Building Muscle After 60

Cyn Meyer - Second Wind Movement
26 Jul 202306:36

Summary

TLDRThis informative video debunks the myth that you can't build muscle after 60. It presents scientific evidence that resistance exercises can help older adults, even in their 80s and 90s, gain muscle mass with consistent training. The video covers the timeline for building muscle, emphasizing the importance of patience and dedication. It provides practical advice on nutrition, including the need for a calorie surplus and a protein-rich diet, and recommends exercises like strength training, swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga to build muscle effectively. The goal is to empower older adults to maintain physical health and improve their overall well-being during retirement.

Takeaways

  • 💪 It is possible to build muscle at any age, even after 60, but it may take longer than in your 20s or 30s.
  • 🕰️ Building muscle after 60 can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your starting point and dedication.
  • 🍽️ To build muscle after 60, you need to eat a diet high in protein and stay in a caloric surplus (consuming more calories than you burn).
  • 🏋️‍♀️ The best exercises for building muscle after 60 are compound strength training movements like squats, deadlifts, and presses.
  • 🏊‍♀️ Low-impact exercises like swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga can also help build muscle and improve overall fitness.
  • 🔄 Consistency is key when it comes to building muscle after 60 – regular workouts and a healthy diet are essential.
  • ⏱️ Even people in their 90s can build muscle and reap the benefits of strength training, as long as they are dedicated.
  • 📈 Track your macronutrient intake (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) to ensure you're getting the right nutrients for muscle growth.
  • 🍎 Focus on eating quality, nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to support overall health and muscle building.
  • 👍 Building muscle after 60 is definitely possible with the right approach, diet, and dedication – it's about tailoring your routine to your individual situation.

Q & A

  • Can people over 60 still build muscle?

    -Yes, the video clearly states that it is a common misconception that you cannot build muscle after 60. The truth is that you can continue to build muscle at any age, even if you've never worked out before. A study from the University of Birmingham showed that older adults, both untrained and athletes, could build muscle equally.

  • How long does it take to build muscle after 60?

    -The time it takes to build muscle after 60 can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on the individual's starting point and dedication to working out. A study found that even individuals aged 83 to 94 were able to increase thigh muscle size by 3.4% on average in just 12 weeks of weight training three times a week.

  • How important is nutrition for building muscle after 60?

    -Nutrition plays a crucial role in building muscle after 60. As you age, your body becomes less efficient at using protein to build muscle, so it's important to eat a diet high in protein from sources like lean meats, fish, nuts, and seeds. You also need to maintain a caloric surplus, meaning you need to eat more calories than your body burns each day.

  • What are the best exercises for building muscle after 60?

    -The best exercises for building muscle after 60 are similar to those for building muscle at any age. The video recommends focusing on strength training, particularly compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and presses, as these work multiple muscle groups at once. Other beneficial exercises include swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga.

  • How consistent do you need to be with workouts to build muscle after 60?

    -Consistency is key to building muscle after 60. The video emphasizes that you need to be committed to working out regularly and follow a healthy diet in order to see results. It's more about lifestyle choices than anything else, and with time and dedication, you can make gains.

  • What are some tips for eating a healthy, muscle-building diet after 60?

    -Some tips for eating a healthy, muscle-building diet after 60 include tracking your macronutrient intake (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats), eating more nutrient-rich whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoiding processed foods.

  • What are the benefits of building muscle after 60?

    -While the video does not explicitly state the benefits of building muscle after 60, it is generally known that maintaining muscle mass as you age can help improve overall health, strength, balance, and mobility, and reduce the risk of falls and other age-related issues.

  • What is the key takeaway from the video about building muscle after 60?

    -The key takeaway is that it is possible to build muscle at any age, including after 60. With the right approach, consistency, and dedication to exercise and a healthy diet, older adults can continue to make gains in muscle mass and strength.

  • What resources or tools does the video provide for older adults looking to build muscle?

