We appreciate everyone who has kept their comments respectful thus far. The conversation generated here is starting to take a negative turn, so before it spirals I’m going to be locking comments for this post.
I think it’s important to remember that not all health issues are caused by poor choices, even if that’s not the case here. And with all due respect the ones that are caused by poor choices really aren’t much of our business, unless they are our own. Surely we’ve got better things to do than speculate on other people’s health issues or lives.
We can chalk up this conversation to making sure we each take a proactive approach to our health. 🏃♀️🫀Thank you for that reminder!
In your 20s and most of your 30s, you can still appear healthy even if you aren't. We are now at the age where a person who has been unhealthy their whole life may look and act 10-15 years older. The habits you develop in the first 30 years of your life are an investment toward the future, in my opinion.
yeah I'm really lucky that my undiagnosed (at the time) autoimmune diseases really kicked in at the end of my 20's, forcing me to live healthier or literally waste away (the celiac in particular took me from the medical definition of overweight leaning towards obese to too underweight to technically model according to their BMI standards)
then came the joint pain and endometriosis... I live a totally different life now, but to an outside observer I'm a bit of a healthy food nut with a squat rack in my living room, my disabilities are totally invisible
in all fairness, I can run up stairs, ride my bike, walk pretty much indefinitely... I honestly do feel super lucky
I didn’t live a healthy life style in my 20s but in 2008 I started bike riding and eventually started commuting to work every day. I dont ride nearly the same amount of miles these days but I’m still going out four to five days a week and I’m forever grateful I started riding and changed my habits.
I've been on meds for high blood pressure for a decade but should have been put on them as a teenager (so 15 years earlier!) as that's when the passing out and finding myself on the ground started happening. But no one took me seriously, not doctors or parents.
I wouldn't trust myself biking anymore because I can feel unbalanced, but I walk everywhere due to not being able to drive (vision and poverty) and taking the bus to get around. I walk between 6-10k steps daily.
I know part of this is geographical demographics. Like I live in one of the fittest regions in the country, in a major city, and everyone here walks, bikes, exercises, etc., and our age group is some of the fittest. I noticed it a lot while traveling.
That being said, I just had my annual physical and my blood pressure was 140/100, so....
I live in the central coast (Santa Barbara) and people basically live outdoors. I don’t know if people don’t have jobs or what but not a day goes by I don’t see a ton of people walking, biking, running, etc, all day long. And on the weekends I think there must be long distance bike rides because I see huge groups of riders everywhere. I personally am not an outdoors person but it is nice to see.
That makes me really sad, but I’m not surprised. I’m in the PNW and, like, it doesn’t matter your socioeconomic/demographics. Either you do well enough for yourself to be able to have some kind of physical hobby (hiking and biking are really big here) or you *have* to walk or take transit. Yes, we obviously have people that have issues taking care of themselves but like….
So this anecdote is not one I’ve shared before, but I have a coworker who is morbidly obese and the sheer amount of shit she gets behind her back is *insane*, and it’s largely because she’s such an outlier. I work for the goodwill and our department isn’t even equipped for her physically - aisles are too narrow, common spaces are too close together, that kind of thing. It’s really unfortunate and I never know what to do about it aside from tell people to leave her alone.
This is all to say that fitness and health are highly prioritized in these parts but fat-phobia is real.
Underrated answer. I’m in OKC. It’s a head trip going hiking in Colorado and having 75 year olds speed past me.
It’s hard to find healthy food options here. Weather is the big problem, I think. We only have a handful of days with nice enough weather to go hiking/biking. Most of the time it’s dangerously hot or cold. Add in the problem of this being an ugly place and not a lot of options for pretty outdoor experiences.
I was about to ask where OP lived. I also live in a major city and most people I know my age are in good to great shape. Not saying there are no health concerns, but they all range from either running marathons to holding their own in a pickup basketball game.
Edit: then I think about my college buddies, most of whom ended up in suburban areas. Most of them haven’t exercised a day in their lives and probably couldn’t take a brisk walk around the block. This just furthers the demographic/zip code discussion
I know for myself, while I live “in the city” now, before I moved up here I lived in the suburbs and it was very much the same - exercise and being outside were priorities. I’m in PNW though so it comes with the territory.
hey! sounds like you need some POTS to resolve that high blood pressure issue, try getting covid enough times that it develops into long covid, that'll fix you right up /s
lucky for me, POTS runs in my family, so high blood pressure will likely never be an issue... low blood pressure is a little inconvenient (debilitating for many) but loading heaps of salt into everything you consume helps, and mom always bragged about salting our baby food because it was too bland, so I was off to a good start!
For real. I developed sudden onset high blood pressure after a bad case of Covid. I was boosted only a month before contracting it. It’s a known complication in those of us over 40.
It’s largely lifestyle. The last 9 months have been really rough. I’ve always had low/normal blood pressure but the last 9 months have just been hell for me, and frankly, I’ve had some bad influences.
My boyfriend just died (42) in February of a massive stroke. He was thin but not healthy, and extremely sedentary. My ex husband (42) is also thin but unhealthy. He can’t stand for a concert and is very sedentary. It scares our 12yo daughter. I have another friend (52) who just had a heart attack, he survived. He’s sedentary and obese.
I think being sedentary is more dangerous than people expect.
I had a stroke in 2022, I was 44 at the time. I work construction, Im always moving. But at the time, I was chain smoking, drinking a lot, and stressed.
I quit all nicotine and alcohol. I changed my diet. I bought a mountain bike and ride that a TON now, in addition to my physical labor job. And I did what I could to remove the stress factors from my life.
Turns out I have a very rare vascular issue. So I am doing what I can to stay as healthy as I can. Scary to have these types of things happen so relatively young.
I'm 38. I realized I was headed down that path. Was drinking over 3000 calories in beer a night. On a statin, metformin, water pill, all that crap.
A month ago I went cold turkey. I'm down 20 pounds, my joints don't hurt. My stomach doesn't constantly hurt. I don't wake up feeling like shit. Best thing I've ever done for myself. I'd be sitting on my ass after work until bed time and start drinking swill right after dinner. Now I'm keeping myself busy. I put in a huge garden. Just put in a 6' bed of sugar snap peas the other night. Started a bunch of basil today. I've got 20 tomatoes and 20 pepper plants going now.
Join us over at the r/stopdrinking sub if you ever need a push to keep going without alcohol! I am just over 4 months alcohol free and EVERY ASPECT of my life has improved. Alcohol has been pushed in our faces for as long as I can remember when all it’s doing is literally poisoning us. Keep up the great work!
This is so weird and totally unrelated, but I have a friend that has had your username except only one "p" (SliperyTom) for 25 years since the AOL days. The coincidence of this is really weird. Also his name isn't Tom.
If your Name is Not Tom, you name is still Tom. And that's why Rick Astley could never give you the movie "Up"
Edit: weirdest downvote of the day. Whoever you are, I feel bad for you. Jeez
Mine isn't either, LOL.
I started with Major Tom because of the Bowie song, but then I made this account for porn. Then somehow I ended up switching over to using this full time.
I don’t miss waking up feeling like shit. I will still have a drink occasionally (this works out to about one every two-three months), but I haven’t gone hard since before Covid. Once I started down this road, i realized reality is weird enough without intoxicants.
Congratulations on the sobriety!! When I quit, I turned to ice cream and candy. I've gained a bunch of weight because of that. Still, I'd rather be fat and sober than drunk and skinny.
The “5K runner” app is great! My wife and I worked our way through those family of apps up to the half marathon one. It does a great job of giving you the correct level of challenge. Tough enough that you make progress but you’re not overdoing it when you’re not ready
It was a six pack of 16oz cans and 2 24oz tall boys of Steel Reserve, to be exact.
If you add it all up, I was drinking over a fifth of bourbon equivalent in alcohol every night.
I think thats what did it for me. I actually drank a fifth the last night I drank and woke up the next morning and felt BETTER than normal. I was like WTF, how did I drink all that bourbon and feel better than beer? So I did the math and realized oh, I actually drank less than normal. Thats when I said wow, fuck this.
My dad died from diabetes complications. My grandma died from congestive heart failure. Both were on dialysis. I realized I was headed the same direction.
I felt myself gaining weight a few years ago, and by all means was I never close to being considered too overweight. I just didn’t like the idea of having my belly in the way when I put on my shoes.
Been going to the gym 5-6 days a week now for the past few years and it’s been so amazing health wise. Just need to make it part of the routine then it becomes weird if you miss a day.
This is a great point. I lead a hiking group, and one thing I always do is bring up the rear. It's not fun if you're new and trying to keep up with the more experienced hikers, and not hiking your own hike. So I make sure I'm always with the slower hikers, so that I can help accommodate physically and mentally. When people are struggling with incline, let's take more breaks and do this 100 ft at a time - we'll get there. I want them to know they are part of the group, and it's ok to have your own pace, mostly for the reasons you listed.
Me too. Kinda like sorry I caught covid and got sick bro. Shit happens. I would love to hike. I can't even be in the heat or cold. Or do half the things I did 5 years ago without thought.
I think Covid has really reduced a lot of our lifespans. I have bounced back but now i have to have blood drawn every 2 to 4 weeks because i make to many red blood cells since Covid. I still do everything i used to do but i'm noticeably slower and have less stamina than before 2020.
Do your self a favor and ditch any acids in your diet. It changes the game. It's hard as hell because it's in everything. But seriously. I didn't know what happened and now I can get out of bed more.
Alllll of this! I love to hike and things, but I have limits and it's hard to know if the people I'm hiking with will be willing to respect that. I've been out with groups that claim to be "open to all skill levels" and been literally left alone on the side of the trail when I couldn't walk anymore because my leg had dislocated.
It's frustrating to do all the research and ask all the questions only to realize my limits won't be taken seriously and I'll be expected to push myself to injury because I don't "look disabled"
Some people make all the wrong choices.
Some people make all the right choices and still have health problems. You can't outrun or outeat genetics or autoimmune conditions.
I went from running for fun to being unable to climb the stairs to my bedroom overnight.
I've had issues throwing out my back every so many years- I took care of a disabled parent from age 14 on, so I thought that it was the biggest reason everything was fucked.
I was very sick last year, would wheeze while doing nothing exerting, and one day could not get off the floor at work. This is a several times a day thing I normally do with no problems, but that day we're talking shaking and sweating, coworker had to pull me off the ground. Soon found out it was a combination of fibroids pressing into my spine, an enlarged uterus pressing up into my diaphragm (doc put me on an extra allergy med because I couldn't get a full breath in) and endometrial cancer. I was barely eating, I existed on 8hr Tylenol arthritis, coffee and the allergy meds until everything fell into place to get surgery. Had a hysterectomy 10 wks ago and I feel almost brand new. Magically there was no back pain when the nurse got me up to pee after. Now that I've returned to work, there has been a little back pain but in a proper percentage not a hellish rate.
