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?

My body was great at 40 but has gone downhill quite rapidly in the five years since (although my boobs are still great). That's more to do with stress and unhealthy choices than purely down to aging, but it does get harder to bounce back.

Mine wasn't so bad. I had a 9 year old and a 6 year old and I was in pretty good shape as I kicked boxed 3 to 4 times a week and did weights at the gym. I loved fashion and make up and I had grown my hair long and that suited me.
I had no aches or pains so healthy really.

Am 41 and doing ok I think. Am overweight, partly due to antidepressants following the very sudden death of my mum. Could probably do with some therapy, but it’s making the time to do it isn’t it? I work full time in a very full on and busy job, where I am on my feet all the time, running from one end of the building to another (teacher).

I walk the dog every day, finally completely quit smoking a couple of years ago and don’t drink. I don’t have chronic conditions other than asthma which I’ve had since I was a child and is well controlled.

I look back on photos of me in my 20s and although I’ve aged I’m recognisable if that makes sense? Could do with losing a couple of stone and doing couch to 5k again as that was brilliant and did also help the mental health. I could also do with not baking (and eating!) quite so many cakes 🤣

Pretty bad really. 25 years of crohns disease and the immunosuppressant treatments are really taking their toll. I genuinely dont think I'll see my retirement years.

I misread the Titel and thought you were asking how our bodies were farting. Just came here to say just the same as pre 40's! As to how my body is faring though... Overweight but not out of control. Can easily walk 10miles. Skin not amazing and hair a bit lank. Thinking about it this way, maybe time I made some changes.

Almost 43 and a LOT stronger, fitter and more healthy than I was at 23 despite having two kids. Started yoga at 26, best decision I ever made.

Mine is alright. Currently gestating child #2.

I had a very regular exercise and yoga habit throughout my 20s and 30s and it has really paid off. I'm a few stone heavier since having DC1, but I'm generally happy with how my body has served me.

I'm 38 and things aren't too bad but could be better. I'm size 12 and within appropriate bmi and waist ratio range. I'd love to be a size 10 again but haven't been able to manage it since I had dd 4 years ago. I worry about my knees quite a bit, they've not been great since my teens and i have concerns that I may need a replacement at some point. Any other issues are self inflicted and I know I need to do something about them - I'm a smoker (albeit not heavy) and trying to summon up the mindset to quit and I should be exercising more but simply don't have the time at the moment for anything more than walking the dog. On the bright side my face isn't too bad and new acquaintances assume I'm 30 😃

I was ugly in my youth so no better now!
just turned 40.
size 6/8 and technically underweight but two c sections have left me with a fat middle which looks really old.
I don’t like what I see in the mirror, but then I never did.
no real aches and pains but wisdom teeth hurt sometimes. Not been to a dentist in years.

I turned 40 this year, aching in places I never knew existed 🤣😭 definitely can't drink anywhere near like I used to without feeling like I'm dying the next day

At 40 it wasn't too bad! Bigger than I was in my 20s but not much and with a very flat stomach despite one C-section. I have EDS which I had always dealt with well but having my second child in my 40s did for me, really. Lots of problems with both the pregnancy and the birth and the EDS makes exercise very difficult at this point, although on the surface I'm very energetic and agile. Unfortunately it takes very little for my joints to dislocate or leave me bedbound. I'm a bit overweight but nothing dramatic. However the EDS is brilliant for my face, which is smooth and line free and at 47 I look much younger.

I don't believe it's all about the physical though, attitude has a lot to do with it and I am very young at heart. Deeply immature, in fact. My mother also says it's to do with how you carry yourself - I have a friend who is not much older than me but somehow she seems like an old woman and we can't work out why. She puts more effort into her appearance than I do but people have thought she's my mum when we're out!

I'm 39. I'm a very similar size/weight to 15 years ago (size 12, 9.5 stone ish), but the composition is very different- my belly looks like a melting candle these days!

But I don't have any chronic health conditions, I don't experience any pain on a daily basis, and even my monthly migraines seem to be easing off from their worst 5 years ago, so I'll happily take a bit of wobble. Fwiw I've never done any exercise of any sort at any point in my life, and as a result I seem to have the joints of a 20 year old 🤣🤣

I was naturally slim all my life, until children. 4 of them later, and at 45, I am carrying a few extra stone. However I'm lucky that I have no health issues/aches/pains and am reasonably fit. I'm aware that could change though, particularly with the extra weight, so I'm working on it! My body looks very different these days though! Mostly my stomach, diastasis recti, saggy skin etc.

I am 44 soon and am faring pretty well apart from needing surgery soon for gynae issues. I had a cancer scare at the start of the year and lost a stone during that time. However I am still 4 stone overweight. Despite the weight I am pretty fit as my job is very physical. I should lose weight for the sake of my joints so that needs to be a priority. I also want to start yoga to get more flexible.

I don't really have any aching joints or anything and don't need medication so am fairly healthy. Menopause is rearing its head already so who knows what that will do to me!

When I was 40 I was in excellent health with nothing to declare apart from lots of pregnancies and births, an inguinal hernia repair, and some sports injuries. I claimed to be old. Now in my late 50s, I have a couple of gaps in my teeth, a bit of osteoarthritis here and there, my ovaries have retired, and I wish I was as old as I thought I was at 40 and had the stamina I had then. But I'm doing OK.

My weight changed when I turned 40, I experienced quite a traumatic loss at 39 and was on AD's. Was on and off them in my early 40s, which hasn't helped. I've been heavier, but I'm now just over 9st and a size 1012. I'm aiming to lose a few pounds cause I've noticed that my joints aren't quite what they were, pain in the back of my heel, a bit of pain in my knees sometimes. I'm not overweight at 5ft5, but think a few pounds might make a difference nevertheless. I started peri-menopause a couple of years ago (I'm not 47) and have been on HRT for just over a year. I am definitely more tired and anxious but like many women I'm dealing with an elderly Dad who is now in poor health and a teen and a pre-teen. My skin isn't bad, but I've got a few wrinkles round my eyes. From a weight point of view its a fine line, if I loose too much it shows in my face. I think attitude is important. I love funky clothes and going out, I also walk a lot. However, I'm trying to work on my negativity and anxiety.

At 40 was in best shape of my life! Hard effort though, 5-6 hours hard workout a week. 44 now creaky, hurts, can't eat As much but I think I'm still in good shape. Wearing bikini on holiday feeling good! X