Anyone else notice a huge change in results after turning 40?

[CH40]

Not sure if its the stress of having my kid late in life (37) and then turning 40 this year, but my body is POOCHED! I get that things start to go downhill when you turn 40, but its like all the hard work i did for the 15 plus years before I turned 40 didn't do a lot! I know in reality it has set me up for a healthier second half of life, but sheeeeesh! Its frustrating. Its like learning how to work out and eat all over again. Turning 40 AND having a kid seems to be a game changer...anyone else out there feel like they are starting from square one and need to learn what works again? Let me know your thoughts. Just started a heavy muscle gaining workout (12 week program) today - I've been doing HIIT (with light weights) and bootcamps for the past few years...haven't lifted heavy in about 5 years - hoping this might give a little shock to my system. (It felt SOO good by the way!) Oh..and i'm having to nurse a post dislocated shoulder - again, did it the first time 18 years ago..shoot...the recovery time is longer now too LOL.....i want my 30 year old body back..it pretty much did anything I wanted it too!!!!

[kimm4]

If one stays consistent with a solid lifting program and diet, the body will normally bounce back after having children (even at a later age.)

Your diet will be key to the entire process and staying consistent with a heavy lifting program focused around the important compound lifts. Cardio and bootcamp style classes won't give you the body you're looking for.

[Phattso]

I learned a lot more after that age and because I was smarter through experience and learning from this site, I made better progress.

[DocHoss]

Nope.

Seeing as how I only started lifting at 47 (heck, I never even set foot in a gym before then), I had no change in results after turning 40.

But I did see changes (if not huge changes) once I started lifting

[mcbourque]

Had a kid at 35. My body was better at 40 that 30.
Like Kimm said diet and lifting is key.

Now I look terrible and I know it's all because I let my diet go and quit the gym for 2 years.

[GKC45]

^lol. You don't look terrible. Give yourself some credit, you look great.

[JerryB]

Nothing changed in my 40's . My conditioning was just as good as in my thirties.

[Edman316]

40 is just a number.

You are talking yourself into believing it's some kind of magic age where you fall apart.

It's in your head. You need to forget about your age and evalute your diet and training. I bet you are not working as hard as you were when you were 37 and that is the problem.

I trained seriously until age 33 and took a long break. I gained weight and got out of shape. I blamed it on crossing the magic 40 - you fall apart and it's normal - barrier. It was total BS.

Been back in the gym and eating right for nearly 10 weeks at age 45. I am making the most rapid progress in my life right now. Now I know the 40 year mindset is mental. You fall apart because you allow it to happen.

Get your mind right and get to work.

Good luck!

[HeavyBlueDevil]

Consistency over all, in nutrition and exercise, once it becomes habit you will continue to advance.

[TouaregV8]

I'm bigger and stronger now than I was when I was in my 20's and 30's. Having a kid is just an excuse.

[michail71]

I'm better at 43 than I was at 23. Started at 39.

[michail71]

Had a kid at 35. My body was better at 40 that 30.
Like Kimm said diet and lifting is key.

Now I look terrible and I know it's all because I let my diet go and quit the gym for 2 years.

^lol. You don't look terrible. Give yourself some credit, you look great.

Not only that, I think she could pass for 28.

[Paulie_G]

I hit all all of my personal 1RM after 40. Actually, it was 42 when I hit 305/335/460. I will say however, that it takes more "maintenance" and proper recovery time to continue to make gains after 40.

[bodyhard]

I don't think men should be answering the OP's question since we cant have children and know what it is like for out bodies to go through the change after children.

Leave it to the ladies of the OV35 who have had children, are over 40 and still workout and are still seeing improvements.


Unless the OP is asking about turning 40 in general. In that case, what I found when I turn 40 was that I responded a hell of a lot better to training than when I was younger.

[GKC45]

^ there is definitely validity to what you are saying. I would argue that this was addressed to "anyone" in the O35, as opposed to the ladies forum, so that does open the door a bit. Personally, I have no idea of how hard it would be to get back in shape after delivering a child. I can only add that there seems to be a number of ladies here who have been quite successful at doing just that.

[hammerfelt]

Twenty years ago I was sedentary, working my way slowly to a heart attack 6 years ago. That was my wake up call.

5 years in the gym has me feeling like I am back in my teen years playing sports. I love it. I get younger every year. I did find the fountain of youth, which is lifting heavy weights.

[michail71]

From my observations women have an amazing ability to snap back into shape if they even put in a little effort. I've seen it happen for younger and older women. I've also seen women turn into a mess afterwards. But it's always over eating and lack of physical exercise.

[anonymous]

40 is just a number.

You are talking yourself into believing it's some kind of magic age where you fall apart.

It's in your head. You need to forget about your age and evalute your diet and training. I bet you are not working as hard as you were when you were 37 and that is the problem.

I trained seriously until age 33 and took a long break. I gained weight and got out of shape. I blamed it on crossing the magic 40 - you fall apart and it's normal - barrier. It was total BS.

Been back in the gym and eating right for nearly 10 weeks at age 45. I am making the most rapid progress in my life right now. Now I know the 40 year mindset is mental. You fall apart because you allow it to happen.

