I hope you're saying this as a joke. I'm in my late 30's (oh my god, I can't believe I'm writing this) and have experienced the best gains of my life in the last year and a half because of the insights this natty community has been putting out. Take care 🤜🤛
I’m 42 working at getting in my best ever shape. We can have all the regrets about the past action, but it’s more important to move forward doing what we want to do. Never too late!
Same. Started at 28 (mid year), and wish I hadn't given up after a couple injuries innmy early 20's. I hurt myself squatting around 22, and then a few years later I tore my Si joint after a hard fall snowboarding. That combined with college, I just stopped trying to work out. I still consumed fitness content, I just didn't employ it. It feels good to be making progress, but it also feels like I let myself down by not sticking with it. I should add, that a lot of my progress is due to RP, Bromley, Candito, and some others. Most of the lectures that really helped me weren't even available until around 4 years ago or so years ago.
I know what he means with the aggression but I'm 40 now and I feel I'm more aggressive then ever but it's just a mindset.. obviously in your twenties it's free but when your 40 you gotta just make yourself like that
Just turned 54, I have been weight training since I was 17, with few breaks, highs and low, and many changes throughout the years, and I am happy to say I love weight training now as much as I ever have and possibly more than ever, even compared with my "best" years in my mid-20's. May all of you also have rewarding, lifelong weight training journeys. And thank you, Alan, for another inspiring and thought-provoking video. Simply the best bro!
As a pure natty I can't relate - I started training at 17yo and have reached my peak 300kg deadlift at around 32yo. I think you need the muscle maturity that you get from 30-38 to be really strong if you're pure natty. Example lifts when I was in my 20s vs 30s: Deadlift was stuck at 250-280kg from 25-29yo. Now it went to 300kg pretty easily. Bench was stuck at 160kg. Now it's more like 180kg. Push Press was stuck at 120kg. Now it is easily 140-150kg. Squat was probably 240kg. Now it's definitely 260kg. Bentover rowing was 120kg for 6. Now it's easily 140kg for 8. Only my sprint time went down, but in my 20s I was way more into sprinting and now I'm more into hiking anyway. These whole years I was about the same weight - 100-110kg bw at around 1.80m. Nutrition has been around 150-200g protein, 100-200g fat, 200-400g carbs pretty much all years. Food is a traditional german silesian pommeranian diet. And by traditional I really mean it - lots of liver, heart, pork meat, Schnitzel, cured meats, cheese, cabbage, tons of green stuff like parsley etc.
Well, I am 31. Train since 17. What have I accomplished until now. - I made all possible mistakes in my 20s, because I trained like an idiot. - Body dysmorphia that will never heal - Found you, a great source, to shape my lifting journey to the better. To avoid doing different mistakes in my 30s. Thanks, man.
@@ThePhysicalReaction its important, but not make or break. Im in my best shape at 33 with chronic insomnia for over 10 years. Still close to a 4x bodywieght deadlift, 3x times squat and jacked. In my opinion people just tend to get lazy and ignore the numero uno thing, which is consistensy
I'm from South Africa. Played rugby all throughout school. Every single match was nerve wracking but the sense of euphoria after the match was insane. It really felt like we're going to war with the other team.
I think an important point is that (I'd hypothesize) you haven't gone soft or mellowed out since then. That aggression and anger have been redirected into energies that are more useful to you now. Your goals and values have evolved and your methods have evolved with them. I'm in my fifties now and those decades have turned the volume down on a lot of life. The aggression I used to have is now calculation. The anger is now endurance. I've been under the bar since I was a teenager. Of course things are going to evolve.
Alan, this video helped more than you could know. I'm 22 and in the last year or so, have felt a palpable change in my demeanor. This constant anger and aggression, racing mind, and the exact somatic symptoms of angst and nausea are something that have become more and more apparent. Like you, I was an athlete in high school and also experienced that pre-competition angst but the stage I'm at now has me feeling those emotions which would previously be isolated to a big tournament or major event all the damn time. Before training, during training, even just going about my day to day life. Its reassuring to know that this isn't just me but rather a stage we inevitably go through as men to some extent.
I've followed Alan for maybe 8 years, having first been introduced to him while trying to learn correct deadlift and squat form (it worked better than having my own coach -- thanks Alan!). In the time since, I have fallen out of love with dedicated strength training due to injuries and studies/work. I still lift, but without much consistency, and I'll switch it up with running and rounds on the punching bag. I am in my late 20s, and I do feel like I already have considerably less mental energy for working out than I did when I was 19 (when I used to compete in boxing doing three-a-days). But I won't attribute this to age; instead, I think the issue is 'growing up'. I had an intense degree to get through, and my job has also been pretty time-intensive. I feel the daily stresses of that and the lack of sleep/good food are much worse enemies than age itself. When on vacation, I get to sleep late, eat well and -- most importantly -- not worry about work. It is at these times that I feel all that mental energy and aggression Alan mentions coming back to me. So, Alan, if you're reading this: it's been great to follow your gym journey, see you start a family and re-tune your workouts to better suit your lifestyle. But it may well be the case that those very developments in your life have required you to taper off training and left you less mental focus for it. In any event, hope you and your family are doing well. And I look forward to more funny videos -- I chuckle every time I remember the '1,000 POUNDS' video :)
I'm 36 now and have felt less aggressive and intense compared to how I used to be. Still at my present strongest and enjoying competing in strongman but I used to really get in that same headspace you're talking about and attack the weights and get so amped up I felt driven/crazed and absolutely loved such! Now I listen to my body and don't just blindly push through and do things more meticulously with less adrenaline and have greatly improved even though I don't have the wild energy I once did. By greatly improved I mean really having dialed in my form and since I take my time and am not hopped up on adrenaline/anger like I used to I don't accidentally rush and forget something. I do miss the excess of energy and drive sometimes but I still love lifting and pushing for strength so no worries there!
I'm younger than you bro (28, a baby lol) and similar position. Compete in strongman and stuff. I swear late teens early 20s you can be a maniac and get away with anything. I was a combat arms guy, did lots of dumb crap. I found the moment I had a kid it was like a switch flipped aye, suddenly my mind was thinking about how big sessions or macho stuff could hurt. Definitely take less injuries though when we are a bit more detailed in training aye haha
At that age is about where aggression mostly settles and you start to prefer peace. I have found that myself. I don't have a lot of aggression anymore at 38 however I feel it changes to a more protective mindset where you are only concerned with conflict it is to protect a loved one or do something to protect someone vulnerable.
Ive been training with weights consistency since the age of 19. I am now in my mid 40's and still clearly making muscular gains, because I've left a lot of gains on the table over the years mainly due to undertraining and not getting enough protein... Biggest difference with age Ive noticed is I can get injured easier and it takes longer to recover from injury. I definitely generally feel way less aggressive and competitive than I did in my 20's too, I am WAY more chill now too. I noticed this around my late 30's. I'm overall actually dealing with less injuries now than I did in my 30's, due to focusing more on regular additional mobility exercises, rotator cuff strengthen, flexibility while eliminating ego lifting. At currently around 15% bf, I'm not as lean as I was when in my early 20's, but I have more muscle mass than ever now. I feel I'm also just as strong if not stronger than ever in some exercises, though I train more now in the moderate rep range("bodybuilder style"), with occasional low rep (3-4rep) work sets cycled in no prob.
So I used to train with someone in their early 40s when I was late 20s early 30s and he would laugh when I complained about recovery, or being in pain. I am now 44, and I know he spoke truth. Recovery is where I see the change. I still go hard and moderately heavy, but not putting over 500 on my back for squats anymore. Probably could still do it, but would be useless to my job and family at least the rest of the day, maybe longer. 20s and 30s were about the same for me. 40s has been a game changer.....but that could be wear and tear from being an athlete through college, powerlifting over a decade, and now doing more volume training.
I’m 67 and lift every day. Heavy Squat, deadlift, bench, pull ups etc. I feel strong. I’v done this all my life. Played sports all my life. I can still play hockey with my grandsons. I really don’t feel weaker than I did. 6’ 200 pounds. Not as fast as I used to be. That’s about it.
