I was lucky enough to have a buddy who went to school to be a pf instructor. Even with his help in the beginning I managed to hurt my back doing dead lifts. Horrible pain. Luckily it was only a temp injury. I do alot of them now in my routine. Fantastic core exercise. Good luck!

at my deadlift (185 lbs, 5 reps), and squat (using barbell/squat rack rather than Smith machine, at 135 lbs, 7 reps).

Bent over row is one of the exercises that is on my regular schedule at 45 lbs, and I did 75 today with only moderate difficulty.

With some improvement, I can be competitive in the Senior Olympics in bench press and dead lift in the 70+ age category.

Daughter went, and we even got some training in spotting technique.

Money well spent. Might spend some more.

I can't lift nearly that much. I had hoped to be able to bench press 100 by now, but I till struggle at 85 some days. I have only done dead lifts at about 60 and squats with a 20 kilo kettle bell.

I have spent quite a bit on trainers in the past 6 months but found it money very well spent.

the formula for me. One shoulder is bad (I sometimes sleep with a heating pad on it), and ortho surgeon said window of opportunity for repair closed about 10 years ago. They can clean the joint out, but can't do anything about the two rotator cuff muscles that are torn loose (and have atrophied 90%). He also expressed surprise I can lift that arm. AND, the long head bicep tendon (same arm) is torn about 75% through.

So, most days it's many reps, low weights. On the days when the pain is minimal, I add some weights.

Don't give up on the bench press. 18 months ago I was using the bare bar (45 lbs), and last week got 175 lbs 5 reps. And slept with the heating pad that night

I'll reach my goal of 200 lbs by Christmas.

your goal is 200 by Christmas do you mean 7 reps of 200? Because if your goal is a single rep of 200 I'm sure you can do it already.

wgt. My wgt increases have been 5 lb increments, keeping a wgt as long as it takes to get that magical 6.

Too much too soon makes me worry about injury.

damage to muscles in shoulder/upper arm some of which orthopedic surgeon says cannot be repaired.

No lubrication in joint, and spurs have formed (this can be cleaned up)
Long head bicep tendon torn nearly in two (surright geon said he'd just snip it the rest of the way, or we can wait and let it tear spontaneously)
Supraspinitus and infraspinatus tendons torn in two, both muscles atrophied 90% (said the window of opportunity for repair of this closed 10 years ago.

After MRI, my doctor sent me to ortho specialist, who sent me to ortho surgeon. They all said the same thing.

So, I'm doing more reps with wgts I can handle/control, keeping body weight down to 200, but can't do anything about the aging. Pain is manageable with OTC pain remedies, liniments, and heating pad.

Appreciate your confidence in me, and the kind words.

...to give free advice on lifting.

and barbell incline bench press at 145, 1 set of 7.

Nothing hurts.

My progress has been slow. Had some medical problems, anemia and I have to see a cardiologist this week for tests. I haven't been able to break my threshold on bench press, and at times I have to lower the weight. Can't do dead lifts at all, I get dizzy when I bend like that. But I have made progress in other areas, can now run a solid mile on good days, and it came quickly just in the past 2-3 weeks.

and others (6 in our group, three generations), I limped for nearly a week.

Take it slow on weights. Backing up is not bad. Anything you don't pick up today will still be there tomorrow for another go.

I took 47 years to get myself in bad shape, it's only been about 9 months since I decided to turn it around.

I have had zero pain issues running so far. Had that muscle injury last winter but it is completely healed. I think I could really get into running ... Maybe I'll be like Forest Gump and just keep running. Time will tell.