Is this what working in your 40s like or am I just a fatty?

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Obviously, I've worked before but from home for the last 6 years. My work routine was to get up 5 minutes before I started work, stumble to my desk, and then make a coffee and make myself vaguely presentable after handing over from the last shift. The only walking involved was to the kettle and back.

Now I am working outside the home, my day involves getting up at 5 am to shower, style my hair and make my lunch, walking to the bus stop, walking from the bus stop to the next bus stop, and walking from that bus stop to my workplace.

Once I get to work I walk from job to job around the estate as issues are reported, sometimes carrying equipment, up and down millions of flights of stairs, and then I repeat the bus trip home, usually getting home at 8 pm. By the time I've walked the dog, I am usually too tired to eat dinner and just drag myself to bed.

I've gotten up today to sort the garden, clean the kitchen, spend time with the dog and catch up on all the college work I should have done during the week but I ache. Everything aches. My knees ache, my thighs ache, my elbows and shoulders ache, my feet and ankles and back hurt and all I wanna do is curl up in front of Netflix with a bottle of wine and then go back to bed.

Is this what life is now? Do I live in a constant state of exhaustion and pain or will my body get used to my new job and adjust?

It’ll be an adjustment. I just lost almost a stone (13lbs) and already feel like I have more energy. Sounds like a sudden change for you so do get rest and allow your body to adjust.

Get plenty of rest this weekend, but not with wine! It will make you feel worse in the long run.

This is a very long, tiring workday but hopefully your body will adapt to it if you can get enough sleep and eat reasonably healthy foods to fuel yourself.
Don't beat yourself up for feeling tired though - it is hard.

I think it’s a combination of things. Going from an inactive to an active job, your age, and definitely your weight. If you didn’t have all those things to contend with you’d manage that long day no problem.

and it IS a long day. Years ago when division of labour was more of a thing many working class men would have done an active job with a day like yours but they’d come home and have to do nothing. They’d get their evening meal done for them, their house was clean, washing done. Now, people (no matter what sex) are trying to do it all. And then we wonder why we have no energy left!

How many steps a day are you taking? If you have gone from 1000 to 10000 you will definitely feel more tired and your body will ache as you are likely to be using muscles you haven't used in a very long time. Add in the extra weight then your body is now working hard. Like any change of routine it will take time to get used to it. However well done for the change as your body will thank you later in life. Building up muscle in your 40s is very good for you.

It does however seem like a long day, do you sleep well at night? Do you really need to get up at 5am?

I have to leave the house at 6:30, so I can't really get up any later. I could manage to get ready in an hour but I like to sit and nurse a cup of coffee before I start getting ready.

That's a long, busy day so I'm not surprised you're shattered, but I'm sure you know that being a size 22 won't be helping.

Where is your dog for all the hours you are out?

You've gone from a pretty sedentary day (edited because I forgot about the dog) to a long and active one. Of course you're knackered.

On top of that, new jobs are always mentally tiring because everything is new and needs conscious thought, and your brain is on high alert for novel situations. In a month or two, you'll no longer have to spend your commute thinking, where's the bus stop? where's my locker? who's that new person? because you'll do it all on autopilot.

Give yourself time, take it easy at the weekends for a month or so, eat healthily (maybe buy in some healthier ready meals for weekdays in the short term: in the longer term think about batch cooking at the weekends), and make sure you're wearing really supportive shoes.

This move will probably do you the power of good in the long term, but allow yourself the time to adjust.

Home with my mum who can sit in the garden and chuck a ball for him but is not confident enough to walk him. She's scared of dogs and mine is a big, heavy dog. She worries he'll attack a cat/a smaller dog (he won't, he's very friendly) and she won't be able to stop him or that another dog will attack him.

Sounds like you've led an extremely sedentary life until now, did you exercise at all? Does your phone tell you how many steps you do on average now compared to when wfh for example? It's going to be a shock to the system.

What time do you leave the house ? Getting up at 5am sounds excessive, can you quickly shower, tie hair back, prep quick packed lunch the night before etc.? Iron work clothes on a Sunday for the week. Sounds like you need to make more efficient use of your time.

I was always knackered after being a teacher. I walked miles each day.

I was too tired to cook meals in the evening or go out. It started at about age 50.

I work from home and have for the last 4 years. Am 43 but I make myself workout at home and twice a week bootcamp to prevent exactly this. I work from 9am to 9pm most days. Am a mum to a 15 yo. No cleaner. Large house. We have to work much harder to maintain good health post 40. Muscle mass disappears at staggering rate now, and if you don't preserve it, they will not support your bones, joints etc. You are your body's CEO.

