To think it’s possible to stay fit and healthy into your 40s and 50s without ailments?

[ForGreatMintDreamer]

I’m 31, fit and healthy, and have always been active. I hope to stay this way after having children and well into old age. However, many people tell me it’s unrealistic and that it’s inevitable I’ll experience health issues as I get older. Some even say if I do remain fit, it’ll be down to genetics (for context, both my parents are in their mid-50s and are fit, active and healthy).

Is this really true? Or are there others here in their 40s, 50s, or older who have stayed very active, fit, and healthy despite what everyone says?

I'm on my 3rd run in with cancer. I'm fucking furious right now. I don't drink, smoke, eat a good diet, exercise regularly and I still get struck down! I am actually bitter towards those older people who have hardly encountered an experience with their GP, let alone been hospitalised!!

I'm 53 and it all started at 38!

Half healthy living
Half luck I.e genes.

We are all born and we will all die.

I think the whole premise can be disregarded when you consider the news about Chris Hoy and his wife. Both probably very fit, decent lifestyles, one has terminal cancer, the other MS. Tragic.

I don't think it can be disregarded. You can still get cancer whatever you do. But the chances are lower if you don't smoke, drink excessively or are obese.

I think it proves that anyone can develop anything despite what they do and not just cancer. Especially as you age. I know of people absolutely hammered by Long Covid, very fit, decent diet, great lifestyle, one who developed RA as soon as they hit meno. Another now has a weird form of epilepsy. I find it’s useful not be smug about it as you never really know what will hit you later on. And cancer isn’t the only life changing condition….

of course no one should be smug about anything. But I can't get on board with the idea that no one should care about diet, exercise or healthy habits because anything can happen! I mentioned cancer because Chris Hoy was mentioned, and yes, it's not the only disease. Diabetes runs in my genes and my entire family are slim diabetics, so yes, you can exercise like mad and still get diabetes. But I can reduce the chances.

I think for me it was the smugness that always arises on these posts. Some of us through no fault of our own end up with debilitating conditions.

No one can predict.

I felt fit, healthy and robust at 31. Could handle an insane workload, go to gym at 6am and stay out late dancing.

Now I'm mid 50s I'm not unwell but physically and mentally tired. I'm burnout out from work, dealing with all the crap that elderly parents bring and a now difficult relationship with my brother. Then there is the impending doom of DH's parents who are younger but selfish and stubborn and not nearby. Exercise has fallen off my radar and I am now overweight for the first time in my life.

Someone on here once said they want to be an old cat and sit staring out of the window into the middle distance. That's me!

I've decided to start taking better care of myself to try and turn this around before it's too late. There are people who live healthy long lives but I think you're pretty lucky to be in your 80s without various healthcare issues.

My mum was fit and healthy, ate mainly home cooked food, active lifestyle (she was a farmer) and drank moderately - never smoked.

She died at 46 of a massive brain tumour.

I still think it is worth living a generally healthy lifestyle as it improves the quality of the life you do have - however long or short.

I was fine until I hit the menopause.......been downhill ever since!

There is no absolute guarantee for any of this fashionable talk. There are people who are tall, slim, with straight back and don't put on weight and seem healthy and fit without an effort

I was born with asthma, flat feet, rather curvaceous spine, am nearing 50 and work physical job on top of that - ask me how I feel, look and do my job - with tremendous self supports, painkillers, swollen ankles, physio, stretching and still feel and look not what I wanted for my age

the moral of the oral - it depends on your genes, not only your lifestyle my dear

but you are on the right mental track- keep positive attitude because negativity kills

And me! Bloody nightmare!

I think pregnancy is a huge factor in it all. Mothers of one child also seem to fart ok. Subsequent pregnancies really take their toll on the body. I know dog breeders who only let their dogs have one litter because it ages them too much.

ETA I did mean “ fare ok” but the autocorrect was too funny not to leave!

That's me - and I'm now 66! People like me are quite thin on the ground, however (I think).

I could have written that word for word.

I am 51 and even at 40 I felt on fire, could handle anything then drip, drip, drip slowly over that last few years my elderly parents have become unwell, bereavements, family upsets, teens with their angst and day to day dramas and throw menopause into the mix and my world is completely different.

Despite eating well, never drinking or smoking and exercising every day I feel absolutely knackered (mentally and physically), I could sleep for hours.

Does not matter how fit or healthy you live, you just can not underestimate how much outside stress buggers you up.

And right now, I would very much love to be that cat.

@TheWholeShackShimmies ditto!! I feel EXACTLY the same. Mentally and physically knackered. I could literally stay in bed all day I reckon! Meno has kicked my arse, cancer trying to get the better of me, a messy teen son, living far away from ageing parents, stuff to do in the house, still working. It just goes on and on.

I would like to be that cat too 🐈

Tommorow is never promised.
Health is wealth.

I'm 40 and have high blood pressure since my mid 30s brought on by pregnancy that never went fully down. I'm on medication. BMI was fine. Plus under-active thyroid that's being treated. These issues aren't lifestyle related. I'd say I'm fit and active besides that though and recover quickly from any illness.

Boundaries and keeping yourself at the top of your priority list is very important. Establish that in your 30s at the very least.

I love my parents but by god I never expected how much shit I would have to deal with and the effect on my sibling relationships. The last year or so has been the hardest of my life.

I am 39.
Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 33.
Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 35.

Never thought I would be in this position at my age. I assumed I would be in my late fifties or beyond. Crap genes and bad luck can't stop these things unfortunately.

I'm afraid it's likely that as you progress into your 40s and 50s and have a full on exercise schedule that you'll pick up an injury.

Very few in my sports club seem to have escaped an injury.

Make sure you warm up and stretch properly.

@ZippyDoodle I'm 53 now. Been dealing with ill health on and off for years. I feel done in.

Sounds a tough year for you 🌸

OP, someone said earlier, tomorrow is never promised and health is wealth.

If times do get tough, Winston Churchill did say " If you're going through hell, keep going".

Started with arthritis at about 52. It's hard to be motivated when everything hurts.

It’s all fun and games till a poor draw in the genetic lottery or sheer bad luck comes and gives you a kicking. I was fit and healthy, enjoying an active life, till I was diagnosed with cancer at 44. Turned out it was genetic. Since then my thyroid has packed up and I’ve found out I have osteoarthritis in various joints.
There’s nothing wrong with hoping you’ll be healthy and active into middle age and beyond, many people are, but I think it’s unrealistic to have the expectation that that’ll be the case.