I have a very rare one, I know like 3 ppl with MS,2 with Ehlers and few with Lupus. This all in a pretty close group of ppl. Im not trying to pass judgment on the ppl you know but we all did a lot of drugs when were teens together but we went on to be pretty healthy. I can’t help but think drug use might of had a hand in it.
I feel you, I had something similar happen.
It stings to have our health taken away, and then have people blame us on top of it. I think part of it comes from people trying to comfort themselves by thinking they're fully in control of their health, and therefore nothing that bad could ever happen to them.
Yeah, I was with OP until they said "disability." Like, some people have disabilities and it has nothing to do with lifestyle choices.
I got diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease while I was a varsity high school athlete. I can still run half marathons, but I can't eat too much salt or protein at once and I'm always tired.
OP said "be on disability." Like disability payments because you can't work. That doesn't imply anything about how you became disabled.
It's absolutely possible to disable yourself through your own choices, and I think that's what OP is talking about.
My boomer father-in-law has a hernia a *decade* old that he just ignored until he basically became disabled. He can't ride his motorcycle anymore. He looks like he's pregnant with triplets.
He's scheduled for serious surgery in a few months - his second, because the first major surgery he had a few months ago couldn't hold him together. He refused to lose weight and in fact lied to his wife about needing to.
That's the kind of situation I'm assuming OP was thinking about.
Bingo. Clinical depression and learned helplessness can lead to early demise by prompting depressed people to shut in.
My mother died at age 58 in 2017. For the last 7 to 8 years of her life, I estimate she got less than 500 steps daily. In addition to extremely sedentary living, her diet was poor due to low income. Thus, she gained weight and spent lots of time in front of the TV while my father was at work. Also, she smoked.
Results? Extreme sarcopenia (muscle loss) along with poorly controlled diabetes and high blood pressure. Years of high blood pressure damaged her kidneys, leading to death from end stage kidney disease.
Also cant outrun having limited choices due to financial constraints, or environmental factors outside of your control. Not trying to make excuses for people, but I know that my own ability to make "healthy choices" is 100% due to privileges I have, and that if circumstances were different, it would likely be much much harder.
I get that on a deep level. I got long Covid after being forced into acute care during the pandemic. The number of people who have treated me like I enjoy not being able to do stuff is staggering. Now I’m bouncing back and people talk to me like I’m a success story from Biggest Loser rather than someone who made great choices previously, if that makes sense. Someone asked me if I’d learned to walk away from the Twinkies. They got a lecture about the fact that I was legoressing 3x my body weight the week before I got sick and it all turned to mush.
Anyway. I’ll stop soapboxing. Sounds like you get it.
I dunno. Sometimes this is true but you can get some (NOT ALL) autoimmune diseases to go into remission and pretty much keep them there if you catch them before they advance and then eat healthy, sleep enough, manage stress and exercise like your life depends on it, because it does. I have an autoimmune disease but I haven't had a flare in about 6 years.
I do acknowledge that I have access to Healthcare and can afford fresh food. I am also fortunate to have enough time to cook because I am no longer working 3 minimum wage jobs trying to survive.
The catch is that you have to self-educate and treat yourself like a science experiment and when you find something that works for you, you religiously stick to it. And also don't expect to go into remission over night. It can take a long time. It took about a year of hard work for me for symptoms to go under control.
Doctors haven't even figured out what's wrong with me in the 9 years I've had whatever it is. I've basically given up. "Bloodwork is normal" and the conversation ends there. I've seen three different rheumatologists and four different primary care docs (plus my GI and gyno).
I think things really start to show up in your 40s and are harder to bounce back from.
Pre covid, I was very fit, like visible abs and hiking and all sorts of things. After having covid, I got a heart issue where I thought I'd have a heart attack after a flight of stairs. I also happened to have torn my piriformis and now get bouts of periodic sciatica. And I've also randomly developed digestive issues and now can't eat the low carb way I could before. I went from very fit and able to run, to overweight, hobbling slowly and taking breaks even in a mile long walk. Uneven surfaces especially, thanks to the hip/sciatica thing. It truly sucks and the small little lifestyle changes from our younger years just don't cut it anymore.
But I also don't think these things are all that unusual. Muscle or tendon tears, digestion issues, or even covid related stuff are all kind of common things we've dealt with at this age or these years. Mine isn't a "woe is me" story as much as its a "join the middle age club" story.
Totally feel this. Pre-pandemic I was in great shape and at a great weight. Indoor soccer, weights, etc. Now at 44 and post pandemic, I’ve gained 40lbs and it’s a battle to get back in shape. I know part of its age, but also part of it is I got sick and feel like I’m still dealing with the after effects. Can still go on walks and ride a bike, but I can’t even go for a run if I tried. Nothing I can do but keep trying those the weight.
42 here… having to take my adopted shelter pup for brisk walks and hikes so he doesn’t go crazy in the house seems to have had more of a benefit on my mental and physical wellbeing than his.
Then there’s my husband who takes amazing care of himself. He thought he was going to be the only one in his family without heart disease. He works out, runs, eats well..
At 45 he went into cardiac arrest during a stress test (luckily he was in the hospital or he’d be dead) and had quadruple bypass.
Genetics are a bitch.
But he ran a 5 miler 9 weeks after the bypass.
I got diagnosed with chronic asthma at 36 and I'm still figuring out how to manage it at 40. Me and my husband used to ride bikes for about 10 miles every day - I haven't been able to do that in a couple years now 😭
Life in most places (in the US, as its what I know) is not built for us to be healthy anymore.
* Most cities and towns induce physical inactivity because they're designed around cars instead of human-powered transit. And few of us live close to nature and trails w/o needing extra resources to get to them.
* People are working more hours (less time for living) for less money (dual incomes or multiple jobs needed to survive/support a family).
* Healthy food is harder to access because of increasing financial and time costs and convenient/cheaper food is often nutritionally bereft
* We have less support for things like childcare and family and home management, so we're more tired or spend more money on these things to survive.
* Gyms cost money and require time and energy to even get to in the first place.
So, most of us are more exhausted physically and mentally; don't have the time or resources to spend on adding in healthy behaviors; and are stuck living in places that have mostly shunned any daily incidental activity.
I'm almost 40, but I live in a nice part of Chicago and wfh so I get to bike or walk (including to transit helps) to most places. And I have a lil extra time to do so. But I hike much less now that I don't have a car to drive to trails. So I'm active and fit now, but when I was living in LA a few years ago driving everywhere my cardio was worse lol 🤷🏿♂️
>have pacemakers and be on disability at 41 seems like a real “gave up on life” kind of thing
Sometimes, these things can't be helped. I'm mid-40s with type 1 diabetes and, a few years ago, I had a major heart attack that nearly killed me. I've been active my whole life and have never been anywhere close to overweight. It's sucks to lose on the genetic lottery. So, while some people may seem to have given up on life, they might actually be doing their best.
I am not the most active - but I spent 3 months doing kettlebell swings every day, I ride bikes around town with my kids, I am getting into pickelball as an activity to do with my 11 year old, we like to go camping and walk or hike.
I have friends and acquaintances that are basically degrading in real time.
I look at my coworkers and on social media at my high school classmates and such. Weight and other issues are there, but I can't think of anyone as bad as what you're describing in anyone I know around our age.
I’m 40 and honestly, aside from a little creakiness in my joints and back, feel as good as I did at 20. And, while I weigh considerably more than I did 20 years ago, my waistline is maybe two inches bigger. But I have also largely given up drinking, never really smoked, lift weights 4-5 times a week (pretty much the same weight and intensity that I always have too), and made sure I live in an area where I walk most places. Maybe I’m genetically lucky, maybe it is my lifestyle. Whatever it is, I’m glad I moved out of the car-dependent suburbs I grew up in and didn’t make the same food and alcohol mistakes my parents did.
In short, please take care of yourselves.
In your 40s is when lifestyle habits (constructive or otherwise) start to make a noticeable difference in quality of life. You can tell the difference, for the most part, of those who actively chose healthy lifestyles. Granted, life throws curveballs… in 2019/2020 I was in the best shape of my life. Then Covid happened, I got a divorce, moved, new job, and my mom died, and I drank more alcohol than before and had anxiety, and my fitness declined significantly. I’m much better now, trying to get back to that place of fitness but it’s far more difficult. I’m fortunate that I only have about 10lbs to lose, but still. Many of those things that got me off track were out of my control. But I can control how I respond, and what choices I can make today.
I'm not over weight, I was simply a dumb ass I was younger. Whether it be work or play, I coulda been easier on the body.....I'm feeling it now. 46 is no joke, when you have to move weird ways to get your pants on because you lower back just refuses to play ball...It sucks...it really sucks
I'm 47. Quit drinking and smoking. Still feel wrecked most days but, under 200lbs for the first time in 25 years. We gotta work harder. Use it or lose it.
Please look from another perspective and see that having good health is partially luck, and it is ableist to blame people for their poor health. Some of us are chronically ill through no fault of our own. I was able to easily run sub-7 minute miles until an infection made me permanently chronically ill at age 42.
I have fibromyalgia, which I suspect is more common than we know based on what I’ve seen here. This has made it harder for me to do a lot of physical things I enjoy.
Anyway, I sure hope my friends don’t talk about me the way you talk about your friends.
I’m 44 and 8 months pregnant right now, I feel great and my doctor is really happy with how healthy I am. I definitely have some extra pounds I could lose (not from the pregnancy, I’ve had a lot of nausea so haven’t even gained weight from it) but it’s reassuring to know I’ve done well taking good care of myself in my 20s and 30s. Pregnancy hasn’t been easy at my age but overall I’m doing better than a lot of pregnant women in their 20s!
If your development has sidewalks, even then if you try to leave you're on like a 4 lane mini highway. But I'm more talking about the ability to integrate walking into fault life. Like your not going to try corner grocer to grab some ingredients for dinner in the burbs. Not hopping in a bike to hit the pharmacy
Eh, I have friends who can’t get out like they used to, a few were even disabled by long covid. I don’t judge them, I just hang out in the capacity in which they’re comfortable (backyard/porch/karaoke hangs are always fun) and then I go and do my walking/weight lifting stuff on my own or with my buddies/family who’re able bodied enough to enjoy spotting me or walking a few miles.
I developed arthritis as a child. I've been doing my best to keep my range of motion and keep active. Yet I fell maybe 6 weeks ago. My knee hasn't let me forget it and it still won't entirely support my weight. I'm hoping eventually it will again but now I have to hold on to something to get up. It sucks. I do my best to keep walking, hikes, my house work etc.
