Did anyone transform their fitness at 40?

I'm almost 45 and picked up running again at the beginning of last year after several years off. I wasn't completely unfit but didn't do anything other than the occasional cycle and countryside walk.

I worked myself up to a half marathon last autumn, then a marathon last month (faster than the ones I did pre-children) and have just signed up to a 50 miler this September.

It can be done! I'm being more deliberate now in how I train and rest, and despite being older I am probably making faster progress.

Completely agree @Undethetree .

I was scared of the gym my whole life. It took me ages to work up the courage to go in. 6 months later and I love it. I feel better, I look better, I like seeing the regulars at the gym. It feels like a nice little community.

For those scared to go the gym - please just try it! My local gym is so so friendly and everyone there is lovely and so encouraging. There's a complete mix of people, some insta ready gym bunnies, some people with disabilities, some overweight middle aged people in their old trackies who don't know what they're doing (ehem...me) and everything in between. There's always people happy to give help or advice if you need it.

I joined a gym aged 39 when i realised i had no energy and ached all the time. I started with 30 mins on the treadmill here and there and progressed to the odd class. Then did regular classes 3 times a week. Then replaced some classes with weight lifting.

I'm now 41 and I FEEL so much better. My body is more toned, more energy and no aches. I actually enjoy going to the gym now.

When I first went I just decided to turn up and look round, work out how to get in, where to put all my stuff and what I needed. Then go home.

The second time I decided just to use one machine for 15 mins. The next time i aimed to used two machines....before I knew it I was there regularly and enjoying it. I always planned to just go for 20 mins thinking that 20 mins was better than nothing. I usually ended up staying for longer because once I got into it, it didn't feel so bad.

I joined a gym two years ago when I was 54. I do step classes and general gym workouts (cardio/weights). Weight hasn't changed substantially unfortunately but that is prob due to diet. However, I feel so much stronger and healthier. Can lift heavier weights and do cardio without puffing and sweating.

I did at 39/40. I joined a gym and went 5 times a week. I lost weight, toned up and looked great. Then I got a knee injury and stopped going. Put loads of weight on and went back to being a v unfit couch potato. I rejoined but never got back into it. So yes, it is possible,

Which CG programme did you start off with?

I'm 43, used to be super fit but thanks to a serious of shit health stuff, have now put on a ton of weight and lost all my fitness. I have to start again from scratch but am so demotivated because I've never been unfit before and kind of keep talking myself out of it.

Not at 40 but at 58. I was overweight (probably in the obese category) at almost 11 stone and 5 feet tall, size 14 (or a large 12)
I worked with an online PT, installed MFP and bought a Fitbit. I also have degenerative discs so walking distances was often a struggle and running was out so I started with under a mile walks daily and after a few months, I bought some hand weights and started with these 3 times a week. I gradually increased my walking distance and yesterday, I did 5 miles. I generally do an hours walking every day either outside or on a treadmill. I also do two dance classes a week. I’ve lost nearly 3 stone, am now a size 8 and have not been this fit since my early twenties. My mental health is also loads better, getting outside and fitter really helps to gain a positive mindset.
If you start with small targets, it’s quite easy to gradually increase to your next one.

Thanks @minipie. 💐 I spent a long time in my youth counting calories/weighing food/avoiding carbs and generally having a miserable time around food. Building some muscle has been an absolute game changer and I recommend it to everyone- especially women, and especially women aged 40+
It helps us maintain bone density and that’s so important post-menopause.

Yes. Did no exercise whatsoever , started running 4 years ago, run club, parkruns, then a few 10k and 10 mile races. When I was 44 started menopause and went on patches and piled a stone on in 4 weeks despite still running, so started weight training 3 times a week along with running 3 times a week,never been fitter and feel mentally better too.

well, at 40 I was still 17st, eating take away most nights and struggling to get up a flight of stairs.
at 50 Im 10st, eat a healthy unprocessed diet and regularly run, weight train and do pilates. I feel better then ever and honestly am pretty much a different person both physically and mentally.

Doesnt matter if you are 40 or 70...its never too late to make a positive change!😉

I’m not at this level but 👏👏 amazing!

I'm 38 and started running in March, I'm not long home after doing a comfortable 10km run in just over an hour. If you would have told me a few months ago that I could ever comfortably run 10km I would have laughed. I was so self conscious when I started running and would only do it under the cover of darkness, this evening I wore a pair of shorts in public for the first time in years. I'm not going to pretend that I'm a super fit muscle woman but I'm really proud of the progress I've made over the past few months, my confidence has just gone so far up from the woman who was afraid to run in daylight in case people laughed at me to wearing shorts and running around my busy local park. It might not sound like a lot to some but it really is massive to me. It was definitely a case of small steps for me and the hardest thing was starting, once I decided I was committed to it I was flying before I knew it.

