Those of us 40+...

I turned 50 this past November.

I really haven't noticed anything much different as far as endurance or ability to lift. It's all about the same as it always was. The main thing I've noticed is skin tone. It's just not what it was even 5 years ago. I know the underlying muscles are the same, but the less tight skin makes it look different.

I actually had a young woman come up to me in a restaurant last night and tell me I had "great arms". She made my day! I had to tell her that i was 50 years old, and it was so nice to be complimented on something I work so hard for! :D
 
Well I'm 41 and have been working out with Cathe for 12 years or so. I try to workout 6 days a week and just started P90X classic rotation. I love to workout and always feel great when I'm finished.

I struggle with my diet on a daily basis. I do better when I plan my meals and prepare everything on the weekend for the week ahead. Even then, I still struggle with snacking.

I love working out and have no intention of stopping. My endurance may be a bit less than it was years ago but at least I'm out there doin' it! I ran a half marathon in September and will probably run another one in May.

Age is only a state of mind.

Diana
 
I'm 45 and have worked out most of my life. I figure skated for 15 years and played high school sports. Afterwards, I primarily ran for cardio and didn't start strength training until I found Cathe 7 years ago. I also started TaeKwonDo 4 years ago.

Injuries have been my main problem. Last March I strained my achilles & gastocnemous while sparring. Then 2 weeks before my black belt exam, I suffered a total tear of my rotator cuff while sparring and had surgery in June. My surgeon said that my rotator cuff was the thickest he'd seen in years and was amazed by my muscle tone:7 (probably because he sees much "older" people coming in with this type of injury). He also advised that as we age, our tendons & ligaments become less elastic/flexible so there is a greater chance of injury when performing high impact or explosive movements like sparring.

Unfortunately, I've lost a lot of that muscle/strength due to the painfully slow rehab and it is depressing. I used to be able to pump out all the push-ups in GS Chest and now I can only do a few before my shoulder starts hurting. I've been told it will be at least one year before I'm back to where I was. x(

I have good and bad days when it comes to stamina and recovery. I notice more aches in the joints especially the hips after higher impact workouts. I have also seen some thickening of the midsection and loss of skin tone. I hate that I have to be even more diligent with my diet now but that is just life.

As a result of my injuries & aging, I have gained a greater respect for my body. If something doesn't feel right...stop...don't push through the pain. I'll take an extra rest day, use the elliptical instead of the treadmill, lower my step height, etc.. and not feel guilty about it!

JJ
 
I will be 40 in about 3 1/2 months. :eek:

I'm trying to get BACK into great shape after totally, totally slacking off the last couple of years.

What I've noticed is that I hurt longer. Things don't heal as quickly - or at all. I have plantar fasciitis that I can't get rid of. My knees hurt (surgery on one knee, ACL repair from injury during martial arts class) - but I think that's because I've been working out since I was 18. Weights, running, martial arts. All taking a toll on my body.

And dammit - what used to whip me into shape in a few weeks now takes literally untold MONTHS to achieve. That sucks. x( x(
 
I am 48, and I work out much harder than I did in my 20s or my 30s even though I've always worked out.

These days I can workout as hard as ever, but I can't recover as quickly, which is why cross training and mixing things up is so much more important than ever before.

I find it much harder to lose fat, so I need to eat cleaner than ever before. I actually consider that a blessing, ultimately - I'm grateful for the better health my vanity is forcing me to have - heh, heh

Cheryl
 
I am 54. I still seem to be able to increase my stamina and strength. I have increased weights. I can do cardio longer and more intensely. I think we all have had an injury here and there. Even non exercisers experience injuries. I think the important thing is to pay attention to our bodies. I have always tried to make sure to do a balance of cardio, endurance, strength, and flexibility training. The only real changes I have done is lowering my workout time (it is still pretty long) from 3-4 hours a day and making sure I give myself at least one rest day unless there is a reason not to like a vacation or something that will require a longer rest.
http://wd.1ww.us
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I'm 45. Since starting Cathe,( 4 years ago) my body has morphed into the best it's been in my life!I had previously been using the Firm videos.

