That's good advice, Bess...but why do you care about my physical welfare? I'm nothing to you! (now watch the reply…) Hal
Ah, the thread’s been merged with a couple of other former threads on the subject. Sorry @Bess Barber, my former post regarding the 10-12oz rum and coke arm curls might have been misunderstood. The gentleman in question does have a habit of biting the hand of those who try to help out and the biting seems to start just about cocktail time. Your warning to him was indeed a very good one which should absolutely be heeded by anyone of age (or even younger) but unfortunately, it seems as though it came as an unappreciated venture. Reminding the newer and older guys at the gym that they need to take it easy at first is a constant thing with the trainers there. Some of it is met with gratitude and some of it is met with an “I know it all” attitude. It’s the “know it all’s” who get hurt the quickest.
I'm just gonna say that whatever advice you give me, I'm gonna say "you're right", even if I think that advice sucks! Friends until the 2020 election... Hal
I know what you mean by no longer feeling up to the challenge. I picked up a toothbrush for years and scrubbed vigorously. I still pick up my toothbrush but that tube of toothpaste, wow, I don't how much longer I can handle it. Toothpaste containers seem to be getting larger. I think I foresee the day when they are big as a cottage cheese containers. That will be the day! We'll have to dip our toothbrushes. Good luck with those dumbbells.
Rum and Coca-Cola is a wonderful cocktail! I have two every evening during the cocktail hour of 6 to 7PM, before Supper. Harold
Seriously, @Hal Pollner ? What about this post then, were you just pulling everyone’s leg and telling us another story when you posted this ? The truth can’t be both ways at once, so pick a story and stick to it.
Whether or not Hal goes to a gym or doesn’t, the thread itself isn’t all about Hal, or at least that isn’t the question at hand. That said, what I see in the picture is probably a 25# bar with about 50# on it and a bench set up for bench presses and everything in a home gym. Seniors should NEVER do bench presses at home and without a spotter unless the senior has extensive and continued training and even then, it’s questionable. At the gym, I bench 240# (strength training) but workout with no more than 110# whilst doing multiple reps and even though I have a whole bunch of experience, I wouldn’t dream of doing that in my home gym. I know an octogenarian who gave away his entire home gym and he only works out at the Wellness Center where there are spotters. Why? He said it was too dangerous to lift weights at home (especially bench presses) and that’s coming from a guy who was a Professional weight lifter!! We men are natural ego maniacs. Most men think they can do what they did a million years ago when they were young, healthy and invincible and it’s just not in the books. When they see a pretty gal doing her stuff, some guys and yes, older guys, tend to want to show off and wind up getting a hernia tied or finding themselves at a chiropractor or worse. Lift easy, light and something manageable with multiple reps of 8’s to 10’s or even 12. If ya can’t hit the magic number of reps, you’re lifting too heavy. If a person hasn’t lifted for a period of time, I wouldn’t even advise going to that 3rd set failure. Three sets yes, failure....no. Oh yeah, if ya want to see a whole bunch of younger and older ego centered guys and gals, go to YouTube and look up “gym failure”. Some of it is hilarious and some of it will make ya cringe.
Hey "Mr. America" Cole, I fully agree with your caution to use light, easily-manageable weights that will allow no more than a dozen or so reps. I'm now working on increasing upper arm and shoulder mass. The bar in the picture weighs 15# and the weights were 50#. Hal, age 83, probably too old to be fooling with weights...