As our fitness industry expands, there are more and more ‘mature’ athletes moving into the physique movement, and more sports science is required to help explain this unique cohort.

As a ‘vintage’ athlete, we ARE different because our aging bodies are different, especially as a woman, and at 40+ there is a difference, but at 50+, there is even MORE of a difference. (I thought I was a mature athlete in my 40’s, but once over the half-a-century mark, things changed even more).

I ‘rust’ more, that’s for sure. My achi-ness is evident in the morning, and more so if I don’t stretch after training. And if I don’t train for a few days, things start to tighten up even more. I guess I always need to move….

I need more recovery time, to be sure. I no longer ‘leave it all on the gym floor’, because my body doesn’t recover in the same way. This ego-driven, hyped up nonsense is further damaging women’s metabolisms, and results.

I need to focus on sleep a bit more, as it comes less easily, and with lack of sleep comes decreased performance, so I need to be careful. (In my younger years, I could party all night, and still train the next day, no problem!).

My eating has to be more dialed in, because my body and tolerance to off-the-rails eating has changed, and I can’t get away with little indiscretions anymore.

I need more protein, and I am more carb-sensitive, so I cycle through them more, to keep my energy and performance up, while staying around 18-20% bodyfat year round.

I lessen the cardio as much as possible, because it truly rips that hard-won muscle off the body...

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