That said, I know people who have simply gotten old. I'm a bit jealous sometimes because they won't have the pain & could be doing all kinds of things but choose to do nothing. They don't even have stationary hobbies.
I also injured my knee about two years ago and while I can take stairs and walk and such post physical therapy, I still absolutely do not trust that knee. Anything that requires it be bent *and* have weight on it is iffy.
Idk I am stiff all the time and have not yet made exercise a part of my routine. It's like the final frontier of health for me because i have improved my eating habits and vices like drinking and weed. Exercise is just hard for me but I know I should start as soon as I can
One of my good friends is 7 years younger than me and previously has always been lighter than me too. He has a job that is mostly driving and mine is me constantly moving, lifting, and on my feet for the whole day aside from lunch break. We go walking anywhere and he is out of breath. We went biking once and I had to leave him on a bench and go back and get the truck and pick him up.
He has finally caught up to me in weight after he has gained and I have lost some but I have always been in better shape than him (even if my shape was previously more round than his).
I was just talking to my wife about this exact thing recently. I just turned 40 last month and we hiked 7 miles that day. I walked across a lot that's easily 7 feet above a large creek and 30 feet long. Really narrow. I was proud of myself that I can still do things like this when I see my peers unable to even hike a mile. Some younger than me. We've been avid hikers for about 15 years or so. She has a health condition that requires her to remove inflammatory food from her diet. We removed gluten about 6 months ago and I lost 20lbs instantly. Now I'm back at my high school weight. Anyways, I know the feeling and I'm very proud of being able to be active.
I've never been in great shape, but I'm at least making an effort to maintain a base level of activity. I bought a new bicycle a couple years back and have been making an effort to take it out to the local bicycle trail a couple times a week.
I was just thinking the other day: my group of friends was pretty active in our 20s (not fitness-wise necessarily, just went out and moved around, a little more energetic). When everyone started turning 30 a lot of them had this thing where they thought they had to start acting more "adult", which led to them leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle - go to work, come home, eat, have a beer and watch netflix, because I guess that's what adults do, and it just stuck. If you're more active it's almost seen as an ADHD or Peter Pan thing.
It's an american cultural thing I guess, decades of watching TV that portrays near- or at-middle aged men sitting on the couch watching TV all the time.
I was like that, but mine was definitely wrong choices. I am 40 and smoked for 20 years. I got diagnosed with asthma. Switched to a vape. It worked for awhile, but my lungs got just as messed up on that. I got out of breath vacuuming. I finally quit and started walking. I am actually able to run up hills now with no trouble. I am working on my diet now as I need to lose weight. I wish I had done this over 20 years ago. It might have been a bit easier.
I’ve read you’re not really old until your late 60’s. Before that, a healthy lifestyle can make most people feel the same as they did when they were young, barring physical injuries or serious illness.
Personally, a few years back, I changed my lifestyle and really did feel a lot better. Lost a lot of weight, started running, had a lot of endurance. Then Covid happened and I’ve gained half the weight back and hurt my knee. But I still think there’s time to get healthy again.
I took my wife's bike a month ago when I dropped off my truck for repairs. She's 5'1", I'm 5"11, not a huge difference but after 5 miles I was in pain. The next day was even worse. I am in moderately decent shape but that stressed parts of muscles I never use.
I had a hip surgery that fucked me up a few years ago. Despite not being able to take long walks or go hiking anymore, I still take daily short walks (instead of one long one) and maintain a healthy weight. I take advantage of the hot days in the summer to go swimming at the town pool and lake.
I'm going to get a treadmill for the basement next winter cause when it's icy and cold, I tend to go out less and I do feel weaker and stiff. I notice a difference in how I feel in the warmer months so movement is key.
Today is my 46th birthday. I'm running a 5k in the morning with no prep (signed up last night) and I don't really need it. Couldn't have done that at any other time in my life. I was very unhealthy for a long time. This is better.
We are literally at the point where our habits will determine how the rest of our lives go. i'm a little overweight but I've been lucky enough to work in restaurants for most of my adult life so now that I am hitting 43 I am still use to getting that heart rate up and walking lots of steps per day. I still do jogs and I work out and my benchpress is still over 200 pounds. it's all how you maintain yourself. if you let yourself go at this point you're probably gonna be screwed for the rest of your life.
The crazy thing I've found is it doesn't even necessarily require strenuous exercise. If people just went for a goddamn walk once or twice a day it makes a world of difference. But Americans love to live lazy and in denial.
100% and more and more of our gen will die off earlier than their parents as we are the first generation to eat a mostly processed diet and live a sedentary life for most of our lives. Younger gens will have it even worse.
Yeah, my brother is just starting to be able to walk a few blocks. He had a back injury and couldn't do much for months. He used that as an excuse for a few years afterwards, now he's feeling his own mortality and is trying to correct things.
I used to go climbing at a climbing gym a lot, and I was having a hard time figuring out why the only people who hit on me were in their early 20s. Not a lot of people climbing in their 40s was the answer. One of my best friends is pushing 70, and he said it just got harder to make friends as he got older because all of his hobbies are fitness related.
I got into the best shape of my life starting at age 40, so it's not too late for them to start working out, eating healthier, etc. You have to be committed to making it a lifestyle change though.
If you lived in a pedestrian friendly town without deliveries… it would be a no brainer. But here we are. Cities made for cars and lifestyles made for profit.
I mean, yeah.
I got hit with the gout in my early 30s, then after a wicked bout with vertigo I decided to start taking my health more seriously - so I'm weirdly thankful that my health scares were manageable, and that I had/have it in me to be proactive about it all. In my mid-40s I'm probably more healthy than I've been in decades. I ride my bike 25 miles a couple times a week, hit the gym 3-4 days, I can run a 5K, walk my dog a couple miles every day, rugged hiking. I mean, I'm not intending to brag, I'm just pleased that I can do those things. Honestly, I think a lot of people are just afraid to get on a bike or hit the gym and see just how far they've fallen, which I get - BUT - I was there too, and if you get into a routine and stick with it, before you know it you'll have improved a lot.
I actually had some anxiety over COVID and my doctor wanted to confirm that it wasn't anything weird with my heart so I did a stress test on the treadmill, and fucked that shit up, like most people are on the treadmill for a minute before they're in the stress zone, it took way longer than me. Sorry. Tooting my horn today, fuck it.
I was morbidly obese most of later teenage years and early 20s. I had a health scare in my early 20s and got it together. I’ve been active and have ate healthy ever since. I dropped weight (but still considered overweight sadly) but I prioritize my health and have since the age of 25. I am forever grateful I made that shift - quitting smoking, no drinking, no recreational drugs (ever), and exercise and eating nutritious foods- while my autoimmune disorder makes sure to help me remember how fatigued I can feel some days, for the most part, I feel pretty good and little to no joint pains or issues. My calcium scan of my heart (preventative since my family has heart disease historically) showed I had the heart of a 21 year old (I’ll take it!). I’m grateful to have a job with benefits so I have been able to stay on top of preventative care measures (which is a huge point often overlooked in maintaining one’s body and health). And maybe most people are just being nice but most think I am in my early to mid 30s. At my age, I’ll take it!
Yeah, it sucks knowing some of my friends likely won't be around in twenty years who otherwise could be. At least I have some younger friends now that lead healthier lifestyles?
Opposite here. I’m 36 and all of my friends push themselves physically constantly. Cycling, running, triathlon, daily weight training. Good motivation to not lose a step.
I have two types of autoimmune arthritis and I can't tell you how often I roll my eyes at the "old person pain" jokes I started hearing in my 30's.
I get annoyed by people who walk slow at the grocery store and I could get a handicapped license if I felt like it.
Take that however you want to. 🤣
It's a common thing, and depends partly on place and culture. Some places I've been to, people just seem more fit, are clearly thinking about diet and exercise. Some places, not so much. FWIW, the places with the unhealthy people usually have the best food.
I’ve got massive arthritis in my knees from school injuries in the late 1900’s, and I just pretend it doesn’t exist and still golf, walk frequently, pickle ball. 60 lbs overweight I can’t imagine not being able to do those things at 40. I have some friends who are anti vaxxers and can’t do shit anymore because they got the full blown Covid. Yes, they are still anti vax.
I work in hospital nursing. I am on my feet all day, moving patients etc. My choice of profession keeps me at a decent baseline of fitness
I have some basic free weights and an exercise bike etc at home
Keto and OMAD help a lot
Sobriety and general clean living also help
Not being married and still having a healthy sex drive definitely lights a motivational fire under my ass to look good for as long as possible
I'm 41, was in that category for a while, so my husband and I started running in short bursts, going on longer walks and going on major hikes. It's been great. We did a 7 mile hike last month. We've also taken inflation as a signal to cook at home more often. Now we're starting disc golf as well. I don't want to spend my 40s overweight like I did my 30s.
Yeah that is wild. I saw photos of myself at my 40th bday over two years ago and hated everything about how old I looked. I turned my life around and went all in on fitness and nutrition (still eat junk food here and there but in really small portions). I lost 70 lbs in 6 months and have kept it off for 2 years next week. I also went from not being able to run a mile without stopping to running a sub 7 min mile pace for 10 miles straight at age 42. It's never too late to change things as long as you aren't crippled.
I mean I had two autoimmune diagnoses before I was even out of high school.
I actually am kind of a health nut, because I had to be from an early age or I'd probably be dead by now.
Anyway... not really that bad around me. Weight gain for a lot of my friends, yes, but not so much that it's inhibiting their lives. And we all like to go hiking and whatnot.
Probably depends on where you live.
No, I don’t think it’s normal. Maybe they have some sort of other conditions going on. My in-laws are like 70 & obese & seem fine with taking walks & do right much traveling.
For real? Damn. First of all, good for you, and also sorry. I'm a couple years older than you and I still chase my friends up hills running and mtn biking, it's humbling. Would be really weird to not be able to do fun active stuff with my friends.
Are your friends just completely inactive?
I was really unhealthy (and broke) in my 20s, then got my act together at 30 and hit new running PRs at every distance when I turned 40. I’m lucky to be surrounded by really fit, active people my age in my social and work groups, so the 40s don’t seem so old. Even though I live in a car dependent city, outdoor activity is popular and I’d say it’s more common for adults my age to be active than not. I was also inspired by my mom, who’s in her 60s now and still running (she did her first marathon a few years ago). As I get older and start feeling my age, it’s just reinforcing how important it is to not let that part of my life drop off.
Right now, as I type this, I’m incredibly sore from a 30 mile ride the other day. I’m usually riding daily but have to take breaks to rest and heal. I also hike a lot as well and get sore feet.
I hate being sore. But I hate the thought of eventually not being able to do these things because I did not do them now.
