I've been lifting heavy basically my entire life, but now that I'm 53, I've realized I just can't push the iron the way I used to every single day. To give my joints a break, I've started rotating in some bodyweight-focused blocks and lighter, high-rep work every now and then.
Here is a circuit I just kicked off:
Bodyweight squats - 40 reps
Walking lunges - 10 per leg
Push-ups - 40 reps
Close Grip Bench Press - 30 reps
Bench Dips (hands behind back) - 30 reps
Pull Ups - 10 reps
Dumbbell rows - 10 per arm
Crunches - 50 reps
Plank - 15 seconds
honestly that’s smart as hell at 53 - joints gotta come first
those bodyweight circuits sneak up on you more than people think
mixing this in with heavy days is prob the move long term
40 pushups plus dips would smoke me after leg work lol
staying consistent > chasing maxes forever 💪
love that you’re mixing in bodyweight stuff—definitely helps joints recover while still keeping the gains coming
that circuit looks brutal but solid, i might steal a few of those moves for my own lighter days
high reps like that are awesome for keeping muscle endurance up without beating your joints to death
honestly, the plank for 15 seconds had me laughing lol, i’d probs double that just to feel it 😅
it’s cool to see someone adapting their training with age instead of trying to fight it—smart move
nice! swapping heavy days for circuits like this is honestly a game changer for long-term joint health
i like how balanced it is—push, pull, legs, core—all without killing your shoulders and knees
