Easier for men to get in shape than women over 40

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH is late 40s; never really “fat” but typical dad bod with more than average upper body tone. Maybe 15lbs overweight?

He was muscular/abs up until early 30s.

He has always gone to gym for weights but nothing serious in years, and went the typical dad bod route as most do.

Fast forward to our teen starting to want to lift (going into HS) and after a few months of going more regularly DH flipped a switch, joined instagram and started following male fitness people.
Quit all alcohol, lowered carbs and eating healthy- drinking water non-stop. Does intense cardio 3-4 times a week and lifts almost every day.

I thought it was a fad and short lived that he could get his body of his late 20s back.

He is no where close to looking like when we were young, but I have to say it appears almost possible?

His gut is about gone and muscles defined.

Why is it so easy for guys, especially older to get back into shape so quickly when I have been moderately exercising/running and barely drink alcohol and still carry about 15 extra pounds?

Very frustrating.

The factor you can control is that you're not training hard enough - train with him

Sure - many women could train "harder", but they still won't achieve results as quickly as a male. Males are already starting with several advantages: 1) testosterone, 2) larger lung capacity, 3) no cyclic hormonal variations. My 14 year old son can lift heavier than me and has more muscle mass. Two years ago, I could take him in arm wrestling and beat him in sprints. No longer. Testosterone is a hell of a drug.

Why do you insist on comparing apples to oranges? No one is saying that women should have the SAME athletic capabilities as men (with the notable exception of the current liberal insanity). Men and women are fundamentally DIFFERENT. So when you’re comparing “fitness” with your husband or your teenage son you need to compare *relative* fitness, i.e. against people who are your own sex and your own age. My 14 year old son also has more muscle mass than me, can lift heavier, jump higher, run faster, and has much greater endurance. That’s GOOD. That’s NATURAL. If a 14 year old boy can’t beat his middle aged mom arm wrestling then something is wrong (unless he hasn’t started puberty yet, of course).

It is mind-boggling that this is not obvious to people.

And to echo what some other PP’s have pointed out - OP it is NOT easy for your DH. It sounds like he’s actually working his butt off, while you do the bare minimum but expect similar results.

[Anonymous]

Women also have the tremendous advantage that they can be healthier at much higher body fat % than men.

All of these stupid arguments about men having it easier because they can inherently lift more weight due to biological strength miss the point. Yeah well the highest acceptable body fat % for men is 24% while it is 31% for women. Men have to work out a TON more because they need much lower body fat % than women for health. It's arguably much harder for men to be in adequate shape compared to women simply because men are required to have much lower fat to be healthy.

[Anonymous]

Men need to be under 12% body fat to see their abs and women can see them as early as under 20%.

Less than 10% of the US male population has visible abs, although every human has the muscles.
Lower for women. Mainly because if you want to have kids being fertile at that low body fat hurts your chances.

If it were easy, anyone who wanted to could have a 6 pack. It just is not that easy, for either sex.