    -The video mentions that the speaker's organization, Second Wind Movement, has a comprehensive guide to nutrition for older adults, which is linked in the video's description below. This guide could be a useful resource for those looking to improve their diet for building muscle after 60.

  • What is the overall tone and message of the video?

    -The overall tone of the video is encouraging and motivational, aiming to debunk the myth that older adults cannot build muscle. The message is that with the right mindset, consistency, and approach, people over 60 can continue to build muscle, improve their physical health, and make their retirement years the best years of their lives.

Outlines

00:00

💪 Building Muscle After 60: Myth Busting and How-To Guide

This section introduces the concept that individuals over 60 can still build muscle, challenging the common misconception that muscle building is only for the young. The narrator, Samira, emphasizes the importance of debunking myths surrounding aging and fitness, citing a study from the University of Birmingham that demonstrates the ability of older adults to build muscle through resistance exercises. The key takeaway is that with patience, consistency, and the right lifestyle choices—focusing on proper nutrition and regular activity—muscle growth is achievable at any age. The video segment further outlines the factors influencing the rate of muscle growth in older adults and stresses the significance of a balanced diet rich in proteins and calories to support muscle development.

05:01

🏋️‍♂️ Effective Muscle Building Strategies for Seniors

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to practical advice for seniors looking to build muscle, underlining that age should not be a barrier to improving physical health. It provides an overview of various exercises and nutritional tips that are beneficial for muscle growth post-60. The narrator encourages resistance exercises, swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga as effective workouts to strengthen muscles, alongside eating nutrient-rich foods and maintaining a high-protein diet. The message is one of empowerment, urging seniors to adopt a consistent routine and healthy eating habits to see progress in muscle building. The video concludes with a call to action, encouraging engagement with the content to help spread awareness and support the wellness of older adults.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Muscle Building

The process of increasing muscle mass through exercise and proper nutrition. The video emphasizes that muscle building is possible at any age, even after 60 years old, as long as one is consistent with resistance exercises and a healthy diet. Examples from the script include: 'you can continue to build muscle at any age' and 'the key is to be patient and consistent with your workouts.'

💡Resistance Exercise

Types of exercises that involve moving or lifting weights to build strength and muscle. The video recommends resistance exercises as the foundation for building muscle after 60, citing compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and presses as effective for working multiple muscle groups simultaneously. An example from the script is: 'the fastest way to build muscle is through strength training primarily, compound movements like squats deadlifts, and presses.'

💡Consistency

The act of maintaining a regular routine or habit over an extended period. The video emphasizes the importance of consistency in both exercise and diet for building muscle after 60. It states that while results may take longer than in one's younger years, dedication and consistency are crucial for seeing gains. An example from the script is: 'in a nutshell, as long as you're eating right and staying active with consistency you can continue to build muscle mass well into your 60s and Beyond.'

💡Nutrition

The process of providing the body with the necessary nutrients for growth, repair, and overall health. The video highlights the importance of proper nutrition, particularly consuming high-protein foods and maintaining a caloric surplus, to support muscle building after 60. An example from the script is: 'as you age your nutritional needs change after 60 your body becomes less efficient at using protein to build muscle which is why it's important to eat foods that are high in proteins such as lean meats fish, nuts and seeds.'

💡Caloric Surplus

Consuming more calories than the body burns in a day, resulting in a positive energy balance. The video recommends maintaining a caloric surplus to provide the necessary energy for building muscle after 60. An example from the script is: 'you need to stay in a caloric Surplus in other words you need to eat more calories than your body Burns in a day.'

💡Macronutrients

The three main categories of nutrients that provide energy for the body: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The video advises tracking one's intake of these macronutrients, also known as 'counting macros,' to ensure adequate protein and overall calorie consumption for muscle building after 60. An example from the script is: 'this means tracking the number of grams of proteins, carbohydrates and fat that you're eating each day.'

