I hope you will check out the latest video clip of me playing in the gym. It represents a personal best at 66 years of age. I have never made 5 reps with 8 plates per side before. The last time I attempted 720 lb was about 8 years ago, and I made 4 reps and knew I would never get it up if I tried one more. This time I gave it a shot and made it. I had been working up to this attempt by doing 7 plates per side weekly and increasing the reps each week for the last 7 or 8 weeks (can’t recall exactly). The week before I had no trouble on the last set doing 8 reps, so I figured if I ramped up to 16 plates in three sets of 5 reps, saving my energy for the last set, I could do it. It worked; what a rush!
The reason I’m putting this on the site is to illustrate that virtually anyone can get stronger at every age by appropriate strength training. You could argue that every sport or activity has a peak age where the records are set, and after that it’s a downhill slide. But, progressive weight training will make you roughly 25% stronger in 8 -10 weeks. In a years time you can more than double sedentary strength levels. In some cases you can far exceed that, especially if you take the latest in bodybuilding supplements and eat right.
Four weeks ago I began using a new product named Attitude by S.A.N. It is an estrogen blocker supreme, with other benefits as well. First, it blocks the conversion of testosterone into estrogens with a compound known as ATD by nearly eliminating the aromatase enzyme. A second component called 3-OHAT acts in two ways to increase production of testosterone by a second metabolic pathway and to further reduce estrogen levels in the body. When estrogen levels are lowered, the body responds by increasing testosterone production to make up the loss, so T-levels rise while estrogen drops. The third component is an extract from Urtica Dioica called UT. UT down- regulates production of Serum Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which normally binds to testosterone, taking it out of the active state. Unbound T is referred to as free testosterone, and is the stuff that promotes muscle development (and sex drive). Bodybuilding.com sites a resent study performed on 8 heavy resistance-training athletes where the average increase of free testosterone was 400% while estrogen was reduced by 45%.
I am seriously impressed with my own personal results, not the least of which was a new personal best on the inclined leg press (see the latest video clip above). The only thing I have actually measured is my upper arm, which has gone from 14.5″ the last time I taped it to 15″, un-pumped, this morning. Now to big guys, that is not all that impressive, but for Frank the hard-gainer, it is unpresidented. My weight has dropped 4 pounds, and fat loss is visible, while folks at the gym are asking me what I’m doing to make such visible gains. Oh Vanity, thou art uplifting! I am adding this stuff to the ‘really great supplements’ list. Check it out under our Supplements
Good Living – Frank
Frank Wilhelmi – Retired/consultant electronic engineer researches and reports practical strategies for optimizing health and fitness into advanced age. “I have a passion for living life to the fullest, and helping others to do the same.” A rapidly growing body of knowledge now enables us to extend our health and fitness decades beyond popular expectations.