Do People Lose Their Fitness Level As They Get Older - From Teens To 20s?

[nopm]

I am a 25 year old male. Today, I was taking my daily constitutional around my neightborhood, as I do every evening. I ran into an old classrmate who I have not seen since high school seven years ago. He is also a 25 year old male.

I remember that, in high school, he was one of the fittest students in the school. He had six pack abs, a defined chest and arms, great legs, and worked out every day after school in the YMCA.

Today, when I saw him, he had his shirt off. (It was a hot day outside and he was working on his car). He lost literally all of his definition on his chest and abs. His arms still had some, but he is nowhere near the fitness level he was as a 16 year old.

Is this common? I thought people would be stronger in their 20s than their teens.

 

[Robert]

That is because he stopped going to the YMCA. From teens to 20s 30s you should be getting stronger and gaining endurance.

 

[Josh]

I noticed it too with my high school class...the guys who were all state players were usually the party guys...alcohol does make you gain weight and when people are in college drinking is what you do pretty much. thats what ive always put it on...freshman 15 whatever you wanna call it.