I can relate to changing who you are… I was always overweight, even when in the military. I wasn’t morbid obese but always carried an extra 30-50 lbs. Finally at the age of 40 I decided to make a change, and that was almost 3 years ago. Went from 5’6” at 270 to 190… completely life changing.
I liked his old videos when he was natty and it really was about THE MINDSET... These days he's still funny and pushing the mindset but he's on gear so it's harder to take it the same way. So I'm not saying he's not legit or that the mindset is gone, but it just isn't the same. Also when he started making some videos arguing about exercises or ideas from other channels for me it also started to not be as enjoyable :/ I still like his energy and mindset in general but when he's on gear vs when he was natty... Just not the same.
@martyrofgrenth2136 I think his channel generates the most traffic critiquing others. He said how his Power lifts don't attract too many eyes. But him being off natty does annoy me as well without him stating he's juiced
Very honest. Much appreciated. Now that I’m in my early 60’s, having worked out for decades, my biggest emphasis is avoiding injury. My lower back isn’t great, resulting in nerve issues in my legs. I take it very easy with deadlifts and squats and try to do more one leg exercises to keep my “leg nerve” issues in check. I still like to lift but I deliberately don’t push the weight too high, even though I’d love to pull with abandon. That’s for younger people.
When you reach for the camera at 18:16 you looked absolutely huge; your powerlifting and strongman gave you hypertrophy. You knew what you were doing all along and didn't need NH
13:28 Love that you mentioned Pete as well. Both of you guys were huge inspirations when I started my lifting journey and it's great to see how far you've both come while still keeping the passion for lifting.
Thank you so much for your insight. I do practice combat sports, and I'm in my 20s. You described exactly the way I feel when I'm focused on a competition. I don't usually comment, but I watch most of your uploads. I really appreciate and enjoy your direct, structured and honest way of communicating. I get the feeling that you also enjoy organizing your thoughts in this type of videos and sharing them in case they can help someone. Any case, thanks for the uploads and take care!!
Married with children and way stronger than when I was in my 20s. I'm in my mid-30s. I also train less frequently and do less volume. Family is most important Happy days.
I know you have higher testosterone when you are younger and that helps but the main thing for me was the years of lifting. I started lifting seriously in my early thirties and for the first 10 years, I was an animal in the gym. After 10 years of max effort, you will likely get every PR you can ever hit. Once you realize you will never be able to get measurably stronger and you switch to more of a maintenance training style, you will lose that aggression and excitement for training. I still train 5 days a week in my mid-50s but I know I will never reach another PR. The goal now is to maintain what I have for as long as I can.
I think so too that it's mostly the novelty of training and carving out new PRs that drives the aggression, not hormones. Anyone who ever pursues any hobby for a long time will experience the novelty wearing off. And I personally don't believe the constant aggression is really important for gains, otherwise people with a calm and collected disposition would never get anywhere - consistency, effort, and especially diet (bulking, cutting for years and years on end) are way more important
I never experienced these feelings of anger or aggression in the gym. That's ansolutely not my personality type, I was always very calm, but focused and motivated too, but not aggressive. If I experienced "negative" emotions it'd have been more so at the end of melancholy and similar feelings. I also was more of the "fat kid" origin and so I mostly felt like hiding in the gym for the first months and even years and it took years of lifting and meeting new people to find my confidence... I was watching this strange guys video tutorials and getting really strong and having good technique finally made the gym my second home. And Alan and Mark Bell etc not having a sixpack or being super lean and still being good looking, well spoken and all around seemingly cool dudes gave me a picture of what could be me, that I could achieve and that I could finally be happy with. So thanks for your amazing videos, your exercise tutorials, your ideas on what's important and what a good training plan looks like and especially you showed me that I could love powerlifting and still do some strongman exercises, do some bodybuilding exercises, play some other sports, go hiking with my friends etc. I may never be the greatest powerlifter but I can be very strong, look decent, enjoy life and be absolutely happy and satisfied without chasing goals I may never reach or make sacrifices that ain't worth the outcome. I don't know if you read all those comments, especially one week later, but thanks a lot Alan! ❤ You have changed my life like no other person that I have never personally met. You are truly an idol and I hope that one day I will have a family too and maybe even take them to the gym and show them your tutorials 😊
Thanks for making this video. I had a very similar experience, and I've been beating myself up about it since I started to feel this shift in my motivations. I would be so excited to go the gym in my 20s, and I had that same "prove them wrong" mentality. Now I'm 33 and I have absolutely no motivation, or drive to go to the gym. Which is such a bummer because I was always ready to go, ready to train and was excited to do it. Now, I have to talk myself up just to get slightly motivated to start THINKING about going to the gym. Its such a stark contrast to how I used to be. I almost feel like a failure now because I'm not that same driven gym motivated person. This video made me realize that I'm not alone in feeling this way and it really helped me. Thank you Alan.
Definitely agree with the majority of this, and experiencing most or all of this myself as well. It really is a beautiful thing, even if it's all teen angst and hormones sometimes. The peace and purpose you feel pursuing the goal is probably the best part of it imo, especially when life throws you curveballs often. It truly is an identity or a release.
Hey Alan.really enjoy this video,for me I got into the gym properly in my early 30’s and now being 36 am competing in strongman I feel motivated as ever get strong and have that crazy slap your legs,sniff some salts and lift that heavy shit in the gym attitude which am quite proud of as some of my friends at work in their late thirties are starting to wind down in a sense. I definitely recover slower and make slower gains but the love of strongman and wanting to hopefully get a podium spot one day in a natural comp keeps pushing me on. Good job 👏🏻
This was my exact experience in my early 20s. Now 32, I still love lifting and am still getting stronger but it is absolutely different now. I still get that flame here and there but it is not seething and wriggling to get out of me anymore. That is okay though, we change and grow.
@deafanddumb6329 They really reached a high peak of their craft in that last album. A bit like Death, where the last two albums are just mindblowingly good.
Thx for this video Alan! Sometimes seeing the aggressiveness of a 20 years old kid in the gym makes me feel a bit nostalgic. Theres is something so naive and yet beautiful in this "all or nothing" passion and it still inspire me. That being said, 30s are a crucial phase were you understand that powerlifting is so much more than weight on a bar and this fact only made me love this sport even more.
Im 22 now man and I feel the exact same, fuckin amped to go train everyday and bang out heavy sets. On the drive to the gym as I feel my pre workout kicking in and have Metallica blasting completely locked in and focused on nothing but what weight I want to hit that day. It's an amazing feeling. It's bizarre in a way cause it will be a normal day, work then go lift, but everyday without fail, that excitement and pure aggression is blazing. Watching this at midnight and seeing the videos of you lifting and screaming to Metallica, I can feel the energy, and that's something I never want to lose.
I started working out when i was 28/29. My physique evolved from 57 kilos to over 70 kilos now having gained a lot of muscle and being fairly lean ~15-20 % body fat. Since turning 31 however I have been following a new program, and eating good quality protein instead of whey most of the time and I have grown even more!! It is never too late and i still feel I have so much to gain
I'm 53 and feel around 35, still adding strength without the use of any pharmaceutical assistance. I don't consider age as any kind of factor or barrier.
Amen brother. I'm 61 and still making gains. Definitely don't feel my age (knocking on wood as I type this). I know it's a matter of time, but I'm fighting it while I can. And same here; no TRT or other PEDs.
@@garydewberry I can't speak for @pauly but I'd agree completely. I'm much more consistent/focused with training over the past 2 yrs (I was blessed with the ability to retire and leave the corporate life when I was 59) than in my 20s and 30s. While I can dwell on the past as wasted potential, I'd rather focus today on improving/maintaining my strength and overall health as I push further into my 60s and (hopefully) beyond.
I'm 23 right now and this is the first time someone else has adequately articulated how I feel about lifting. I live for the aggression, release, purpose, and fulfillment the iron gives me. Completely addicted to the intensity and crave its high over anything else, but it sure as shit makes me feel like I'm entering an arena beforehand. Anxiety through the roof I'll be shaky can't look anyone in the eye cause I wear a face of primal rage and just gotta get ballistic on it. I hope I can keep this attribute well into my 30's. 1.5 yrs in and already hit 315 bench at 230 BW, will crush 405 within 1-2 more. Cheers!
