To ask if you feel physically fit in 40s or older how you achieve this?

[inabubble3]

Evening. Just that really.

I am consistently 2 stone overweight. Am early 40s. Have some peri symptoms (think 3am wake ups, anxiety, heart palpitations etc)

I play a team sport (think an hour game plus an hour and a half training once a week).

I am also trying to do the gym twice a week (but ends up being once really and it’s using machines at a weight that seems about right so no real method there).

I tend to think my diet is ok- I am prone to a little bit of evening eating and my portion sizes are probably too much.

I might drink a couple of glasses of something every two weeks (drink really doesn’t agree with me nowadays).

I would love to be a healthy weight, have more energy and feel fitter when playing my team sport (this is low level- local sport). Plus just look a bit better and feel better in myself.

Has anyone achieved this? If so how?

Thank you!

I’m at the top end of healthy weight. Ideally I’d be half a stone lighter. 5”1 and around 9 stone.
I run 20 miles a week (over 2/3 runs) and swim 1km a week. I should also go to the gym once a week, but I struggle to fit this in. I think I’m doing okay and I think you are too. It’s so hard to keep fitness and maintain weight as you get older. Do you take iron and vitamin D?

Walking outside at least 5 days a week and moving throughout the day.

I don’t sit down til the evening. We rented a bungalow for a year between houses and was very aware of how not running up and downstairs affected my fitness.

I have smaller portions than I used to and on the days I’m not working prefer to eat main meal midday. Will often have very little to eat after lunch on those days.

If I could solve my insomnia I think I’d be the fittest I’ve ever been!

Don’t have car. Do have dog.

I mean, if your portion sizes are too big (according to your OP) and you're eating in the evening when you are less likely to be burning those calories, that's probably a big contributor...!

I'm sure there are people who exercise enough to be able to eat what they want, but I think they're rare. I also think most of my (slim) friends who "eat what they want" seem to only "want" fairly unprocessed food and fairly small numbers of treats.... but that is anecdotal of course.

You need to change your diet. I'm doing zero exercise (health condition doesn't allow it) and I have lost 2.5 stone since November.

I have massively increased pulses, nuts and veg and heavily reduced all carbs like bread and potatoes. Dessert, if I have it, is fruit, nuts and Greek yogurt. I make sure I have plenty of protein with each meal.

I have chia seed pudding for breakfast, some kind of concoction of chicken or fish with pulses and veg for lunch, then salad with olive oil and walnuts or lentil soup for dinner.

As well as the weight loss, my resting heart rate has gone down from 65 to 55.

By not having children, although long term married.
By putting myself first and understanding my body.
By not working - income from property lettings and inheritance.
By not letting others claim my time and energy.
No gym, cannot stand it, although I physically work around the house and garden. Meaning using scythe for grass etc.
Under active thyroid as well, no problem with weight.
I actually believe part of this problem is in our minds.

I'm 64 and reasonably fit.

Just a tad overweight, despite PCOS and underactive thyroid (the latter treated). Pilates, and walk about 5 miles or more most days. Work part time in a job I enjoy so that's generally a positive not a stressor (though retiring soon). Pretty healthy diet, good DH and grown up DD.

Following. I'm 42, average about 6000 steps on a good day (mixture of housework, walking and just dance) and I am still struggling to lose the "baby weight". The " is because the baby is now 10 years old! I'm so tired but not in peri yet I don't think. I eat relatively healthy meals but massive portions.

I feel very fit and healthy at nearly 41 and I'm in the best shape I've been in.
I've worked out 3-5 times a week, every week, for 22 years! Plus I've had periods (of several years at a time) of being in a running club, cycling to work and/or hiking regularly. And I've done a dog walk every day for 15 years.

Now I'm in my 40s I'm doing a lot more weight training, which I'm loving.

I eat a clean diet free from UPF.

I would advise you to combine exercise types to include CV, strength and flexibility - so one Body Pump class, one yoga, one run a week (or whatever combination works for you). This is an effective way to see gains quickly.

I'll add, despite the massive amount of exercise that I do, at 5ft4 and approx 9st2, I only eat modest portions for my meals (I dont measure anything - just make sure it looks 'sensible'), and only tend to eat carbs a couple of times a week and mainly in the form of a bit of wholegrain rice.
My diet is all full fat Greek yoghurt, nuts, eggs, avocado, pulses etc.
I've got tonnes of energy.

