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 going to assume the village is solidly middle-class. Class is also a huge factor.

This thread is so interesting. So many posters are saying how fit and healthy they are but mention serious ailments and disorders. Not long ago diabetes, flu, strokes, bowel obstructions and so on would have killed us.
We are all lucky to live now.

I'm in my late 40s and feel quite fit! I've just re started running this year, and hope to run my first ultra marathon of 100 miles before I turn 50! I have a half marathon coming up soon :)

In my family we have a history of heart problems and I fear this to be my future. However, so far the old heart seems to be working just fine!

I have just be knocked for six however, to learn I have a kidney tumour. Hopefully it's just benign but it completely shocked me as it just was not on my radar AT ALL.

I do think as you get older things crop up you can't control for and cannot anticipate. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't do our best to stay fit and healthy!

(I totally believe a lot is down to genetics. My mum was v fit, hiked a lot, ate v healthy, was always in healthy weight range. She died of heart trouble like both my grandparents. My in-laws drink like there's no tomorrow and are all obese (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's not a judgement I'm making, but usually obesity is related to poorer health) and the mil looks 20 years younger than she is and is pushing 86!

I'm late 50s. I operate a policy of "benign neglect". I have only been ill once in my adult life (mid 40s), which did need a week in hospital, but I recovered well after that. I haven't seen any kind of doctor in the 13 years since. I think it's just good luck; maybe genetics. Also, it's about not fussing.... the number of people on here who are constantly banging on about their health is quite shocking. Coughs, colds, tummy bugs etc heal themselves in a few days, and are really not worth worrying about.

Both DH and I are fit and healthy at 45.

I really noticed a downturn in my parents and PILs as soon as they hit 70! That was quite a shock. They’re less energetic (understandably) at age 73/75. My Dad is only just retiring at age 75. He’s bright and engaging. MIL retired young and she isn’t as mentally agile as FIL who worked to age 73. So that’s something I want to remember! Keep working and reading current affairs, so I have more to talk about than the neighbour’s conservatory 😂

Am fitter and healthier in my mid 50s than ever before. Peri menopause made me focus on taking care of myself: cleaned up my diet, exercise regularly (short runs several times a week, weights once a week, daily stretching). I’ve never been so strong, fit, toned or slim, I feel amazing and way better than I did in my 30s. Am not on any meds (other than antihistamines in June). I know anything can go wrong at any time but am really enjoying my good health and don’t take it for granted.

I think you're being a bit weird.

1. 50 is not old
2. All your healthy lifestyle will not stave off illness or bad luck
3. Genetic issues can kick in at any age
4. We deteriorate with age, then we die.

At nearly 70, I'm increasingly disabled by an illness that started in my late thirties, and I didn't realise. At 50 I was still going to the gym most days but getting more fatigued. I put it down to menopause, stress, etc. Exercising less might have delayed its progress, I now know, but it isn't curable and there's no rewind switch, so here we are.

It'll kill me before I'm 80. I'm at peace with that. The only thing that really pisses me off is people supposing nothing like this could happen to them because they do everything right. It's luck, pure and simple. And even the luckiest people get old and die!

You can help yourself by not smoking and drinking but a great deal is down to luck and genes. It is quite possible to keep fit and healthy into your 70s, never mind 40s and 50s. but we don't have as much control over our health as we like to think we do.

I am nearer 60 than 50 & on no medication apart from HRT. I work full time, exercise regularly, have a great social life and feel physically & mentally strong.

I have a beloved friend who suffers from chronic ill health. Her lifestyle was the same as mine (we were at school together) but in her early 40s an autoimmune condition struck. Like me, she works full time, exercises and has a great social life. But she has to do this with medication and often pain.

Which is to say, lifestyle & mental attitude can help, but sometimes it really is just luck.

Some of it is down to luck. Cancer can strike anyone. But a great deal is controllable.

I’m the same age as you, some of it is just pure luck. I was incredibly fit and active until I wasn’t! Just a bad luck of health that compounded each issue.

I'm in my late 30s and was fit and healthy until I wasn't. I have a chronic illness that just came about through no fault of my own. Tbh I'm probably still fitter and healthier than a lot of people, I have a healthy bmi, walk a lot, run when my illness allows, do yoga, eat well, no vices. I don't feel fit and healthy though. I'm knackered a lot, being in pain is my norm. For me it feels like bad luck. Some have better luck, some worse, it's the luck of the draw.

I’m 32 and trying to stay as fit and healthy as I can after 2 kids. Think I’m doing an OK job of it but can’t help but feel that it’s all rather futile as a family friend died at the start of the year aged 60 6 months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was the fittest guy I knew, regularly walking miles a day up in the hills, played loads of sports regularly, lived 30 miles away from the nearest takeaway, never smoked and rarely drank. It’s really disillusioned me and I think a large chunk of it is sheer luck!

It's not futile. Cancer rates will be much higher in smokers, excessive drinkers or the obese, regardless of anecdata.

It will be interesting to see all the fit and healthy people later on in life when needing hip replacements or have issues to the amount of exercise being done.

The next big cancer scare will be all these protein shakes etc

I think its down to pure luck if you do or don't. I'm mid 50s, never stayed in hospital, not on any medication, drink too much wine probably but gave up my 30 a day smoking habit 20 years ago. I know people who died from random cancers or strokes, but no reason it was them and not me. Exercise is a whole lot more effort post menopause though.

65 hear and fit and healthy. I ride my horse 2 or 3times a week and am currently planning a long distance hoke. Haven'tneeded to see a GP for nearly 10 years.

You can be fit and healthy and still get ill, yes.

Bloke my age at work needing knee and hip replacement doesn't do any exercise at all. Just overweight and unlucky.

My friend runs and she needs one too.

Humans are built for running and walking. We aren't really built for old age, men in particular. So we're bound to creak a bit.

60 next week.
I take thyroxine (have since I was about 35), have a largely asymptomatic arthritic knee and take HRT.
Other than that I'm fitter than I've been in decades. Fortunate enough only to have been in hospital so far for the birth of DD.
40s isn't even middle aged never mind old!

You can do a lot to keep yourself fit and healthy, especially in your 40s and 50s. But don’t kid yourself that there’s not also a whole load of luck involved in who does and doesn’t end up with health issues.

I’m 50 and in good health. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in my late 30’s, but it doesn’t impact my life.

I don’t take my health for granted as my fit and healthy Mum developed MS in her 40’s, it literally came out of nowhere. I know someone else who was struck by it in her early 50’s. Breast cancer is another disease that suddenly appear.

Modern medicine has made a huge difference as well, because many diseases can now be diagnosed early and successfully treated.

I know lots of fit people over 50. My grandad is 92 and hikes mountains/goes for 50 mile bike rides at least a few times a week! He has been very lucky with his health but also has worked hard to stay driven (and stubborn!)

I'm 61, regularly do french alpine cycling events.

Everyone i know with hip or knee issues don't do sport or exercise, same people have high bp too.

As far as i can see, and your employment & money have an impact on health and exercise rates.

But i'm also aware luck/genetics play a huge part too.

So very well said!