I’m 20 and I’m so grateful for the crop of older lifters who discus mistakes they made and realistic expectations for progress that can be made over the course of 5-10-20 years, it mskes the prospect of going on this journey a lot more exciting that seeing 16y year olds with 4 plate benches on tik tok tell you to take sarms.
Good video. My teens is when this mindset started. Trained since I was 14. All I wanted to do was be strong and yoked out of my mind. 17 years old I got pretty big during 11th grade of high school 210lbs and lean. Off doing pushups, pullups, situps, wrestling bridge, and pistol squats. Then added powerlifting before I turned 18 in 12th grade. Got strong freshman year of university the first semester when I hit a 305lbs Bench Press and 585lb Deadlift still bejng 18. Fast forward I was a senior in university. I was 6 foot 250lbs and lean at 21 years old. I hit a 675lbs Conventional Beltless Strapless Mixed Grip Raw Deadlift, 365lbs Bench Press, 500lbs Raw Squat for reps bare knee, handstand pushups and pullups like nothing. Fast forward to the age of 25 that was my prime age. I was 250lbs and lean with a 600lb Squat in sleeves, 405lbs Bench Press, 715lbs Conventional Deadlift, 185lbs Standing Strict OHP for 10 reps, 480lb Front Squat in sleeves, 180lb Weighted Chinup. Then fall 2017 came and I gained 25lbs mostly fat. I got up to a 750lbs Beltless Conventional Raw Deadlift for 2 reps deadstop, 515lbs Front Squat in sleeves, 550lbs High Bar Squat for 4 reps in sleeves, 300lbs Bench Press for 3 sets of 12 reps. The squats would have been more even the Deadlift but during the 25lb weight gain both knees were injured and I trained through pain. The rest of my 20s I trained heavy. My early 30s I still trained heavy. At 30 years old I hit an all time bench pr of 450lbs. I also squatted 585lbs in sleeves, Conventional Deadlift 675lbs for 2 reps, front squat 475lbs, seated Military Press 275lbs and 225lbs for 8 reps, incline Bench Press 365lbs. When I was in my late 20s I hit incline Bench Press pr of 385lbs and seated Military Press 315lbs. At 31 I still hit multiple ober 405lb Bench Press, squatted 405lbs for 17 reps, over 500lbs for reps, Deadlift over 600lbs for reps, did bench volume with 315lbs and over. At 32 my current age I still benched 425lbs and hit 315lbs for 10 reps weeks back in the gym. I trained my teens and especially 20s with anger. Even mote than anger it was moreso drive to be the strongest. I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be stronger than everyone. The Strongest man on the planet. Eventually compete against the top guys at the time and surpass them in strength. My life for the longest time revolved around getting as strong as humanely possible. And I'm natty. Been natty for over 18 years. Goal originally was to milk being natty for as long as possible. Until my late 30s or 40s. Then take steroids and go after the titles and records. If I died after or on the way it would have been worth it.
Currently 26, I find that getting angry is just part of training with intent for me. It has some overlap with anxiety, but I can't say that I rile myself up to the point of being nauseous. I also find that anger is a much more natural or even healthy emotion when its controlled and short lived. For example, outside of the gym, when life doesn't go my way or someone does me wrong that day, it's much easier to get super pissed off (maybe even disproportionate to the circumstance). Go yell at a wall or some shit for 5 mins and then go about your day in a slightly better mood, rather than be sad/depressed about it to some degree (depending on what it was) for a much longer time, unable to change whatever happened. In the gym, I also don't feel like one of these "I'm fighting demons people", but I do relate to what you said about if someone came up to you before a set, you wouldn't give them the time of day. I channel a lot of aggression towards the weight and imagine inflicting violence to it, but after the set you just naturally chill out and take your break.
I can relate to what you are saying. Im 24 currently and Im feeling super aggressive and hyped up all the time. Not angry, not in a negative kind of way, more like "I have got so much energy right now" kind of way. The reasons surely are hormones, low stress, good nutrition, good sleep. No alcohol, no drugs, no cigarettes, just going to college and hitting weights.
I’ve tried to describe this to my wife, but I call it divine ecstasy. Before any heavy set of 5s, any wrestling match, and competition or just a large event I crap my guts out, get tingly and euphoric and I feel like I can’t be stopped. Luckily I experience it still at 31, feels good to know someone else has the feeling.
I have been steadily training for about 20 years, the last few I have been concentrating on perfecting my squat, bracing etc and I have never been stronger at 54. Be consistent, drop anything that is injuring your regularly and concentrate on being consistent. Good luck!
I feel that anxiety before sporting events, It's just to get your body tense and ready for action and I don't really like it. I like the feeling of getting in "the zone".
When I was 25 years old, I had a toxic relationship with the gym. Obsessed with size and strength. In truth, it was masking the fact I was deeply unhappy in life and the gym was all I could control. 20 years later aged 45 and in a way happier state in life, I repeated my maximum deadlift from that era. This time it felt great, a real accomplishment, and a true closure of those miserable times of the past.
Thanks for sharing Alan. Love the introspection. I’m now super interested in your home life/upbringing… the “secret sauce” that helped produce your drive to positivity. Also, +1 for an Eminem reference!
I am turning 23 soon, and I completely relate to everything you said. I lift alone training strongman in my garage, I've been lifting since my dad taught me for football, which will be 10 years ago this month. Alan I feel what you describe right now, and while you use agression and anger to describe it, I call it rage... there is this absolutely unending freaking feeling of RAGE every time I lift. Every time I pick up those farmer walk handles, I hate them, I want to eat them I want to break them in half, even thinking about training makes my hands shake trying to type this right now. I am not trying to sound like a maniac or hardcore, I just feel like how Evan Singleton acts is the best way to describe it hahahahaha. We are just crazy in the head, born this way, it's in the DNA and it won't ever leave, it is always there... because it's you, and me, train untamed, I have the flag on my wall and look at it every day, we don't need the rage because we love training all the same
Thanks for the discussion. Looking back at my early 20s when I was dedicated to weight training heavily for about 2 years while in college, I wish I would have considered it as a serious pursuit and taken it to the next level (bodybuilding). Unfortunately, I didn't really see it as something to identify with per se being the pre social media era, and pretty much on my own, not a part of any type of lifting community. I eventually stopped training completely and let myself go in the process. Now in my early mid 40s, I finally have come back to weight training aggressively and have fully identified with it (my midlife crisis activity I guess lol). I'm down 40 lbs over the past year, with another 50 to go, and seeing the complete change in my physique has been an amazing boost to my mental health in addition to the physical. Alas, the regret of not sticking with it will always haunt me in my list of what might have been scenarios...
i relate to this so much I cant even explain. Currently 25. I love being in the gym and feeling like I wanna throw a plate through a wall. I tap into the aggression and thrive off of it exactly how you described. Its euphoric.
Very thankful for this video. It hit a little to close to home. 21 years old in the military and feeling the same way. Not to mention im from Sacramento too
Been lifting for 50 years and feel fine. One compound movement a day, takes about 30 minutes, usually done in a pyramid style with very good results. Am retired from construction and am 63 yrs old and natural, might take a multi vitamin once in a while. You can keep your testosterone at healthy levels by staying active
It might be that youre more accomplished, im pushing harder than ever before on the business front and i recently walked through slipped disc injury. As i started squatting after 8 months of being fucked, im as motivated as ever to come back. Im pushing through pain and its fun like it used to be. Plus you can always find new challenges. Its all in the head
I lost that around 25, I was a freaking madman. I'd train 7 days a week, inhale chicken like my life depended on it. Then my immune system crashed, and I got half a dozen infections at once, which left me more or less a cripple for a year. 27 now and can't muster the excitement for anything.
Hahaha had a similar thing happen to me when I was 23. Fucking brutal tbh took a whole year off doing much due to the fear of overexerting myself and putting my body back into an over-stressed / low recovery state. I'm 25 now and I feel like I was able to improve so much more than I ever imagined I could, but yeah still not where I was in terms of my peak drive, dedication and energy. Chronic fatigue really hurts the soul and your confidence but I'm still trying to get back to it. For me just being grateful that it happened to me in my 20s and not my 50s (hopefully a once in a life-time event) helps me mentally. Playing around with your overall work capacity and slowly pushing the limits has been the best way forward for me, accepting when you need to take a couple weeks off and then taking on more burdens as you feel more confident. The more responsibilities you take on the more you force yourself to adapt.
