What age do you hit your bodybuilding prime?

[The Dude]

We saw Ronnie improve all the way to what 42? How long do you guys think a person has to reach their "best" before it goes downhill?

 

[Presser]

early to mid 30's

 

[Ox 51]

early to mid 30's

Yeah, I'd think so too. You can probably make gains past that point, but they'd be much harder to come by and chance of injury gets way higher.

 

[Oldschool]

I have always been told men start to regress after 35. I can personally attest to that. Females however just start to hit their stride at age age 35 thats why you see so many top females in their forties.

 

[The Dude]

I have always been told men start to regress after 35. I can personally attest to that. Females however just start to hit their stride at age age 35 thats why you see so many top females in their forties.

Do you think that applies to keeping and gaining muscle tissue or everything as a whole? I'm relatively sure that I'll completely max out on the amount of tissue I can accrue by 35, but if I chose to continue I would hope that I could continue to improve the look through muscle maturity and fine tuning. As mentioned some of those over 40 classes are outrageous and many times the Over 40 winner could or does take the overall. I'm sure genetics, experience, and drugs play a big part though.

 

[dorian123]

early to mid 30's

agreed

 

[big in vegas]

Sad to say I also think it's mid 30s

 

[Rep]

For most, prob 30-35. I truly believe that I havent hit mine yet. Im 40 and Im thinking that by 43 or 44, Ill be at my best as long as I stay healthy.

 

[Chris250]

I'd say everyone is just a tad different. I would say for most it would be around 35 years old. But, im 38 now, and I feel like im growing some as of right now. But, I dont recovery as well, and I need to take more days off. But, my strengh is very good right now. Im hitting some P.R.'s this past month. I feel like im holding more lean mass at 255-260lbs, then I ever have had before...

 

[Presser]

I'd say everyone is just a tad different. I would say for most it would be around 35 years old. But, im 38 now, and I feel like im growing some as of right now. But, I dont recovery as well, and I need to take more days off. But, my strengh is very good right now. Im hitting some P.R.'s this past month. I feel like im holding more lean mass at 255-260lbs, then I ever have had before...

Im 38 as well and agree that it takes longer to recover for sure. Its alot harder for me to pack on more muscle now however I will say for certain that strength is still climbing and i am honestly stronger the ever.

Also I can stop working out now for weeks and still look like i been hitting the gym regularly which i attribute to my muscles maturity and my muscles are realy dense compared to when i was younger.

 

[big in vegas]

I'd say that you can get away with taking longer breaks off without really losing much as you get older due to muscle maturity like Presser talked about. I've seen older guys get injured and take a month off and come back and didn't look like they lost much at all, but if a mid 20 year old did this, I'd say he'd easily lose 10-15 pounds in a month depending on what their weight was when they got hurt

 

[The Dude]

Not really what I was hoping to hear. I turn 32 this month. Better get it together for one last go!

 

[big in vegas]

Haha, I've got a little bit of time, but I can tell a big difference over the last 5 years so I'm sure the next 5 will just get progressively worse. I'm really dreading hitting 30

 

[dorian123]

Haha, I've got a little bit of time, but I can tell a big difference over the last 5 years so I'm sure the next 5 will just get progressively worse. I'm really dreading hitting 30

oh don't worry it sucks!!! I was told when I was competing in submission wrestling that "once you hit 30 your recovery and endurance cuts in half, when you hit 40 it cuts in half again..."

they were right-use to be if I got sick I was over it in 2-3 days now if I get a head cold 2 weeks later and I'm still hacking shit up...

 

[The Dude]

oh don't worry it sucks!!! I was told when I was competing in submission wrestling that "once you hit 30 your recovery and endurance cuts in half, when you hit 40 it cuts in half again..."

they were right-use to be if I got sick I was over it in 2-3 days now if I get a head cold 2 weeks later and I'm still hacking shit up...

I can say for certain that I've made dramatic improvements in my physique since joining the site and literally everything to include strength, recovery ability, growth, and muscular endurance has improved. Of course so has my knowledge base and my supplement regimen is much more comprehensive.

 

[SilkQuads]

I have always been told men start to regress after 35. I can personally attest to that. Females however just start to hit their stride at age age 35 thats why you see so many top females in their forties.

That's good news for me leased: I'm 31 and love the results I've gotten in the last 4 years with the hubby's help. Can't wait to see where I'll be 4 years from now.