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?

Yes, well said @Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit.

People who live long and well generally have three things in common; they are active in their community and family, they are physically active, and they have been lucky not to have developed illnesses like cancer.
Of course you can do something to stack the odds in your favour. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise and be involved. That's not to say someone should does this won't die earlier, or that someone who does none will not live longer. But throwing your hands up and saying there's nothing you can do it's down to nature is foolish.

You can look after yourself and have a healthy lifestyle, but it’s also luck. Plenty of people I know were living healthy lives, but were hit by illnesses. My DH now has a chronic life limiting and possible terminal diagnosis in his 50s. We have lived healthy, active lives so haven’t exactly brought it on ourselves….just bad luck.

I’m a couple of years younger and have started prioritising my health now I’ve had kids - I was pretty fit and health before but now my joints seize up, I get constant muscle ache, always out of breathe and generally constantly unwell (due to not enough sleep, not enough exercise and too much junk food). It’s 10x harder to put my health first now I’ve got the kids though 😅 I think it’s probably genetics, luck and a bit of consistency

I was pondering this while doing yoga.

My dad's family are all healthy and very long lived. No cancer, no heart issues, no high blood pressure. My grandad died at 95 of a stroke. My dad is 78 and had mild angina (fixed with a stent) and a hip replacement at 73 (he's a farmer - it's inevitable). His 3 brothers 65 - 80 are all good in terms of health as well.

Apart from good genes what they have in common is a very active lifestyle, non smokers, moderate drinkers and a love of fruit and veg and home cooked food. I live a similar lifestyle to them. However - my mum's family lost the genetic lottery- my mum and all of her siblings are dead - brain tumour (my mum at 46), breast cancer (my aunt at 69), lung cancer (my uncle at 70) and bowel cancer (my final aunt at 80).

Let's see what the genetic lottery brings me 😬

@Obsessedwithlamps I’m so sorry. 💐

You can be fit and healthy BUT stuff wears out. Knees and hips do wear out on fit people too.
I don't think there's a lot you can do really aside from not being actively unhealthy. It's a bit of a lottery as far as I can tell.

Sort of thing I’d have thought as a 31 year old.

Aging is not linear as such; there are studies that 44 and 60 are big aging points. 44 was for me. I was previously doing multiple bootcamps a week (heavy weights) plus running 5k regularly etc. only a few years on and that is now v tough due to injury/aging issues and slow recovery.

My mum is 72. Rarely ill. Never had anything more than a heavy cold that I can remember.

Very fit, eats the perfect diet pretty much and hardly drinks (has never smoked/taken drugs etc).

She's also never worked so her stress levels are generally quite low.

Long may it continue.

I'm 65, not on any prescription medication, cycle 6 miles most days, do pilates regularly, have perfect blood pressure and am not overweight.

I have a touch of arthritis in one foot and my joints are a little stiffer than they were 20 years ago, but that is all. I hope I stay fit and healthy for a very long time.

There does seem to be a narrative with many younger people that all disease & illness is because of an unhealthy lifestyle & simply by being healthy you are immune.

There also seems to be the narrative that there's nothing you can do to control your health so you might as well give up because a person you know who was very fit got cancer.

My Dad is 85 and will tell me that he went for a bit of a walk, his step count is often 20K. He has an underactive thyroid and takes medication for it. He is way fitter than I am and despite losing my Mum has the most amazing outlook on life.

@Lentilweaver Ive never seen or heard that. I think most people are aware smoking, drinking & junk food aren’t good for you but perhaps it depends on your circle?

Never mind the QUANTITY of life - what about the QUALITY...

So many people struggle with everyday tasks because they are overweight and unfit. Whereas I am superfit at 70. I work hard at it, but I enjoy exercise and eating healthy food.

DH and I are 54. He ran a half marathon at the weekend and is doing another this coming weekend. I'm not as fit as him, but got past menopause with no HRT. We both get up early to exercise before work. Neither of us take any medication, we like hiking and our holidays are based around that. We plan to go up Snowdon during our holiday to Wales next summer.

I am 63 -no health issues at all. Have always been active -and lots of sports - retrained as a PE teacher aged 50 and now teach PE and MFL. So it is not inevitable. But spend d time with younger people. If you are with people who go on endlessly about ‘health issues’ you will see it as the norm and sink into it.
I took up rowing last year and am relishing the new challenge and social life.

I'm 49 and feel relatively fit and healthy. I had breast cancer last year and I take Tamoxifen which does enhance menopausal symptoms. However, I find doing lots of walking and 10 minutes exercise, either Jessica Cooke weights or Get Fit with Rick helps. It doesn't sound a lot, but I think the consistency helps. I've also managed to lose some of the weight I gained when I started on Tamoxifen which has made me feel fitter. Its true that you never know and a lot is down to look and genes. Agree about spending time with positive people.

I'm nearly 50, nothing really wrong with me and there's never been anything serious. DH even healthier over the years but just found out he has high blood pressure despite being slim and active.

I think a lot of it is luck and genetics, but you do what you can do eating well, staying active, taking care of your mental health will all help.

My biggest issue has been having DC. Pregnancy and birth were hard on my body, lack of sleep when they were young and worry now they're older isn't conducive to good health.

I also think that it’s important for middle-aged people like me to have all the checkups that we’re offered, because that’s how any incipient problems are caught early.

My very fit SIL (57) had a scare recently when a breast lump was detected during a routine mammogram. Thankfully it’s benign, but she hadn’t noticed anything at all.

And have three skiing holidays booked for Jan Feb and March.

I feel as good running now as I did in my twenties and my mh is good and positive but it is luck to a certain extent as well

Some things happen and it’s can be down to luck or otherwise

No one knows. I know lots of people who are fit and healthy in their 50’s, and I know a handful of people close to me who lost their life to cancer in their 40s and 50s. All you can do is live your life and enjoy it, as you have no idea what is around the corner. It’s sensible to have a fit and healthy lifestyle as it gives you a better chance of a longer life.

I'm 46, and would classify myself as fit and healthy. I also have a genetic auto-immune condition I developed in my early 30s which I take prescription medication for. I haven't written myself off yet!

Totally agree with this. I only started cycling everywhere a couple of years ago (then aged 61) and it is now a habit to cycle rather than drive