Thread: Anyone can't build muscle as they get older?

I'm getting more fat in my core area and can't seem to build muscle anymore


Lack of muscle like I had in my early 20s
Horrible pumps
Soft muscles
Bad posture
Stubborn belly fat unless I'm like sub 15% bf

You never could build muscle though... which is why you thought everyone else was on gear, so I don't think it's anything to do with your age. You're like 30 something, you're hardly at an age, or so huge that you 'can't build muscle'. Sure, some things may slow down, it's a little easier to pick up injuries, and sometimes you need a little more recovery, but the claim you can't build muscle is a bit insane.

Most men hold fat on their gut in general and it's the last to go, so it's not unusual to have stomach fat at above 15% BF.

'Soft' muscles just means you're holding a high level of bodyfat. You're 6'1 and 230lbs, but you can't even bench 225 so i'd say high bodyfat is the most likely diagnosis.

Also, you get less pump when you hold higher bodyfat, another thing which is completely normal. When i was fat, i barely get a pump, when i'm lean my muscles feel like they're gonna tear my skin with a pump.

Bad posture you'll need to properly look at yourself to asses the root cause, but usual causes of this are stuff like a weak back relative to your pecs, and underdeveloped rear delts.

You can build muscle at near enough any age, but certainly in your 30's with good nutrition, structured training but actually putting proper effort into your training, rest, and proper recovery. In fact, 30's and 40's tend to be the peak for muscle mass on most males, due to the amount of years they've had to accumulate muscle, expanding knowledge, better training, and more mature muscle.

Take a second to re-asses your training and nutrition before you just say 'i can't build muscle'. Although last i heard, you said you didn't even go to the gym, so i'm not sure why it's a surprise to you that you're not building muscle?

I think most of your problems come from being too fat/overweight, rather than your age, but perhaps your age plays a part in being overweight. Still, completely manageable, you just need to take accountability and action, which you've shown over the years isn't your strong suit unfortunately.

above the age of 30 I have to be sub 190 to have visible abs and I can barely have “cheat meals” (ded fkn Srs)

Originally Posted by TappingTheZen

You never could build muscle though... which is why you thought everyone else was on gear, so I don't think it's anything to do with your age. You're like 30 something, you're hardly at an age, or so huge that you 'can't build muscle'. Sure, some things may slow down, it's a little easier to pick up injuries, and sometimes you need a little more recovery, but the claim you can't build muscle is a bit insane.

Most men hold fat on their gut in general and it's the last to go, so it's not unusual to have stomach fat at above 15% BF.

'Soft' muscles just means you're holding a high level of bodyfat. You're 6'1 and 230lbs, but you can't even bench 225 so i'd say high bodyfat is the most likely diagnosis.

Also, you get less pump when you hold higher bodyfat, another thing which is completely normal. When i was fat, i barely get a pump, when i'm lean my muscles feel like they're gonna tear my skin with a pump.

Bad posture you'll need to properly look at yourself to asses the root cause, but usual causes of this are stuff like a weak back relative to your pecs, and underdeveloped rear delts.

You can build muscle at near enough any age, but certainly in your 30's with good nutrition, structured training but actually putting proper effort into your training, rest, and proper recovery. In fact, 30's and 40's tend to be the peak for muscle mass on most males, due to the amount of years they've had to accumulate muscle, expanding knowledge, better training, and more mature muscle.

Take a second to re-asses your training and nutrition before you just say 'i can't build muscle'. Although last i heard, you said you didn't even go to the gym, so i'm not sure why it's a surprise to you that you're not building muscle?

I think most of your problems come from being too fat/overweight, rather than your age, but perhaps your age plays a part in being overweight. Still, completely manageable, you just need to take accountability and action, which you've shown over the years isn't your strong suit unfortunately.

I just bulked for a year after being like 13% bf and didn't gain any muscle

I has muscle when I was 23 look at my profile pics

OP has good results for a natural, SRS.

I LOL like everyone else at the 2012 type stuff but to criticize this guy on the lifting end of things is absurd.

Why is it that juicers are always delusional about how much help the juice gives them? They always seem to think it's because they work so much harder than everyone else, LOL. I'd venture to say that the majority of the people criticizing OP on the lifting end of things are either juicers or people who don't even lift and whom are talking out of their ass.

Sounds like low test to me. Might want to consult your doctor.

Originally Posted by eod8989

I just bulked for a year after being like 13% bf and didn't gain any muscle

I has muscle when I was 23 look at my profile pics

For once i wasn't trying to troll you but actually help.

You did a dreamerbulk, and you probably ate like trash. I also remember when you had a thread made for you to keep you accountable and you failed near enough at day 1.

Can you honestly say, hand on heart, your training and nutrition is optimal for gaining muscle or even close to optimal? If not, then you should be addressing that before throwing out sweeping statements like 'i can't build muscle because i'm too old'. If you claim it is, whatever, but i don't believe you given your posting and lifting history on the misc. Make yourself accountable, re-asses, and fix whatever is holding you back.

If you could take some accountability, i'm sure people here could help identify where you're going wrong and help you to progress, but unfortunately i just don't see that happening

Originally Posted by monster0ultra

OP has good results for a natural, SRS.

I LOL like everyone else at the 2012 type stuff but to criticize this guy on the lifting end of things is absurd.

Why is it that juicers are always delusional about how much help the juice gives them? They always seem to think it's because they work so much harder than everyone else, LOL. I'd venture to say that the majority of the people criticizing OP on the lifting end of things are either juicers or people who don't even lift and whom are talking out of their ass.

Why don't you ask EOD his peak lifts, and his bodyweight when he was 'lean' at 6'1 before making comments like this?

I get juice helps people a lot, but the guy hasn't even benched 225 in his life, and he's lifted for like a decade and weighs 230lbs... that personally tells me enough about his nutrition, training, and work ethic. I'm hardly a genetic freak (i'm quite tall and naturally quite skinny), and my signature lifts were attained naturally, over a long period of time slowly chipping away.

I understand your point to a degree, the prevalence of juice in the modern gym world definitely gives people false expectations, but to think you literally can't build muscle in your early 30's when you're nowhere near your genetic limit is just a full on cope for a lack of work ethic.

This is just a super weak cop out for not getting results. 'Oh everyone is on juice and actually once you're 30 its impossible to build muscle natty!'

****ing LOL

Originally Posted by GuineaDago585

I’m only mid-20s but I’m noticing this as well. Way more body fat than I’ve ever held before. It’s taken a year to add slight mass to my arms. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been in my entire life by far, but I look like chit compared to when I was lifting regularly at 16-18.

Same man I was just thicker and tighter when I was younger

Now I barely get pumps and muscles feel soft and I carry more fat in my mid section for some reason

Originally Posted by monster0ultra

OP has good results for a natural, SRS.

I LOL like everyone else at the 2012 type stuff but to criticize this guy on the lifting end of things is absurd.

Why is it that juicers are always delusional about how much help the juice gives them? They always seem to think it's because they work so much harder than everyone else, LOL. I'd venture to say that the majority of the people criticizing OP on the lifting end of things are either juicers or people who don't even lift and whom are talking out of their ass.

It's just jealous cellular technology addicts man

I looked better at 23 than any of these manlets or ugly dudes like tapping zen

I'm pretty sure you're younger than I am lol. I'm in close to the best shape of my life at 36. I've never had much muscle mass because I'm naturally thin (basketball player build) and natty but that doesn't mean you can't still be in great shape.