hello, i've just joined this site. i'm looking to improve myself,get fitter,and stronger.i've tried a few other sites,but if you aren't in the "know" you get flamed,that helps alot.brief history. i'm 48 fairly strong,coming off 2 rt. shoulder surgeries(rc plus laberium)non gym related.my diet sucks and i'll be the first to admit it.i'm 6'3" 270 pounds.i can get to the gym for around hour to hour and a half a day,that's all i can manage,as my wife has m.s. so i gotta be at the house in case something happens to her.not tring to make excuses,but thesec are the facts.i'm willing to listen and learn fron you guys.i would really like to be in the best shape of my life by the time i turn 50.is there any hope for us "older" lifters? thank you.

Welcome! Yes, there is hope, depending on how much/what you are willing to do change your diet. 1-1.5 hours in the gym should be plenty of time, how many days a week can you get there?
What is your current diet? That is the first thing anyone who comments here will need to know. THE DIET is key!!!!

healthnut, thank you for repling, i can get to the gym 7 days a week,my diet is just plain terrible,the day starts out great, but by bed time,i have to take these pills to sleep(seroquel)they make you feel like you're literally starving.so the fridge is like open season. if i don't take the pills i won't sleep(i've tried other meds and they don't work)so i know that somehow has got to change.i'm about to take over kitchen dutys as wife has problems walking.so,i'm open to whatever it takes to do this. thank you.

for starters you can eat all the way up to bed if your choices are right. Im contest prepping and I eat until 11 each night. If you space your 6-7 meals and keep the healthy it wont effect you. Perhaps your issue is you think you CANT eat that late and then you just grab junk.

Set up a meal plan that has healthy food spread over the day every 3 hrs.

quote:

,as my wife has m.s. so i gotta be at the house in case something happens to her

My son has this situation. The best you can do is bring the gym home with you and do your best to have good foods in the house. MS patients should have a restrictive diet because that helps along the way and hopefully, bring you up rather than down. Everyone on this board that has competed knows the best workout starts in the kitchen. You have to eat to workout and you have to workout to eat. With that in mind, plan your meals during the day to go around the workout plans.

I agree with the others on this. Why don't you try setting up a meal plan very specifically and then post it here, and then set up a workout plan and post it. Then everyone can critique and give comments. I know this can seem daunting to set something up from scratch - but that really is the best way to learn, and the good thing is you have a ton of VERY knowledeable people on here that will certainly help you make the right changes. And if you need a starting point go ahead and ask SPECIFIC questions and we're all more than happy to help! The more initiative you take in this the more likely you are to stick with it (at least in the experiences I've had with my clients). You've done a GREAT first step by joining the boards, now take the next step and craft your first plan! Looking forward to helping however I can!