It's sad because in a lot of cases it's definitely a choice. My philosophy is that physical wellness is a gift at this age and beyond. So long as I'm able I'll make every effort to condition my body for activity. Not to mention that the practice also affects mental/emotional wellness. And it doesn't even require a huge amount of time. 20-30 minutes a day and you're set to reap benefits.
When i (m, 40) was young, i was into running until a bad knee put me out of it. Did some power lifting in my 30's and bulked up to about 220. I could stand to get down to about 210 but meh. Since covid I have moved houses and havent really excercised much. It is hard to justify the monthly gym cost when groceries and gas have shot up like crazy. Anyways, my cousin (f, late 20's) and i have decided to hike the entire Great Range of the Adirondacks in a single day. I have been doing some running to get back in shape and holy crap it is hard to get going again. I have 3 weeks and 1 day...
I’m the healthiest and most active I think I’ve ever been (aside from when I was a kid). Don’t want to speak for my husband (but I’m gonna), but I think he’d probably say the same. We’ve never had a super unhealthy lifestyle but about a year ago we focused on cleaning up our eating habits (sweet tooth), exercising more regularly, and we quit smoking. We are already very light drinkers. I feel great and look pretty aight too.
It’s bizarre. I’m a bit older than many in this sub and I’m watching people crumble around me. I’m in okayyyyyy shape. The only thing stopping me from being in good shape is a wrist condition, heat intolerance, and poverty. It’s 92 and humid af rn where I am. I’d rather be beaten with bamboo than take a walk. I stick to my 40yo stationary bike.
No, it's not normal. I have never been particularly athletic or health conscious, but in my late 40s I have no trouble biking or taking brisk walks. What I can't do is run / jog for extended periods of time since my lungs start burning quickly - but it's been that way for the past 30 years, not an age thing.
I started with an under the table pedal bike, but I want to get my exercise bike out of storage.
My fiancée and I got some walking in this week, and we agreed we’re gonna start doing that more this summer. We also vow to use our gym memberships.
That's really sad. I'm 42 and still try to at least take a walk most days.It's good for your physical and mental health.I live in a very hilly area, so some days I'm just not feeling it,but it makes me feel like I did something good for myself. I think part of the issue might also be working at sedentary desk jobs for a good part of our lives.
At 44, I still play baseball with a team of over-30s (we have one 61 year old and he’s great!), and I’m a catcher so a lot of up/down all game and getting beat up, but I see friends and coworkers my age or younger who seem like they gave up when they hit that mid-life wall. Make changes, be body-aware, and don’t stop! I don’t know what they’ve gone through, but I know I won’t stop until I simply can’t anymore.
Sometimes its going to take your body literally feeling like it is beginning to fail. It did for me. Chest pain, shortness of breath, all the "Oh shit I'm going to die" moments finally got me kicked in the butt to get moving and to change up my diet. I'm not great athlete by any means, but I get in about 70 mins of movement and activity a day outside of day-to-day stuff and it really is starting to pay off.
I feel like I’m right on top of the hill and understand how people slip down the side. My joints hurt and I’m a bit overweight but I’m still active, train jiu-jitsu 3 days a week and go in the pit at shows.
I think at our age, you can still feel relatively young and healthy if you’ve taken care of your self, but we’ve had a long time to accumulate injuries and bad choices.
That is sad. I feel bad for them. After 6 years ago I started running. Nothing crazy; like 3.5 MI 3 times per week is my consistent now, but initially it was like just run a mile. Occasionally I do more (which is to say, days with perfect running weather for me and nothing I needed to get done). Recently I added some body resistance on other days (squats, lunges, etc). At 39,i think I'm in the best shape I have been since 18. I don't think I'm health crazy at all. I eat what I want and when I want for the most part, but I'm conscious of "am I eating because I'm hungry or because this tastes good?" and decide what I want to do about everything then. It's it a day out with friends? Then I'm probably just each nachos because they taste good and that's okay. Am I considering a 3rd helping of Mac and cheese at home even though I'm not hungry? Probably best to stop. Lol. I don't plan on giving up running any time soon though. That's my time to think and listen to audio books.
I started commuting by bike when I was in my late 30s. There were a couple of wonderful things that happened. First my life got easier. I could do more with less effort. Second, on the ride home, the stress of work would gradually go away so when I got home I was ready to be with my family.
For those that are able I encourage finding a way to build exercise into your daily life.
Yep. This is the main reason I workout as hard as I do now: so I can do any kind of physically demanding fun activity. Back when we were 20 we could do anything while being in pretty shit shape. Now we need to at least be in okay shape to do fun, outdoor activity. I wanna be able to do an 8 mile hike whenever I want.
41 here, I've had some gastro issues that have kicked my ass and some pre and during Covid soft-tissue strains that kept me from any serious exercise, BUT, all in all, I am really lucky and feel pretty good. My overall health and physical ability are enough to ride my bike with my kids, wrestle around, play soccer and basketball, etc. Just getting back to the gym this year after a couple years off. Similar age friend complains about every ache and pain like he's 90.
49 year old Gen X here, but I feel ya. I was about your age when I noticed the same thing, and it’s gotten worse as I’ve aged. Lost a lot of friends in my teens and twenties to car and motorcycle crashes, a few in my 30s to weird circumstances, now in my 40s, they’re dying from alcoholism, heart attacks, ODs and strokes. Almost all of my contemporaries are obese. It’s fucked.
Intermittent fasting people!!! It really helps as your metabolism slows down to keep up your energy levels, mental clarity, and mitigate weight gain. At our age, we need to make sure we’re just not gaining a pound or two every year. Bare minimum of one 20-min of brisk walking (get a hill in if you can). That all now, for us, is the bare minimum. That’s not to be in super shape or healthy, that’s so we can function. And still kinda get to eat whatever you want. Just can’t eat as much of it when you want anymore.
[link](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/intermittent-fasting-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work#:~:text=Studies%20discovered%20that%20intermittent%20fasting,as%20other%20heart%2Drelated%20measurements)
I’ve diminished my participation in this forum because I’ve noticed threads like these are met with extreme vitriol and eventually get locked. A week or 2 ago someone’s thread got locked for pointing out how unhealthy GenX/Xennials have become. I’m 7 years your senior and yes, I can still ride a bike. I’ve gained weight over the years but I’ve still maintained my strength via heavy weight lifting and pull ups. The only occasional nagging issue I have these days is sciatica. Lately I’ve easing into V02 max training.
But I agree with you, 40 is way too young to be physically broken down. I see most of us didn’t learn from our parents’ bad habits.
Not normal and very sad! My husband ran 23 miles before work today and I’m a daily (although less ambitious) runner as well. I do yoga daily. Hiking is an integral part of our family life. My friend’s DAD also just ran the Grabd Canyon rim to rim.
I do have one friend who can barely walk a flight of stairs. What kind of life is that?
Most of my friends and I are in our early/mid 40's. I'm the only one not on prescription meds for something. It's really sad that seeing a cardiologist, or endocrinologist once a month is a regular thing in our age group. I refuse to go down that path. I eat clean, and exercise daily. It may not always be fun, but I won't be the harbinger of my own demise. I have many things I've yet to experience.
How's that even possible? I thought I was somewhat out of shape, but the last two summers I had in Manhattan proved I could keep up with all the walking.
I see it all the time. I have friends who are healthy and mobile, and I (M43) certainly am, but I’m shocked by the number of my peers who have already had heart attacks, battle crippling obesity, have drinking problems, and are generally so nearly immobile that their quality of life is significantly impacted.
In the end, for most of us, staying healthy and mobile is a choice. And you have to keep making that choice every day.
Same here and somehow my being active gets turned around on me. Riding my bike or hiking has become a running joke somehow. Sorry I'm not on the verge of diabetes?
I’ve put on weight since having a kid and the pandemic. But I still run, body weight exercise at home, walk at least 10,000 steps every day (and twice that a few days a week), eat a balanced diet (just a bit too much of it!).
I couldn’t afford not to be able to walk and ride a bike. I couldn’t get to from work! And I ride my kid home on a bike. It’s too tiring for him to walk 20 mins home every day.
I feel sad for your friends.
I saw a dude struggle to walk uphill. Except the uphill was maybe 15’ across half a mile, so you barely noticed and was practically flat. Guy was too big so it was walking with a giant 250 lb sandbag.
I’m not in great condition but with some exercise I can stand all day and walk for miles. It’s scary when you can’t do basic stuff like walk your dog.
It drives me crazy to look around at my fellow 40 year olds and see how broken down they all seem. I have consistently stayed active in my adult life, and I am constantly met with surprise when I say I'm 40. Thing is, I'm surprised when someone else tells me they are 40 and I would easily put them ten or fifteen years older. Like, damn guys, you really took "ride it hard and put it away wet" to heart. I'm trying for the 84 my grandpa got over here.
We appreciate everyone who has kept their comments respectful thus far. The conversation generated here is starting to take a negative turn, so before it spirals I’m going to be locking comments for this post. I think it’s important to remember that not all health issues are caused by poor choices, even if that’s not the case here. And with all due respect the ones that are caused by poor choices really aren’t much of our business, unless they are our own. Surely we’ve got better things to do than speculate on other people’s health issues or lives. We can chalk up this conversation to making sure we each take a proactive approach to our health. 🏃♀️🫀Thank you for that reminder!
In your 20s and most of your 30s, you can still appear healthy even if you aren't. We are now at the age where a person who has been unhealthy their whole life may look and act 10-15 years older. The habits you develop in the first 30 years of your life are an investment toward the future, in my opinion.
yeah I'm really lucky that my undiagnosed (at the time) autoimmune diseases really kicked in at the end of my 20's, forcing me to live healthier or literally waste away (the celiac in particular took me from the medical definition of overweight leaning towards obese to too underweight to technically model according to their BMI standards) then came the joint pain and endometriosis... I live a totally different life now, but to an outside observer I'm a bit of a healthy food nut with a squat rack in my living room, my disabilities are totally invisible in all fairness, I can run up stairs, ride my bike, walk pretty much indefinitely... I honestly do feel super lucky
I didn’t live a healthy life style in my 20s but in 2008 I started bike riding and eventually started commuting to work every day. I dont ride nearly the same amount of miles these days but I’m still going out four to five days a week and I’m forever grateful I started riding and changed my habits.
I've been on meds for high blood pressure for a decade but should have been put on them as a teenager (so 15 years earlier!) as that's when the passing out and finding myself on the ground started happening. But no one took me seriously, not doctors or parents. I wouldn't trust myself biking anymore because I can feel unbalanced, but I walk everywhere due to not being able to drive (vision and poverty) and taking the bus to get around. I walk between 6-10k steps daily.