Wow, i am 31 and i fully agree with the agression up to mid-late 20's. Metal, shouting, slamming weights. Now i try to find value in similar weights with muuuch less hype
couldnt get to sleep because i didnt want to waste all the good eating i did on my rest day so i walked over to the gym at 1 in the morning and did my bench sets. I hope i enjoy training as much as i do now when im older
Im 28, and the main difference I see from when I was 18 is that my joints are a little banged up so I have to be a little more cautious about risk/reward
I'm 35, no real difference other than a few old niggles/injuries occasionally flare up. Most athletes are still in their prime in their mid-thirties, if a person feels like crap at this point, it's on them.
What has always resonated with me was when I learned about senescence in college (I'm a biology nerd). Basically, once an animal/organism is past it's "breeding prime" they begin to senesce. Basically, they start to roll back on all of that stuff that helped them out compete the other males (e.g., aggression) in order to breed and pass on genes. One reason is trade-offs. You can sort of think of it as if you burn hard the candle goes out faster. With people, there are hypotheses that having family (i.e., older men and women in the population) was beneficial to passing on their genes successfully (if the offspring's offspring survive, the genes carry on), historically, so burning hard and dying younger wasn't as beneficial to passing on genes as being able to help care for the future generations was. Not saying it was a conscious decision, it was more that the offspring survived better so those traits carried on. Anyway, there's a lot of biological basis for why that aggression wanes a bit. That being said, you can fight it to some extent. I'm 46 and stronger than I was in my 20s. I also still feel my heart rate climb before a big lift. Then again, I don't know what I could've done if I was this consistent with working out in my 20s. I was all about beer and playing in my metal bands back then.😝
lifting as you age becomes less of a love, and more of a chore. You know it has to get done. And you feel better once completed. But you'll never love it like you used to. 38 years old. Lifting since 13. State champion powerlifter. I still get after it. But I don't wake up saying to myself. I can't wait to get into the gym to kick some ass.
I totally get the part where you talk about being in your 20's and have that fire that aggression and primitive raw anger to lift weights, also recovery was easier after beating up your body, now it gets harder to recover and even get that feeling before attempting a 1 rep max, i think it very much is hormones and testosterone peaking in our 20's
I'm 34 and I didn't take my lifting as consistently or serious at all in my 20s so thankfully I still have that insane rage and aggression in my workouts towards the weights and can relate to the gag or throat clearing sensation pre heavy hard set. I've gotten so peaked and worked up during a grinder of a set of hundreds of pounds that after the set when I'm changing the weight on the bar I literally get emotion nearly crying and yelling at the same time feeling like I could explode with just testosterone fueled power and raw aggression and emotion. And yes, I am a lifetime natural before people say that's from gear lol .
True. I rode cycling time trials in my 20s. I would push myself to a level I just never could or would now. I was powered by rage. Winning was everything and if I diesd in the attempt so be it
I (20m) used to get that nausea all the time for football, track, and wrestling, and sometimes before debate tournaments. I absolutely hated it, and I felt so uncomfortable with the aggressive intensity. Im able to hit intensity levels with being calm and honest within my head. I have never been a super aggressive guy either
I no longer feel that anger and aggression im alot more peaceful now. Still able to be explosive just not constantly bubbling to the top with that energy about to blow. Feel so much better now even though i cant do the same max weight with the same reps
I could swap my face with Alan's and it would litteraly be me. Basically the same story, i just didn't went to the military. All else is copy paste.I felt the "aggression" slowly fading away after my 27th birthday, I remember waking up and preparing for training and.... it just wasn't there, and it kept happening more and more often. However, as I'm getting now closer and closer to my 40's (37 now), I feel like it's changing again. Almost like a second sort of 20's put back into my late 30's and I'm getting that agression back, and in a good and healthy way. Of course not exactly the same, but it's building up again. I reached my peak in powerlifting in my late 20's, and now, I'm almost back to my previous numbers, and I'm training like 1/4 of my training time to pure strenght, and I'm doing other sports like boxing, running, arm wrestling. So hey, maybe this has cycles like bitcoin :p
Oh yes, I was the anchor for our 4x4 and I remember waiting for the baton to be passed to me and feeling my temples tingling and my stomach feeling light. If I could describe the feeling it was “electric”
Started at 21 because I was overweight, never felt any aggression, now I'm 30 and got in shape and doing strongman, and still no aggression. I guess it's not for everyone, I'm just a calm lifter.
Im turning 33 later this year. I dont feel anything stopping me from getting stronger and better. Maintaining your strength is fine when u get older. If you want to progress then change your style and see how you change. For example if you did weights only introduce some calishtenics.
I rowed in HS and def had that same 400m nausea but for our 2k test times. I KNEW it was going to hurt worse than anything and I’d be zoned in trying with all my power to convince myself I could get thru it
I did a cycle of steroids 6 years ago and felt the same shitty way after coming off. You see your self at your best and feel like the hulk then come off and it’s all gone. Just rented the god mode. Natty is the way to go and look at the long game
I'm 44. My "recovery" is faster because my intensity might be less. I can train all day if my schedule and life would let me. My gains are slower, yet still progressive, and I can our things down for a while and come back later with minimal loss in performance so long as I keep intensely active. Silly times.
Im 42. Training is a bit different now then it used to be. Test levels certainly aren't quite what they used to be in my mid 20s! Im smarter now, but not nearly as aggressive in general. Still competitive, but more reserved in general.
You used to train untamed, and at some point you kinda gave up. I felt it, it was somewhere around the birth of your son I think. You went from "I'm gonna prove them wrong" to "you know you don't have to do better, just doing a lil' something when you have the time is perfectly fine"
just turned 30 it's joever for me
no, you now just have to take steroids. I thinks that is what the video is saying
Same. Joever
I hope you're saying this as a joke.
I'm in my late 30's (oh my god, I can't believe I'm writing this) and have experienced the best gains of my life in the last year and a half because of the insights this natty community has been putting out.
Take care 🤜🤛
Happy bday !
I'm 41 with two and a half years training age, getting stronger and better all the time, never felt better. It's only over when you're dead.
I dunno man, no amount of tren will compare to the anger of a 40 year-old married father of four who just wants to justgethisfuckingworkoutin
40 year old father can confirm.
Got strong in my 30’s. At 40, I actually got “take my shirt off and look good” level. I kick myself for not starting in my 20’s.
I think I am in the same boat as you. Started late at 25 but on and off due to odd circumstances. Now am 28.
I started at 37, now 38, making progress but I also wish I had started much earlier. Still plenty of time left and great for future health.
I’m 42 working at getting in my best ever shape.
We can have all the regrets about the past action, but it’s more important to move forward doing what we want to do. Never too late!
Same. Started at 28 (mid year), and wish I hadn't given up after a couple injuries innmy early 20's. I hurt myself squatting around 22, and then a few years later I tore my Si joint after a hard fall snowboarding. That combined with college, I just stopped trying to work out. I still consumed fitness content, I just didn't employ it. It feels good to be making progress, but it also feels like I let myself down by not sticking with it.
I should add, that a lot of my progress is due to RP, Bromley, Candito, and some others. Most of the lectures that really helped me weren't even available until around 4 years ago or so years ago.
Dang we're going from Training Untamed to Training Sort-of-Untamed-but-feel-it-out 😂
LOL
Training Partially Domesticated
That’s why I like Alan though. He evolves.
I know what he means with the aggression but I'm 40 now and I feel I'm more aggressive then ever but it's just a mindset.. obviously in your twenties it's free but when your 40 you gotta just make yourself like that
TRAIN TAMED
Just turned 54, I have been weight training since I was 17, with few breaks, highs and low, and many changes throughout the years, and I am happy to say I love weight training now as much as I ever have and possibly more than ever, even compared with my "best" years in my mid-20's. May all of you also have rewarding, lifelong weight training journeys. And thank you, Alan, for another inspiring and thought-provoking video. Simply the best bro!
