6 BIG Advantages to Getting Fit Over 40
If I had a pound for every time I’d heard the old saying “It’s all downhill after 40!”
Well, put it this way, I’d be writing this article on a yacht in the south of France.
The problem with this old trope is that we largely accept it to be true without any real evidence. It’s been wheeled out so often that it’s sunk into our collective consciousness as fact. No wonder this feels like such a pivotal age and a sinking feeling of inevitability soon creeps in.
You could choose, as many people do, to simply accept that wherever you happen to be at 40 is just about the best you can hope for. Or…….
You can say “F*** That!” and do what a growing number of switched-on 40-plussers are doing and fly in the face of convention; reclaiming control of their health and pushing the boundaries of what they ever could have thought possible.
In my experience, starting a fitness journey post-40 is a fantastic opportunity to turn things around. It’s definitely not too late to make a real impact and there are some unique factors that paly to your advantage:
1] You’ve been around the block a few times: By this point in your life, you’ve probably been on a few health-kicks, a diet or two, perhaps had a gym membership.
The point is that by now, you pretty much know what doesn’t work and can instinctively sniff out something that’s ‘too good to be true’. It also means that you’ve had enough of quick-fix gimmicks and are receptive to an approach that’s realistic and achievable; even if that means it might sound less sexy in the description.
2] You have a work ethic: Life’s tough, it is what it is, and you’re not afraid of hard work. You are loathe to waste your time. But, once you have the bit between your teeth, you’re going to follow through and get the job done.
While a journey to better health takes some effort. It’s usually only a question of building new habits and being consistent. Things that soon becomes routine.
3] You’re more motivated: Let’s be honest here, time IS a factor. Of-course, I’m not saying for a second that you’re over the hill. However, the reality is that there aren’t as many years to fritter away as there were. The older you get, the faster time seems to pass, so what’s the point in putting things off any longer? Harness this growing feeling of urgency and get moving.
4] Wisdom: By this I mean your ability to rationalise and absorb the new lessons you will learn throughout your fitness journey. You understand that a significant lifestyle change is, in many ways, an evolution. It’s not just a question of ‘move more, eat less’. On the contrary, for most it’s a process of introspection and the re-evaluation of a number of aspects within life that leads to the balance that’s necessary to support the changes you desire.
5] You WILL see some great results: When you’ve spent so long neglecting your body and your health in general, it doesn’t take much to really start noticing the difference once you make some positive changes. Even small shifts in nutrition and lifestyle can have a significant impact. Age has no relevance here. Think of yourself as a blank canvass.
6] You’re pissed-off: How is this a good thing? Well, in my experience, it’s an extremely motivating factor. The majority of people I work with are well and truly fed-up. They’re dissatisfied with their current situation, don’t like what they see in the mirror and have a feeling of ‘is this as good as it gets?’ This energy is hugely powerful when harnessed in the right way.
Honestly, there really aren’t any downsides to starting a fitness journey post-40. So, there may be some issues that we have to work around, perhaps a few injuries or physical limitations. Maybe even some entrenched beliefs – all of which can be challenged. But these are all par for the course and certainly no impediment that can’t be overcome. There is ALWAYS a work-around.
Many times, the biggest stumbling block to begin with is a lack of self-belief or getting stuck within one’s comfort zone – however ‘uncomfortable’ that may be in reality.
Most of those I work with are fantastic people who juggle a lot of responsibilities in life and tend to put themselves last. They almost feel selfish when they finally start to pay more attention to themselves.
However, paying attention to one’s own health doesn’t have to become a time-intensive process. Done the right way it can re-energise you to become more efficient and productive in the areas that matter, while enabling you to create the necessary balance within your life that will support better health and allow you to better support those you love.
Finally, imagine how much you could achieve in 40 years. You’d be an absolute beast at 80!
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