I have officially joined the Over 40 Club… But not just any old over 40 club… the Cut and Jacked Over 40 Club! I’ve been looking forward to this milestone with incredible enthusiasm for the past five years, which is when I made the decision to finally transform my average body into a sculpted masterpiece.
Chiseling 40 pounds of fat from my body was just the beginning. For the first time in 15 years I could finally see the true shape of my physique.
It was fairly obvious that I needed to pack on some muscle and with the layers of fat peeled away, I could clearly see which muscles needed the most work.
It was like having a new block of stone to work with. A foundation to build upon.
In this moment I realized that my work of art was never meant to be complete. My masterpiece would become a lifelong creation. A work in progress. Continuously slabbing on clay and carving out the finer details…
And that excited the heck out of me! This is when I began to focus on the process, rather than the end result. Discovering the joy in the journey, while embracing my true potential.
After a decade of struggle, I couldn’t help but wonder why things finally ‘clicked’ for me at 35. It was something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Frankly, I simply woke up and sincerely felt READY!
I’m sure it was a combination of my kids growing up, getting my shit together, and becoming more sure of myself. Knowing exactly what I wanted out of this life and how I wanted to leave my positive mark on our world.
As I pondered this question, I began to take notice of my fellow bros who were experiencing very similar life changes. We could relate to each other on a level I’ve never been aware of. We were sick and tired of settling. We knew we wanted and deserved better for ourselves. We shared a common drive and an appreciation for what the human body is capable of achieving.
Looking around my gym it was clear that the best physiques were men over 40… and several over 50. Their muscle maturity and years under the bar had paid dividends. Experience is definitely the best teacher. It was obvious that all of these guys were training much smarter. They were very methodical in their approach to lifting.
For the past five years I’ve also noticed that men and women over 40 tend to dominate online transformation contests. After Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Summer Challenge this year, I mentioned how it appeared that being over 40 was an advantage. And with men and women over 50 claiming some of the top spots I questioned why age should ever be considered a limitation for transforming your body.
This is why I’ve been so excited to hit this milestone. I’ve surrounded myself with men and women over 40 who are absolutely kick’n ass and in the best shape of their life. 40 is PRIME TIME BABY!!! I sincerely believe that my best years of lifting are ahead of me and I couldn’t be more stoked.
Biggest Lesson Learned From 25+ Years Of Lifting
Originally this post was going to be a list of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned during the 25+ years that I’ve been lifting weights, but instead I decided to focus on the biggest lesson by far. The one lesson that impacts everything else throughout this transformation journey…
Have FUN!!!
It seems trivial. How could something so simple contribute the most to your transformation success?
As unfortunate as it sounds, most people aren’t having fun while transforming their body. They’re overly restrictive with their diet. They feel guilty with the slightest indulgence and beat themselves up. They dread going to the gym and only workout because it’s a means to lose weight.
Many opt for a workout plan simply because it’s trendy. Others follow a workout program because their favourite fitness icon uses it. Some are afraid to follow a plan that isn’t 100% based on science for fear of being ridiculed for using broscience by the evidence based segment of the industry.
Unfortunately many fitness enthusiasts are following the heard instead of following their heart.
They need to block out the noise from the fitness industry and listen to their gut. Take what you’ve learned up to this point and trust yourself. You can continue learning and incorporating new concepts into your training, but your core philosophies should always be your foundation.
Like many, I’ve learned this the hard way.
Old School Bodybuilding has always been my passion. My shelves are filled with bodybuilding books from the golden era. When I was 14 my basement gym walls were covered with posters of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Jean-Claude Van Damme… oh, and of course chicks in swimsuits 😛 …After all, training for aesthetics was important to me back then. I lifted weights to attract girls.
I lost my way during my late 20’s, then in my early 30’s I got back into fitness by following trendy short burst workouts. I experienced decent results from these workouts and they served a purpose, but they weren’t optimal. They were quick enough to fit into my hectic schedule… and interesting enough, that’s the kind of mindset I developed from the experience. Working out was something that I was “fitting into my day”. Just another task on my to-do list.
There was no passion. No joy. No fire under my ass. I was simply getting by. Settling for mediocrity.
Then, at 35 years old a workout with a fellow bro and meathead, aka Tom Venuto made me realize what I had been missing out on. The fire was re-ignited and I’ve never looked back.
From that moment I began to record all of my workouts. It’s been fun looking back at how my program design has evolved during the past 5 years. Old School Classic Bodybuilding is the foundation of every workout, but as I’ve gained knew knowledge and insights, I incorporated the new concepts into my programming.
I love lifting some heavy shit. I love getting a pump on. I love the big compound lifts. I love isolation exercises. I love dropsets, 8 sets of 8, myo-reps, and a variety of training techniques. I love body part splits, upper/lower splits, push/pull/leg splits, upper/lower-push/pull/leg splits, and high frequency full body splits. I love IRON!
I love vascularity and striations. I love muscle and deep cuts. I love how we have the ability to shape and sculpt our physique. I love our limitless potential for growth.
If you have a similar love affair with Physique Training and aesthetics, you’d absolutely LOVE AMP – Aesthetic Muscle Plan. It’s every workout I’ve done for the past two years.
If aesthetics and physique training isn’t your thing… that’s more than cool with me. Do your thing. Stay true to yourself. Trust your gut, but broaden your horizons. Experience your own metamorphosis, where you build upon your core philosophies in order to bring you closer to your goals while having an absolute blast in the process.
Turning 40 Is My Launching Pad For Continued Greatness
Now that I’m 40 years young, in the best shape of my life, looking cut and jacked, I have my sights aimed at 50. I’m surrounded by Physique Artists over 50 who are absolutely dominating in the gym. I’m inspired by their achievements. They’ve set the example and raised the bar. Now, it’s my turn to show the world what I’m really made of. To unleash my greatness and make this the best decade of my life.
The hard work, dedication, and consistency are all part of the fun. Challenging myself to become better today than I was yesterday and better tomorrow than I am today is my kind of thrill ride. Stepping outside of my comfort zone while testing my limits, brings about a little bit of fear along with an avalanche of excitement.
The gym is my happy place. My serenity. Among the sounds of clanking iron and the smell of sweat, I am at peace. This Physique Artist Lifestyle is what I’m all about. It’s who I am. The weight on the bar doesn’t define me, but how I approach the bar with intense focus, determination, and clarity certainly says a lot about who I am.
I love every second of it.
My birthday wish is that you too discover the joy in the journey while unleashing your greatness to the world. Have fun and be true to yourself.
Now go pump some IRON!
Sculpt a Masterpiece,
Scott Tousignant
About The Author
Scott Tousignant, BHK is a Physique Coach and Elite Natural Bodybuilder with the UFE.
Scott specializes in helping regular men and women sculpt their body into a chiseled work of art.
Viewing training as an art form and your body as a sculpture is a simple shift in mindset that brings out the beauty in your ongoing body transformation.
The art of molding and chiseling an aesthetically pleasing physique with spectacular symmetry, proportions, and carved out detail is one of life’s most rewarding and fulfilling experiences…
…It’s an opportunity for self growth and self discovery that will impact every area of your life.
Learn more about Scott’s physique-focused training programs:
AMPlify Aesthetic Muscle Gains and Strip Away Stubborn Sacks Of Fat with AMP – Aesthetic Muscle Plan
Get a taste of Scott’s hardcore physique training programs with Physique Phreak
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