As a pure natty I can't relate - I started training at 17yo and have reached my peak 300kg deadlift at around 32yo. I think you need the muscle maturity that you get from 30-38 to be really strong if you're pure natty.
Example lifts when I was in my 20s vs 30s:
Deadlift was stuck at 250-280kg from 25-29yo. Now it went to 300kg pretty easily.
Bench was stuck at 160kg. Now it's more like 180kg.
Push Press was stuck at 120kg. Now it is easily 140-150kg.
Squat was probably 240kg. Now it's definitely 260kg.
Bentover rowing was 120kg for 6. Now it's easily 140kg for 8.
Only my sprint time went down, but in my 20s I was way more into sprinting and now I'm more into hiking anyway.
These whole years I was about the same weight - 100-110kg bw at around 1.80m. Nutrition has been around 150-200g protein, 100-200g fat, 200-400g carbs pretty much all years. Food is a traditional german silesian pommeranian diet. And by traditional I really mean it - lots of liver, heart, pork meat, Schnitzel, cured meats, cheese, cabbage, tons of green stuff like parsley etc.
Bro
Well, I am 31. Train since 17. What have I accomplished until now.
- I made all possible mistakes in my 20s, because I trained like an idiot.
- Body dysmorphia that will never heal
- Found you, a great source, to shape my lifting journey to the better. To avoid doing different mistakes in my 30s. Thanks, man.
Being in your 20s + in a calorie surplus + good sleep + good hypertrophy program = gains
A good night's sleep is extremely important. Even going from 8 hours to 6 hours is a huge loss of recovery over the course of the week.
+test=gainsx10
@@ThePhysicalReaction its important, but not make or break. Im in my best shape at 33 with chronic insomnia for over 10 years. Still close to a 4x bodywieght deadlift, 3x times squat and jacked. In my opinion people just tend to get lazy and ignore the numero uno thing, which is consistensy
its the same even if ur in your 30s man
Or just go hard. Always works.
I'm from South Africa. Played rugby all throughout school. Every single match was nerve wracking but the sense of euphoria after the match was insane. It really felt like we're going to war with the other team.
I think an important point is that (I'd hypothesize) you haven't gone soft or mellowed out since then. That aggression and anger have been redirected into energies that are more useful to you now. Your goals and values have evolved and your methods have evolved with them.
I'm in my fifties now and those decades have turned the volume down on a lot of life. The aggression I used to have is now calculation. The anger is now endurance. I've been under the bar since I was a teenager. Of course things are going to evolve.
Alan, this video helped more than you could know. I'm 22 and in the last year or so, have felt a palpable change in my demeanor. This constant anger and aggression, racing mind, and the exact somatic symptoms of angst and nausea are something that have become more and more apparent. Like you, I was an athlete in high school and also experienced that pre-competition angst but the stage I'm at now has me feeling those emotions which would previously be isolated to a big tournament or major event all the damn time. Before training, during training, even just going about my day to day life. Its reassuring to know that this isn't just me but rather a stage we inevitably go through as men to some extent.
I've followed Alan for maybe 8 years, having first been introduced to him while trying to learn correct deadlift and squat form (it worked better than having my own coach -- thanks Alan!). In the time since, I have fallen out of love with dedicated strength training due to injuries and studies/work. I still lift, but without much consistency, and I'll switch it up with running and rounds on the punching bag. I am in my late 20s, and I do feel like I already have considerably less mental energy for working out than I did when I was 19 (when I used to compete in boxing doing three-a-days). But I won't attribute this to age; instead, I think the issue is 'growing up'. I had an intense degree to get through, and my job has also been pretty time-intensive. I feel the daily stresses of that and the lack of sleep/good food are much worse enemies than age itself. When on vacation, I get to sleep late, eat well and -- most importantly -- not worry about work. It is at these times that I feel all that mental energy and aggression Alan mentions coming back to me. So, Alan, if you're reading this: it's been great to follow your gym journey, see you start a family and re-tune your workouts to better suit your lifestyle. But it may well be the case that those very developments in your life have required you to taper off training and left you less mental focus for it. In any event, hope you and your family are doing well. And I look forward to more funny videos -- I chuckle every time I remember the '1,000 POUNDS' video :)
Are you me?
I'm 36 now and have felt less aggressive and intense compared to how I used to be. Still at my present strongest and enjoying competing in strongman but I used to really get in that same headspace you're talking about and attack the weights and get so amped up I felt driven/crazed and absolutely loved such! Now I listen to my body and don't just blindly push through and do things more meticulously with less adrenaline and have greatly improved even though I don't have the wild energy I once did.
By greatly improved I mean really having dialed in my form and since I take my time and am not hopped up on adrenaline/anger like I used to I don't accidentally rush and forget something.
I do miss the excess of energy and drive sometimes but I still love lifting and pushing for strength so no worries there!
I'm younger than you bro (28, a baby lol) and similar position. Compete in strongman and stuff. I swear late teens early 20s you can be a maniac and get away with anything. I was a combat arms guy, did lots of dumb crap. I found the moment I had a kid it was like a switch flipped aye, suddenly my mind was thinking about how big sessions or macho stuff could hurt. Definitely take less injuries though when we are a bit more detailed in training aye haha
At that age is about where aggression mostly settles and you start to prefer peace. I have found that myself. I don't have a lot of aggression anymore at 38 however I feel it changes to a more protective mindset where you are only concerned with conflict it is to protect a loved one or do something to protect someone vulnerable.
Should be relatable for most men in their 20s who care deeply about training.
I'd say yes probably quite relatable for most men in their 20s who care deeply about their training tbh
@@NorthStrongSC post physique
@@TheNietzschian FULL
Yeah this should be relatable for most men in their 20s who care deeply about training
@@ReviewBigCheese200 post
Alan will forever be The G.O.A.T of RUclips fitness.
Ive been training with weights consistency since the age of 19. I am now in my mid 40's and still clearly making muscular gains, because I've left a lot of gains on the table over the years mainly due to undertraining and not getting enough protein... Biggest difference with age Ive noticed is I can get injured easier and it takes longer to recover from injury. I definitely generally feel way less aggressive and competitive than I did in my 20's too, I am WAY more chill now too. I noticed this around my late 30's. I'm overall actually dealing with less injuries now than I did in my 30's, due to focusing more on regular additional mobility exercises, rotator cuff strengthen, flexibility while eliminating ego lifting.
At currently around 15% bf, I'm not as lean as I was when in my early 20's, but I have more muscle mass than ever now. I feel I'm also just as strong if not stronger than ever in some exercises, though I train more now in the moderate rep range("bodybuilder style"), with occasional low rep (3-4rep) work sets cycled in no prob.
So I used to train with someone in their early 40s when I was late 20s early 30s and he would laugh when I complained about recovery, or being in pain. I am now 44, and I know he spoke truth. Recovery is where I see the change. I still go hard and moderately heavy, but not putting over 500 on my back for squats anymore. Probably could still do it, but would be useless to my job and family at least the rest of the day, maybe longer.
20s and 30s were about the same for me. 40s has been a game changer.....but that could be wear and tear from being an athlete through college, powerlifting over a decade, and now doing more volume training.
I’m 67 and lift every day. Heavy Squat, deadlift, bench, pull ups etc. I feel strong. I’v done this all my life. Played sports all my life. I can still play hockey with my grandsons. I really don’t feel weaker than I did. 6’ 200 pounds. Not as fast as I used to be. That’s about it.
This has been my saying for a while now. "The people that say it's all downhill after 'X' were already going downhill the decade before."
I can relate to changing who you are… I was always overweight, even when in the military. I wasn’t morbid obese but always carried an extra 30-50 lbs. Finally at the age of 40 I decided to make a change, and that was almost 3 years ago. Went from 5’6” at 270 to 190… completely life changing.
I get your point, but to play devils advocate.... THE BUGEZ BABY!
Steroids
Hes stallion, not human
I liked his old videos when he was natty and it really was about THE MINDSET... These days he's still funny and pushing the mindset but he's on gear so it's harder to take it the same way.
So I'm not saying he's not legit or that the mindset is gone, but it just isn't the same.
Also when he started making some videos arguing about exercises or ideas from other channels for me it also started to not be as enjoyable :/ I still like his energy and mindset in general but when he's on gear vs when he was natty... Just not the same.
