3 Keys to Healthy and Fit Living After 40

My 3 Key Tips (As a Certified Personal Trainer)

1. Redefine What Being Healthy Means to You

Living healthier after 40 doesn’t necessarily mean getting shredded or having six-pack abs. Of course, those would be awesome, but as we age and evolve, so do our life goals. There’s much to be said for simply being happy when life can be difficult. Happiness is indeed a form of fitness.

Being healthy can mean many different things. Think about what’s important to you and what makes your life feel full and meaningful. What makes you feel better about yourself? These reflections will help guide you toward the type of fitness that matters most to you and where you should put most of your energy.

2. Adjust Your Exercise Approach

If exercise is part of your plan for living better, it will feel and affect your body differently after 40 than it did before. Even though we all like to think we’re invincible and can do the same things we could in our 20s, the reality is that our bodies are changing, and we need to make some adjustments.

This doesn’t mean you can’t work hard; I’m probably putting more effort and energy into my workouts after age 40 than I ever have before. That said, more effort doesn’t always mean heavier weights or faster speeds on a treadmill. Effort means the amount of energy you’re willing to expend on certain exercises.

For example, running takes a lot of energy, as does walking on a treadmill at a high incline. To the eye, those might not look like they are in the same ballpark, but I promise you, your heart rate will tell you they are very similar exercises. Don’t concentrate on the amount of weight on the bar or the miles per hour on your treadmill or fitness tracker. Concentrate on your level of effort. If it doesn’t feel like you’re working hard enough, you might need to reassess your energy level if you’re not straining a little bit or breathing hard.

3. Find Your Motivation

Living well requires a reason for living better. Eating well and exercising isn’t easy and will be nearly impossible without proper motivation. Spend some time considering what drives you. Do you want to spend more time with your grandchildren or be more active? Are you feeling down about how you look and want better confidence? Are you trying to attract a mate? Whatever the reason, use it as fuel for your fitness fire.

A car can’t go very far without fuel, so make sure you understand what’s important in your life and use that as motivation to keep you moving forward.