Fast-twitch muscle fibers atrophy first as you age, with about 50% gone by 35. Heavy, slow lifting won't rebuild them. Add explosive work like medicine-ball slams, broad jumps, and kettlebell swings two to three times weekly for six weeks to feel faster and lighter.
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Why you will always feel slow before you ever feel weak. Understand that strength doesn't disappear first, speed does. By 35, you'll quietly lose about 50% of your fast-twitch muscle fibers, and unfortunately for a lot of y'all, lifting heavy alone will not bring them back. Sadly, type 2 muscle fibers, you know, the ones that make you fast and very explosive, they literally atrophy faster than your slow-twitch fibers as you age. By your mid-30s, if you haven't trained explosiveness, I'm talking about no sprints, then you've lost a meaningful chunk. Literally. That's why a lot of men feel heavy on their feet, they miss the bus they used to catch, and they dread playing pickup. Literally. Heavy slow lifting doesn't recruit type 2 fibers efficiently. You need the rate of force development work. For real, for real. I'm talking about med ball slams, broad jumps like you see me doing, kettlebell swings, Depth jumps from the low boxes, short sets, full recovery, about 2 to 3 times per week, of course. The goal isn't to get tired, it's to recruit. About 6 weeks in, you will feel a lot lighter, gang. Not younger, but functional.