Hi,
Can you be an intermediate lifelong lifter? I am 47, started lifting at 46 and am reaching the end of my NLP. So if I want to keep lifting until I die, let’s say 40 more years, can I keep making progress on an intermediate level? If so what might that look like and what should I consider?
I know most people never become “advanced”, I also would guess starting this late in life I will get diminishing returns at some age.
Thanks!
I’m not sure what you’re asking exactly, Morgan.
Additionally, I don’t think that it’s true that most people will “never become an advanced lifter” if we use the criteria in Practical Programming as our litmus test. If we are using another definition then we should discuss that first 
As far as how your lifelong training should look/will look, I’m not sure how to predict that without knowing what you are wanting out of your training and what you’re willing to pay for it resource wise.
Jordan,
Sorry, I guess maybe I didn’t know what I was asking!
Here is a better question I hope.
Let us say I’m going to be “normal” and keep working too much and spending time with my wife and kids. I will commit to continue giving 4-6 hours a week and $500 a month for the next 33 years at which point I will retire and open my own old man gym.
In the meantime I plan to take the title of “Worlds Strongest Watchmaker.” (I’m afraid I may already be close based on observation of my colleagues).
If I use smart programming, and get help and coaching, how long could I expect to continue getting stronger or improving my form and so on?
What I meant by “advanced” was I am expecting there comes a point where your level of time commitment makes it difficult to get enough stress in to adapt, but I also know you are insanely busy but have gotten stronger. I am wondering how that plays out. I have heard some SS coaches mention the “average” client doesn’t move beyond a certain level if training. Sorry for confusing that point.
Furthermore I was wondering if you still lose strength as you age, even if you keep training intelligently? If so how much do you lose?
I am starting late at 47 but I am much stronger than I ever was at any previous time in life.
I hope that makes more sense? Thanks for helping me clarify my questions.
If I use smart programming, and get help and coaching, how long could I expect to continue getting stronger or improving my form and so on?
We obviously can’t predict this, but we would all agree you can continue getting stronger for a while. 47 is not that old.
What I meant by “advanced” was I am expecting there comes a point where your level of time commitment makes it difficult to get enough stress in to adapt, but I also know you are insanely busy but have gotten stronger. I am wondering how that plays out. I have heard some SS coaches mention the “average” client doesn’t move beyond a certain level if training. Sorry for confusing that point.
That depends entirely on how much the “average” client cares about their training. If they travel frequently and don’t train, skip workouts, etc … then yes, they won’t make it very far over the long term. This is the context in which you hear things like “most people never make it past X phase”.
But for someone who shows up to the gym as scheduled and doesn’t miss workouts on an intelligently designed program, it’s logically impossible for them to remain “novices” or “intermediates” forever under the traditional definitions of those terms … because that would imply they’re continuing to make progress on a per-session or per-week basis … FOREVER. Eventually, as long as someone can train consistently and stay relatively healthy, everyone can become an “advanced” lifter under those recovery-based definitions (yes, regardless of whether they choose to compete or not).
Furthermore I was wondering if you still lose strength as you age, even if you keep training intelligently? If so how much do you lose?
Obviously, yes. You don’t see any 90 year-olds pulling 600 lbs. But this is a highly individual thing, and the rate and degree of strength loss depend on far too many things for us to give you a useful answer on this. It involves genetics, training history, diet, hormonal status, comorbid medical conditions, and a number of other things. I’d suggest you try to control the biggest ones you can control, namely: 1) consistent, intelligent programmed training, and 2) consistent, sufficient dietary protein and calorie intake.
Awesome reply thank you! I will continue my dedicated training and my quest to become the world’s strongest watchmaker.
I go to a squat camp in 2 weeks in Michigan and am getting coaching from a SSC starting in 3 weeks. I haven’t missed a training session in 4 months, I will try really hard to be the first to pull 600 pounds at 90, that gives me 43 years to practice!