So you're over 40.....Now What?

If you're over 40 your mind probably feels younger than your body, and you feel like you're falling apart. Where did all the years go? Didn't you just turn 24 on your last birthday?

Like magic, as soon as the 39th year ends, our bodies seem to turn against us like a toxic friend. Our metabolism goes to sleep, and weight gain is an unwelcomed certainty. You look in the mirror and sometimes see a stranger looking back.

Have you ever gotten up from a sitting position only to have your joints play a symphony of new sounds? What's worse is that our bodies play this symphony over and over again until we figure out it's origin and reach for a method of relief.

If you are anything like me, you have started to wonder about your health a little more, if you are eating right, or the fact that you should probably be exercising more.  Should you become a vegan or a vegetarian? What about  dairy? With all of the new reseach being  done on the dairy industry and the adverse effects that it has on our bodies, you may be wondering if you should give it up completely.

Our goal is to hopefully provide you with relevent and cutting edge information that will enhance and enrich your life, so visit often.

Here are some of the ways that our bodies change as we mature:

Weight Gain

The biggest issue that we face as we age is the dreaded weight gain. After ruling out all of the usual medical culprits such as chronic stress and hypothyroidism (where your body is not producing enough thyroid hormone to help you to burn stored fat), the true picture comes into focus.

It sometimes seems inevitable that we begin to expand around the waistline after the age of 40. We need to work out much harder than we used to just to see the numbers on the scale continue to increase. We can no longer eat whatever we want to without consequence. 

The good news is that with a little practice and a few lifestyle changes we can turn things around! Keep in mind that excess calories of any kind can increase your waistline and contribute to belly fat. Although there is no single cause of belly fat, genetics, diet, age, and lifestyle can all play a role.

Changing your dietary habits can help you fight the battle of the bulge. Start by reading labels, reduce saturated fats, increase the amount of fruits and veggies you eat, reduce your portions, and eat more fiber!

Our Skin

Skin often changes in cosmetic ways, such as becoming drier and losing it's elasticity, which causes the onset of wrinkles. Some skin disorders become more common as we age, such as whiteheads, blackheads, and skin cancer.

Some of the things you can do to keep the skin looking younger include: avoiding excessive exposure to the sun (this means that you should avoid outdoor activities in the middle of the day), eating a nutritious diet, and maintaining circulation through regular exercise. Believe it or not, exercising is good for the skin too! 

The Skeletal System

The skeletal system often responds to aging through the loss of bone mass, which is called osteoporosis. According to the Mayo Clinic staff, in order to keep your bones healthy you should do the following;

• Take 1,200 milligrams of Calcium daily 
• Take Vitamin D (2000 I.U. daily)
• Exercise- This is the most helpful thing that you can do -exercise stimulates the cells that form bones.

Muscle Loss 

As you age, you can lose approximately 8% of your muscle every ten years. As muscle is lost, people can become weaker and slower, and circulation can decrease. The best way to maintain muscle is to maintain an exercise program that keeps the muscles so that muscle is not lost through inactivity.

On a personal note, my father recently had surgery for colon cancer, and he falls quite frequently-which sometimes requires a trip to the emergency room. He has had a significant amount of belly fat (the most dangerous type of fat) for most of his adult life and yet for some reason he still will not exercise. His daily activities include eating and watching television.

As a result of his sedentary lifestyle his muscles have atrophied, and he is unable to pick himself up when he falls. He is currently 79.

Image: Courtesy of estrada5652 

The Nervous System

The nervous system can slow down as we age, which can result in a loss of the sense of smell, taste, hearing, touch, and sight. These areas are being studied, but it is suggested that keeping your mind very active as you age is one of the best ways to maintain these systems.

Keep in mind that our brains are muscles too and therefore need to be exercised!

The Heart

One of the most common causes of limited activity and even death in people over 65 is heart disease. Along with this, hypertension can increase as we age, and the respiratory system loses some elasticity. The chest wall stiffens and the respiratory muscles weaken. All of these things result in a measurable decrease in airflow.

For many people, keeping the heart and lungs strong through regular exercise, eliminating smoking and maintaining a nutritious diet is all that is required to reduce the effects of age on the cardiopulmonary system.

 Image: Courtesy of jgmundie

Are you ready for a new You? Let's Get Fit At 40 and beyond!

  
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