Quote:
Originally Posted by burnin_vernon
How many here are 40 and over and lifting weights? I'm on the wrong side of 30 and after the single best year of my lifting that saw me beat all my PRs in everything, I'm starting to feel tendinitis in my left arm, sharp elbow pain on the right, and overall weakness in almost every exercise except deadlifts.
Granted this all started in the last month, when I began cutting calories and focusing on cardio more, but today, my squat was 25 lbs less than it was a month ago! Does cutting effect strength that much?
I am beginning to rethink weightlifting. I've never had the goal of being musclebound or anything but what keeps me motivated is besting the previous week's lifts. I've gotten noticeably more muscular in the last year but I think this is it for me. I don't believe I will hit anymore PRs, and that's okay, but I do have a need to constantly improve my fitness going forward to motivate me.
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Yes cutting will definitely affect strength that much...particularly for lifts like deadlifts and squats. Those lifts are very dependent on mass. Losing 5-10lbs, even if its all fat, will typically result in losses in the major lifts.
Cutting also means a calorie deficit, which means your muscles are not full of nutrients like they would be if you were on a calorie surplus.
That being said, a lot of people make the decision your making at your age. When you're 21 and undersized everyone wants to put on mass. When you're 30 the opposite issue typically becomes a problem.
Also, constantly hitting PRs just isn't possible. Injuries and fatigue will eventually catch up with you. Everyone has natural limits.