I remember thinking of 40 as old, and 40 was old but it’s not anymore. With advancements in how we understand the human body in regards to exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress and the environment, it’s no surprise we look different. I’m living my best coal-free lungs life.
Once upon a time we’d be lifting heavy farm… stuff (you can tell I’ve never done any manual labour) which was great for keeping you strong but nowadays, the heaviest thing we lift daily is a Sports Direct mug as we sit at our desks sending passive aggressive emails to colleagues (kind regards, PT Shaun).
I was once pretty unhealthy with high blood pressure, prescribed heart medication and I was more than a bit wibbly around the edges. I made some big changes and yes, it was challenging at first, but once you’re in a rhythm, it becomes your new normal.
By training regularly I feel strong and look good.
By eating a healthy diet, I feel healthy and able.
By sleeping well I feel focused and recovered.
By managing my stress I feel happy (subject to change based on whether I’ve had lunch).
To me, a big part of being healthy is slowing down ageing. Yes, it’s much easier to apply a cream but that’s only the surface level, lifestyle choices are deep.
This woman is regretting not deadlifting today
Things I’ve learned:
- Training doesn’t have to be gruelling
Find something you don’t hate, but ideally love. Cardio is amazing for you, but if you hate it and it stops you going to the gym, find something that’s active that you don’t hate. - Food doesn’t have to be boring
There are so many quick, healthy and more importantly tasty recipes available online. The idea of “rabbit food” is passé. - Don’t expect to be highly motivated
The cheerleaders are not out every morning that I go for a workout. I go to work, I brush my teeth, I pay my taxes, I go to the gym. Those are just things I do.
- You have the freedom to go out for a meal and still be healthy and social
Yes, eating out can make fat loss more challenging but not impossible. Plan before you go and make the best choice that fits with who you want to be. - Just turn up
If I just turn up every week, it doesn’t matter if my training and diet isn’t “perfect”, I’ll actually greatly benefit from being suboptimal. - Follow a training plan and track your workouts
Without one, you’re just spinning your wheels and honestly, it’s just plain boring! It’s no surprise people don’t stick to it when they have no direction or goal. - Nobody cares about you
Sorry, but this is especially true in the age of Tik Tok/Instagram. People are much more interested in themselves than you. - Once you do the healthy habits for a long enough time, they become pretty easy
Yes, some things can slip back in but that’s okay, we can notice it and try again. - I’m sending a signal
Every time I train, I’m telling my body “I need my bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles to be strong”. That’s what training against a resistance does.
You can be your strongest and healthiest at 40 and older, which I’ve seen happen with many of my clients. Right now is the best time to start.
I hope you found that useful and if you have any questions or comments drop me a message, and if you think someone you know would benefit from this article, please forward it to them.