I have noticed that my body takes a lot longer to warm up in the AM(I am an early exerciser). Also, I ntice lower back soreness that I have to modify for. I am just so thankful for Cathe!

Phyllis

http://www.picturetrail.com/pwmatt check out new pics posted 12/20
 
I am 47 and am in the best shape I've ever been in. I only started working out at age 28. Prior to that I had been in a self destructive addictive pattern and abused my body. I can't really tell what weight I should be cuz like I said, I was in a self destructive phase and was always underweight (according to my Mom), but when I first got clean, I weighed the most in my life (135) and after several years, I was able to drop to 125 and even 117 at one point, however my body seems to hold steady at 125. I think my lower body actually looks good when I'm thinner, but my upper body gets too skinny.

In my 40's - I started to hold weight in my lower abs, butt and thighs even more. I don't like that. I like the way my legs looked when I was much thinner....but I guess it's better that I'm healthy and in better shape today. During my 30's - I exercised, but I didn't really start doing really advanced stuff till I was in my late 30's and early 40's. Now, at 47, I am more aerobically fit than when I was younger.

I am also more flexible today, but only because I began to get into yoga recently and now I find my body craves that type of workout/stretch. As far as weights, I lift as heavy as I can, but i have a disc injury so there are some things I'm not allowed to do. I don't think my stamina is failing just yet. I usually can go at it pretty hard, but I do notice that I get more fatigued after a workout these days and I have had some injuries along the way (besides my normal one).

I'm not planning on slowing down any time soon and I'm sure I'll be working out (as long as God keeps me pretty healthy) well into my 70's and so on. Don't know if I'll be doing Drill Max but I'll definitely be working it! :+
 
Hi Doreen,

55 here, will be 56 on April 1st, Fools day. I've had some minor injuries last year, and found that 3 days in a week of yoga and or stretching help a great deal. I continue with cardio, strength, endurance and circuit training as usual. It takes me anywhere from 1 and a half hours to two hours a day sometimes, to finish my workouts, and eating fairly clean. I've never been in this great a shape in my life. I love it, and plan on continuing with this life style for as long as I can.

Rhonda, you look like a teenager!:eek:

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible.

http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
 
I'll be 50 this year. I'm still as strong as I was 20 tears ago, and probably I'm more flexible than ever. My weight is the same as it was in high school. The only thing that holds me back now is arthritis of one of my hip joints, and that's a bummer. So I can't do heavy legs and running but I can do lots of callanetic type of stuff. Energy is still the same. One thing for sure, I'm smarter now. :)
 
I'll be 55 in February and am the healthiest I've ever been. I started doing exercise videos in my early 40s, spent my 20s and 30s chasing around kids and working (and gaining weight); had gastric bypass surgery at age 51, have lost 90 pounds and kept it off by becoming a religious fanatic about exercise and lots of it!

I have definitely noticed the loose skin thing the last couple of years - it's just part of aging I'll have to get used to because my exercise times and amount of weights lifted continue to increase.

The only other thing I've noticed about getting older is that I can't muster up the strength to exercise if I've slept less than 5 hours the night before.
 
I'll be 50 (egads!) next month.

I've found that it's more important than ever to cross train and have a balance to workouts(ie: I don't do step workouts on consecutive days, and try to alternate upper-body-focused and lower-body-focused days), vary workout intensity, and give myself enough recovery. I also find that keeping my workouts to about an hour lets me workout at a good intensity without getting worn out.

I modify whatever moves I feel I need/want to with no guilt, though
I actually am doing more impact that I did 10 years ago (but within reason: I don't do tuck jumps, for example--and with mats down).