Honestly, sounds like this will do you good in the long run but will probably quite hellish in the short term.

At a size 22 you must be overweight and will be suffering more than someone of a healthy weight, but it is a long intense day.

If I were you, I would up my protein intake, and maybe take a few snacks to give a bit of an energy boost. You're going from 0-60, you don't want to exhaust yourself. It will gradually get easier but still an intense schedule for anyone.

@Bearpawk my only exercise previously was walking the dog. My phone tracked that as 6,000 steps a day on work days and 10,000 on non-work days when he got longer walks.

It's now tracking 8-10,000 steps but that is just the walk to and from work and the dog walk. I don't carry my phone when I'm at work but the person I have been shadowing wears a Fitbit and tracks 12,000 steps on average walking from job to job, so I'd guess I've gone from 6000 steps a day to 20,000ish, maybe?

Sorry didn't read tft. Yes size 22 is like a slim person carrying an extra 6 stone backpack so it is tiring.
I'd suggest upping your protein and veg to make sure your food is giving you energy, not just filling up on carbs or processed food. Get a thermal mug and cradle your coffee on the bus, then you can have an extra 30 mins sleep.
If you wash your hair every morning, get some dry shampoo and reduce this. Just run the straighteners over the front (or whatever) on a morning; you need to simplify things.
I'm sure if you've increased your steps by 100% and you're not eating as much the weight will fall off and you'll become fitter naturally.

Oh and it's worth investing in some comfortable supportive shoes if you're suddenly walking this much. My hips and knees ache like buggery if my feet aren't supported well! Converse etc are terrible.

Don't skip dinner, your body needs the protein to build up your muscle for your more active job. Have some tuna on a jacket potato, or chicken with salad. You will adjust but give yourself time!

I wear trainers but they are just normal Nike trainers. I have noticed all the people I work with wear Dr Martins, not trainers.

I'm 54 and a little overweight, but losing it slowly as since my antidepressants have been reduced, so has my inhaling sugar in the evenings. Just that half a stone gone has made a difference.

I take Saturdays as the day to recover from the week, whether that's a stroll down the high street or curled up on the sofa reading. My body needs and appreciates it. Other stuff gets done on Sundays.

Take the time to do nothing, and enjoy how much better you'll start feeling as your body adjusts to the exercise and your weight goes down gradually. Every single pound dropped will make a difference in your health and wellbeing.

Are you in the UK? I think that wanting to open a bottle of wine before noon is a big red flag.

I’m a similar size.
At 40 I could cope with this but at my age now, 51, I’m struggling. I am up at 530 and return home at around 730. I’m dead by 1030, if not asleep.
You've gone from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one with no warm up. It’s going to be tough for a while!
Losing excess weight will definitely help, if you feel you can but I can understand with a change to your lifestyle, another thing you may just not have the headspace for. Drink plenty of water, maybe a supplement for joints etc. Have a lay in on weekends.
It will be tempting to want to return to wfh! Are you enjoying the job?
I lost weight really well on fast 800 a few years ago, then lockdown etc etc etc. I’m starting again on Monday. The struggling with walking, climbing stairs etc and feeling actually a bit uncomfortable has pushed me to feel I’m ready to try again to lose.

It will be tempting to want to return to wfh! Are you enjoying the job?

Yes, I am. It's a step down from my previous job in terms of career progress and pay so I am not sure I am going to stay but it was the only job locally I could find. I do enjoy it more than my previous job.

Retired a few years ago. Work day. Up at 6.00, shower, hair, etc. Walk to station 20 mins. Train to Waterloo. Train to west London. 8-10 hours work at desk, reverse journey. Home by 9pmish, eat, bed. Did this for years, never gave it a second thought. Now, I can't believe I did this, can barely set foot outside before 11am and bed by 10 latest. Don't give your life to your employers. Make room for yourself.

Would a dog walker a couple of times a week take some of the pressure off?

I think going from a sedentary to an on the go constantly job will be a shock to your system. I’m 44 and have lost weight recently. My bmi is now 26.8 so still overweight but dropping all those extra kilos has really helped my joints and my feet. They were really aching at the end of the day.

I think stick with it, try and eat healthy but easy food lots of rest / water when you can and you will get thinner/ fitter/ stronger until it’s your new normal.