You’ve heard so many stories about what
happens when you turn 40 and beyond. Some are scary tales of medical debacles
and new tests you should be aware of, others declare 40 is the new 20.
We all experience interesting changes as we
age, but there are a few that I thought were myths until I faced them myself. I
realized that being prepared for the inevitable would make my 40 feel more like
30 (I have no delusions of the 20 any longer).
Let’s not forget, we’re at that great age
where we no longer have to live by our ego worry about being wrong, or carry
the weight of perfection with every little thing around us. At this point, it’s
about letting yourself go, enjoying any bad food we can, daily, forgetting our
chores or paying your kids to do them and remembering we’re the ones that make
the rules.
Okay, maybe there is a life in between
there where we break through the shackles of what we’re “supposed to do” and
completely letting things slide.
That said, there is a reality that faces
most of us as our years climb but our minds and bodies want to keep doing what
they’ve always done.
For instance, I would love to keep eating
like I was 20. Not worrying and just deciding to run a marathon if I had too
much cake, sweets or fried foods. Wake up one morning and after drinking
chocolate milk and eating a pastry for breakfast, hit the road for a good 20-40
mile run. Okay, I never really did the 20 mile run, but a solid 5 still kept me
from turning into a ball with legs. Now I have to be much more conscious of
what I eat since my metabolism is on the downswing.
Studies have shown that while only a
portion of the slow down of metabolism is age, there is an age related factor
in how our bodies use and process food. It has a lot to do with muscle loss that
changes over time. It’s natural; it’s not just us changing from crazy fit 20 year
olds to old and lazy oldies – and we can’t stop it, but we can slow it down.
How? It’s time to consider ways you can
challenge your body in a different way than you have in the past, and
incorporating some new things. Trying Crossfit, high intensity interval
training, mountain biking and other strength and cardio-blended exercises
including the new PiYo (Pilates Yoga blend). This last one could mean the
difference from picking that sock up off the floor or using the vacuum to help.
These changing fitness programs have proven
to be very beneficial. Taking as little as 20 minutes, they result in great
impact - not only on keeping muscle strength up, but challenging the body more
dynamically. Another bonus, you don’t have to hit the gym unless you want to.
These can be done at home, and there are many Apps that will give you programs
to do on your own so it is affordable and flexible.
An added benefit for ladies? These
activities also keep osteoporosis at bay. Women are more likely to be effected
by this bone depleting issue than men, so anything that adds a little vibration
or repetitive low impact keeps those bones dense.
Be prepared though, DOMS (Delayed onset
muscle soreness) is real and two days after a new class the pain of trying to
sit on the toilet made me wonder about Depends under garments.
That brings us to some other fun things
that our 40 year-old selves are probably starting to notice but aren’t quite
prepared for. Things like random hairs where there were none before, or the
famous cough or sneeze requiring crossed legs to avoid bladder failure.
My mantra now, is to get ahead my age, to
look forward to the new things that I will be able to explore like how glasses
will look and how to laugh in public without peeing my pants.
I try not to fret about which one of my
boobs will win the race to my belly button– now I just make bets.
It is this new discovery of myself at 40
that has put a smile on my face instead of a scowl. A scowl will leave more
wrinkles and crows feet are endearing I’m told.
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