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I am 46 and have been lifting for 30 years. I have found myself coming full circle. When I was 16 I wanted to be HUGE like the monsters of that era: Lee Haney, Gaspari, the Barbarian Brothers, Gary Strydom etc. After several years of training I found I got pretty strong, but not so big.
In my early 20's I got into powerlifting as it seemed to suit me "skill set" best. I was never big (165 lb or 181 lb weight class) but I was able to hit triple bodyweight in both squat (equipped) and deadlift (raw). Almost got 2x bodyweight in BP (raw). Best lifts were 485/335 (385 equipped)/550. I could have cared less about size...my theory was that size should be a byproduct of strength. Not visa versa. I scoffed bodybuilders as mirror athletes and compared them to a Hollywood movie façade. On the outside they looked like solid buildings, only to find they were hollow with no foundation.
In 2011 I competed in my final PL meet and decided I wanted to LOOK as strong as I was. I was then 43 and got tired of people telling me that I was strong for my size. The only time I was "impressive" was in the gym. I wanted to look good all the time. I was about 175 lb when I made that decision.
I switched to a "bodybuilding" style workout and since that time (mid 2011) I have gained almost 20 lb doing nothing more than adding reps and ditching the heavy weight/low rep style of training that I had been doing for 2 decades. (Example I would do 8x3 or 5x5 on almost all lifts).
I am now paying the price for all those years of heavy lifting. My lower back is SHOT and it is impacting my everyday life. I have to call in sick to work on occasion due to throwing my back out as a result of picking up a napkin or bending over to brush my teeth. Believe me, when your back is out life SUCKS. I was a jerk to my family and was not the person I normally am. I can deal with shoulder or knee pain, but there is no pain like low back pain.
I was reading Dusty's post on the DC section about forging a body using big weights and I was bummed because I simply cannot do that anymore. I am only 46 and I don't want to be in wheelchair at age 50 just because I wanted to get huge. However I stumbled upon the writings of Doug Brignole and it inspired me. He is a guy over 50 that claims to have added POUNDS of muscle using ultra high rep sets (up to 50) and isolation exercises.
I have been doing this for a few weeks and I have to admit that NOT doing squats, deadlifts, bent rows etc. has allowed me to live pain free. And I have got some great pumps but I am not smashed after a workout. I am going 6x per week. Split is Chest/Back, Shoulders/Arms, Legs/Calves REST and then repeat. Super short rest between sets and lots and lots of reps with pansy weights. YES it takes a while for a lifelong powerlifter to be OK doing smith incline presses with 115lb for 50-40-30-20 when I could easily hit 275x10. But I tell you what, I have a bigger pump than ever, joints don't hurt and I have already gained 2 lb.
I do have training ADD so I jump around a lot but based on my overall health I am committed to keeping in the MUCH higher rep ranges. I am always searching for Brignole's latest stuff...no he is not HUGE but for 50 he looks darn good and it makes sense. I will keep you guys posted as to the results, but the most important thing is I can still go to the gym, which I LOVE, and I am minimizing the potential of ending up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Reps, reps and more reps keep me in the game and HOPES of adding some more muscle even at my age.
In my early 20's I got into powerlifting as it seemed to suit me "skill set" best. I was never big (165 lb or 181 lb weight class) but I was able to hit triple bodyweight in both squat (equipped) and deadlift (raw). Almost got 2x bodyweight in BP (raw). Best lifts were 485/335 (385 equipped)/550. I could have cared less about size...my theory was that size should be a byproduct of strength. Not visa versa. I scoffed bodybuilders as mirror athletes and compared them to a Hollywood movie façade. On the outside they looked like solid buildings, only to find they were hollow with no foundation.
In 2011 I competed in my final PL meet and decided I wanted to LOOK as strong as I was. I was then 43 and got tired of people telling me that I was strong for my size. The only time I was "impressive" was in the gym. I wanted to look good all the time. I was about 175 lb when I made that decision.
I switched to a "bodybuilding" style workout and since that time (mid 2011) I have gained almost 20 lb doing nothing more than adding reps and ditching the heavy weight/low rep style of training that I had been doing for 2 decades. (Example I would do 8x3 or 5x5 on almost all lifts).
I am now paying the price for all those years of heavy lifting. My lower back is SHOT and it is impacting my everyday life. I have to call in sick to work on occasion due to throwing my back out as a result of picking up a napkin or bending over to brush my teeth. Believe me, when your back is out life SUCKS. I was a jerk to my family and was not the person I normally am. I can deal with shoulder or knee pain, but there is no pain like low back pain.
I was reading Dusty's post on the DC section about forging a body using big weights and I was bummed because I simply cannot do that anymore. I am only 46 and I don't want to be in wheelchair at age 50 just because I wanted to get huge. However I stumbled upon the writings of Doug Brignole and it inspired me. He is a guy over 50 that claims to have added POUNDS of muscle using ultra high rep sets (up to 50) and isolation exercises.
I have been doing this for a few weeks and I have to admit that NOT doing squats, deadlifts, bent rows etc. has allowed me to live pain free. And I have got some great pumps but I am not smashed after a workout. I am going 6x per week. Split is Chest/Back, Shoulders/Arms, Legs/Calves REST and then repeat. Super short rest between sets and lots and lots of reps with pansy weights. YES it takes a while for a lifelong powerlifter to be OK doing smith incline presses with 115lb for 50-40-30-20 when I could easily hit 275x10. But I tell you what, I have a bigger pump than ever, joints don't hurt and I have already gained 2 lb.
I do have training ADD so I jump around a lot but based on my overall health I am committed to keeping in the MUCH higher rep ranges. I am always searching for Brignole's latest stuff...no he is not HUGE but for 50 he looks darn good and it makes sense. I will keep you guys posted as to the results, but the most important thing is I can still go to the gym, which I LOVE, and I am minimizing the potential of ending up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Reps, reps and more reps keep me in the game and HOPES of adding some more muscle even at my age.
I just don't think I would be able to count that many reps in a single set never mind the intensity. I was just thinking that even if you made some personal changes to DC or any other program. And did higher reps and perhaps dropped the widow makers even on DC. You would still be in the higher rep ranges but not super high like this program. But I know how you feel about trying new programs. I like to try them too. I recently really enjoyed poliquins AGVT and currently doing his 5% solution program. I plan to return to DC but in the higher rep ranges as mentioned previously. If it's working than keep rocking!
You know it lol. I gotta do something. Feel older than I am.
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