Can I get six pack abs at 40?

BTDT wrote:

That crap site you referred to and their "Popular Plan" is not indicative of how actual ELITE and knowledeable coaches typically approach nutritional recommendations/plans. And the guy's recommendations on thenonathletessalloon will not work for an athlete...

I agree that the lean saloon is not for athletes and the website pretty much says that. I'm 48 and having trouble losing weight after several injuries. I'm used to running to lose weight but I'm too heavy to run more than 3 days a week so it seems I'm caught in a vicious cycle of never losing quite enough to bump up the miles. On days I run I do the typical 5-6 meals a day. On days I don't run I don't eat my first meal until 3-4 in the afternoon thus fasting 15-18 hours) and cycle or do elliptical in the evening and drink a quality protein shake before bed. After several weeks of this approach (3-4 days of interment fasting and 3-4 days of 5-6 meals a day) I have started to turn the corner.

So basically on the days I'm an "athlete" I eat 5-6 meals a day. On days I'm not an athlete I do the lean saloon approach.

BTDT wrote:

That crap site you referred to and their "Popular Plan" is not indicative of how actual ELITE and knowledeable coaches typically approach nutritional recommendations/plans. And the guy's recommendations on thenonathletessalloon will not work for an athlete...

The Lean Saloon is definitely not a website for high-level competitive athletes, and the owner makes that clear. It's a website for people who want to be generally fit, look great, and be healthy.

However, the owner has competed in olympic-style weightlifting and currently does crossfit style workouts at high level. The Lean Saloon never claims that this is a better diet than those recommended by the industry's big names, like Poliquin and Antonio, whose recommendation is for training support and training recovery.

The Lean Saloon is for those looking for a simple way to get lean, whether they're physically active or not. I run for enjoyment, not to win medals, but I also love having a muscular body and being lean with a 6 pack.

Giving yourself a year is smart--but you should probably be able to lose ~1 lb/week fairly comfortable. Eat volumous foods--lots of fiber--and make sure to eat just after your workout. When you run calorie deficits, that sweet-spot right after a workout becomes all the more important for recovery.

Before and after pics would be nice.

Are you gay? If not, WTF?

So it's gay to be 40+ but want to be in shape and not look like a tub of goo?

So many of my friends complain about not getting any from their wives, yet these guys look like a pile of $hit. Any wonder?

Ms. Obvious wrote:

Pics? Please spare us the gut. Face, arms and tush, only. Thanks.

I'm with ya on this one, girlfriend!

To the OP, it all depends on your baseline of physique and genetics. Do you have love handles? How much do you weigh? Are you willing to be self absorbed to get these abs?

Is it possible for a guy in his forties to have a six pack? In my smart ass opinion, yes I think its possible...:) Okay when you get them, please show us the pics!

Looks like theleansaloon.com guy reads this forum, he just copied and pasted the training plan posted on this thread to his blog then discected it.

whooooopers wrote:

Looks like theleansaloon.com guy reads this forum, he just copied and pasted the training plan posted on this thread to his blog then discected it.

Wow, he did get that right of this site....he does make a pretty good argument though.

EZ10miler wrote:

So it's gay to be 40+ but want to be in shape and not look like a tub of goo?

So many of my friends complain about not getting any from their wives, yet these guys look like a pile of $hit. Any wonder?

Agreed on this one. I just don't get why people here think it's "homosexual" to want a 6 pack but never considered that a 6 pack might be a very normal and healthy thing to possess, while having a layer of blubber on top indicates no self control and laziness.

Lots of low intelligence here.

EZ10miler wrote:

So it's gay to be 40+ but want to be in shape and not look like a tub of goo?

So many of my friends complain about not getting any from their wives, yet these guys look like a pile of $hit. Any wonder?

.

Yes. It is pretty gay to be 40 years old and concerned about six pack abs. Like Tom Cruise

The real Uncleb wrote:

EZ10miler wrote:

So it's gay to be 40+ but want to be in shape and not look like a tub of goo?

So many of my friends complain about not getting any from their wives, yet these guys look like a pile of $hit. Any wonder?

.

