I never thought I'd feel so old in mid 40s - anyone else?

[Anonymous]

I don’t feel “old” but the changes my body has gone through, and I’m not talking about weight/fat gain, are pretty drastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:43 y/o and not feeling like that yet.

I think it hits in 44-46 range.

Yup!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This means you need to take care of yourself, OP.

I'm your age and don't feel old at all, even though I have a chronic disease. It's all about getting tested for prediabetes, checking your cholesterol and blood pressure, eating clean and exercising/stretching thoughtfully (no mindless jogging that will wear your joints out). Get your mammograms, pap smears, etc. Take vitamin D - in the northern hemisphere, everyone is low on vitamin D. Or go ahead and take a full multi-vitamin. To slow skin aging, use sunscreen and retinol, if you can tolerate it.

Perimenopause might be doing a number on your mental health. There are certain days when I feel sluggish and imagine I look awful, even though I'm actually perfectly fine. Tracking your cycles with an app may help you identify if your mood synchronizes with certain moments of your cycle. A cycle tracker is useful during peri, when cycles go out of whack. Some people swear by hormone replacement therapy, others can't due to family history of cancer/blood clots.

Re the Vitamin D, the northern hemisphere starts 0.1 inch above the equator. People in Morocco and Costa Rica and Sri Lanka in the northern hemisphere probably get enough sunlight. There are also parts of the southern hemisphere where people don't get enough vitamin D in winter (New Zealand, the south of Chile, Antarctica).

[Anonymous]

In my mid 40’s I was still playing full court basketball and best of three set singles matches in tennis. Now at 65 both of those are in my past and I refuse to play pickle ball. I work out a lot and play golf but avoiding injuries is now very top of mind. At a certain point you realize that you don’t bounce back like you once did. Falling off a bike now is a lot worse than 20 years ago. All that being said, I feel pretty darn good and it beats the alternative.

[Anonymous]

OMG, I feel so old. The biggest problem I’m facing is the cost of everything. I am in the market for a new car and they are so ridiculously expensive it isn’t even funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll be 55 in a few months and I feel GREAT! I have tons of fun and lots of good friends. I've always been physically fit. I can't run anymore (hip), but I cycle a ton and lift weights. I feel like you should work out when you are young because it pays off when you get older. I can't imagine having to get in shape at this age. My life is richer today than when I was in my 30s.

Where do you cycle safely? Do you go with friends?

[Anonymous]

40s is when you see a big split. Almost everyone can look good in their 20s with no effort. In your 40s, you see some really fall apart and some keep it togther. Go to your high school reunion and it will be a mix of "Good god, what hapened to you!?" and "You look amazing".

I've been trying my best to be in the latter group by exercising and attempting to eat well. It's going... OK.

And of course if you get an injury, you're off exercise for 4-8 weeks. Last time, it was due to a stretch the wrong way that messed up my knee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll be 55 in a few months and I feel GREAT! I have tons of fun and lots of good friends. I've always been physically fit. I can't run anymore (hip), but I cycle a ton and lift weights. I feel like you should work out when you are young because it pays off when you get older. I can't imagine having to get in shape at this age. My life is richer today than when I was in my 30s.

Where do you cycle safely? Do you go with friends?

You got divorced, didn't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll be 55 in a few months and I feel GREAT! I have tons of fun and lots of good friends. I've always been physically fit. I can't run anymore (hip), but I cycle a ton and lift weights. I feel like you should work out when you are young because it pays off when you get older. I can't imagine having to get in shape at this age. My life is richer today than when I was in my 30s.

Where do you cycle safely? Do you go with friends?

At home, in neighborhoods (less traffic), or on bike paths.

[Anonymous]

Uhhh I had a surprise baby at 45. So apparently my body does not agree (although damn I’m tired these days!) I mean come on op 30 years is a lot of life left! I will say my elders are starting to pass and that certainly sobers me and actually makes me much more appreciative/grateful for each day.

[Anonymous]

I would get your thyroid checked and or try a sleep study.

[Anonymous]

44 and I feel this. I’m actually comforted to hear others do too! I thought maybe it was just me.

I still still look good for my age, but I don’t really feel that good. If I sit in one position for even 30 minutes I am so stiff when I stand up. I need to go to bed earlier than I used to. I have low back pain that I’ve told will be permanent and continue as I age. I can’t even have a drink without it impacting my sleep or anxiety.

Sometimes I feel like I’m 80.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uhhh I had a surprise baby at 45. So apparently my body does not agree (although damn I’m tired these days!) I mean come on op 30 years is a lot of life left! I will say my elders are starting to pass and that certainly sobers me and actually makes me much more appreciative/grateful for each day.

Well you can probably sit in a special section at HS and college graduations.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard 50 from most of my relatives. My mom said 40 through late 40s was just a continuation of her 30s but with older kids and not having any more kids. Then the wheels started to really fall off at 50, plus or minus a few years.

[Anonymous]

Had my child at 42 and didn't have a free second to feel old. I suppose if I had my child in my 20s or 30s like most people, I might feel older in my early 40s. DC is in college now and I'm in better shape than in my 40s due to losing weight, starting strength training, and exercising regularly. I don't feel old, but I'm sure I look it!