🏋️ 3 Things Every Man Over 40 Should Do to Protect His Joints

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3 Things Every Man Over 40 Should Do to Protect His Joints

Lifting heavy and training hard is important—but if your joints break down, your progress stops cold. The goal is to be strong and functional for life, not just for a few seasons.

Here are three smart ways to bulletproof your joints:

1. Train with tempo: Slow down your reps—especially the lowering (eccentric) phase. Controlled movement builds strength without wear and tear.

2. Strengthen the support muscles: Train your rotator cuffs, glutes, and mid-back regularly. These stabilizers protect the big joints during compound lifts.

3. Move through the full range: Stop half-repping squats or rushing your warmup. Full range = healthy joints and better muscle activation.

Your joints aren’t disposable. Train like someone who plans to keep using his body for decades—because you are.

Mindset Shift: Train Smarter, Not Just Harder

In your 20s, you could get away with throwing weight around and skipping recovery. But over 40, it’s about strategy, not just effort.

Smarter means:

• Tracking your lifts so you can progress with purpose

• Leaving 1–2 reps in the tank instead of chasing ego lifts

• Knowing when to push—and when to recover intentionally

Smart training is sustainable training. And sustainable training? That’s what builds results you keep.

Question from Our Readers:

"What do I do when cravings hit late at night?"

– Anthony, 51, from Brooklyn, NY

Late-night cravings usually come from two things: 

Poor planning during the day, or emotional triggers at night.

Here’s how to stay in control:

• Front-load protein and fiber during the day—don’t let yourself get to 9 PM running on fumes

• Create a “default snack”—like Greek yogurt with berries, or protein + almonds

• Brush your teeth or drink tea after dinner—sounds silly, but it signals “kitchen closed”

• Stress eaters? Swap the snack for a quick walk, 10 push-ups, or journaling. Redirect the urge.

Cravings aren’t the problem—lack of a plan is. Build structure, and cravings lose their power.

Fit Trivia: What action movie icon is still doing split kicks and full workouts in his 60s?

Answer: Jean-Claude Van Damme! The "Muscles from Brussels" still trains with intensity, performing full splits, bodyweight drills, and kick combos that would break most 25-year-olds. Longevity isn’t luck—it’s discipline.

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Publisher: Ryan Engel

Editor: Michael Pender

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