01/28/2026
My Fitness Routine in My Mid 50s
In my 20’s, 30s, and 40s, I trained hard, I trained heavy, and often—chasing performance, muscle, and the next big goal. If it were a bodybuilding show or an MMA fight, I was also chasing the next WIN.
Now in my 50s, 2 back and 2 neck surgeries later, I’ve learned something important:
Smart training isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what’s right for you, your body, and brain.
Here’s how my routine has evolved 👇
🌅 Mornings That Set the Tone
Most mornings start with a 30-minute walk around the water—not for calorie burn, but for:
• Mental clarity
• Joint health and mobility
• Leg strength and balance
That quiet movement sets the tone before I train clients for the next 8 hours of the day.
💪 Strength Training After 50
I no longer follow a 5-day split.
Now it’s full-body training 3 days a week, focused on quality, recovery, and longevity.
I also prioritize:
• Core
• Glutes
• Glute medius, adductors, abductors
These are the muscles that protect posture, reduce pain, and support golf performance.
🏃♂️ Cardio With Purpose
Instead of pushing hard every day, I rotate doing 30 minutes each.
• Treadmill – 2x/week
• Stair stepper – 2x/week
• Stationary Bike – 2x/week
I’ve added HIIT cardio 5 days a week on a stationary bike. Think of a track and sprinting the fronts and walking the turns. Complete 8 rounds of 20 seconds as fast as you can, and 10 seconds recovery. This is good for my heart, lungs, cardiovascular, and leg endurance.
The variety keeps my joints healthy and my heart strong.
🥩 Nutrition After 50
Simple. Strategic. Sustainable.
• Take in 1 gram of protein for my goal weight. I like to stay around 160 lbs. So I take in ~160g protein/day. From Chicken, fish, eggs, and Grass Feed Isolate Protein shakes. I like (Raw)
• ~75g carbs/day. Consists of yams and cream of rice. Before my workouts
• I drink 1 Tbsp of Olive Oil, and 1 stick of butter on my fish.
I limit sweats as much as possible.
This keeps energy steady, supports lean muscle, and helps manage inflammation and blood pressure.
🧠 Mental Performance Matters
After years of medication affecting my memory, stay away from any medication that releases GABA. Ex. Gabapentin, pregabalin, Lyrica, and any barbiturates. Some medications work just the same, but are not controlled medications forced out by your doctor and Big Pharma. I suggest finding a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine if not familiar. Same as an MD with an additional 200 hours with a focus on treating the cause, not just the effect. I now support focus and clarity with peptides—and NAD+ helping me stay sharp in business and on the golf course.
👊 Final Thought
Fitness after40 is different—but better.
You train smarter. You listen more. You focus on longevity, not ego.
If you’re over 40 and adjusting your routine, I’d love to hear from you.
👉 Still working out like your 20’s. Looking to start something new?
Message me to schedule your FREE Meet and Greet, and let’s get back into fighting shape.
Chris Ownbey
Fit Over 40 | Golf Fitness Dallas
Fitover40dallas.com