💡Compound Exercises

Exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously, such as squats, deadlifts, and presses. The video recommends these exercises as the foundation for building muscle after 60, as they efficiently target multiple muscle groups in a single movement. An example from the script is: 'the fastest way to build muscle is through strength training primarily, compound movements like squats deadlifts, and presses.'

💡Low-Impact Exercise

Types of exercises that put minimal stress on the joints, making them suitable for older adults or those with mobility limitations. The video suggests low-impact exercises like swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga as complementary activities to help build muscle after 60 while being gentle on the joints. An example from the script is: 'a few other types of exercise that can help you build muscle as an older adult are swimming this is a great low impact workout that is easy on the joints.'

💡Muscle Mass

The amount of muscle tissue in the body. The video's central theme revolves around building and maintaining muscle mass even after the age of 60, emphasizing that it is possible with the right approach and dedication. An example from the script is: 'you can continue to build muscle mass well into your 60s and Beyond.'

Highlights

You can continue to build muscle at any age, even after 60.

A study from the University of Birmingham found that both untrained older adults and older athletes could build muscle equally through resistance exercises.

Building muscle is more about lifestyle choices than anything else, involving eating right and staying active with consistency.

Building muscle after 60 can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your starting point and dedication.

Even 94-year-olds can build muscle and reap the benefits of strength training.

After 60, your body becomes less efficient at using protein to build muscle, so you need to eat foods high in protein.

To build muscle, you need to stay in a caloric surplus, eating more calories than your body burns.

Tracking your macros (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) and eating quality, nutrient-rich foods are important for building muscle after 60.

The best exercises for building muscle after 60 are the same as any age: strength training with compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and presses.

Swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga are also low-impact exercises that can help build muscle as an older adult.

Consistency is key to building muscle after 60.

Eating quality, nutrient-rich foods and high-protein foods is essential.

Focus on muscle-building exercises like strength training, swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga.

Stick to a consistent routine and eat healthy foods to see progress in muscle building.

Engaging with content like this video helps create more helpful information for older adults.

Transcripts

play00:00

sure if you're like most people you

play00:01

might not be able to lift as much weight

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as you could in your 20s but that

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doesn't mean that you can't continue to

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build muscle even after 60. in this

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video we'll break down the science

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behind building muscle after 60

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including how long it takes how to eat

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for muscle growth and which exercises to

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include in your routine so that you're

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focusing on quality over quantity

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[Music]

play00:28

thank you

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I'm Samira founder of Second Wind

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movement and a life coach for older

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adults who are striving to turn their

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retirement years into their best years

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full of purpose and meaning and of

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course your physical health is a big

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part of that so first let's quickly

play00:43

debunk the myth that only younger people

play00:46

can build muscle can you build muscle at

play00:49

any age it's a common misconception that

play00:51

you can't build muscle after 60. but the

play00:54

truth is you can continue to build

play00:57

muscle at any age it just might take a

play01:00

little longer than it did when you were

play01:01

in your 20s or your 30s a study from the

play01:04

University of Birmingham states that

play01:06

resistance exercises can help you build

play01:08

muscle even if you've never worked out

play01:10

before the study compared eight

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untrained older male participants

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between ages 60 and 80 with seven older

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male athletes in the same age range who

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consistently trained for two decades the

play01:25

results both groups could build muscle

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equally the key is to be patient and

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consistent with your workouts you might

play01:34

not see results as quickly as you did

play01:36

when you were younger but with time and

play01:38

dedication you can still make gains like

play01:42

with most worthwhile Endeavors in life

play01:43

building muscle is more about lifestyle

play01:46

choices than anything else in a nutshell

play01:48

as long as you're eating right and

play01:50

staying active with consistency you can

play01:53

continue to build muscle mass well into

play01:55

your 60s and Beyond as for how long it

play01:58

takes to build muscle after 60. the

play02:00

simple answer to that question is that

play02:02

it depends building muscle after 60 can

play02:05

take anywhere from a few weeks to

play02:06

several months depending on your

play02:08

starting point and how dedicated you are

play02:11

to working out a recent study found that

play02:13

even 94 year olds are able to build

play02:16

muscle and reap the benefits of strength

play02:18

training in the study the participants

play02:21

were older adults between the ages of 83

play02:23

and 94. in just 12 weeks of weight

play02:27

training three times a week they were

play02:29

able to increase thigh muscle size by

play02:32

3.4 percent on average it's the same

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bottom line here to build muscle after