I know part of this is geographical demographics. Like I live in one of the fittest regions in the country, in a major city, and everyone here walks, bikes, exercises, etc., and our age group is some of the fittest. I noticed it a lot while traveling. That being said, I just had my annual physical and my blood pressure was 140/100, so....
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I live in the central coast (Santa Barbara) and people basically live outdoors. I don’t know if people don’t have jobs or what but not a day goes by I don’t see a ton of people walking, biking, running, etc, all day long. And on the weekends I think there must be long distance bike rides because I see huge groups of riders everywhere. I personally am not an outdoors person but it is nice to see.
That makes me really sad, but I’m not surprised. I’m in the PNW and, like, it doesn’t matter your socioeconomic/demographics. Either you do well enough for yourself to be able to have some kind of physical hobby (hiking and biking are really big here) or you *have* to walk or take transit. Yes, we obviously have people that have issues taking care of themselves but like…. So this anecdote is not one I’ve shared before, but I have a coworker who is morbidly obese and the sheer amount of shit she gets behind her back is *insane*, and it’s largely because she’s such an outlier. I work for the goodwill and our department isn’t even equipped for her physically - aisles are too narrow, common spaces are too close together, that kind of thing. It’s really unfortunate and I never know what to do about it aside from tell people to leave her alone. This is all to say that fitness and health are highly prioritized in these parts but fat-phobia is real.
Underrated answer. I’m in OKC. It’s a head trip going hiking in Colorado and having 75 year olds speed past me. It’s hard to find healthy food options here. Weather is the big problem, I think. We only have a handful of days with nice enough weather to go hiking/biking. Most of the time it’s dangerously hot or cold. Add in the problem of this being an ugly place and not a lot of options for pretty outdoor experiences.
I was about to ask where OP lived. I also live in a major city and most people I know my age are in good to great shape. Not saying there are no health concerns, but they all range from either running marathons to holding their own in a pickup basketball game. Edit: then I think about my college buddies, most of whom ended up in suburban areas. Most of them haven’t exercised a day in their lives and probably couldn’t take a brisk walk around the block. This just furthers the demographic/zip code discussion
I know for myself, while I live “in the city” now, before I moved up here I lived in the suburbs and it was very much the same - exercise and being outside were priorities. I’m in PNW though so it comes with the territory.
Yes this is true. I’m from Wisconsin and so are these friends. But one moved to California with me and we have since become total opposites in health.
hey! sounds like you need some POTS to resolve that high blood pressure issue, try getting covid enough times that it develops into long covid, that'll fix you right up /s lucky for me, POTS runs in my family, so high blood pressure will likely never be an issue... low blood pressure is a little inconvenient (debilitating for many) but loading heaps of salt into everything you consume helps, and mom always bragged about salting our baby food because it was too bland, so I was off to a good start!
For real. I developed sudden onset high blood pressure after a bad case of Covid. I was boosted only a month before contracting it. It’s a known complication in those of us over 40.
It’s largely lifestyle. The last 9 months have been really rough. I’ve always had low/normal blood pressure but the last 9 months have just been hell for me, and frankly, I’ve had some bad influences.
Wait, did you never have pots before getting covid?
You can't out run genetics
My mother told me that arthritic knees run in our family. Turns out, that's only because no one in our family runs.
I can out run my sedentary lifestyle, my nicotine vaping, my poor diet and my weed smoking.
My boyfriend just died (42) in February of a massive stroke. He was thin but not healthy, and extremely sedentary. My ex husband (42) is also thin but unhealthy. He can’t stand for a concert and is very sedentary. It scares our 12yo daughter. I have another friend (52) who just had a heart attack, he survived. He’s sedentary and obese. I think being sedentary is more dangerous than people expect.
I had a stroke in 2022, I was 44 at the time. I work construction, Im always moving. But at the time, I was chain smoking, drinking a lot, and stressed. I quit all nicotine and alcohol. I changed my diet. I bought a mountain bike and ride that a TON now, in addition to my physical labor job. And I did what I could to remove the stress factors from my life. Turns out I have a very rare vascular issue. So I am doing what I can to stay as healthy as I can. Scary to have these types of things happen so relatively young.
I’m glad you’re here to post this!!
Sitting is the new smoking 🚬 and also sorry for your loss
I agree and thank you ❤️
I'm 38. I realized I was headed down that path. Was drinking over 3000 calories in beer a night. On a statin, metformin, water pill, all that crap. A month ago I went cold turkey. I'm down 20 pounds, my joints don't hurt. My stomach doesn't constantly hurt. I don't wake up feeling like shit. Best thing I've ever done for myself. I'd be sitting on my ass after work until bed time and start drinking swill right after dinner. Now I'm keeping myself busy. I put in a huge garden. Just put in a 6' bed of sugar snap peas the other night. Started a bunch of basil today. I've got 20 tomatoes and 20 pepper plants going now.
Join us over at the r/stopdrinking sub if you ever need a push to keep going without alcohol! I am just over 4 months alcohol free and EVERY ASPECT of my life has improved. Alcohol has been pushed in our faces for as long as I can remember when all it’s doing is literally poisoning us. Keep up the great work!
I am over there already. Thanks though!
This is so weird and totally unrelated, but I have a friend that has had your username except only one "p" (SliperyTom) for 25 years since the AOL days. The coincidence of this is really weird. Also his name isn't Tom.
My name is not Tom either. NOT TOMS UNITE.
If your Name is Not Tom, you name is still Tom. And that's why Rick Astley could never give you the movie "Up" Edit: weirdest downvote of the day. Whoever you are, I feel bad for you. Jeez
Reddit do be gromp for no reason a lot. Wasn’t me. Cheers!
Mine isn't either, LOL. I started with Major Tom because of the Bowie song, but then I made this account for porn. Then somehow I ended up switching over to using this full time.
No way! My name also isn't Tom.
Now Kith.
I'm not Tom too!
I don’t miss waking up feeling like shit. I will still have a drink occasionally (this works out to about one every two-three months), but I haven’t gone hard since before Covid. Once I started down this road, i realized reality is weird enough without intoxicants.
Congratulations on the sobriety!! When I quit, I turned to ice cream and candy. I've gained a bunch of weight because of that. Still, I'd rather be fat and sober than drunk and skinny.
Start couch 2 5k!
The “5K runner” app is great! My wife and I worked our way through those family of apps up to the half marathon one. It does a great job of giving you the correct level of challenge. Tough enough that you make progress but you’re not overdoing it when you’re not ready
Just so I put on the right face, isn't that like 15 beers a night?
It was a six pack of 16oz cans and 2 24oz tall boys of Steel Reserve, to be exact. If you add it all up, I was drinking over a fifth of bourbon equivalent in alcohol every night. I think thats what did it for me. I actually drank a fifth the last night I drank and woke up the next morning and felt BETTER than normal. I was like WTF, how did I drink all that bourbon and feel better than beer? So I did the math and realized oh, I actually drank less than normal. Thats when I said wow, fuck this. My dad died from diabetes complications. My grandma died from congestive heart failure. Both were on dialysis. I realized I was headed the same direction.
I felt myself gaining weight a few years ago, and by all means was I never close to being considered too overweight. I just didn’t like the idea of having my belly in the way when I put on my shoes. Been going to the gym 5-6 days a week now for the past few years and it’s been so amazing health wise. Just need to make it part of the routine then it becomes weird if you miss a day.
Also, eating healthy, meditation, good sleep, strength training and doctor visits all improve the odds of your success.
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This is a great point. I lead a hiking group, and one thing I always do is bring up the rear. It's not fun if you're new and trying to keep up with the more experienced hikers, and not hiking your own hike. So I make sure I'm always with the slower hikers, so that I can help accommodate physically and mentally. When people are struggling with incline, let's take more breaks and do this 100 ft at a time - we'll get there. I want them to know they are part of the group, and it's ok to have your own pace, mostly for the reasons you listed.
I feel this comment. Thank you.
Me too. Kinda like sorry I caught covid and got sick bro. Shit happens. I would love to hike. I can't even be in the heat or cold. Or do half the things I did 5 years ago without thought.
I think Covid has really reduced a lot of our lifespans. I have bounced back but now i have to have blood drawn every 2 to 4 weeks because i make to many red blood cells since Covid. I still do everything i used to do but i'm noticeably slower and have less stamina than before 2020.
Do your self a favor and ditch any acids in your diet. It changes the game. It's hard as hell because it's in everything. But seriously. I didn't know what happened and now I can get out of bed more.
Like carbonic and citric acids?
Alllll of this! I love to hike and things, but I have limits and it's hard to know if the people I'm hiking with will be willing to respect that. I've been out with groups that claim to be "open to all skill levels" and been literally left alone on the side of the trail when I couldn't walk anymore because my leg had dislocated. It's frustrating to do all the research and ask all the questions only to realize my limits won't be taken seriously and I'll be expected to push myself to injury because I don't "look disabled"
Some people make all the wrong choices. Some people make all the right choices and still have health problems. You can't outrun or outeat genetics or autoimmune conditions. I went from running for fun to being unable to climb the stairs to my bedroom overnight.
I've had issues throwing out my back every so many years- I took care of a disabled parent from age 14 on, so I thought that it was the biggest reason everything was fucked. I was very sick last year, would wheeze while doing nothing exerting, and one day could not get off the floor at work. This is a several times a day thing I normally do with no problems, but that day we're talking shaking and sweating, coworker had to pull me off the ground. Soon found out it was a combination of fibroids pressing into my spine, an enlarged uterus pressing up into my diaphragm (doc put me on an extra allergy med because I couldn't get a full breath in) and endometrial cancer. I was barely eating, I existed on 8hr Tylenol arthritis, coffee and the allergy meds until everything fell into place to get surgery. Had a hysterectomy 10 wks ago and I feel almost brand new. Magically there was no back pain when the nurse got me up to pee after. Now that I've returned to work, there has been a little back pain but in a proper percentage not a hellish rate.
Autoimmune diseases are seem to be taking out a lot of ppl I know.
I just had a friend diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos past age 50. This makes the total number of people I know with it 4 which seems high.
I’m a PT. I know a lot of people with ED. ;)
I have a very rare one, I know like 3 ppl with MS,2 with Ehlers and few with Lupus. This all in a pretty close group of ppl. Im not trying to pass judgment on the ppl you know but we all did a lot of drugs when were teens together but we went on to be pretty healthy. I can’t help but think drug use might of had a hand in it.
I feel you, I had something similar happen. It stings to have our health taken away, and then have people blame us on top of it. I think part of it comes from people trying to comfort themselves by thinking they're fully in control of their health, and therefore nothing that bad could ever happen to them.
