At What Age Are You The Strongest?

[@Phreestyle1]

I'm 63 and have been lifting weights and working out for 45 years. The most important reps you can do are putting on your workout clothes and doing exercise. I'm no longer fixated on shifting the most amount of weight. Now I focus on quality, regularity and interest. I'm less strong than I used to be - using certain measures - but I'm the strongest 63 year old I can be. That's the measure to use I think.

[@imsickofmakingnames]

The true answer is, it doesn’t matter just keep training.

[@gbnsierra1]

Absolutely love this take! So freaking true, I tell patients this all the time.

[@inquisitive.lurker]

lol

[@blacklyfe5543]

It does matter

[@Thatdude112au3]

Answer is 21

[@ngh0601]

it does matter. I am nearly 30 and I quit

[@hbriem]

I started lifting at 41, peaked at age 51-52. Slow decline since. Strangely, I'm on a roll right now (59 in a couple of months) and approaching my all time best numbers again! Recently I've squatted 175kgx2, benched 132.5 and deadlifted 235kg. All about 5% below my best.

[@jfox11000]

Are you all natural or are you on testosterone

[@hbriem]

@@jfox11000 I'm completely natural.

[@notrob4376]

Solid man. As a 30 year old with 10 years exp, This gives me hope that I can keep improving. I haven't reached your bench and deadlift weights yet :) thanks mate

[@BOSSDONMAN]

How much do you weigh?

[@hbriem]

@@BOSSDONMAN 95-96kg

[@MrEli204]

Lifted in my 20’s 5 days a week but without a serious training plan. Got back into it in my mid 40’s with a plan and consistency and am much stronger now.

[@AverageAmerican144]

that dad strength is real lol

[@PhiyackYuh]

@@AverageAmerican144 its called consistency and structured training ya fool. You can be doing going to the gym same time as da man above but if you have no clue how to progress, regress or jump on riptoes cackery thinking its be all end all then you’ll be walking diabetes just like him 😂

[@pinch2727]

this sounds exactly like me.....

[@AverageAmerican144]

@@PhiyackYuh Dude it was just a joke about being older and having dad strength.

[@franciscomiranda6882]

I started seriously barbell training less than a year ago, but didn’t get on a useful, planned out program until three months ago. I’m 35 now. All I can say is the psychological boost, if nothing else, has been the biggest reward, even having trained for such a short period of time. My only regret is not having done this sooner. But I can certainly say with zero stutter that I will be doing this for the rest of my life (barring any unforeseen tragedy that may befall me).

[@eyalbinstock4885]

"you just have to try" that's encouraging

[@restlessnameless85]

Imagine actually giving encouraging answers instead of fear mongering clickbait.

[@shocdoc64]

I lifted heavily from 15yo to 22yo, then went to medical school, had kids, did residency, got into the real world and finally started lifting heavily again at 49...this time with much better understanding of nutrition, sleep and programming, which is offset by the increased time it takes me to fully recover. However, now at 55, all 4 major lifts continue to improve and I am WAY stronger now than I ever was as a 22 year old (bench now 395, squat 505, deadlift 605 and press 245). Thank you both for recognizing everyone has the ability to improve irrespective of age. As you said and I'll positively reinforce, the key is you just need to train with focus and get the other aspects in line.

[@Kaledrone]

Are you on trt or anything similar or are you completely natural?

[@shocdoc64]

@@Kaledrone I am natural. No reason to be on anything. I'm just a fat old guy who lifts in his garage to see how strong I can get. I don't do competitions, social media, etc.

[@Kaledrone]

@@shocdoc64 That's inspiring then, keep it up and you'll have a lifelong of strength to look forward to. Also your numbers are good for any age, it's quite inspiring.

[@pranavgaikwad1611]

Any advice for 21 yr old here😅

[@ropable]

Started training for strength a few years ago at 39, gotten steadily stronger since then. Have every expectation of continuing to do so for the foreseeable.

[@datglasstho]

As someone that started training at 33 after living a completely sedentary life up to then, it was nice to see this as I relate to it so much more than what you see from most big name lifters in social media that all seemingly have like 1800+ totals at half my body weight and are younger than me.

[@patrickdunham5534]

It';s great to finally hear medical doctors talk about strength training for us older guys. I'm a 60 year old male who had a Aortic Dissection 3 years ago. Much to the distress if my Aortic Surgeon and Cardiologist, I started lifting after a 30 year layoff. They are very happy with the results, but still very cautious. I'd love to see a program, or at least a deeper dive into serious training by us older guys. If you have any recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated.

[@geneharrogate6911]

The rate at which I gain is such that I expect to hit my highest total in my mid ninety's.

[@bdegrds]

35-45. Strength is last to go so you can stay very strong after that depending on injuries. Mark Felix for example. I'm 39 now, been training since I was 14. Alot of lifting miles on me but for example yesterday I did 10 sets of Trap bar deadlifts pyramiding up to 520x6. I Do more front squats then back squats these days but have gotten up to 405 on front squat for a max. Still kicking, got few more rounds left.

