Vicki and all you other smart folks out there... I am struggling with some issues. This may be a bit long winded but I need to post some background and then my problem.
I'm 59 (in Dec.)in good health (so the doctor says) and reasonably strong for my age; I'm 5'8" 178lbs. With the exception of years 23 to 35 when I was up to no good, I've worked out and played some competitive sports all my life. Until a disc problem I was powerlifting and considering doing it competively... the disc operation in 1997 ended squating and deadlifting, now all I do heavy is bench press. I retired at age 55 and found that heavy benching and practicing golf are difficult to blend. When I was a weekend player it didn't matter, I'd schedule Tues. as the heavy day and Sat. as a light day and I'd be fine. Now, I'm unable to swing without stiffness and occasional spasm after heavy days ... so I've cut that back a bit too. I workout 4 days a week with moderate weight, chest shoulders triceps twice a week and back legs and biceps twice a week...aerobic workouts forearm work and rotator cuff on all 4 days, aerobics consist of 20-30 minutes on a stair machine or a stationary bike. I cycle exercises and to a lesser degree weight about every 12 weeks.
Now my problem... In the last two years I've noticed that I seem to need more recovery time, but at the same time if I take a week off (which I used to do 3 or 4 times a year) I lose strength quickly. As an example, I took 10 days off prior to a tournament in Sept. 2 heavy workouts and 1 light workout...my guess is I lost 25-35lbs. off a max effort bench press as a result of that short layoff... worse than that, I was able to do 205lbs..9-10 times prior and on returning only 5 times with difficulty. Yet anytime I try to ramp up intensity I feel the signs of 'overtraining'...listless, tired, not wanting to work out etc. I brought up the general problem to the doctor about 7 or 8 months ago and he checked me from head to toe... the only thing he thought might be partially responsible was low free testosterone levels... but he said it was difficult to say since he didn't know where mine were 3-5 yrs. ago ...and since it didn't effect anything else he thought it made little sense taking testosterone since it might contribute to other health problems.
I seem to have some minor problems practicing also... I'm not able to hit as many balls without having fatigue set in, and maybe the bigger issue is the day after hitting 150 to 200 balls, I feel stiff and achy..that didn't happen when I first retired. I don't want to keep lowering my practice and workout regimes to accomodate aging...in fact, I am reluctant to give in at all. I thought workouts were supposed to keep me fit and younger longer... any thoughts out there?
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