Not at 40 but in my 40s. I went from doing zero exercise to being active. It started with doing 10000 steps a day in one of the lock downs. Then couch 2 5k. Then, more recently, joining a gym in my late 40s. Still walking 10k steps a day, running a few times a week and going to the gym 3 times a week. I honestly feel better than ever.
You can do it. Start small and find what works for you.

Forgot to say weight lost over about 18 months was 16kg so slow and steady.

Go for it sorepaw1 I have made lots of positive changes in my 50s. I began by walking around the park nightly, after this I started aquacise twice a week. After months of this I felt fit enough and brave enough to see a personal trainer in their private studio. I now train twice a week. Mostly deadlifts, squats etc plus added cardio. I feel so much better for it. All this has been combined with lowering the carbs in my diet. I have dropped two dress sizes, lost about 10% body fat, can deadlift 60kg and feel so much better for the changes.

I need something I can do at home as with DC logistics I can’t go out.

I have basically accepted that if I eat anything I get fatter. I have completely cut out sweet stuff and massively reduced portion sizes, but can’t see any changes at all, which is very dispiriting.

I am trying to fit in a tiny amount more exercise each week, but it is HARD. I am currently doing 10 minutes of ballet/Pilates in the morning while deodorant dries etc, and started trying to skip a few days ago.

any recommendations for things I can do in bitesized chunks would be very gratefully received.

And a pic just to show that good muscle tone is achievable for us middle-aged women. Though it’s a shame my skin is that much baggier than it used to be 😂

In my 40s I did Couch to 5K & ran/walked a half marathon. At 50 I took up weightlifting.

You can do it!

Yes, me. I was a total non-exerciser and I thought runners and gym-goers were all show-offs. Then I realised that most people I knew took some sort of regular exercise and I began to feel a bit embarrassed about my lack of movement. I started going to fitness classes in my thirties. Then I got really into lifting weights, then I got into yoga. In fact I got so into them that I trained to become an instructor and I started teaching my own classes in my early 40s.

To be fair, I was never large or overweight but I was definitely over fat! I was small but carrying too much body fat. And I was unfit. I’d pant and sweat if I ever had to break into a run for any reason.

So now I do lots of weights and lots of yoga every week (I don’t do any pure cardio). My body fat is 18-20% and I have good muscle mass. I am strong, with decent stamina and am way more flexible than I used to be. Even better, it all helps keep my mental health on an even keel. I’m 46 now and exercise is a huge part of my life- I can’t imagine not doing it and can’t believe I used to take such pride in being lazy. (Though I’m still lazy at heart and will happily spend many hours loafing when I can!)

Yes, started swimming lessons at 42. I could swim but knew I was inefficient and the lessons were amazing. I started swimming more to practise what I was learning and then had the fitness to start other things.
Just make one change and then be open to other opportunities as they come along.

Yes and no. I’ve never been much overweight but was a lifelong exercise avoider and as my metabolism slowed over my 30s the pudge was creeping up. I was having to eat less and less to stay the same size. I also couldn’t run for a bus without huffing and puffing.

A few years ago I started regular Pilates which is a great place to start IMO - building core muscles helped me avoid injury when I moved on to other types of exercise later. I’ve since added in c25k, Barre and weights, and a little bit of tennis and cycling.

I haven’t lost any weight (but I’m eating a lot more than I was, without getting larger). More importantly however, I feel so much better, I’m way more toned and can do all sorts of active things with the kids and with friends that I wouldn’t have considered previously.

Next step: stop grazing… the muscles are there now but hidden under a bit of a layer!

I have been having swimming lessons... Last week I swam my first length

I did at 47. Joined Karate early last year and archery this year. Lost the fat around tummy area and huge benefits for my mental health. Bonus is that I do Karate with my 13yr old daughter, so it's also fun! I still eat and drink as normal. 😊

You need to find exercise that you enjoy. That is essential or you will not keep it going.

I did. Started going to the gym three times a week. Took me three years to get down from 15st 4 to 10st 12. (I'm 5ft9.)

Unfortunately, life got in the way - significant family illness, etc and I put it all back on.

I'm now 64, have had a few operations and have started back at the gym. Weight's only down a couple of pounds, but I've started to build muscle tone again and I can once again get out of seat by pushing up with my thighs alone.