Yes. It is pretty gay to be 40 years old and concerned about six pack abs. Like Tom Cruise

Fat people always say stuff like that.

Is a defense mechanism.

Running alone probably won't get the job done. You either get "skinny abs" or plateau.

If you have gym access, go to like bodybuilding.com and look at their training plans. You probably should look at the ones that say "transformation". Ignore the supplement stuff, it's useless. There are other good plans besides theirs, and if you are more interested in those go to the forums and look at the stickies (be careful though, their forums are even worse than here, especially with new lifters. They think it's funny to give bad advice and drive new accounts into the ground with bad ratings.)

Also, rowing machines are really, really good for your abs (among other things.) When I lift I do a 3x500m warmup with a goal of under 2:15 and rest of 5 minutes. Don't get caught up with too many other machines though, a lot of them are useless (especially ab- focused ones.) Weights are probably your best bet, mixed with a healthy dose of cardio.

If you don't have gym access, look online for a (pirated) pdf of "You Are Your Own Gym" or "Convict Conditioning". These are bodyweight workout programs where the only pieces of equipment you will need are chairs and a pull up bar.

This is so shallow it pains me, so please feel free (and when I say please it isn't a choice) to do your own research. If you have gym access, talk to their trainer.

TL;DR: Running will help, but you will need to workout in other ways. Otherwise you get "skinny abs".

to cut 10 lbs to get back to my college weight i actually stopped running and just focused on my nutrition and cutting calories. i did continue to lift weights. 12 weeks later i was 10 lbs lighter and had a six pack at age 42. without running it was much easier to balance my nutrution (tracked everything in myfitnesspal), as running made me want to always eat way more calories than i was actually burning. i lost some running fitness, but it was easy to get back running at the lighter weight.

I have a six-pack at 60, with 5% BF. I don't count calories,I count grams...of carbs. I eat 90-110g/day in the form of unprocessed fruit and veggies. I do no ab work other than rock climbing and gymnastic training. I run between 50 miles/week (winter) and 10-20 (summer, but also hiking).

If you are using exercise to keep weight down you are probably insulin-resistant and heading towards major health problems down the line.

Mark Sisson is older and as ripped as me, and eats and trains very similar:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

It's not about counting and fighting cravings for me, just making good decisions in the store, shopping the perimeter for real food and avoiding the aisles with processed junk, especially grains and sugar in myriad forms.

Before you can flex right and flex tight you need to stand up straight. Chest out. Shoudlers broad. Strengthen lower back. Fix any kind of pelvic tilt you may have.

Sit ups and ab routines are okay for toning but overrated. You need a strong core to get the most out of that ab flex. Your skin needs to be literally pulling tight over strong abs.

In addition to typical core exercises, I find that most overhead presses (shoulder, bench, incline), over/under pullups from a hanging start and lat pull downs and things like squats help the development of a strong abdomen. Abdomen needs to be nice and tight while doing those workouts.

I thought you could just go to your local store and buy some, no? lol

I need to see the before and after pics. I mean the OP never returned and gave us his results. After 7yrs you would think working on one pack per year would do the trick, no? 🤔

Abdomen wrote:

Before you can flex right and flex tight you need to stand up straight. Chest out. Shoudlers broad. Strengthen lower back. Fix any kind of pelvic tilt you may have.

Sit ups and ab routines are okay for toning but overrated. You need a strong core to get the most out of that ab flex. Your skin needs to be literally pulling tight over strong abs.

In addition to typical core exercises, I find that most overhead presses (shoulder, bench, incline), over/under pullups from a hanging start and lat pull downs and things like squats help the development of a strong abdomen. Abdomen needs to be nice and tight while doing those workouts.

This is the first answer close to being right.

It's a complicated issue because every body has different use patterns that got them to a core that isn't engaged. Even then, the "six pack" is looks over function.

You guys with the crazy diet schemes need to get some therapy for food and body image issues.

I have bad posture, shoulders roll forward, hunch over a lot, etc. I'm also not fit at all. Working on that.

How does one improve the areas mentioned above though? Pelvic tilt? Shoulders broad and chest out? How?