Get your mind right and get to work.

Good luck!

THIS^^^^!!

I had my only child at age 31, weighed in at almost 200 lbs (yep, you read it right!), and didn't start weight training til I turned 61. I lost the baby weight with excessive cardio/dieting, and ended up skinny-fat for YEARS! There is no age limit to what we can accomplish, we just need to put in the work.

[KeithTheSnake]

40 is the new 30.

[discdoggie]

I had my baby 2 months before I turned 40.

I'm almost 47 and just the past 2 years have noticed menopausal/hormonal shifts that make staying lean more of a challenge.

I added lean muscle at a very respectable weight all through my 40s.

Actually (and this is all anecdotal, I have no science to back this up) I theorize that women have an easier time adding mass in their late 30s to 40s than in their 20s because of perhaps a drop in estrogen?

But that is just speculation.

[ljimd]

I had more hair.

[CHILDOFGO12]

one thing i can say, i have to lift harder then i did and diet harder, since i came back to this sport in '06. it's been fun and a great learnin' time for me. another thing i can also say, my lower abs are much hard to get flatter then '95, after i had my daughter.

[shawnbellon]

I am 42 so let me qualify myself. Generally the issues we face are not being able to recover as well. If you are worn down trying to train more may or may not be the answer. It is more about finding a plan that works for you. Cortisol is nasty and can certainly cause weight gain from stress in life.

Let me suggest:
1. quality stress management time
2. weight training 2-3 times a week
3. intermittent fasting (for now) see Dr. Mercola on this; I use my own variations

Good luck!

THIS^^^^!!

I had my only child at age 31, weighed in at almost 200 lbs (yep, you read it right!), and didn't start weight training til I turned 61. I lost the baby weight with excessive cardio/dieting, and ended up skinny-fat for YEARS! There is no age limit to what we can accomplish, we just need to put in the work.

I had my baby 2 months before I turned 40.

I'm almost 47 and just the past 2 years have noticed menopausal/hormonal shifts that make staying lean more of a challenge.

I added lean muscle at a very respectable weight all through my 40s.

Actually (and this is all anecdotal, I have no science to back this up) I theorize that women have an easier time adding mass in their late 30s to 40s than in their 20s because of perhaps a drop in estrogen?

But that is just speculation.

I had more hair.

Not sure if its the stress of having my kid late in life (37) and then turning 40 this year, but my body is POOCHED! I get that things start to go downhill when you turn 40, but its like all the hard work i did for the 15 plus years before I turned 40 didn't do a lot! I know in reality it has set me up for a healthier second half of life, but sheeeeesh! Its frustrating. Its like learning how to work out and eat all over again. Turning 40 AND having a kid seems to be a game changer...anyone else out there feel like they are starting from square one and need to learn what works again? Let me know your thoughts. Just started a heavy muscle gaining workout (12 week program) today - I've been doing HIIT (with light weights) and bootcamps for the past few years...haven't lifted heavy in about 5 years - hoping this might give a little shock to my system. (It felt SOO good by the way!) Oh..and i'm having to nurse a post dislocated shoulder - again, did it the first time 18 years ago..shoot...the recovery time is longer now too LOL.....i want my 30 year old body back..it pretty much did anything I wanted it too!!!!

[CH40]

Hmmmm..you all bring up a good point...I may feel like i'm working as hard as I did, but I know for sure my food is not as on point as it used to be...and it should be. I'm more tired than i ever was before, even though I'm trying to get more sleep - but I've also got more commitments in my life now than when I was younger. The more I read the more I think its a lifestyle/nutrition thing....not a 40 thing....i knew there was a reason I posted this. Nothing like complete strangers pointing out the obvious LOL. I love it! Thanks you guys!!!! Oh..and I don't mind that guys are posting on this - who knows, you may have the training to work with pre/post natal clients. I don't mind any and all input, being open minded is how we grow!

[Jbizzlechizzle]

YMMV. There are many variables, age is just one of them and it's not in your control. Focus on the things you can change like your nutrition, rest and intensity of your training and your body will reward you over time. Good luck to you op.

[Corbi]

I'm bigger and stronger now than I was when I was in my 20's and 30's. Having a kid is just an excuse.

Wow, when did you have your last baby? Kinda bulky and a bit ugly to be a chick but who am I to judge?

[GKC45]

^just think- some poor bastard got drunk and slept with toureg!

[Karl_Hungus]

I'm bigger and stronger now than I was when I was in my 20's and 30's. Having a kid is just an excuse.

So, because a man in his 40's on "sups" can build muscle easily, a woman in her 40's, who recently recovered from childbirth must be making excuses? You really don't have the proper frame of reference to make that judgement. BH hit the nail on the head with this one.

[Medtreker]

So, because a man in his 40's on "sups" can build muscle easily, a woman in her 40's, who recently recovered from childbirth must be making excuses? You really don't have the proper frame of reference to make that judgement. BH hit the nail on the head with this one.

Youch! Please don't talk about BH hitting anything....

[Brackneyc]

I made more progress after 40 than ever before. Finally started doing things correctly.