Can you achieve the best shape of your life in your 50s?

Hugh Jackman and his remarkable rig are back, with the 55-year-old Deadpool 3 star declaring he is in “better shape” than ever.

Let’s forget for a moment that Jackman was reportedly paid $20 million to get in the kind of shape for which he – and his 34.5 million followers – are “grateful”. Let’s also forget that, for the past year and a half he had a team of at least eight people catering to his every whim, including people who shopped, cooked and counted his macros for every meal; multiple trainers helping him hone the kind of abdominals that Jane Fonda would be proud of; and even a make-up artist to “lube” him up in oil, so his freshly ripped muscles could glisten on-screen.

Putting all that aside for a moment, his undeniably impressive form raises the question: can we get better with age? Is it possible to peak in our 50s?

The answer is a qualified “yes”.

In “better shape” than ever: Hugh Jackman.Credit: 20th Century Fox

“Hugh looks great, and I think he conveys the important message that physical fitness can remain very high beyond the 50s,” says Professor David Bishop, head of the skeletal muscle and training research group at Victoria University.

Even better, Bishop says: “I’d suggest this is also possible for many without the support team that Hugh has.”

We might not have the genes of Jackman, nor the disposable income and 24/7 support, but if we adhere to the basics of training and nutrition, we can certainly get in great shape in our 50s and beyond, agrees Anthony Blazevich, a professor of biomechanics at Edith Cowan University.

In fact, for those of us who neglected our health in our youth, were more trained at the bar than the gym, or who didn’t give much thought to exercise (or eating well), Blazevich says: “It’s absolutely possible to get in the best shape of your life in your 50s. And that includes from both an aesthetic and a health point of view.”

Studies show active 75- to 80-year-olds can have more muscle than inactive 20-year-olds.

“And since many 20-year-olds don’t currently achieve even close to the recommended amount of physical activity, and certainly aren’t lifting weights or doing other high-intensity activities that can build muscle mass and strength, then it’s certain that a 50-year-old who does those things can get a stronger, fitter, and better-looking body than many 20-year-olds,” Blazevich says.

And though abs may be made in the kitchen, he adds: “No matter how you eat, you can’t get into that shape without a specific and strict training regiment.”

It’s all relative to what we’ve done in the past and what we’re willing to do from now on. For his part, Jackman turned up, did his deadlifts and ate his boring meals, including days of just fish and beans before filming. In a body-building hack aimed at improving vascularity and looking more ripped, he also didn’t drink water the night before shooting certain scenes.

It was an Olympic-worthy preparation and speaking of Olympians, for those who performed at an elite level in their youth, their peak has definitely passed.

“There’s a good reason why masters’ events exist – if you are an Olympic athlete, you’re unlikely to be at your physical peak in your 50s,” Bishop says.

Though biology wins, if we’ve had good habits in the past and maintain them as we age, the decline is slower and starts from a much higher level.

Also, Blazevich adds, biology has memory. “If you’ve been strong, muscular and fit before, then it’s easier (and quicker) to get it back after a period away from the game.”

Regardless of where we are now and how much Jackman may put us (and the 20-year-olds) to shame, there is hope.

“No matter what your age, you can significantly impact your body type and your health and fitness by doing the right things,” Blazevich says. “It’s never too late, even in very old age.”

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