44, fit and good shape.

-eat healthy but don't obsess over. Don't use food/drink as a treat. Cook everything, I do it and work ft.
-gym, weights and strength x3 weekly.

• yoga will save your life.

-lots of outdoor living/walking.

• Have a good DH or DP.
• Love yourself too much and act like it!!!

Ah ha, if you’re hybrid like me, use the time you would have been commuting to do some exercise. Morning exercise also makes you feel good! On my WFH days, I do half and hour on the cross trainer at home between 8-8:30. I also pole dance in the evenings at a class or my home pole, lift weights at home and walk the dog. I’m not quite 40s but I am 39 in 2 days and I’m the fittest I’ve ever been!

Intermittent fasting (I don't eat between 7pm and 11am) and a light jog once a week.

However, I did hardcore ashtanga yoga and weigh lifting all through my 30s so I had a good basis.

49 and feeling fit.
Lots of dog walks, and enjoy walking in general. Average 18000 steps a day.
Enjoy exercise, play a sport as a hobby at least 2x a week but more in summer months.
Enjoy body pump / body attack classes.
Enjoy parkrun.
I probably exercise 4/5 times a week

Most of my hobbies are active (sport, hiking, camping). It makes it easier to be active if you genuinely enjoy the activities. I have found the fitter I am, the more I enjoy exercise.

I hope that you are aware of your incredible privilege.

It is clear that you seem to enjoy your status as not working and from your post it seems like it’s a badge of pride for you.

However, you should never forget that others who are working are allowing you to live in that way. For instance, without the farmers providing your food, you’d have nothing to eat. Without the Drs working hard to facilitate your overactive thyroid diagnosis and people working hard to create medicine for you, your life would be very different. A little humility would go a long way.

Underactive ...
And humility, don't worry.
I have had an extremely strict upbringing (in
a former Communist country).
For 22 years, I have had my "hard bit", as they say.

I’m 45 and about 6lbs overweight. But I feel healthy, strong and physically fit.

I lift weights 3-4 times per week and do 2 HIIT classes per week.
All I need now is to reign in my diet a bit to lose this 6lbs.

It's lifestyle really- I have been working out 5x a week in various forms since my 20's abs it's as non negotiable as eating / sleeping

I have done various things
Swimming / gym 18-21
Running / gym age 21-29
CrossFit / gym 29-36
Brazilian juijitsu / mma / gym 36-41 present day

I literally hate my 1 day off sport a week as my body craves the movement.

It's all about enjoyment and routine

Also if you want to loose weight no amount of training revokes the damage of a bad diet- literally track everything and be honest- if I want to loose weight I am 5ft 6 and will go to 1600 calories (that's with 2 hours sport a day)

Oh I think working helps- I think it is easier to establish a routine- I work full time

I gained weight after surgery and then the pandemic. Getting back to being fit involved changing my diet to increase protein and veg, dropping most dairy except for an occasional bit of cheese, and sticking to around 1500 calories per day. I don't drink alcohol or soda, just coffee, tea, and water. Fitness wise, I have to work out hard for around an hour a day with one day of light activity per week to see results. Right now, that's rowing, lifting weights, Pilates, and vinyasa yoga. Every 6 to 8 weeks, I take a break and do light activity like walking or Yin Yoga for a few days, then back to work.

I am early 50s and normal BMI and exercise about 4 hours a week, often swimming.

I went overweight for first time ever after my cancer treatment and after that had to lose 2 stones to get normal BMI back and that made a huge difference to fitness for walking - you are not carrying that 2 stone around. I started with swimming as that was easier for me and as I got to swim a mile three times a week then I started losing weight (a 1,200 calorie a day diet plus add on any calories from exercise which gave an incentive to exercise). During diet no alcohol (though am no alcohol normally as well), drinks were just fizzy water with lime juice and tea with no sugar which I stick to now as well apart from occasional milky coffee. It was hard doing that diet but it worked and effects were amazing - fitter, health improved, inflammation stopped. Now have a flat stomach again. Gardening has also been very good, and gives an all body workout and gets your garden looking amazing at the same time, did 2 and 1/4 hours yesterday. Your exercise sounds fine.

Cutting out the evening eating and having slightly smaller portions will make a big difference in the long run.
I'm 50, do 16/8 and walk 10,000 steps a day. I maintain a healthy BMI.