How is/was your body faring at 40?

[RiderGirl]

Musing. I'm approaching 40 and think I look better now than I did in my twenties due to paying to have my teeth straightened recently. Very lucky to be naturally slim and haven't gone up a dress size since DD was born 12 years ago BUT suffering chronic pain from my back/neck/knees/hips/feet and I need a posterior repair. Think I'll be totally knackered withing 10/25 years. How's your body holding up?

Had 3 small children, and a big relationship shock. Packed the weight on after always being slim and drank far too much.
44 now, and don't drink half as much, kids easier, relationship better. Weight coming off.
Otherwise all OK so far.
Was fatigued but found to have a vit d deficiency, supplements have sorted me out.

I’m overweight. At 20, I believed this would NEVER happen to me. My knees creak a bit, but losing the excess weight might fix that. I’m definitely stiffer than I used to be - I find it harder to get up from the floor. Oh dear.

Early 40s. Fitter than I’ve ever been, and that’s after having two children. But that because I look after myself.

Two children, a bit heavier than ten years ago but still size ten. Ride and walk a lot so legs toned but tummy wobbly!
No major health issues but I am quite tired a lot of the time, but think that is more to do with being a working mum.

I fractured a vertebrae in my spine at 38, been a wreck ever since. Not able to exercise, gained weight … I don’t expect to see old age, put it that way 😔

I'm 60 and probably in better shape than when I was 30. Smoked and drank and worked too hard then. Had ds at 40, stopped smoking, working silly hours and ate better. Became more active. Stopped drinking alcohol at 50 and started exercising more. I now swim or run every day, I'm a bit saggy round the middle but generally fit, no aches or pains and am pretty supple. So there is hope! Now if I could just sleep life would be perfect!

40 I was fine. At around 47 things started to ache and creak. I’m now 49 and I understand how knees can hurt

41. Lost about a stone and got much fitter in the last year or so. But one of my knees is dodgy, one of my hips is the same (though that’s not an age thing, has been like that since I was a child). And now two of my finger joints are PAINFUL. Maybe arthritis? I don’t know. Should maybe go to the doctor but don’t want to bother them and if it is arthritis what can they do? The aging process sucks (but is obviously better than the alternative).

At 40 I was very unfit though not overweight so I was kidding myself it didn't matter. Ten years later I exercise daily and feel a lot better for it. I'm still suffering with aches but can bend down to low shelves, run for a bus etc that I couldn't before! Appearance wise - not so good due to hair loss but not too wrinkly yet!

I'm 42, and I think I look better than I did at 25. I know for sure that I feel better than I did at 25! I put it down to therapy, getting fit in my 30s and keeping it up, a very nutritious diet with some room for cake and chocolate, generally getting enough sleep, drinking much less booze than I used to and having a good skincare regime that works for me. And, if I'm honest, not having kids, although that's been a long road all on it's own. My knees are dodgy but otherwise I'm in great nick and I'm doing what I can to make sure that continues. I feel really positive about my 50s and 60s

I’m 40. Definitely look better than when I was 25. Better styling, more money, more idea what suits me, less fucks given. Bum and thighs are wobblier than 25 and cellulite is a thing, but stretch marks have silvered, general size and shape is the same. I’m fitter now, I can run 10k or hike 40k without much prep or worry. But I’m less flexible, I can’t bend in ways I should possibly be able to. Probably drink too much. In my 20s I had endless hip and pelvis problems, these have resolved due to not being perpetually pregnant. I know what sore knees are and always have a sore foot but I’ve never had back pain. Hair and nails are healthy. Eyesight is OK, but I do tell my teenagers to turn the volume up on the TV when they seem to be hearing it quite happily.

In all I think it’s going OK.

I'm late 40s but at 40 I was in great shape.

I find my periods have gone a bit haywire since hitting 40 - have two some months, definitely missed the odd ovulation judging by the lack of cervical mucus, having bad headaches around menstruation/ovulation time. Also they are heavy on day one and then tail off very quickly, then I get old blood spots a couple of days later 🤷 anyone else had similar??