[@MrAndersson579]

I'm 26, been lifting over 10 years but I have made very good progress recently, mainly due to gaining some bodyweight (been maintaining weight for a while) and being more consistent. Hoping to continue to get stronger well into my 30s.

[@abraxis20]

I was at my strongest relative to bodyweight in my early 40s. At nearly 60, it's getting tough to improve my lifts.

[@RaineyPowerTraining]

I started lifting at 16, I'm almost 30 now. I am stronger now than I have ever been. I think this is a combination of learned efficiency in the squat, bench, and deadlift movement pattern. As well as just over all time put in. Stronger tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

[@edwardo2436]

Great info especially the point about being relative not everyone will have same numbers comments about participating is beneficial is great way to think

[@doctorstrongman]

Really like the comparison of Austin and Jordan's lifting career trajectories here. Goes to highlight how much is going on behind the scenes when it comes to how an individual responds to training. Quite fascinatating to think there are some of us that will respon better/worse to certain training, there are some of use that will respond faster/slower, and there are some of us that can accumulate a greater total amount of response over time. Jordan has mentioned it before. "The Sports Gene" is an amazing read for any of those interested in these things.

[@SchuyFit]

There’s one thing I do know: if your age is on a clock, you’re probably not at your strongest.

[@JeffNixonComedy]

Nearly 34, strongest I've ever been (casually lifting/bad diet through my 20's...taking it more seriously the past 3 years, diet getting cleaner...and my day job is very physical: scaffolding, bricks)...quitting alcohol and implementing near daily push ups/pull ups is also a huge overall strength booster.

[@pavlejovicic2463]

Great job!

[@sharp.strength]

Some great perspective. I find it so hard to believe how many people think their peak will be in their mid 20s. There are many examples of people continuing to get stronger and more muscular into their 40s and even 50s

[@getstrongby4038]

Strongman is the perfect example

[@blacklyfe5543]

U mean weaker

[@Kaledrone]

People usually think that because they are probably couch potatoes who are only familiar with mainstream sports like basketball and American Football where most athletes do peak in their 20s and then fall off. And these people make the mistake of applying that standard from those mainstream sports to strength sports, which is stupid. Strength peaks much later than other physical attributes (if you don't get severely injured and bust yourself up) which is where the concept of old man strength or dad strength comes from, and it will also last much longer than every other physical attribute if you keep training for it like Austin mentions in the special considerations for older lifters video.

[@mattc4266]

Why do you sell aminos if they’re useles ?

[@thc4094]

Much love from the Philippines! 🇵🇭

[@tafaiokahikimaikalani8312]

Most people don't lift weights to get healthier but rather to look better (most) and get stronger (fewer)

[@robertlevy4613]

I think David Ricks is 61 isn’t he? Either way, he’s a beast.

[@joshuawhittick4496]

i’m 21 started training last year, it’s gonna be long term stuff, i’m training to be a big natty daddy 😎

[@neandrewthal]

I was trying to build up my lifetime PRs in my 30s and something tragic did happen: lockdowns.

[@deanb1272]

I think he's talking moreso about something that would severely debilitate you physically or mentally for several years, decades or your entire life. The detraining that has occured over your lockdown period-however long it was/has been-is really nothing to be concerned about, even if you were completely inactive the entire time; it is well established that lost strength, muscle mass etc. after a period of detraining can be reaquired in a very short period of time when training resumes-far shorter than it took to make the gains in the first place. Whenever you get the opportunity to get back to it, it won't be long before you are back on track and smashing your previous PRs.

[@getstrongby4038]

Home gym baby!

[@neandrewthal]

@@getstrongby4038 username checks out

[@theotheodorou1374]

Same..

[@SLouiss]

Good topic

[@Roan_RoRepair]

Is there a plan to make BBM supplements for Europe? I read that the regulations around supplements vary widely between the US and Europe, but was wondering if it is something you are planning on doing in the future? Thanks

[@williammiller5532]

Conclusive data has proven that peak age for powerlifters across all 3 lifts in the bench press, squat, and the deadlift is 39.2 years of age, now if you stay away from injuries in your 30s (such as serious joint or tendon pain) and have had a relatively healthy lifestyle you should expect to peak between 41-42. That is assuming you start properly training at dieting between the ages of 14-21 anything after expect to peak later.

[@benzost920]

I speculate many of us will be strongest about 30 years from now, when I suspect bionic musculoskeletal systems are common and affordable for the general public. Unfortunately, I don't think lifting weights as a cyborg will provide the same cognitive and psychological benefits as lifting weights with your organic flesh.

[@Pro9amerSam]

You have drank all the kool-aid

[@kristiyan2073]

That probably won't happen in the next 30 years.

[@inquisitive.lurker]

I think they should be first offered to patients with actual deformities and deficiencies in their facial bones or something like that, assuming such things can be produced cheaply in 60 years or so.

[@seanpayne3408]

Even with T-shirts, Jordan looks yoked because of his traps. Austin looks yoked because of his chest.

[@OMAR-vk9pi]

So would I be less strong if I started later as compared to in my teens?

