AS YOU GET older, some things have to change. That’s just a fact of life. You wouldn’t want to keep up the same lifestyle as you did in your youth and early adulthood, when you had fewer responsibilities and years on your odometer. But it’s not just about maturing. Some adjustments you make will be more focused on living better and adapting your habits to your body as it ages.
The question is, when should you look into shifting your practices? You might think if you’re not experiencing any issues now, you have no reason to make changes—but that’s not how smart fitness programming works. If you ask Bryan Krahn, the 53-year-old trainer behind MH’s Max Muscle at 50 program, you’ll set yourself up for success if you start sooner.
So if you want to feel good in your 50s, the time to make a change is in your 40s.
“It's not a sexy idea, but I think it's almost a cautionary tale,” Krahn tells MH. ”If you're 40 and you feel great, great—But now is when you actually have to start changing things proactively, because you will have to. Especially if you're doing meatheady stuff.”
Krahn isn’t just falling back on preconceived notions about aging. He’s speaking from his own experience.
“On your 40th birthday, if you stop doing one rep maxes and training like an idiot and start to be more proactive, your 50s will be cake. But I didn't do that,” he says. “When I was 46, 47, I was a mess—I had to rebuild everything.”
What does change look like? More controlled, focused training instead of picking trendy workout programs at random. Fewer one rep maxes and stunt lifts. And much more dedication to recovery.
If you’re not sure exactly how to implement that type of shift to your own routine—or if you’re starting with strength training later in life—Krahn designed the entire Max Muscle After 50 program to give you the blueprint.
Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men's Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.