FORTY-ish. . .what does it MEAN?

[AUSSIE-Rebooted-AMM]

Well. . . I am a year off it. . . and still can't believe I am that chronologically challenged! BUT my body sure doesn't feel like it is in its 20's anymore.

Who else is close and what are ya feeling about it?

Have you had a mid Life Crisis? Yet. . . .or working up to it?

Who has crossed the line. . . and how are ya coping?

[Mikey]

I'm 43 and I feel older than I should.

mid Life Crisis ?
Does that mean you go crazy and start buying toys ?

[ScottA]

I'm 44 and collect toys. What does that tell ya? I don't "feel" old. I feel the same as I did when I was younger. But I think about age more now since my parents are in their early 70's and late 60's.

[MIB41]

I turned 44 this year and I can give you the scoop on what you need to do to prepare yourself for the "big 40" stage. FIRST - It's just a number. If your young at heart then your way ahead of the game mentally. As the Joker would say, "Why so serious?" SECOND - You MUST start paying attention to your health which translates into a focus on physical activity. Too many people slow down in their late 30's and 40's. When you were a kid you could get away with laying around and eating Big Macs for a spell without your body paying the price, because you did enough running to make up the difference - not now. In your 40's you need to hit a gym and/or stay active (walking, running) every week and lay off the fast food (a death wish, to be sure).

If you don't, then let me introduce you to your next acquaintance - your genetic flaws. If your parents started having health related issues when they were middle age (blood pressure, etc.), chances are you will follow that path. Chances are also good they might have developed those problems from life style changes (not always, but many times that is true). Review that aspect of your family and see if there were any problems including cancer (such as colon). If that is present you need to start getting it checked.

I could write a book on the matter but I think you get my point. You just have to start paying attention to your body. Get plenty of exercise, start giving yourself more rest and you will feel just as good as you did in your 20's - I do! If you do that and start maintaining regular checkups with your doctor, your 40's will be just as good as any other decade prior. Best of luck!

[Gorn Captain]

I'm 43 now.
Inside, my mind jumps back from feeling much younger, to feeling much older.
I cherish my inner child, hence the toys, but have a lot of mileage, I sometimes feel like 80.
As said above, your flaws crop up. Not benchpressing as much anymore. That damn belly your father and older brother also have. I have to do a lot more situps, and still come up short. My hair is going, the only male in my family!

I exercise a lot now, twice a week to the gym, cycling every day, walking the dogs at least one hour per day at a brisk pace.

Welcome to the effects of gravity and erosion, my friend!!!


PS: Midlife crisis? Hmmmm. Can anyone spare a bike and a blonde babe? Anyone?

[mitchedwards]

42 and feeling every year of it. But, life is what you make of it, so I'm just treating age as a # and enjoying every day.

Of course I had a midlife crisis, look at my avitar.

[HardyGirl]

I'm 42, I have arthritis in my knee (and possibly my hip), I weigh more than I should. But I'm going through my second childhood. I collect toys, watch cartoons and eat sugary cereals. If that isn't a mid-life crisis, I don't know what is!

[megoscott]

I'll be 40 in January. I will have a year old son. That kind of freaks me out. I'm the same age as my mom was when I graduated from High School.

I'm in better shape than I was 10 years ago, but my late 20's early 30's were not a healthy time.

But generally I still feel like I need to grow up and be an adult.

[ScottA]

My two biggest physical problems are psoriasis and weight. Psoriasis is hereditary and there isn't much I can do about it except take some medicines to help control it. But I"m easy 80-90 lbs too heavy. If I wasn't so tall I'd be a round as a beetle bug. I really need to do something about it and I commend Rob for what he did. I wish I had his will power. I do see a doctor regularly and have had a colonoscopy. My Dad had colon cancer so I have to be on top of that.

But I generally feel young and alive and collecting toys is a big part it.

[toys2cool]

what the hell am I doing hanging around all you old farts? i'm just kidding all you guys look great I'd say just do something that'll make you feel a bit younger,like play some Basketball or exercise a bit.Go play some paintball and run around

I do all that with guys in their 40's and man i tell you most are in better shape then the younger guys

Stay active guys

[Brue]

Go to realage.com and see how old you are.
Stay active <good advice. I certainly don't feel 41.

[jessica]

I am 42. If I could lay off the ice cream and cookies and anything deep fried, I could be healthier. Like most Asians, I won't look old until I hit 65 years. My heaviest at pregnancy four years ago was 137 and I am currently 105 pounds. If I could just work out and get down to 95, I would probably look and feel much younger.

[Zemo]

Toys has it right, in that the 40's guys are hanging around him. That is the key. I'm 44(I think) lol. I have a lot of friends that are in their 20's and 30's. This really helps your state of mind. Of course you need to be in shape to run with the younger pups. And smokin a fatty now and again certainly doesn't hurt (no matter what your mother told you)

[tomstoyz2]

I'm 44 & I really don't buy into the whole mid-life crisis thing. I feel pretty good most of the time. I guess I should get more exercise but I enjoy being "40-something". I think it all depends on attitude. Don't listen to the media telling you what products to buy & you'll be ok.

[starsky]

I turned 44 this year and I can give you the scoop on what you need to do to prepare yourself for the "big 40" stage. FIRST - It's just a number. If your young at heart then your way ahead of the game mentally. As the Joker would say, "Why so serious?" SECOND - You MUST start paying attention to your health which translates into a focus on physical activity. Too many people slow down in their late 30's and 40's. When you were a kid you could get away with laying around and eating Big Macs for a spell without your body paying the price, because you did enough running to make up the difference - not now. In your 40's you need to hit a gym and/or stay active (walking, running) every week and lay off the fast food (a death wish, to be sure).

If you don't, then let me introduce you to your next acquaintance - your genetic flaws. If your parents started having health related issues when they were middle age (blood pressure, etc.), chances are you will follow that path. Chances are also good they might have developed those problems from life style changes (not always, but many times that is true). Review that aspect of your family and see if there were any problems including cancer (such as colon). If that is present you need to start getting it checked.

I could write a book on the matter but I think you get my point. You just have to start paying attention to your body. Get plenty of exercise, start giving yourself more rest and you will feel just as good as you did in your 20's - I do! If you do that and start maintaining regular checkups with your doctor, your 40's will be just as good as any other decade prior. Best of luck!

well said!! i totally agree with you!