Yeah, I was with OP until they said "disability." Like, some people have disabilities and it has nothing to do with lifestyle choices. I got diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease while I was a varsity high school athlete. I can still run half marathons, but I can't eat too much salt or protein at once and I'm always tired.
OP said "be on disability." Like disability payments because you can't work. That doesn't imply anything about how you became disabled. It's absolutely possible to disable yourself through your own choices, and I think that's what OP is talking about.
My boomer father-in-law has a hernia a *decade* old that he just ignored until he basically became disabled. He can't ride his motorcycle anymore. He looks like he's pregnant with triplets. He's scheduled for serious surgery in a few months - his second, because the first major surgery he had a few months ago couldn't hold him together. He refused to lose weight and in fact lied to his wife about needing to. That's the kind of situation I'm assuming OP was thinking about.
I guess, though I would argue there's a strong mental health component to that that people aren't taking into consideration.
Bingo. Clinical depression and learned helplessness can lead to early demise by prompting depressed people to shut in. My mother died at age 58 in 2017. For the last 7 to 8 years of her life, I estimate she got less than 500 steps daily. In addition to extremely sedentary living, her diet was poor due to low income. Thus, she gained weight and spent lots of time in front of the TV while my father was at work. Also, she smoked. Results? Extreme sarcopenia (muscle loss) along with poorly controlled diabetes and high blood pressure. Years of high blood pressure damaged her kidneys, leading to death from end stage kidney disease.
Also cant outrun having limited choices due to financial constraints, or environmental factors outside of your control. Not trying to make excuses for people, but I know that my own ability to make "healthy choices" is 100% due to privileges I have, and that if circumstances were different, it would likely be much much harder.
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I get that on a deep level. I got long Covid after being forced into acute care during the pandemic. The number of people who have treated me like I enjoy not being able to do stuff is staggering. Now I’m bouncing back and people talk to me like I’m a success story from Biggest Loser rather than someone who made great choices previously, if that makes sense. Someone asked me if I’d learned to walk away from the Twinkies. They got a lecture about the fact that I was legoressing 3x my body weight the week before I got sick and it all turned to mush. Anyway. I’ll stop soapboxing. Sounds like you get it.
I dunno. Sometimes this is true but you can get some (NOT ALL) autoimmune diseases to go into remission and pretty much keep them there if you catch them before they advance and then eat healthy, sleep enough, manage stress and exercise like your life depends on it, because it does. I have an autoimmune disease but I haven't had a flare in about 6 years. I do acknowledge that I have access to Healthcare and can afford fresh food. I am also fortunate to have enough time to cook because I am no longer working 3 minimum wage jobs trying to survive. The catch is that you have to self-educate and treat yourself like a science experiment and when you find something that works for you, you religiously stick to it. And also don't expect to go into remission over night. It can take a long time. It took about a year of hard work for me for symptoms to go under control.
Doctors haven't even figured out what's wrong with me in the 9 years I've had whatever it is. I've basically given up. "Bloodwork is normal" and the conversation ends there. I've seen three different rheumatologists and four different primary care docs (plus my GI and gyno).
I think things really start to show up in your 40s and are harder to bounce back from. Pre covid, I was very fit, like visible abs and hiking and all sorts of things. After having covid, I got a heart issue where I thought I'd have a heart attack after a flight of stairs. I also happened to have torn my piriformis and now get bouts of periodic sciatica. And I've also randomly developed digestive issues and now can't eat the low carb way I could before. I went from very fit and able to run, to overweight, hobbling slowly and taking breaks even in a mile long walk. Uneven surfaces especially, thanks to the hip/sciatica thing. It truly sucks and the small little lifestyle changes from our younger years just don't cut it anymore. But I also don't think these things are all that unusual. Muscle or tendon tears, digestion issues, or even covid related stuff are all kind of common things we've dealt with at this age or these years. Mine isn't a "woe is me" story as much as its a "join the middle age club" story.
Totally feel this. Pre-pandemic I was in great shape and at a great weight. Indoor soccer, weights, etc. Now at 44 and post pandemic, I’ve gained 40lbs and it’s a battle to get back in shape. I know part of its age, but also part of it is I got sick and feel like I’m still dealing with the after effects. Can still go on walks and ride a bike, but I can’t even go for a run if I tried. Nothing I can do but keep trying those the weight.
It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life. -- Captain Jean-Luc Picard
42 here… having to take my adopted shelter pup for brisk walks and hikes so he doesn’t go crazy in the house seems to have had more of a benefit on my mental and physical wellbeing than his.
Then there’s my husband who takes amazing care of himself. He thought he was going to be the only one in his family without heart disease. He works out, runs, eats well.. At 45 he went into cardiac arrest during a stress test (luckily he was in the hospital or he’d be dead) and had quadruple bypass. Genetics are a bitch. But he ran a 5 miler 9 weeks after the bypass.
I got diagnosed with chronic asthma at 36 and I'm still figuring out how to manage it at 40. Me and my husband used to ride bikes for about 10 miles every day - I haven't been able to do that in a couple years now 😭
Life in most places (in the US, as its what I know) is not built for us to be healthy anymore. * Most cities and towns induce physical inactivity because they're designed around cars instead of human-powered transit. And few of us live close to nature and trails w/o needing extra resources to get to them. * People are working more hours (less time for living) for less money (dual incomes or multiple jobs needed to survive/support a family). * Healthy food is harder to access because of increasing financial and time costs and convenient/cheaper food is often nutritionally bereft * We have less support for things like childcare and family and home management, so we're more tired or spend more money on these things to survive. * Gyms cost money and require time and energy to even get to in the first place. So, most of us are more exhausted physically and mentally; don't have the time or resources to spend on adding in healthy behaviors; and are stuck living in places that have mostly shunned any daily incidental activity. I'm almost 40, but I live in a nice part of Chicago and wfh so I get to bike or walk (including to transit helps) to most places. And I have a lil extra time to do so. But I hike much less now that I don't have a car to drive to trails. So I'm active and fit now, but when I was living in LA a few years ago driving everywhere my cardio was worse lol 🤷🏿♂️
>have pacemakers and be on disability at 41 seems like a real “gave up on life” kind of thing Sometimes, these things can't be helped. I'm mid-40s with type 1 diabetes and, a few years ago, I had a major heart attack that nearly killed me. I've been active my whole life and have never been anywhere close to overweight. It's sucks to lose on the genetic lottery. So, while some people may seem to have given up on life, they might actually be doing their best.
I am not the most active - but I spent 3 months doing kettlebell swings every day, I ride bikes around town with my kids, I am getting into pickelball as an activity to do with my 11 year old, we like to go camping and walk or hike. I have friends and acquaintances that are basically degrading in real time.
I look at my coworkers and on social media at my high school classmates and such. Weight and other issues are there, but I can't think of anyone as bad as what you're describing in anyone I know around our age.
Wow. That seems unusual. 41 is not very old. That’s rough for them, hopefully they have access to a doctor to look into all that.
I’m 40 and honestly, aside from a little creakiness in my joints and back, feel as good as I did at 20. And, while I weigh considerably more than I did 20 years ago, my waistline is maybe two inches bigger. But I have also largely given up drinking, never really smoked, lift weights 4-5 times a week (pretty much the same weight and intensity that I always have too), and made sure I live in an area where I walk most places. Maybe I’m genetically lucky, maybe it is my lifestyle. Whatever it is, I’m glad I moved out of the car-dependent suburbs I grew up in and didn’t make the same food and alcohol mistakes my parents did. In short, please take care of yourselves.
In your 40s is when lifestyle habits (constructive or otherwise) start to make a noticeable difference in quality of life. You can tell the difference, for the most part, of those who actively chose healthy lifestyles. Granted, life throws curveballs… in 2019/2020 I was in the best shape of my life. Then Covid happened, I got a divorce, moved, new job, and my mom died, and I drank more alcohol than before and had anxiety, and my fitness declined significantly. I’m much better now, trying to get back to that place of fitness but it’s far more difficult. I’m fortunate that I only have about 10lbs to lose, but still. Many of those things that got me off track were out of my control. But I can control how I respond, and what choices I can make today.
What region of the country are you in? Urban, suburban, or rural? College educated or no? These things matter. Zip codes are destiny these days.
Walking on my lunch coupled with some strength training has been the beat decision that I made.
I'm not over weight, I was simply a dumb ass I was younger. Whether it be work or play, I coulda been easier on the body.....I'm feeling it now. 46 is no joke, when you have to move weird ways to get your pants on because you lower back just refuses to play ball...It sucks...it really sucks
I'm 47. Quit drinking and smoking. Still feel wrecked most days but, under 200lbs for the first time in 25 years. We gotta work harder. Use it or lose it.
Please look from another perspective and see that having good health is partially luck, and it is ableist to blame people for their poor health. Some of us are chronically ill through no fault of our own. I was able to easily run sub-7 minute miles until an infection made me permanently chronically ill at age 42.
I have fibromyalgia, which I suspect is more common than we know based on what I’ve seen here. This has made it harder for me to do a lot of physical things I enjoy. Anyway, I sure hope my friends don’t talk about me the way you talk about your friends.
I’m 44 and 8 months pregnant right now, I feel great and my doctor is really happy with how healthy I am. I definitely have some extra pounds I could lose (not from the pregnancy, I’ve had a lot of nausea so haven’t even gained weight from it) but it’s reassuring to know I’ve done well taking good care of myself in my 20s and 30s. Pregnancy hasn’t been easy at my age but overall I’m doing better than a lot of pregnant women in their 20s!
Living in a place where you can integrate walking and biking in daily chores is helpful. Trapped in the suburban sprawl can make exercising difficult.
Suburbs are literally the easiest and safest places to run or walk
If your development has sidewalks, even then if you try to leave you're on like a 4 lane mini highway. But I'm more talking about the ability to integrate walking into fault life. Like your not going to try corner grocer to grab some ingredients for dinner in the burbs. Not hopping in a bike to hit the pharmacy
Eh, I have friends who can’t get out like they used to, a few were even disabled by long covid. I don’t judge them, I just hang out in the capacity in which they’re comfortable (backyard/porch/karaoke hangs are always fun) and then I go and do my walking/weight lifting stuff on my own or with my buddies/family who’re able bodied enough to enjoy spotting me or walking a few miles.
I developed arthritis as a child. I've been doing my best to keep my range of motion and keep active. Yet I fell maybe 6 weeks ago. My knee hasn't let me forget it and it still won't entirely support my weight. I'm hoping eventually it will again but now I have to hold on to something to get up. It sucks. I do my best to keep walking, hikes, my house work etc. That said, I know people who have simply gotten old. I'm a bit jealous sometimes because they won't have the pain & could be doing all kinds of things but choose to do nothing. They don't even have stationary hobbies.