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60 you need to be committed to working

play02:38

out regularly and eating a healthy diet

play02:41

and if you're dedicated to building

play02:43

muscle you can start noticing results in

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as little as a few weeks eating for

play02:47

muscle growth after 60. as you age your

play02:50

nutritional needs change after 60 your

play02:53

body becomes less efficient at using

play02:55

protein to build muscle which is why

play02:58

it's important to eat foods that are

play03:00

high in proteins such as lean meats fish

play03:02

nuts and seeds and to build muscle you

play03:06

need to stay in a caloric Surplus in

play03:09

other words you need to eat more

play03:10

calories than your body Burns in a day

play03:12

the best way to ensure that you're

play03:14

getting enough calories is to track your

play03:16

intake and count your Macros this means

play03:19

tracking the number of grams of proteins

play03:21

carbohydrates and fat that you're eating

play03:24

each day another important factor is to

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also focus on eating Quality Foods this

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means avoid eating processed foods and

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eating plenty of fruits vegetables and

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whole grains these nutrient-rich foods

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will not only help you build muscle but

play03:39

also improve your overall health and in

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case you want help eating better

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nutrients we have a very comprehensive

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guide to nutrition for older adults so

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I'll leave a link in that description

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below this video

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for now on to the best exercises to

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build muscle after 60. the best

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exercises to strengthen your muscle

play03:56

after 60 are the same exercises that are

play03:58

effective for building muscle at any age

play04:00

and the fastest way to build muscle is

play04:02

through strength training primarily

play04:05

compound movements like squats deadlifts

play04:08

and presses and the reason is these

play04:11

exercise work multiple muscles groups at

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once and they help you build strength

play04:15

and size quickly they should be the

play04:17

foundation of your workout routine a

play04:19

apart from strength training a few other

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types of exercise that can help you

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build muscle as an older adult are

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swimming this is a great low impact

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workout that is easy on the joints it's

play04:31

an excellent way to build muscle since

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it works out all of your major muscle

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groups Tai Chi a form of martial arts

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that emphasizes slow deliberate

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movements it's often described as

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meditation in motion and it's known for

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its many health benefits including

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muscle building yoga another low impact

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workout that is easy on the joints while

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also increasing your flexibility and

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your strength as you age it becomes more

play04:57

important to stay fit you may find that

play05:01

building muscle is a bit harder than you

play05:03

were when you were younger and while it

play05:05

takes a bit of time to build muscle it's

play05:07

definitely possible with the right

play05:09

approach and diet we've looked at some

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of the best ways to build muscle after

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60 and while every person is different

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these exercises and tips will help you

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get started started so be sure to tailor

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them to your own situation to recap you

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can build muscle at any age it's about

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doing resistance exercises and being

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consistent about it it takes as little

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as a few weeks to build muscle after 60.

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again consistency is going to be your

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best friend eat Quality nutrient-rich

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Foods and high protein foods focus on

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muscle building exercises like strength

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training swimming Tai Chi and yoga

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may you stick to a consistent routine

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and eat healthy foods to see progress in

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your muscle building and more

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importantly may you feel better thank

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you so much for being here and for

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striving to be your best during

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retirement we need more people like you

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helping to shift our culture to be

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better please like share and subscribe

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and comment on this video every

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engagement that you make with our videos

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helps us do our job better of creating

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helpful content for this very important

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audience of older adults so thank you so

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much for watching I'll see you in the

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next video

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[Music]

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thank you