Can you get to peak fitness at 50?

I’m 49 and there’s a few things in life that I haven’t done that I always thought I would before I was fifty.

I believe we all have these “before 50 bucket lists”.

One of mine was to actually have a body that could compete in a bodybuilding competition. It was always in the back of my mind because I’ve worked out steady for years, had admired bodybuilders work ethic (or what I thought was workout ethic), and just wanted to have that solid build. But I had never done anything serious.

We were always so busy with life and the kids and I just didn’t think it would be possible to dedicate the time needed to do it.

Then we went to my first bodybuilding competition at the NPC Continental. Two of my wife’s friends (her business partner and one of her CustomFit gym members) were competing.

The competition was exciting and, while I was impressed with almost all of the contestants, I leaned over to my wife and said, “I could do that.”

That was a big mistake. Or actually the best person to get me off my butt and challenge me to a fitness goal.

Both women won in the competition and it was great to see their success.

Afterward, Jenn and I discussed it more and she even said she would hire the trainer for me. It was heat of the moment so I thought it might blow over in a few days and be forgotten completely in a few weeks.

I was wrong. Jenn had reached out and gotten the trainer’s information. She had already scheduled my first month and by the end of the week I was filling out forms.

So here it is. I’m almost fifty and I’m going to get into the best shape of my life. I’m going to journal my way through so if you want to keep up that’s cool. But mostly this is for me to keep a record of how it goes. I don’t know if I’ll be successful or not but with 50 knocking on the door, when else am I going to do it.

BTW, I’m a little late with this journaling thing. I’m already a month and a half in. I’m down 17 pounds from a starting of 222. Not quite my heaviest but damn close to it.

I’ll let you know what I’m doing and how I’m feeling. Maybe you’ll be inspired to come along. Getting fit at 50.