@@martyrofgrenth2136 BBB-BUTT ERICCCCC.... JUST GO HORSE COCK SOME HEAVY WHEIGHTS BOY!
@martyrofgrenth2136 I think his channel generates the most traffic critiquing others. He said how his Power lifts don't attract too many eyes.
But him being off natty does annoy me as well without him stating he's juiced
Very honest. Much appreciated.
Now that I’m in my early 60’s, having worked out for decades, my biggest emphasis is avoiding injury. My lower back isn’t great, resulting in nerve issues in my legs. I take it very easy with deadlifts and squats and try to do more one leg exercises to keep my “leg nerve” issues in check. I still like to lift but I deliberately don’t push the weight too high, even though I’d love to pull with abandon. That’s for younger people.
When you reach for the camera at 18:16 you looked absolutely huge; your powerlifting and strongman gave you hypertrophy. You knew what you were doing all along and didn't need NH
13:28 Love that you mentioned Pete as well. Both of you guys were huge inspirations when I started my lifting journey and it's great to see how far you've both come while still keeping the passion for lifting.
Thank you so much for your insight. I do practice combat sports, and I'm in my 20s. You described exactly the way I feel when I'm focused on a competition.
I don't usually comment, but I watch most of your uploads. I really appreciate and enjoy your direct, structured and honest way of communicating. I get the feeling that you also enjoy organizing your thoughts in this type of videos and sharing them in case they can help someone.
Any case, thanks for the uploads and take care!!
Married with children and way stronger than when I was in my 20s. I'm in my mid-30s. I also train less frequently and do less volume. Family is most important Happy days.
Family first!
I know you have higher testosterone when you are younger and that helps but the main thing for me was the years of lifting. I started lifting seriously in my early thirties and for the first 10 years, I was an animal in the gym. After 10 years of max effort, you will likely get every PR you can ever hit. Once you realize you will never be able to get measurably stronger and you switch to more of a maintenance training style, you will lose that aggression and excitement for training. I still train 5 days a week in my mid-50s but I know I will never reach another PR. The goal now is to maintain what I have for as long as I can.
I think so too that it's mostly the novelty of training and carving out new PRs that drives the aggression, not hormones. Anyone who ever pursues any hobby for a long time will experience the novelty wearing off. And I personally don't believe the constant aggression is really important for gains, otherwise people with a calm and collected disposition would never get anywhere - consistency, effort, and especially diet (bulking, cutting for years and years on end) are way more important
I never experienced these feelings of anger or aggression in the gym. That's ansolutely not my personality type, I was always very calm, but focused and motivated too, but not aggressive. If I experienced "negative" emotions it'd have been more so at the end of melancholy and similar feelings.
I also was more of the "fat kid" origin and so I mostly felt like hiding in the gym for the first months and even years and it took years of lifting and meeting new people to find my confidence...
I was watching this strange guys video tutorials and getting really strong and having good technique finally made the gym my second home. And Alan and Mark Bell etc not having a sixpack or being super lean and still being good looking, well spoken and all around seemingly cool dudes gave me a picture of what could be me, that I could achieve and that I could finally be happy with.
So thanks for your amazing videos, your exercise tutorials, your ideas on what's important and what a good training plan looks like and especially you showed me that I could love powerlifting and still do some strongman exercises, do some bodybuilding exercises, play some other sports, go hiking with my friends etc. I may never be the greatest powerlifter but I can be very strong, look decent, enjoy life and be absolutely happy and satisfied without chasing goals I may never reach or make sacrifices that ain't worth the outcome.
I don't know if you read all those comments, especially one week later, but thanks a lot Alan! ❤
You have changed my life like no other person that I have never personally met. You are truly an idol and I hope that one day I will have a family too and maybe even take them to the gym and show them your tutorials 😊
Thanks for making this video. I had a very similar experience, and I've been beating myself up about it since I started to feel this shift in my motivations. I would be so excited to go the gym in my 20s, and I had that same "prove them wrong" mentality. Now I'm 33 and I have absolutely no motivation, or drive to go to the gym. Which is such a bummer because I was always ready to go, ready to train and was excited to do it. Now, I have to talk myself up just to get slightly motivated to start THINKING about going to the gym. Its such a stark contrast to how I used to be. I almost feel like a failure now because I'm not that same driven gym motivated person. This video made me realize that I'm not alone in feeling this way and it really helped me. Thank you Alan.
Definitely agree with the majority of this, and experiencing most or all of this myself as well. It really is a beautiful thing, even if it's all teen angst and hormones sometimes. The peace and purpose you feel pursuing the goal is probably the best part of it imo, especially when life throws you curveballs often. It truly is an identity or a release.
Hey Alan.really enjoy this video,for me I got into the gym properly in my early 30’s and now being 36 am competing in strongman I feel motivated as ever get strong and have that crazy slap your legs,sniff some salts and lift that heavy shit in the gym attitude which am quite proud of as some of my friends at work in their late thirties are starting to wind down in a sense. I definitely recover slower and make slower gains but the love of strongman and wanting to hopefully get a podium spot one day in a natural comp keeps pushing me on. Good job 👏🏻
This was my exact experience in my early 20s. Now 32, I still love lifting and am still getting stronger but it is absolutely different now. I still get that flame here and there but it is not seething and wriggling to get out of me anymore. That is okay though, we change and grow.
"Bolt Thrower" is my favorite band to lift to.
Great taste mate!
@deafanddumb6329 They really reached a high peak of their craft in that last album.
A bit like Death, where the last two albums are just mindblowingly good.
When Glory Beckons...
47 now. The differences show themselves almost daily now. Just gotta roll with it and do your best. Don't quit.
Thx for this video Alan! Sometimes seeing the aggressiveness of a 20 years old kid in the gym makes me feel a bit nostalgic. Theres is something so naive and yet beautiful in this "all or nothing" passion and it still inspire me. That being said, 30s are a crucial phase were you understand that powerlifting is so much more than weight on a bar and this fact only made me love this sport even more.
Im 22 now man and I feel the exact same, fuckin amped to go train everyday and bang out heavy sets. On the drive to the gym as I feel my pre workout kicking in and have Metallica blasting completely locked in and focused on nothing but what weight I want to hit that day. It's an amazing feeling. It's bizarre in a way cause it will be a normal day, work then go lift, but everyday without fail, that excitement and pure aggression is blazing. Watching this at midnight and seeing the videos of you lifting and screaming to Metallica, I can feel the energy, and that's something I never want to lose.
I love that feeling. It's one of the best joys in life
I started working out when i was 28/29. My physique evolved from 57 kilos to over 70 kilos now having gained a lot of muscle and being fairly lean ~15-20 % body fat.
Since turning 31 however I have been following a new program, and eating good quality protein instead of whey most of the time and I have grown even more!! It is never too late and i still feel I have so much to gain
i played rugby and ran tf/xc. i know exactly the adrenaline feeling alan is describing. spot on
I'm 53 and feel around 35, still adding strength without the use of any pharmaceutical assistance. I don't consider age as any kind of factor or barrier.
Amen brother. I'm 61 and still making gains. Definitely don't feel my age (knocking on wood as I type this). I know it's a matter of time, but I'm fighting it while I can. And same here; no TRT or other PEDs.
No offense, but if your getting stronger at 53, then you weren't as strong as what he's talking about in your 20's and 30's
@@garydewberry no doubt about that as I was a heroin addict in my 20s and 30s lol.
@@garydewberry I can't speak for @pauly but I'd agree completely. I'm much more consistent/focused with training over the past 2 yrs (I was blessed with the ability to retire and leave the corporate life when I was 59) than in my 20s and 30s. While I can dwell on the past as wasted potential, I'd rather focus today on improving/maintaining my strength and overall health as I push further into my 60s and (hopefully) beyond.
You have strange logic. If you are adding strength at 50, you were not doing very much when you were 35 it seems.
