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Why you should tone it down after 30

I’ve got two words for you: Man Boobs.

It’s the truth that none of your wives or partners are telling you. Men of our generation were among the first of our gender to experience a phenomenon that I call the Vogue-ization of man. In our most influenced years we watched as Male Models became objects of desire – buffed up, waxed, plucked and perfected bodies adorned everything from Abercrombie bags to the latest film release. The rugged man’s man of our parents generation (think John Wayne or Burt Reynolds even) was replaced with Ken Doll’s like Brad Pitt and Mathew McCaughnahey. The tides changed and with that influence came a mass participation in a culture that demanded we hit the gym and the hair salon – and if you really bought in – the tanning bed too.

So here we are – a bunch of guys in our 30’s and 40’s who have been hitting the gym on a regular basis for 10 or even 20 years with varying results. Whether you look as good as the guy in the latest Pepsi add is irrelevant – you at least look better than your dad did at this age. I can almost guarantee it. There’s just one problem.

With all that pounding away at the gym, your body is bound to be getting tired and chances are that you have already sustained an injury or two. Funny how age will do that. Add to this the fact that with age comes a reduction in testosterone and you’ll also find that the elasticity in your skin and the hardness of your muscles are also starting to show a bit of a … well, droop. Aside from some yet to be proven safe remedies to this issue – there is really one way to battle this inevitable fight with gravity. The answer? Tone up – slim down and get to yoga.

Speaking as an expert in the male body after 30 (insert joke here), my observation tells me that men who are on the bulkier muscly side of things when the droop begins tend to look particularly manboobish and have a much harder time battling that impending relationship with man-spanx. When there’s more bulk to your muscles, its just plain harder to keep them high and tight. Those guys who keep their fitness regimens to more athletic and less weight room oriented routines like tennis, soccer, yoga and pliates tend to look much more spry, elastic and generally sexier than their formally muscle bound counterparts. The added bonus? Activities like Yoga and pilates also help to strengthen your core, legs and balance – all vital ingredients in the quest to aging gracefully.  The double bonus? You will find as an more trim and athletic built guy that clothes and particularly designer clothes will suddenly fit your body like a well tailored glove. Not bad right?

So here’s what I aim to do – and I suggest you do too. Don’t just ditch your routine completely. I am a weight room guy and I like the experience that comes with the daily routine of hitting the gym. Rather than pushing heavier and heavier weight complimented with continuous rounds of protein shakes, opt for workout designed to complete higher amounts of reps at lower weights. This will tone and define muscle without bulking. On off days switch out the weight room with classes like Pilates, TRX and Yoga. Try to mix them up if possible so as to keep your muscles confused and continually challenged. You will find that these activities will not only help you with your overall athleticism but will also allow you to explode more in the weight room when you are there. This more balanced approach to fitness will help keep you looking and feeling young and will do wonders for your style profile. Everyone looks best in a slim fit suit.

Still not convinced? Inspect the following two famous examples. First I give you the formerly muscle bound Mr. Shwarzenegger and his new older and less than bouncy current self. In the second picture is the famously handsome and yet much more subtly athletic Sting. You can decide for yourself which old guy you want to be .

-       brother