Decades later, these same men, now in their 50s, were put on an exercise program once more and, after six months, the men had lost an average of 10 pounds. Researchers found higher resting heart rates, increased blood pressure, and also observed an overall drop in cardiovascular capacity.Įncouragingly, these negative factors were shown to reverse after engaging in an exercise plan. So, sitting your 40’s out on the bench is not an option if you want to enjoy a healthier, longer life.īack in 1966, a groundbreaking study by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School found that even college students who were subjected to three weeks of bed rest found it difficult to perform at their previous levels when returning to an active lifestyle. This all contributes to bad cholesterol and increases our blood sugar levels. In midlife, most Americans put on 3 to 4 pounds of weight per year, and since we are more likely to lose muscle in our 40s, we are not talking lean mass gains. Shockingly, that’s the same percentage of those tested that were in the 70-75 age group.Īs if that weren’t sobering enough, our blood vessels will begin to stiffen, and blood pressure is likely to creep up as we travel through middle age. Frailty After 40Ī 2021 study conducted at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, found that the road to frailty could begin at age 40, with results showing that 45% of the 40–49-year-olds tested showed signs of “pre-frailty”. Still, make no mistake, our 40s are a challenging time for our bodies. On top of this, our participation in sports and exercise is likely to have dropped off as a result of the sheer number of plates that we must juggle on a daily basis. On the one hand many of us are becoming better settled in our jobs, and more financially secure, but on the other hand, those management-level roles serve to bring more stress into the home, and we are potentially living with emotional teenagers and at the same time wondering why we never managed to write that best-selling novel or split the atom. It’s never too late, so let’s make a pact and #BeFitOver40. Factors such as mobility, metabolism, and recovery are all important issues that we will face head-on in future, but unless you get started, nothing else can follow. In this series, we will look at the importance of maintaining your fitness levels as life goes beyond 40. We get it, your working hours are long and the available time at home with the family is limited, but if you want to stay around to enjoy your loved ones for as long as possible, take some time out for yourself too.
So, you’re in your 40s? Or maybe you are a few years either side, but one thing is for sure, exercise should be an essential part of your lifestyle.