Also pretty much the week I turned 40 I put on 4lbs and it’s been absolutely impossible to lose! The tricks that worked pre 40 just… don’t! And it’s the really annoying 4lb that takes me from looking pretty good to looking slightly podgy 🙄 here starts the decline I guess 😂

41 and honestly in best shape of my life. Got fit during lockdown. Running and cycling. I feel more confident too and a lot of my aches and pains are gone.

Thought the title read farting 😂

I'm 41, 4 kids. Was fine til I was 39 when I suffered a SCAD and heart attack. Since then I’m falling apart. The meds I’m on made me gain 4 stone (I was already 15lb overweight as had 4th baby a year before)
I developed psoriasis, I’m pre-diabetic and ache everywhere.

Im 51 and fatter by a long way than I was when I was 20 but much more confident and more settled. Swing and roundabouts innit.

I would like to be as slim as I was at 20 and as settled and confident as I am at 51. But nether the twain shall meet!

Slim but had one too many sport injuries and unable to do weight bearing exercise now. Lost all my muscle tone and feel flabby and loose. Diamond shaped face sagging.

But...I'm still pretty healthy, I enjoyed my younger days, feel content and feel the most emotionally well I've ever felt and pretty confident much. I'm enjoying this pass of my life more then I ever thought I would.

and to answer your question, my body is holding up well. Exercise every day, usually walking, swimming or paddle boarding. Tonight was swimming and paddle boarding which is bliss after a long week at work.

So even as a quite fat person I can still do what I need to!

I'm 54.
Feel great
Botox fillers etc help
No health problems
Walk a lot x

I'm fatter thanks to lockdown, but I'm working on it. Getting my teeth whitened soon as don't like them and my joints hurt a bit but apart from that I'm ok.

I get told I don't look my age (40 v v soon) which I think is true (maybe the fat is puffing out the wrinkles!) but in my professional life I've got to where I want and my kids are older teens so I've got more freedom.

It's funny, getting older. 40 when I was a teen felt quite old. Im not sure if perceptions have changed, or just my perception has changed.

Cycle and walk a lot, size 12, now 58 but at 40 I was pregnant and then pregnant again at 41! So I was fat! 😆

I'm 43, body has held up surprisingly well given I had 3 kids in under 3 years (twins born when I was 40). Bigger boobs and my waist isn't as slim but I still fit most of my pre-preg size 10 clothes. No stretch marks miraculously although my belly button is basically a tunnel 🤦🏻‍♀️

I feel quite well, walk a lot, chase after kids a lot. Just suffer from general tiredness and probably drink a bit too much in the evenings to wind down. Would like to get back to gym/ running but no time. Hopefully in a few years ..?

I’m 42 and feel the fittest I’ve ever felt. Happy with physical self for the first time in my life!

Better than at 60!
tho menopause hit at 45, and lasted too long!
now awaiting to see about Parkinson’s like symptoms, neurologist in 3 weeks

I was in amazing shape at 40 after two children but I almost died at 48. Had always been in to walking and lots of sport. I was pretty much bed bound for a year. It’s been years of ongoing treatment at various levels, I am being discharged around January next year as been stabilised for long enough. I was going to be discharged in 2020 but caught covid and had a bit of a relapse.

I hiked for 8 miles yesterday and then swam for 20 mins in the sea. I’m back in my hometown visiting friends and relatives . I’m pleased but the pre unwell me could hike for 20 miles.

When it comes to how I look, I am 56, a size 8 to 10 with salt and pepper hair, I’m glad I have it back as a lot of my hair fell out when ill so had to wear a wig. I have very few lines for my age. I’m mixed race so I think the genetics are really what helps.

As much as the illness was awful, truly awful plus I got depressed being that ill if I hadn’t been that fit before who knows what the outcome could have been.