I used to have 5 basic hits. Now I have 4. I was wondering where everyone else falls.

I've had 4 since high school. I stayed at around 170 for close to 10 years, but finally got up to 200 lbs in Iraq (and that was with me working out up to two hours a day), but now I'm around 185-190.

I used to have 6, but have lost enough to drop down to 5.  In my adult life, I managed to work down to 4 several years back (when I got divorced and was working out 60-90 minutes daily).

Okay I think Troy Imaginos and Galaxy Boy are bragging Seriously guys congrats . I'm with Thunderbolt losing weight at 40+ is almost impossible.

When I was in the Navy I was a 4 pushing hard on 5 which I hit while playing football in college. Now I'm a solid 5 (okay not real solid) at 240   Man I'd give my left leg to be a 6'2 210 halfback again. What-a-minute If I gave my left leg I'd be a 4 again so that won't work

Just talked to the doctor about this today at an appointment.  I've been solidly 5 for a long time, but need to make some changes (like exercising more) to knock about 10-15 pounds off.  As everyone has mentioned, after 40 this is extremely tough.  Like he said, though, the goal should be to make minor lifestyle changes (rather than focusing on the weight) and the weight will take care of itself.

Kudos to your physician, Majestic, for maintaining a level head on this.  This whole discussion - especially for the forty-plus crowd (of which I'm a card-carrying member) - reminds me of that horrorshow that men call Tae Bo that hit us back in '99.  I remember the endless and enthusiastic discussions I heard around the office on how fantastic this was, how revolutionary the concepts were, and how wonderful and fit they were all going to be after just a few weeks!  Cut to about eighteen months later, after Billy Blanks had made his millions and purchased that island in the Carribean, and God knows how many people were wandering around with semi-permanent or permanent ligament, tendon and joint damage as a result of doing half-assed techniques passed on by instructors who pretty much got their diplomas from a Shreddies box.  Of course if you throw prodigious amounts of energy around in a short period, you're going to lose weight - the problem is, most of what you're losing is water, and it's going to come back just as quickly as you've lost it once your frenetic activity level drops off.  Slow, measured and steady wins the race in this one, especially for those of us past their late twenties.

Physical fitness and the martial arts have been a lifestyle choice of mine for going on thirty years - and while I'm not going to be on the cover of Men's Health this month, I can at least say that I've kept myself to 4 basic hits since I was eighteen, and have every intention of keeping things that way until they put me in the cold cold ground.  Keep us up to date on the ongoing efforts, Majestic; you've got an entire nation full of Gen-Xers cheering you on.

3 to my mid-20's. Since qualifying for my current profession it has been 4.... 

Well, I'm working my way down to a 4.  Lost 10 pounds since mid-July, just by going to night shift at my job.  LOL.  And I'm nearly 40, just for the record.