I'm 23 right now and this is the first time someone else has adequately articulated how I feel about lifting. I live for the aggression, release, purpose, and fulfillment the iron gives me. Completely addicted to the intensity and crave its high over anything else, but it sure as shit makes me feel like I'm entering an arena beforehand. Anxiety through the roof I'll be shaky can't look anyone in the eye cause I wear a face of primal rage and just gotta get ballistic on it. I hope I can keep this attribute well into my 30's. 1.5 yrs in and already hit 315 bench at 230 BW, will crush 405 within 1-2 more. Cheers!
I’m 20 and I’m so grateful for the crop of older lifters who discus mistakes they made and realistic expectations for progress that can be made over the course of 5-10-20 years, it mskes the prospect of going on this journey a lot more exciting that seeing 16y year olds with 4 plate benches on tik tok tell you to take sarms.
Gorgeous work to watch. ❤❤❤❤❤
Good video. My teens is when this mindset started. Trained since I was 14. All I wanted to do was be strong and yoked out of my mind. 17 years old I got pretty big during 11th grade of high school 210lbs and lean. Off doing pushups, pullups, situps, wrestling bridge, and pistol squats. Then added powerlifting before I turned 18 in 12th grade. Got strong freshman year of university the first semester when I hit a 305lbs Bench Press and 585lb Deadlift still bejng 18. Fast forward I was a senior in university. I was 6 foot 250lbs and lean at 21 years old. I hit a 675lbs Conventional Beltless Strapless Mixed Grip Raw Deadlift, 365lbs Bench Press, 500lbs Raw Squat for reps bare knee, handstand pushups and pullups like nothing. Fast forward to the age of 25 that was my prime age. I was 250lbs and lean with a 600lb Squat in sleeves, 405lbs Bench Press, 715lbs Conventional Deadlift, 185lbs Standing Strict OHP for 10 reps, 480lb Front Squat in sleeves, 180lb Weighted Chinup. Then fall 2017 came and I gained 25lbs mostly fat. I got up to a 750lbs Beltless Conventional Raw Deadlift for 2 reps deadstop, 515lbs Front Squat in sleeves, 550lbs High Bar Squat for 4 reps in sleeves, 300lbs Bench Press for 3 sets of 12 reps. The squats would have been more even the Deadlift but during the 25lb weight gain both knees were injured and I trained through pain. The rest of my 20s I trained heavy. My early 30s I still trained heavy. At 30 years old I hit an all time bench pr of 450lbs. I also squatted 585lbs in sleeves, Conventional Deadlift 675lbs for 2 reps, front squat 475lbs, seated Military Press 275lbs and 225lbs for 8 reps, incline Bench Press 365lbs. When I was in my late 20s I hit incline Bench Press pr of 385lbs and seated Military Press 315lbs. At 31 I still hit multiple ober 405lb Bench Press, squatted 405lbs for 17 reps, over 500lbs for reps, Deadlift over 600lbs for reps, did bench volume with 315lbs and over. At 32 my current age I still benched 425lbs and hit 315lbs for 10 reps weeks back in the gym. I trained my teens and especially 20s with anger. Even mote than anger it was moreso drive to be the strongest. I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be stronger than everyone. The Strongest man on the planet. Eventually compete against the top guys at the time and surpass them in strength. My life for the longest time revolved around getting as strong as humanely possible. And I'm natty. Been natty for over 18 years. Goal originally was to milk being natty for as long as possible. Until my late 30s or 40s. Then take steroids and go after the titles and records. If I died after or on the way it would have been worth it.
Phew. He did the thing. Everything is ok again
Currently 26, I find that getting angry is just part of training with intent for me. It has some overlap with anxiety, but I can't say that I rile myself up to the point of being nauseous. I also find that anger is a much more natural or even healthy emotion when its controlled and short lived. For example, outside of the gym, when life doesn't go my way or someone does me wrong that day, it's much easier to get super pissed off (maybe even disproportionate to the circumstance). Go yell at a wall or some shit for 5 mins and then go about your day in a slightly better mood, rather than be sad/depressed about it to some degree (depending on what it was) for a much longer time, unable to change whatever happened. In the gym, I also don't feel like one of these "I'm fighting demons people", but I do relate to what you said about if someone came up to you before a set, you wouldn't give them the time of day. I channel a lot of aggression towards the weight and imagine inflicting violence to it, but after the set you just naturally chill out and take your break.
I can relate to what you are saying. Im 24 currently and Im feeling super aggressive and hyped up all the time. Not angry, not in a negative kind of way, more like "I have got so much energy right now" kind of way. The reasons surely are hormones, low stress, good nutrition, good sleep. No alcohol, no drugs, no cigarettes, just going to college and hitting weights.
I’ve tried to describe this to my wife, but I call it divine ecstasy.
Before any heavy set of 5s, any wrestling match, and competition or just a large event I crap my guts out, get tingly and euphoric and I feel like I can’t be stopped. Luckily I experience it still at 31, feels good to know someone else has the feeling.
Good way of putting it. This feeling has gotten me injured like 4 times from making me feel a little too unstoppable 😂
adrenaline will do that lol
I relate to the taking a dump when I feel nervous about competing. But the nervous feeling just turns into bad anxiety for me lol
It’s a great feeling. I honestly think it’s a unique feeling to men that most women will never get to experience.
@@jordanschmidt9772 your crazy
I love this dude
being alive is more potent than steroids
I have been steadily training for about 20 years, the last few I have been concentrating on perfecting my squat, bracing etc and I have never been stronger at 54. Be consistent, drop anything that is injuring your regularly and concentrate on being consistent. Good luck!
I feel that anxiety before sporting events, It's just to get your body tense and ready for action and I don't really like it. I like the feeling of getting in "the zone".
When I was 25 years old, I had a toxic relationship with the gym. Obsessed with size and strength. In truth, it was masking the fact I was deeply unhappy in life and the gym was all I could control. 20 years later aged 45 and in a way happier state in life, I repeated my maximum deadlift from that era. This time it felt great, a real accomplishment, and a true closure of those miserable times of the past.
Thanks for sharing Alan. Love the introspection. I’m now super interested in your home life/upbringing… the “secret sauce” that helped produce your drive to positivity.
Also, +1 for an Eminem reference!
Wish i never got into bodybuilding as a young man. I will die with body dysmorphia.
I am turning 23 soon, and I completely relate to everything you said. I lift alone training strongman in my garage, I've been lifting since my dad taught me for football, which will be 10 years ago this month. Alan I feel what you describe right now, and while you use agression and anger to describe it, I call it rage... there is this absolutely unending freaking feeling of RAGE every time I lift. Every time I pick up those farmer walk handles, I hate them, I want to eat them I want to break them in half, even thinking about training makes my hands shake trying to type this right now. I am not trying to sound like a maniac or hardcore, I just feel like how Evan Singleton acts is the best way to describe it hahahahaha. We are just crazy in the head, born this way, it's in the DNA and it won't ever leave, it is always there... because it's you, and me, train untamed, I have the flag on my wall and look at it every day, we don't need the rage because we love training all the same
Thanks for the discussion. Looking back at my early 20s when I was dedicated to weight training heavily for about 2 years while in college, I wish I would have considered it as a serious pursuit and taken it to the next level (bodybuilding). Unfortunately, I didn't really see it as something to identify with per se being the pre social media era, and pretty much on my own, not a part of any type of lifting community. I eventually stopped training completely and let myself go in the process. Now in my early mid 40s, I finally have come back to weight training aggressively and have fully identified with it (my midlife crisis activity I guess lol). I'm down 40 lbs over the past year, with another 50 to go, and seeing the complete change in my physique has been an amazing boost to my mental health in addition to the physical. Alas, the regret of not sticking with it will always haunt me in my list of what might have been scenarios...
Found you when I was 30 and at 40, RPE and science based lifting is my life right now.
i relate to this so much I cant even explain. Currently 25. I love being in the gym and feeling like I wanna throw a plate through a wall. I tap into the aggression and thrive off of it exactly how you described. Its euphoric.
Glad I'm not the only one who gags before going hard. Thought I was broken 🤣🤣
For me the burp of nastiness is 2nd wind just means my body digested my food
Thank you for a look at you personal back pages. One of your best videos.