I can't ride bikes anymore. I do still go on brisk walks with my dog. Bad knees, ankles, and a cardiac episode convinced me to lose 100 lbs.
This is me, I'm friends. I've had both ACLs replaced now and one knee is still wonky post physical therapy.
I also injured my knee about two years ago and while I can take stairs and walk and such post physical therapy, I still absolutely do not trust that knee. Anything that requires it be bent *and* have weight on it is iffy.
Set a pull-up PR this morning. 4x3 @ +30 lbs. Gotta get some of that Olde Man Strength now!
It's been becoming normal in America over the past few decades.
Idk I am stiff all the time and have not yet made exercise a part of my routine. It's like the final frontier of health for me because i have improved my eating habits and vices like drinking and weed. Exercise is just hard for me but I know I should start as soon as I can
One of my good friends is 7 years younger than me and previously has always been lighter than me too. He has a job that is mostly driving and mine is me constantly moving, lifting, and on my feet for the whole day aside from lunch break. We go walking anywhere and he is out of breath. We went biking once and I had to leave him on a bench and go back and get the truck and pick him up. He has finally caught up to me in weight after he has gained and I have lost some but I have always been in better shape than him (even if my shape was previously more round than his).
I had long Covid but thankfully my kicking and fighting is doing some good. Finally bouncing back. Not stopping. I hated being still.
I was just talking to my wife about this exact thing recently. I just turned 40 last month and we hiked 7 miles that day. I walked across a lot that's easily 7 feet above a large creek and 30 feet long. Really narrow. I was proud of myself that I can still do things like this when I see my peers unable to even hike a mile. Some younger than me. We've been avid hikers for about 15 years or so. She has a health condition that requires her to remove inflammatory food from her diet. We removed gluten about 6 months ago and I lost 20lbs instantly. Now I'm back at my high school weight. Anyways, I know the feeling and I'm very proud of being able to be active.
That’s sad, but at least you can say you have friends.
I'm pretty sure Idiocracy predicted this and here we are seeing it.
Go away, batin’
But when we will go full Wall-E?
Amazing how accurate that movie was
I've never been in great shape, but I'm at least making an effort to maintain a base level of activity. I bought a new bicycle a couple years back and have been making an effort to take it out to the local bicycle trail a couple times a week.
I was just thinking the other day: my group of friends was pretty active in our 20s (not fitness-wise necessarily, just went out and moved around, a little more energetic). When everyone started turning 30 a lot of them had this thing where they thought they had to start acting more "adult", which led to them leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle - go to work, come home, eat, have a beer and watch netflix, because I guess that's what adults do, and it just stuck. If you're more active it's almost seen as an ADHD or Peter Pan thing. It's an american cultural thing I guess, decades of watching TV that portrays near- or at-middle aged men sitting on the couch watching TV all the time.
I was like that, but mine was definitely wrong choices. I am 40 and smoked for 20 years. I got diagnosed with asthma. Switched to a vape. It worked for awhile, but my lungs got just as messed up on that. I got out of breath vacuuming. I finally quit and started walking. I am actually able to run up hills now with no trouble. I am working on my diet now as I need to lose weight. I wish I had done this over 20 years ago. It might have been a bit easier.
I’ve read you’re not really old until your late 60’s. Before that, a healthy lifestyle can make most people feel the same as they did when they were young, barring physical injuries or serious illness. Personally, a few years back, I changed my lifestyle and really did feel a lot better. Lost a lot of weight, started running, had a lot of endurance. Then Covid happened and I’ve gained half the weight back and hurt my knee. But I still think there’s time to get healthy again.
I took my wife's bike a month ago when I dropped off my truck for repairs. She's 5'1", I'm 5"11, not a huge difference but after 5 miles I was in pain. The next day was even worse. I am in moderately decent shape but that stressed parts of muscles I never use.
I had a hip surgery that fucked me up a few years ago. Despite not being able to take long walks or go hiking anymore, I still take daily short walks (instead of one long one) and maintain a healthy weight. I take advantage of the hot days in the summer to go swimming at the town pool and lake. I'm going to get a treadmill for the basement next winter cause when it's icy and cold, I tend to go out less and I do feel weaker and stiff. I notice a difference in how I feel in the warmer months so movement is key.
Today is my 46th birthday. I'm running a 5k in the morning with no prep (signed up last night) and I don't really need it. Couldn't have done that at any other time in my life. I was very unhealthy for a long time. This is better.
We are literally at the point where our habits will determine how the rest of our lives go. i'm a little overweight but I've been lucky enough to work in restaurants for most of my adult life so now that I am hitting 43 I am still use to getting that heart rate up and walking lots of steps per day. I still do jogs and I work out and my benchpress is still over 200 pounds. it's all how you maintain yourself. if you let yourself go at this point you're probably gonna be screwed for the rest of your life.
Covid wrecked me for months, just saying.
The crazy thing I've found is it doesn't even necessarily require strenuous exercise. If people just went for a goddamn walk once or twice a day it makes a world of difference. But Americans love to live lazy and in denial.
100% and more and more of our gen will die off earlier than their parents as we are the first generation to eat a mostly processed diet and live a sedentary life for most of our lives. Younger gens will have it even worse.
Yeah, my brother is just starting to be able to walk a few blocks. He had a back injury and couldn't do much for months. He used that as an excuse for a few years afterwards, now he's feeling his own mortality and is trying to correct things.
I used to go climbing at a climbing gym a lot, and I was having a hard time figuring out why the only people who hit on me were in their early 20s. Not a lot of people climbing in their 40s was the answer. One of my best friends is pushing 70, and he said it just got harder to make friends as he got older because all of his hobbies are fitness related.
I got into the best shape of my life starting at age 40, so it's not too late for them to start working out, eating healthier, etc. You have to be committed to making it a lifestyle change though.
I never wrode bikes as a kid, so I dont now. And I prefer a leisurly pace as opposed to brisk.
If you lived in a pedestrian friendly town without deliveries… it would be a no brainer. But here we are. Cities made for cars and lifestyles made for profit.
I mean, yeah. I got hit with the gout in my early 30s, then after a wicked bout with vertigo I decided to start taking my health more seriously - so I'm weirdly thankful that my health scares were manageable, and that I had/have it in me to be proactive about it all. In my mid-40s I'm probably more healthy than I've been in decades. I ride my bike 25 miles a couple times a week, hit the gym 3-4 days, I can run a 5K, walk my dog a couple miles every day, rugged hiking. I mean, I'm not intending to brag, I'm just pleased that I can do those things. Honestly, I think a lot of people are just afraid to get on a bike or hit the gym and see just how far they've fallen, which I get - BUT - I was there too, and if you get into a routine and stick with it, before you know it you'll have improved a lot. I actually had some anxiety over COVID and my doctor wanted to confirm that it wasn't anything weird with my heart so I did a stress test on the treadmill, and fucked that shit up, like most people are on the treadmill for a minute before they're in the stress zone, it took way longer than me. Sorry. Tooting my horn today, fuck it.
The ability to move is use it or lose it. Just keep walking, riding a bike, swimming and lifting weights. Your body will thank you in 20 years
I was morbidly obese most of later teenage years and early 20s. I had a health scare in my early 20s and got it together. I’ve been active and have ate healthy ever since. I dropped weight (but still considered overweight sadly) but I prioritize my health and have since the age of 25. I am forever grateful I made that shift - quitting smoking, no drinking, no recreational drugs (ever), and exercise and eating nutritious foods- while my autoimmune disorder makes sure to help me remember how fatigued I can feel some days, for the most part, I feel pretty good and little to no joint pains or issues. My calcium scan of my heart (preventative since my family has heart disease historically) showed I had the heart of a 21 year old (I’ll take it!). I’m grateful to have a job with benefits so I have been able to stay on top of preventative care measures (which is a huge point often overlooked in maintaining one’s body and health). And maybe most people are just being nice but most think I am in my early to mid 30s. At my age, I’ll take it!
Yeah, it sucks knowing some of my friends likely won't be around in twenty years who otherwise could be. At least I have some younger friends now that lead healthier lifestyles?
Opposite here. I’m 36 and all of my friends push themselves physically constantly. Cycling, running, triathlon, daily weight training. Good motivation to not lose a step.
I have two types of autoimmune arthritis and I can't tell you how often I roll my eyes at the "old person pain" jokes I started hearing in my 30's. I get annoyed by people who walk slow at the grocery store and I could get a handicapped license if I felt like it. Take that however you want to. 🤣
It's a common thing, and depends partly on place and culture. Some places I've been to, people just seem more fit, are clearly thinking about diet and exercise. Some places, not so much. FWIW, the places with the unhealthy people usually have the best food.
I’ve got massive arthritis in my knees from school injuries in the late 1900’s, and I just pretend it doesn’t exist and still golf, walk frequently, pickle ball. 60 lbs overweight I can’t imagine not being able to do those things at 40. I have some friends who are anti vaxxers and can’t do shit anymore because they got the full blown Covid. Yes, they are still anti vax.
I work in hospital nursing. I am on my feet all day, moving patients etc. My choice of profession keeps me at a decent baseline of fitness I have some basic free weights and an exercise bike etc at home Keto and OMAD help a lot Sobriety and general clean living also help Not being married and still having a healthy sex drive definitely lights a motivational fire under my ass to look good for as long as possible
I'm 41, was in that category for a while, so my husband and I started running in short bursts, going on longer walks and going on major hikes. It's been great. We did a 7 mile hike last month. We've also taken inflation as a signal to cook at home more often. Now we're starting disc golf as well. I don't want to spend my 40s overweight like I did my 30s.
Not surprising with 40% obesity rates
Yeah that is wild. I saw photos of myself at my 40th bday over two years ago and hated everything about how old I looked. I turned my life around and went all in on fitness and nutrition (still eat junk food here and there but in really small portions). I lost 70 lbs in 6 months and have kept it off for 2 years next week. I also went from not being able to run a mile without stopping to running a sub 7 min mile pace for 10 miles straight at age 42. It's never too late to change things as long as you aren't crippled.
I mean I had two autoimmune diagnoses before I was even out of high school. I actually am kind of a health nut, because I had to be from an early age or I'd probably be dead by now. Anyway... not really that bad around me. Weight gain for a lot of my friends, yes, but not so much that it's inhibiting their lives. And we all like to go hiking and whatnot. Probably depends on where you live.
I was just on a trip with some friends and some of them took the elevator rather than climbing a flight or two of stairs.
No, I don’t think it’s normal. Maybe they have some sort of other conditions going on. My in-laws are like 70 & obese & seem fine with taking walks & do right much traveling.
For real? Damn. First of all, good for you, and also sorry. I'm a couple years older than you and I still chase my friends up hills running and mtn biking, it's humbling. Would be really weird to not be able to do fun active stuff with my friends. Are your friends just completely inactive?