I think consistency is important as well (because it's easier to lose strength/stamina more quickly as one ages). And certain supplements (I take an anti-inflammatory blue-green algae/mangosteen supplement, hemp protein powder, maca, açai and some other 'nutricuticals').
 
OK, I am 40 & 1/2 and I don't feel it. I also like to think that I don't look it ;) I have only been a faithful exerciser for about 5 years. Before that I was fairly sedentary. Exercise and eating healthy (well most of the time:p) has changed my life and probably saved it too. I am truly grateful to have found this and other fitness forums to share these experiences with.

Catherine

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For those of us over 40, I have the problem with working out sometimes. This morning, before church, I was to do Step Blast but I didn't cause I my cats kept me up most of the early morning. Well, I decided to workout this afternoon but I only did CherFitness. The mood and motivation just goes down the drain sometimes. In the early days, working out on a Sunday afternoon was no big deal but I wasn't busy in the morning like I am now.
Does anyone else have the issue with mood/motivation?
 
Jennifer,
I totally agree with you that motivation is sometimes tough to come by! It's either my golden demanding attention, the house needing some "attention" or DH asking me about something, and I feel pulled in all directions except toward the TV/step! I don't know why, but it seems to definitely be more difficult to get my body to do what my mind knows is good for it! I'm sure trying, though, and now that my minor injuries are healed I'm starting tomorrow (again) after 1 month of off time!

Wish me luck and motivation and I'll wish the same to you! Too many women in this thread are my/our age and older and are in fabulous shape! I feel that it's either I step up and work at my motivation now, or I'll end up totally out of shape and facing health problems later!

Good luck, Jennifer!

Doreen :)
 
Doreen,

Good luck and best of health to you in 2007. This is a great thread to start off the New Year. Tonight, I decided Sun AM workouts and going to bed early unless I got some "hot" date for the exception.

Take it slowly and build up gradually. And, you'll be amazed on wha you can do even with a month off.
 
I turned 40 in October - I started working out on a regular basis 3 years ago and am in the best shape ever. I work out about 4-5 times a week for about 45-60 minutes a time and mix up different things.

I don't look anything like some of you really fit and fantastic over-40s but the important thing for me is that I'm happy with my body for probably the first time in my life.

Don't know about the rest of you but I could kick myself for all the time I've wasted fretting about my body and hating the way I look. I'm certainly not going to waste any more time thinking like that!

Working out with Cathe gives me the confidence that I can do whatever I want!
 
I am 56 & in reallt good shape except for the loose skin. As long as I don't look at myself upside down I a fine. Just saving up for my plastic surgery.

Karen:7
 
I'll be 52 on February 15. I feel I am in the best shape of my life. I do 45 minutes of hard cardio four days a week and weight training 2 days a week. This month I decided to add a rest day because I am having problems with my feet but other than that I feel great. I am very lucky to not have suffered any real injury! My exercise sessions usually last 1 hour.

I am now menopausal and I have noticed more belly fat this year but all in all, except for some sagging in my face, my body looks better than most 30 year olds I work with. As a matter of fact, the younger girls that have started working at my company compliment me very frequently and look to me for advice on working out and eating. This makes me feel fabulous!

Yesterday I carried a 50 lb bag of sand in my arms through the Home Depot parking lot because I refused to put it in a buggy. I feel that if I challenge myself, my body will adjust...and it did!
 
I'm 50 and, like Candi, the young women in my office frequently ask me how I stay slim. I tell them that when I was their age I had weight problems too, but the weight problems went away as I got older. Like Liane, I find that healing takes longer. My aerobic capacity is better now than it's ever been because I abused my body when I was young and now I take much better care of it. I quit smoking 10 years ago, so I'm sure that's a major contributing factor.

At this age, I've read that I'll lose 1 lb. of muscle per year if I'm not careful about doing my weight training. My lower back is more delicate now, so I don't do the hardcore weight training I was doing 5 years ago. Now my emphasis is more on toning, and I prefer endurance workouts to slow and heavy workouts.

Nancy
 
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