[@signs80]

I believe the evidence shows (from what Greg Nuckols has mentioned in meta analyses) that your peak absolute strength in life will be higher if you start earlier, but I don't think the difference would be all that big unless you are talking about starting in your 40s vs teens

[@OMAR-vk9pi]

@@signs80 Na I was talking about starting in my late twenties

[@PhiyackYuh]

If you started lifting during puberty till late twenties consistently then you’d maximise everything from bones, full of testosterone etc. if you start after 30s and try to get that peak strength, it will take awhile as recovery time will takes longer due to decrease of testosterone and other stressors in life. You’d probably best bet to go 2x a max a week and rest in between to recover and grow.

[@davidjames1316]

Olympic lifters and powerlifters typically reach peak performance between the ages of 25 to 30 on average.

[@ddt0889]

Commenting before I watch the video: I was my strongest at 33-35. Currently I'm 39.

[@simondean5227]

What age did you start training?

[@BOSSDONMAN]

When did you start lifting?

[@jamesperez6785]

Great info. I always wondered what my progress would look like if i had run the same programs that i have run thus far in my training life in my teens or in my 20's. I started lifting at 33, and i pretty much can't help but think at how much faster my strength would've improved if i was younger...

[@Sealed_Chamber]

Probably wouldn't have been much different, if at all.

[@MrVigilanti]

I think the answer is to health benefits to strength is associated with going through at least one novice LP

[@rage9667]

If you start at lets say 16 your peak gonna be around 30/35 But that’s because your constant building muscle, that doesn’t mean that that’s the most potential age tho.. What we actually should look at is, what if we don’t train or do any sports what age would you be the strongest? I believe it’s in between 25-35 years

[@harrisashraff]

Thanks for answering the long-time question that I had been asking you on Instagram. and from the video, I can understand that it mostly falls into either of these 4 types. 1) Linear Growth ( Which is Rare) 2) Logistic Growth or S Curve ( For most People) 3) Exponential Growth or J Curve ( For Some People) 4) Hyperbolic Growth ( which is Rare) So we really don't know under which pattern of growth we really fall without solid training data for years. So it will be wise to improve our efficiencies with good programming strategies. By the by Baraki looks more swoler than Feiganbaum.

[@salkin2262]

Dave Ricks is 62

[@travisl9201]

Jordan, would you take finasteride for hair loss?

[@OMAR-vk9pi]

Try asking on his IG or the bbm forums

[@deanb1272]

I know you were asking Jordan for advice, but if I could make a suggestion: start shaving your head, or at least cutting it very short. I started doing it in my mid-20s (currently late 20s). It's incredibly liberating to not have to bother with haircuts or wonder what your hair looks like. It can also look pretty badass if you're cool with that kind of look-especially if you also look like you lift.

[@whatsyourmax223]

LIKE LIKE LIKE 🔋🔋🔋

[@DrStevenHorwitz]

Depends on if you truly trained to your very best in your late teens, 20s, 30s, 40s. If yes, it is doubtful you will best those numbers in the coming years. That said, so few do, so just keep having at it!! Another factor is TRT. You cannot mix those on TRT and TRT+ with those that do not use. Even if the TRT is to "normalize your numbers." Huge difference. Just be honest.

[@pauldillingham6316]

I had my best lifts at 25. I'm 60 now. It's been down hill ever since.

[@EthanMckennaMusic]

SeQuand!!!

[@mayorofthenonsense]

Who the hell cares? Your peak may be in front of you or behind you, but there's nothing you can do about that. Train your best and enjoy it.

[@solareiusdeiu]

we can't consider the age of enhanced athletes, because they dont have the hormonal scores that they should.

[@MrDW-ei1fe]

Need some chapstick Dr. Baraki?

[@94jmh]

🦍🔥🦍

[@kebogu6123]

Train like a freak! Doctor's orders!

[@im_reyz8780]

FEURST !!!!

[@totallyraw1313]

Ok so at what age are you the fastest?

[@simondean5227]

Short answer? 20s. We can continue to get stronger for a very long time, but explosive force and speed begin to decrease around the age of 32

[@Kaledrone]

@@simondean5227 And what about endurance? When does that peak and drop?

[@simondean5227]

@@Kaledrone It seems like there are more high level endurance athletes in their 30s than power athletes in their 30s, so I'm guessing endurance lasts longer, but I could be wrong, I haven't researched that at all

[@manapaws5507]

Physically strongest must be around 27-30. I've gained a lot of lean muscle from high school and my early twenties without even touching weights.

[@MikeJones-mi3di]

I just started working out at 39, I'm doomed

[@sheadoherty7434]

You started. Most don't.

[@Sealed_Chamber]

Terrible mindset.

[@robcubed9557]

I started 3 days before my 37th birthday. Never trained with weights before that time unless you count some 15 lb dumbells that I lifted for high reps to "get toned" (I was active with lots of cardio though). Within 8 months I deadlifted 400 lbs for reps without using a belt. Trust me, you'll still be able to move some heavy weights at your age.

[@l.lindberg6881]

10 minute video to conclude with; «I dont know»🤷‍♂️

[@simondean5227]

mid 30s

[@littlethuggie]

If you started training at 30, you'll never reach your "genetic limit". You can expect your best 10-20 years after starting.