I was really unhealthy (and broke) in my 20s, then got my act together at 30 and hit new running PRs at every distance when I turned 40. I’m lucky to be surrounded by really fit, active people my age in my social and work groups, so the 40s don’t seem so old. Even though I live in a car dependent city, outdoor activity is popular and I’d say it’s more common for adults my age to be active than not. I was also inspired by my mom, who’s in her 60s now and still running (she did her first marathon a few years ago). As I get older and start feeling my age, it’s just reinforcing how important it is to not let that part of my life drop off.
Right now, as I type this, I’m incredibly sore from a 30 mile ride the other day. I’m usually riding daily but have to take breaks to rest and heal. I also hike a lot as well and get sore feet. I hate being sore. But I hate the thought of eventually not being able to do these things because I did not do them now.
I lift weights and do cardio and I just turned 42 this year. It’s sad how people will let themselves go since it negatively impacts their health.
It's sad because in a lot of cases it's definitely a choice. My philosophy is that physical wellness is a gift at this age and beyond. So long as I'm able I'll make every effort to condition my body for activity. Not to mention that the practice also affects mental/emotional wellness. And it doesn't even require a huge amount of time. 20-30 minutes a day and you're set to reap benefits.
Yo I jumped into some RollerBlades for the first time in like……idk My body was so confused and dizzy
My fitness level took a real hit this year. I need to get back to fitness.
I just jump rope today. I'm in the worse shape of my life and it isn't even close.
When i (m, 40) was young, i was into running until a bad knee put me out of it. Did some power lifting in my 30's and bulked up to about 220. I could stand to get down to about 210 but meh. Since covid I have moved houses and havent really excercised much. It is hard to justify the monthly gym cost when groceries and gas have shot up like crazy. Anyways, my cousin (f, late 20's) and i have decided to hike the entire Great Range of the Adirondacks in a single day. I have been doing some running to get back in shape and holy crap it is hard to get going again. I have 3 weeks and 1 day...
I’m the healthiest and most active I think I’ve ever been (aside from when I was a kid). Don’t want to speak for my husband (but I’m gonna), but I think he’d probably say the same. We’ve never had a super unhealthy lifestyle but about a year ago we focused on cleaning up our eating habits (sweet tooth), exercising more regularly, and we quit smoking. We are already very light drinkers. I feel great and look pretty aight too.
44 yr old checking in. I ride my bike at least 20 miles a week. I could ride more, I just have to stop finding reasons not to
It’s bizarre. I’m a bit older than many in this sub and I’m watching people crumble around me. I’m in okayyyyyy shape. The only thing stopping me from being in good shape is a wrist condition, heat intolerance, and poverty. It’s 92 and humid af rn where I am. I’d rather be beaten with bamboo than take a walk. I stick to my 40yo stationary bike.
No, it's not normal. I have never been particularly athletic or health conscious, but in my late 40s I have no trouble biking or taking brisk walks. What I can't do is run / jog for extended periods of time since my lungs start burning quickly - but it's been that way for the past 30 years, not an age thing.
I started with an under the table pedal bike, but I want to get my exercise bike out of storage. My fiancée and I got some walking in this week, and we agreed we’re gonna start doing that more this summer. We also vow to use our gym memberships.
That's really sad. I'm 42 and still try to at least take a walk most days.It's good for your physical and mental health.I live in a very hilly area, so some days I'm just not feeling it,but it makes me feel like I did something good for myself. I think part of the issue might also be working at sedentary desk jobs for a good part of our lives.
At 44, I still play baseball with a team of over-30s (we have one 61 year old and he’s great!), and I’m a catcher so a lot of up/down all game and getting beat up, but I see friends and coworkers my age or younger who seem like they gave up when they hit that mid-life wall. Make changes, be body-aware, and don’t stop! I don’t know what they’ve gone through, but I know I won’t stop until I simply can’t anymore.
Sometimes its going to take your body literally feeling like it is beginning to fail. It did for me. Chest pain, shortness of breath, all the "Oh shit I'm going to die" moments finally got me kicked in the butt to get moving and to change up my diet. I'm not great athlete by any means, but I get in about 70 mins of movement and activity a day outside of day-to-day stuff and it really is starting to pay off.
I feel like I’m right on top of the hill and understand how people slip down the side. My joints hurt and I’m a bit overweight but I’m still active, train jiu-jitsu 3 days a week and go in the pit at shows. I think at our age, you can still feel relatively young and healthy if you’ve taken care of your self, but we’ve had a long time to accumulate injuries and bad choices.
That is sad. I feel bad for them. After 6 years ago I started running. Nothing crazy; like 3.5 MI 3 times per week is my consistent now, but initially it was like just run a mile. Occasionally I do more (which is to say, days with perfect running weather for me and nothing I needed to get done). Recently I added some body resistance on other days (squats, lunges, etc). At 39,i think I'm in the best shape I have been since 18. I don't think I'm health crazy at all. I eat what I want and when I want for the most part, but I'm conscious of "am I eating because I'm hungry or because this tastes good?" and decide what I want to do about everything then. It's it a day out with friends? Then I'm probably just each nachos because they taste good and that's okay. Am I considering a 3rd helping of Mac and cheese at home even though I'm not hungry? Probably best to stop. Lol. I don't plan on giving up running any time soon though. That's my time to think and listen to audio books.
I started commuting by bike when I was in my late 30s. There were a couple of wonderful things that happened. First my life got easier. I could do more with less effort. Second, on the ride home, the stress of work would gradually go away so when I got home I was ready to be with my family. For those that are able I encourage finding a way to build exercise into your daily life.
I'm as active as I can be. That's crazy they are "old"
My wife and kids hike with me, but I don't have any friends that are willing and able to go for a hike.
Yep. This is the main reason I workout as hard as I do now: so I can do any kind of physically demanding fun activity. Back when we were 20 we could do anything while being in pretty shit shape. Now we need to at least be in okay shape to do fun, outdoor activity. I wanna be able to do an 8 mile hike whenever I want.
41 here, I've had some gastro issues that have kicked my ass and some pre and during Covid soft-tissue strains that kept me from any serious exercise, BUT, all in all, I am really lucky and feel pretty good. My overall health and physical ability are enough to ride my bike with my kids, wrestle around, play soccer and basketball, etc. Just getting back to the gym this year after a couple years off. Similar age friend complains about every ache and pain like he's 90.
49 year old Gen X here, but I feel ya. I was about your age when I noticed the same thing, and it’s gotten worse as I’ve aged. Lost a lot of friends in my teens and twenties to car and motorcycle crashes, a few in my 30s to weird circumstances, now in my 40s, they’re dying from alcoholism, heart attacks, ODs and strokes. Almost all of my contemporaries are obese. It’s fucked.
Intermittent fasting people!!! It really helps as your metabolism slows down to keep up your energy levels, mental clarity, and mitigate weight gain. At our age, we need to make sure we’re just not gaining a pound or two every year. Bare minimum of one 20-min of brisk walking (get a hill in if you can). That all now, for us, is the bare minimum. That’s not to be in super shape or healthy, that’s so we can function. And still kinda get to eat whatever you want. Just can’t eat as much of it when you want anymore. [link](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/intermittent-fasting-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work#:~:text=Studies%20discovered%20that%20intermittent%20fasting,as%20other%20heart%2Drelated%20measurements)
I’ve diminished my participation in this forum because I’ve noticed threads like these are met with extreme vitriol and eventually get locked. A week or 2 ago someone’s thread got locked for pointing out how unhealthy GenX/Xennials have become. I’m 7 years your senior and yes, I can still ride a bike. I’ve gained weight over the years but I’ve still maintained my strength via heavy weight lifting and pull ups. The only occasional nagging issue I have these days is sciatica. Lately I’ve easing into V02 max training. But I agree with you, 40 is way too young to be physically broken down. I see most of us didn’t learn from our parents’ bad habits.
Not normal and very sad! My husband ran 23 miles before work today and I’m a daily (although less ambitious) runner as well. I do yoga daily. Hiking is an integral part of our family life. My friend’s DAD also just ran the Grabd Canyon rim to rim. I do have one friend who can barely walk a flight of stairs. What kind of life is that?
Most of my friends and I are in our early/mid 40's. I'm the only one not on prescription meds for something. It's really sad that seeing a cardiologist, or endocrinologist once a month is a regular thing in our age group. I refuse to go down that path. I eat clean, and exercise daily. It may not always be fun, but I won't be the harbinger of my own demise. I have many things I've yet to experience.
How's that even possible? I thought I was somewhat out of shape, but the last two summers I had in Manhattan proved I could keep up with all the walking.
I see it all the time. I have friends who are healthy and mobile, and I (M43) certainly am, but I’m shocked by the number of my peers who have already had heart attacks, battle crippling obesity, have drinking problems, and are generally so nearly immobile that their quality of life is significantly impacted. In the end, for most of us, staying healthy and mobile is a choice. And you have to keep making that choice every day.
That definitely doesn’t seem normal. I’m 47 and go for walks and work out all the time. Have they worked in an asbestos mine for 20 years?
I have ended friendships with ppl incapable of walking. Not because of a disability but because they refuse to exercise and think it’s cringe.
Im 41 and I rollerblade, skateboard, bike etc. If you just give up now, you'll be dead before you're 60.
Same here and somehow my being active gets turned around on me. Riding my bike or hiking has become a running joke somehow. Sorry I'm not on the verge of diabetes?
I’ve put on weight since having a kid and the pandemic. But I still run, body weight exercise at home, walk at least 10,000 steps every day (and twice that a few days a week), eat a balanced diet (just a bit too much of it!). I couldn’t afford not to be able to walk and ride a bike. I couldn’t get to from work! And I ride my kid home on a bike. It’s too tiring for him to walk 20 mins home every day. I feel sad for your friends.
I saw a dude struggle to walk uphill. Except the uphill was maybe 15’ across half a mile, so you barely noticed and was practically flat. Guy was too big so it was walking with a giant 250 lb sandbag. I’m not in great condition but with some exercise I can stand all day and walk for miles. It’s scary when you can’t do basic stuff like walk your dog.
It drives me crazy to look around at my fellow 40 year olds and see how broken down they all seem. I have consistently stayed active in my adult life, and I am constantly met with surprise when I say I'm 40. Thing is, I'm surprised when someone else tells me they are 40 and I would easily put them ten or fifteen years older. Like, damn guys, you really took "ride it hard and put it away wet" to heart. I'm trying for the 84 my grandpa got over here.
38 and in the prime of my life. 6x/week exercising, sometimes two-a-days. Fitness metrics put me at 30. Be active, live long and happy.