56 year old looking for answers...

[winbobcan]

New to this sport and looking for some generic input. I'm 56 years old, 203lbs with BF of 15%. In March of 2012 I was 245lbs and just starting a workout reginmen with no particular plan. I was lucky enough to connect with FC (many of you know her) and she has worked my ass off since then...great coach, great motivator, great nutritionist. Everything was going great until I let my ego get in the way and started working with weights beyond what I should have been...needless to say coach was not pleased when I hurt myself doing bicep curls with 50lb dumbbells...slowly making my way back (with ego in check) but having to work around the injury to the right forearm. Problem is I feel I've plateaued and not making gains the last 4 to 5 weeks...FC suggested I post this issue and see what feedback comes my way. Are gains even realistic at this age? I believe they should be with proper training and nutrition. Am I kidding myself? Or should I simply be happy with what I (we) have accomplished todate and just maintain? I'm open to any information...motivation is not an issue...love this new lifestyle...especially having started it at this age. Thanks to all.

[Fasted Development]

I think at 56 you're more than capable of making substantial gains. I have quite a few friends well over 50 and they're in great shape, better shape than a lot of younger people.
Sounds like you got a good coach/nutritionist, so you should be on the right track.
It's normal to experience plateaus from time to time regardless age. Everyone's body's different, I'm guessing you're probably just at a point where you've gotten fitter from what you've been doing, and your body's just getting used to the routine, and it's no longer challenging/shocking to your body. Plus you've lost a lot of weight, the thinner you get, the harder it is the lose weight, unfortunately you'll probably have to work harder.
Or you could just be frying your CNS cuz you've been training too hard, but I doubt it though cuz you got a good trainer.
You could try speaking to your trainer about spicing up your routine a bit to see how your body responds. Good luck!

[cog]

My guess is that at 56 TRT might help.

[winbobcan]

TRT would be a consideration but currently absolutely no symptoms of Low T. None-the-less will get it checked out just to be certain.

[Praetorian]

Have you had recent blood work done for T? Symptoms or not means nothing.
P

[Skailes]

New to this sport and looking for some generic input. I'm 56 years old, 203lbs with BF of 15%. In March of 2012 I was 245lbs and just starting a workout reginmen with no particular plan. I was lucky enough to connect with FC (many of you know her) and she has worked my ass off since then...great coach, great motivator, great nutritionist. Everything was going great until I let my ego get in the way and started working with weights beyond what I should have been...needless to say coach was not pleased when I hurt myself doing bicep curls with 50lb dumbbells...slowly making my way back (with ego in check) but having to work around the injury to the right forearm. Problem is I feel I've plateaued and not making gains the last 4 to 5 weeks...FC suggested I post this issue and see what feedback comes my way. Are gains even realistic at this age? I believe they should be with proper training and nutrition. Am I kidding myself? Or should I simply be happy with what I (we) have accomplished todate and just maintain? I'm open to any information...motivation is not an issue...love this new lifestyle...especially having started it at this age. Thanks to all.As your a beginner to bodybuilding gains are of course a realistic certainty but as has been pointed out your natty test may be a bit low due to your age (training will assist in this area to a degree). Thus TRT is an option for you just to get you to a more acceptable testosterone level, or you could try using a quality tribulus supplement and take about 5 grams per day and see how you respond in a month.

And lastly this is bodybuilding not weight lifting and as such leave the ego outta the gym. At your age injuries take forever to come back from, so do as your trainer tells you to do when and how she tells you to do it!!

[cog]

I will certainly second the injury part,they can happen a lot easier,and healing completely takes much longer and may never be 100%.

[warlock]

You got an injury, you learnt your lesson, go back on track and be patient.

There is a lot of change in the beginning, it slows down but they will keep coming as long as you are consistent and listen to your coach

[winbobcan]

Injury now fairly much healed. Almost back to where I was and progressing nicely under the watchful eye of coach FC. Definitely lesson learned. Thanks to all for comments.

[Delt King]

Your nutrition will dictate the type of results you'll see. first thing is to define your short term goals and long term goals. as they are often different. for example is the guy who wants to have big muscles but is high in bodyfat. for him it would be counterproductive to try bulking to get bigger before cutting.