At what age or decade of life do you think your physical capabilities will fall off most sharply?

Also, on a related angle. The question is often asked: Would you rather grow old or die young. And my answer to those who say they don't want to grow old is that they feel that way because their self worth is measured in their physical traits, whether looks or athleticism. If you feel that that is all you have then of course you'll be terrified at the prospect of being 60. So your identity shouldn't be based on fleeting things.

old men don't get low T from age, they get it from fat, compounded stress, accumulated injuries limiting their strength activity

and most of all from just not caring anymore. Many are already sick of life and would welcome death in some forms. There was a famous eel, who was thrown into a well by a Swedish boy, and was cruelly left to spend the next 150 years trapped there. Quality of life is a huge factor.

Me, I expect things to get hard around the age of 110 or so.

Absolutely, positively no doubt between 65-69

Yup. 65-69. I’ve seen it firsthand with my father who I live with full time because I’m only 17. Hard to explain, but my mom has noticed too and she’s mid 50s. He’s still sharp as hell working his job, but in other aspects his mental/physical capacity has noticeably decreased.

The answer is the last one. You think it will mean something when you're not running like it used to. Or when your runs turn into walks. But the biggest difference will be the year you die and ten years before.

Balony...you know nothing about aging (you're obviously not a senior). I'm 64 & a former national class natural bodybuilding champion back in 1980s. After retiring from competition in my 30s, I still remained active over the years working out almost daily (even after getting married & raising kids). Currently, I work out everyday with a 50/50 cardio-weight training split. I also eat a 100% organic whole foods diet with plenty of protein. I've got low BF & decent muscularity for someone my age not on TRT.

However, my test levels have steadily declined over the years - last year's levels were at 480 ng/dL - about half of what they were back in my peak youth years. Other hormones like DHEA & HGH also decline with age. The signaling pathway between the brain & hormone-producing organs diminishes with age-related degenerative changes.

Why do you think so many middle-aged & senior men go on TRT? If working out, eating healthy, reducing stress, lifting weights hard & caring etc, reversed low test levels, there would be no need to use TRT. 😉

The last decade of your life will be the one you experience the sharpest decline.

I'm in my fifties, but I'm pretty lucky in a sense because I didn't run or even really keep fit when I was in my twenties, and am objectively fitter now than I've ever been in my life. I have osteoarthritis of the hip, and a couple of chronic medical problems, but overall, I do feel more energetic physically most days than I think I was in my 20's. I had my testosterone measured recently and it was higher than it was in my 20's, and higher than the average 18 year old male (I am not taking anything, just running and lifting weights).

I also have a 6-pack for the first time in my life.

However, when I look at my face in the mirror, especially in the mornings, I see the decline.

Your family is like mine with me in my mid 60s. I'm afraid you're right.

He not would decrease if he does Mediterranean diet and it has you live to 120 yr old.

Well if I even make it to 50 that would be a miracle so I'd have to say 40-50 if I can get to 40.

Obviously a lot of the measurable drop off is specific to individuals, but as a runner/triathlete in my early 50s (who has competed at the World Championship level in my age group), I'll share a few thoughts about my experience:

The drop often follows a period of layoff either by choice or due to injury. You resume training and it hits you that you might never quite regain the sharpness that you had before the time off.

You have to consistently work the speed and range of motion side of the equation or you will have drops from periodization. Let's say that you focus on a big aerobic base without getting the body moving at speed. When you try to ramp up for the next cycle of racing, you will struggle to actually go as fast. Your limits will be set more by stride length and turnover than you can imagine.

Brace yourself to have a performance that you know almost immediately you won't repeat or beat in your lifetime. You'll catch the perfect day (culmination of training, weather, course, and competition) and you'll hit a great "for your age" result (perhaps not even close to a lifetime best) and you'll just know that it will be incredibly hard to repeat.

30

Ive been around long enough to realize a few things. Mostly, it's relative to what you did in your prime years and your personal motivation minus any debilitating or chronic conditions you've developed or had to overcome since.

Considering how long you survive...ie avoid walking out in front of a bus, shark attack, ski off a cliff etc... as an athlete who trained mind and body for many years, mine and others...I havent forgotten what it means to just feel good in a natural way, without drugs.

Active lifestyle, great amout of sleep and a healthy diet to start. Dont avoid seeing a doctor, dentist, counselor etc..when you recognize a change that can lead down a path that reduces quality of life. Also generally be ok with aging and enjoying each phase without depression for what it is and be happy youve made it yhat far while looking forward to the next phase.

Personally, I dont look forward to having someone else wipe my butt if I make it that far so I also have an exit plan. But Im not afraid because I know this world is not my final resting place and thats where so many people get off track and slowly diminish their worldly existence here which is unfortunate. I want to live for many reasons buy when my time here is up, Ive got other places to be and things to do when I get there.

It's all relative. "Get busy living or get busy dying".

I am 64, hoping to continue running until at least age 70, while acknowledging that my running days could end at any time. Enjoying it while I still have the ability and motivation. No serious impediments yet. I credit that to not being a competitive athlete in my youth. There are people on this site who quit running due to multiple injuries after something like 45 years and 100K miles. Can't comprehend being in that situation.

Realistically, probably your 80s (or, most accurately, the decade from 75-85). Most people can bounce back after illness / injury reasonably well when they are younger. By the ninth decade of life, there is very little in "reserve" and disability/frailty will follow even relatively minor medical events.

There is a big difference going from a 17:00 to a 20:00 5k and going from independent to unable to walk.

In each decade, the decline becomes more rapid. I'm 45, and I've noticed that I've lost some speed - distances 5K and below. I also am more prone to injury. And I feel like I gain weight more easily, though that could just be due to my sedentary job.

But if you look at the stats, each decade will be worse than the last until you most like die in your 70s or 80s. The vast majority of people cannot run at all in their 80s even if they live that long, where as lots of people in their late 50s run quite well, if slower. So between 60 and 80 you go from being able to run and basically do anything you want albeit while being more prone to injury and being a bit slower, to being either unable to run or actually dead.

I would say that mental, social, and essentially inter-male competition seem to go away with age and it can be a reason for reduced testosterone.

Think when you’re 22 - competing at sports almost daily, competing for girls at parties, social banter to establish order within groups of guys, competing on test, etc.

When you’re 45 - go to 9-5 office job, don’t say anything non-vanilla for weeks, drink a beer alone at home, go for a half azz workout at a crappy gym, chubby wife satisfies you out of habit, etc.

I work in an office with a bunch of moderately wealthy 50+ white men.

There seems to be a lot of competition. But it's all imaginary competition. "I watch football and lift weights (once a month). I am super strong." Theses guys are extremely fat and weak. But since they are old, white and kind of rich- no-one calls them on their BS.

I have been going to a gym. Lately 90% of the guys at the gym in their 20s and 30s - seem to be following the same strategy. But because they are less wealthy and less white - they don't have quite the same BS credentials.