such can turn your motorcycle years (and -memories) literally into motorcycle fears.
Wish I could support your anecdotal observations, but I choose to follow the information provided by Harvard University reports on the matter which state that most men lose about 30% of their muscle mass over the course of their lives and at a rate of 3-5% per decade after age 30.

Your point about muscle mass is still important even if your statistics are way off. The report I read said that the best way to stave off this deterioration is through a higher protein diet combined with strength/power training.

MTC's note is about the way I have read and understood it.

 

[j3gq_imp]

just to make this well clear, my concern was “natural loss of body mass through aging” ... everywhere in your body,

beer or pot bellies, illness, accidents, gender, religious believes etc., are a different subject about which I have nothing much said or to say. Some of them need simply a good amount of patience, love or TLC, other plenty of love in the wider sense.

 

[tod.branko_imp]

Loss of body mass is directly proportional to loss of testosterone levels, so lift heavy weights and focus on large muscle groups (read: legs), lay off the booze and junk food, and involve yourself in manly stuff that boost the production of the above mentioned hormone. If everything else fails a testosterone supplement could be taken after consulting your physician (or the dodgy guy in your local gym)

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

 

[emptysea]

What if I'm the dodgy guy at my local gym?? :dodgy:

 

[Inhouse Bob]

I jog a bit

 

[emptysea]

I jog a bit

Bob and I have different definitions of "post-ride runs".

 

[the Ferret]

lol yea yours is back to the room for a martini and stogie

 

[Cormanus]

“I jog a bit” might well be the first entry in this year’s Understatement of the Year competition.

 

[j3gq_imp]

hmm, dodgy ? the word has several meanings, in the gym and in my Thesaurus, any chance you could explain what kind ‘a dodgy guy you’d like to be ?

 

[emptysea]

dishonest, deceitful, dubious, double-dealing, treacherous, traitorous, two-faced, unfaithful, duplicitous, dishonourable, unprincipled, unscrupulous, corrupt, smarmy, iffy, shady, shifty, slippery, crooked. And it's only Wednesday.

 

[the Ferret]

:rofl:

 

[Houtman_imp]

dishonest, deceitful, dubious, double-dealing, treacherous, traitorous, two-faced, unfaithful, duplicitous, dishonourable, unprincipled, unscrupulous, corrupt, smarmy, iffy, shady, shifty, slippery, crooked. And it's only Wednesday.

You know my neighbor ???

 

[Cormanus]

Back in the day, all those descriptors would have been assumed from EmptySea’s vocation. Thank heavens that’s no longer the case. :dodgy:

 

[the Ferret]

Empty Sea sold used cars?

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

"Greasy".