Very thankful for this video. It hit a little to close to home. 21 years old in the military and feeling the same way. Not to mention im from Sacramento too
Love and Humility is key 🔑
Been lifting for 50 years and feel fine. One compound movement a day, takes about 30 minutes, usually done in a pyramid style with very good results. Am retired from construction and am 63 yrs old and natural, might take a multi vitamin once in a while. You can keep your testosterone at healthy levels by staying active
It might be that youre more accomplished, im pushing harder than ever before on the business front and i recently walked through slipped disc injury. As i started squatting after 8 months of being fucked, im as motivated as ever to come back. Im pushing through pain and its fun like it used to be. Plus you can always find new challenges. Its all in the head
I lost that around 25, I was a freaking madman. I'd train 7 days a week, inhale chicken like my life depended on it. Then my immune system crashed, and I got half a dozen infections at once, which left me more or less a cripple for a year. 27 now and can't muster the excitement for anything.
Hahaha had a similar thing happen to me when I was 23. Fucking brutal tbh took a whole year off doing much due to the fear of overexerting myself and putting my body back into an over-stressed / low recovery state. I'm 25 now and I feel like I was able to improve so much more than I ever imagined I could, but yeah still not where I was in terms of my peak drive, dedication and energy.
Chronic fatigue really hurts the soul and your confidence but I'm still trying to get back to it. For me just being grateful that it happened to me in my 20s and not my 50s (hopefully a once in a life-time event) helps me mentally. Playing around with your overall work capacity and slowly pushing the limits has been the best way forward for me, accepting when you need to take a couple weeks off and then taking on more burdens as you feel more confident. The more responsibilities you take on the more you force yourself to adapt.
12 minutes in, nailed it. That's the feeling.
Wow, i am 31 and i fully agree with the agression up to mid-late 20's. Metal, shouting, slamming weights. Now i try to find value in similar weights with muuuch less hype
couldnt get to sleep because i didnt want to waste all the good eating i did on my rest day so i walked over to the gym at 1 in the morning and did my bench sets. I hope i enjoy training as much as i do now when im older
Maybe it was as my lifestyle in my early 20s, but I feel better and stronger now, at 27. Lifestyle isn’t amazing right now, but it’s getting better.
when you were talking abt how locked in and hyped and focused you were i was lyiie "thats literally me". lets go hype af.
24.7.29
Im 28, and the main difference I see from when I was 18 is that my joints are a little banged up so I have to be a little more cautious about risk/reward
Me in my 20s riddled with health issues fatigue insomnia and irregular schedules.
I'm 35, no real difference other than a few old niggles/injuries occasionally flare up.
Most athletes are still in their prime in their mid-thirties, if a person feels like crap at this point, it's on them.
most chill and likeable guy on earth to have 4 samauri swords on his wall
I was never an aggressive dude and it reflects in my physique lol
What has always resonated with me was when I learned about senescence in college (I'm a biology nerd). Basically, once an animal/organism is past it's "breeding prime" they begin to senesce. Basically, they start to roll back on all of that stuff that helped them out compete the other males (e.g., aggression) in order to breed and pass on genes. One reason is trade-offs. You can sort of think of it as if you burn hard the candle goes out faster. With people, there are hypotheses that having family (i.e., older men and women in the population) was beneficial to passing on their genes successfully (if the offspring's offspring survive, the genes carry on), historically, so burning hard and dying younger wasn't as beneficial to passing on genes as being able to help care for the future generations was. Not saying it was a conscious decision, it was more that the offspring survived better so those traits carried on. Anyway, there's a lot of biological basis for why that aggression wanes a bit. That being said, you can fight it to some extent. I'm 46 and stronger than I was in my 20s. I also still feel my heart rate climb before a big lift. Then again, I don't know what I could've done if I was this consistent with working out in my 20s. I was all about beer and playing in my metal bands back then.😝
lifting as you age becomes less of a love, and more of a chore. You know it has to get done. And you feel better once completed. But you'll never love it like you used to. 38 years old. Lifting since 13. State champion powerlifter. I still get after it. But I don't wake up saying to myself. I can't wait to get into the gym to kick some ass.
Awesomeness, I look up to you!
I totally get the part where you talk about being in your 20's and have that fire that aggression and primitive raw anger to lift weights, also recovery was easier after beating up your body, now it gets harder to recover and even get that feeling before attempting a 1 rep max, i think it very much is hormones and testosterone peaking in our 20's
I'm 34 and I didn't take my lifting as consistently or serious at all in my 20s so thankfully I still have that insane rage and aggression in my workouts towards the weights and can relate to the gag or throat clearing sensation pre heavy hard set. I've gotten so peaked and worked up during a grinder of a set of hundreds of pounds that after the set when I'm changing the weight on the bar I literally get emotion nearly crying and yelling at the same time feeling like I could explode with just testosterone fueled power and raw aggression and emotion. And yes, I am a lifetime natural before people say that's from gear lol .
The biggest difference for myself is that I didn't train in my early 20s, so I'm making better gains now just because of that fact!
True. I rode cycling time trials in my 20s. I would push myself to a level I just never could or would now. I was powered by rage. Winning was everything and if I diesd in the attempt so be it
I (20m) used to get that nausea all the time for football, track, and wrestling, and sometimes before debate tournaments. I absolutely hated it, and I felt so uncomfortable with the aggressive intensity. Im able to hit intensity levels with being calm and honest within my head. I have never been a super aggressive guy either
100 percent right. Theres no better enhancement out there than your youth
Could this mean that Rick The Stick was actually Peter Pan all along?
I no longer feel that anger and aggression im alot more peaceful now. Still able to be explosive just not constantly bubbling to the top with that energy about to blow. Feel so much better now even though i cant do the same max weight with the same reps
Wrangling cows has the same effect on my physiology
I could swap my face with Alan's and it would litteraly be me. Basically the same story, i just didn't went to the military. All else is copy paste.I felt the "aggression" slowly fading away after my 27th birthday, I remember waking up and preparing for training and.... it just wasn't there, and it kept happening more and more often. However, as I'm getting now closer and closer to my 40's (37 now), I feel like it's changing again. Almost like a second sort of 20's put back into my late 30's and I'm getting that agression back, and in a good and healthy way. Of course not exactly the same, but it's building up again.
I reached my peak in powerlifting in my late 20's, and now, I'm almost back to my previous numbers, and I'm training like 1/4 of my training time to pure strenght, and I'm doing other sports like boxing, running, arm wrestling. So hey, maybe this has cycles like bitcoin :p
Thanks for sharing, lifting from late teens to now early 40s its totally true. I make much better decisions now though.
Love the Eminem bit you threw in there :P. Fellow 30-odd-year old, completely agree. Feel stronger now than in my 20s somehow.
Oh yes, I was the anchor for our 4x4 and I remember waiting for the baton to be passed to me and feeling my temples tingling and my stomach feeling light. If I could describe the feeling it was “electric”
Started at 21 because I was overweight, never felt any aggression, now I'm 30 and got in shape and doing strongman, and still no aggression. I guess it's not for everyone, I'm just a calm lifter.
Im turning 33 later this year. I dont feel anything stopping me from getting stronger and better. Maintaining your strength is fine when u get older. If you want to progress then change your style and see how you change. For example if you did weights only introduce some calishtenics.
I rowed in HS and def had that same 400m nausea but for our 2k test times. I KNEW it was going to hurt worse than anything and I’d be zoned in trying with all my power to convince myself I could get thru it
I did a cycle of steroids 6 years ago and felt the same shitty way after coming off. You see your self at your best and feel like the hulk then come off and it’s all gone. Just rented the god mode. Natty is the way to go and look at the long game
5:10 loved this part , 😂 all that aggression
I'm 44. My "recovery" is faster because my intensity might be less. I can train all day if my schedule and life would let me. My gains are slower, yet still progressive, and I can our things down for a while and come back later with minimal loss in performance so long as I keep intensely active. Silly times.
Im 42. Training is a bit different now then it used to be. Test levels certainly aren't quite what they used to be in my mid 20s! Im smarter now, but not nearly as aggressive in general. Still competitive, but more reserved in general.
Getting old is a kick in the balls!
You used to train untamed, and at some point you kinda gave up. I felt it, it was somewhere around the birth of your son I think.
You went from "I'm gonna prove them wrong" to "you know you don't have to do better, just doing a lil' something when you have the time is perfectly fine"