Brett Boettcher Profile picture
Aug 18, 2023 14 tweets 5 min read Read on X
10 foundational exercises for guys over 40 to build core strength, functional movement, and avoid injury:

(Bookmark this for your next training session): Image
1) Sit to Stand

With this movement, you want to sit down slowly, aiming your butt directly at the chair behind you.

A dumbbell isn’t required but can be added if bodyweight is too easy.

This is a great place to start if you’re brand new to the gym or have had knee problems.
2) Dumbbell RDL

This is a great movement to work the entire posterior chain, especially the hamstrings.

Focus on hinging at the hips while maintaining a slight bend in the knees.
3) Seated Row

This is one of the best exercises for building upper back strength.

A common mistake here is to turn the movement into a bicep curl.

To avoid working this, drive the elbows back and squeeze the shoulder blades down and together instead of flexing at the elbow.
4) Seated Leg Press

Here, you want to be slow and controlled in both directions.

Lower the weight slowly until your knees are at least 90 degrees, and push up through your heels.

You want to keep your heels down throughout, so you might have to move your feet up to do so.
5) Hammer Curl

This exercise is great for building both the biceps and the forearms.

The key to doing this correctly:

Avoid trunk compensation and swaying.

You want to focus all the tension on the bicep without using momentum from your body.
Learned something from this thread?

You'd like our newsletter.

Every Tuesday and Friday, my brother @chrisboettcher9 and I send a free email on:

• Nutrition
• Self-improvement
• Preventative health

Click here to subscribe:
thoughtful-crafter-258.ck.page/0e57fd8dba
6) Dead Hang

The dead hang is a tremendous stretch for the front of the chest, the lats, the shoulders, and the entire back.

It's also a really great exercise for shoulder health and mobility.

Add these to the end of your upper body workouts to enhance recovery.
7) Bird Dog

Easier variation: One arm or one leg at a time

Full variation: Lift opposite arm and opposite leg at the same time

If you can’t balance or keep your arms and legs straight when trying the full variation, switch back to one arm or one leg at a time.
8) Planks

Planks are really helpful for people battling low back pain and wanting to stabilize the spine.

The key to this movement is keeping the hips in line with the shoulders and legs.

You want to avoid sagging your spine.
9) Glute Bridge

This is a great movement for activating the glutes.

Tuck your feet underneath you, and keep your hips level.

If you’re up for a challenge, you can progress to a single leg, which isolates and activates the glutes even more.
10) Prone I's, Y's, T's

These are foundational movements for building shoulder strength and stability.

The key is pausing at the top of each movement.

If you can get really solid with these, you’ll experience less pain when doing specific overhead movements.
10 foundational movements for guys over 40:

• Planks
• Bird dogs
• Leg press
• Sit to stand
• Dead hang
• Seated row
• Glute bridge
• Dumbell RDL
• Hammer curls
• Prone I's, Y's, T's
Thanks for reading.

If you liked this thread, follow me @brettboettcher1

Comment below and RT if you found value in this thread so others can see it as well.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Brett Boettcher

Brett Boettcher Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @brettboettcher1

Apr 4
Most people walk past one of the best machines in the gym everyday.

The rower can save your knees, strengthen your back and reduce your risk of heart attack.

Here's how it's so effective for people over 40 and 3 workouts you can try this week:
1) Full Body Workout:

The rower works nearly 90% of your muscles.

Upper body. Lower body. Core. All at once.

It's not a substitute for actual strength training, but using most of your muscle mass makes for a good strength and cardiovascular workout.
2) Low Impact:

For anyone over 40 dealing with joint pain, this matters.

Running puts 3-5x your bodyweight of force through your knees with every step.

The rower is low-impact. So it's easier to recover from and your joints will thank you.
Read 13 tweets
Mar 30
If I woke up at 50 years old with high blood pressure, prediabetes and 30 lbs to lose, here's everything I'd do to reverse it by summer:

1. Watch a show or game on the incline walking pad every night. Image
2.. Eat 40-50g of protein at every single meal. No protein, no meal.
3. Walk 20 minutes after dinner. Non-negotiable.
4. Weigh yourself everyday and take the 7 day average. What gets measured, gets improved.
5. Use real salt, not table salt. It’s high in trace minerals that affect blood pressure and blood sugar control
6. Include potassium rich foods for blood pressure like citrus fruits, coconut water and potatoes.
7. Eat the majority of the day’s carbs around workouts. No activity = no carbs.
8. Cut liquid calories first. Juice, soda, sweetened coffee. Booze Gone.
9. Stop skipping breakfast and then wondering why you overeat at night.
Read 11 tweets
Mar 28
Your doctor checks your blood work.

Nobody checks if your body actually functions.

These 8 fitness tests will tell you more about your cardiac risk and longevity than any annual physical ever will: Image
1. 30-Second Sit-to-Stand

Sit in a chair. Stand up and sit back down as many times as you can in 30 seconds. NO HANDS.

Good for men 40+: 16+ reps.

Low scores here are directly linked to fall risk and early mortality.
2. 400m Run Test

Run 400m around a track as fast as you can.
Good for men 40+: under 1:30.

This tests power, speed, and anaerobic capacity which most people completely abandon after 40 (don't do this on day one).
Read 11 tweets
Mar 23
Women have been lied to about strength training.

High reps and light weights don’t make you “toned”.

If you are a woman over 40, do these 7 exercises to get leaner, stronger and feel 10 years younger: Image
1) 45 degree hyperextension

Hinge through your hips. Your back should stay flat and never have to bend.

Squeeze your glutes to and eventually add weight to make it more challenging.

This fires up the glutes and stabilizes your spine
2) Single leg glute bridge/hip thrust

Bridges and hip thrusts build the glutes and prevent low back pain.

They are a low impact alternative and require no equipment.

Start with double leg and progress to single leg as they get easier.
Read 10 tweets
Mar 20
The FDA tried to ban this supplement in 2020.

Big Pharma spent millions lobbying to pull it from shelves.

NAC is a cheat code for your health and has been used in hospitals for over 50 years.

Here’s what they don’t want you to know: Image
NAC is short for N-Acetyl Cysteine.

It's a precursor to glutathione, your body's most powerful antioxidant.

Your liver uses glutathione to neutralize toxins, fight oxidative stress, and promote healthy cells.

It helps slow aging, disease and inflammation.
So why did the FDA try to ban it?

In 2020, they ruled that since NAC was used as a drug first, it couldn't be sold as a supplement.

The reality?A natural compound that costs $20 was threatening more expensive prescriptions...
Follow the money.
Read 12 tweets
Mar 3
My go-to breakfast takes 2 minutes.

It hits 60g of protein.

And it tastes like dessert.

Here's the Greek yogurt hack:
1) 1.5 cups (2 servings) non fat, plain Greek Yogurt

That's 34 grams of protein right there.

Plain yogurt doesn't taste good. So see step 2 👇 Image
2) Add flavored protein powder

1 Scoop Whey - (strawberry cheesecake)

I get mine from Legion Athletics (use code "B2B" if you want a discount)

Adds a ton of flavor and 25 grams of protein.

Mix it in with a spoon. Takes 30 seconds. Image
Read 10 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(