Being fit at 40, why not?

I still remember a Pepsi ad from a few years back, at least 20, that took advantage of the launch of the new Pepsi Light (or maybe it was Pepsi Max) to talk about some myths about hitting the dreaded 30s. I don’t know if any of you remember it, but there was this super cute girl in her mid-twenties talking about getting close to turning 30; then she went on to mention some myths, leading up to the one they wanted to bust.

The myth was nothing other than “At 30, all men have a belly,” and the girl walked up to the bar where a guy around 30 was drinking a Pepsi Light, lifting the bottom of his shirt to show the perfect abs the dude had.

Times change

Well, nowadays times have changed, and society has evolved. Where it used to be thought that 30 was the turning point for men’s physical decline, now it seems to be 40, and I say this from my own experience and that of many friends who are already past 40. Many of them have a belly, and the worst part is that many are surprised you can be in shape at 40.

40 is the new 30.

It seems that when someone hits a certain age, society expects them to stop doing sports or believes that staying fit requires huge sacrifices only young people in their 20s or 30s can make, but once past 40, only “singles,” gym freaks, or obsessed fitness buffs do it, and that’s definitely a misconception.

Being fit should be prescribed by doctors. In fact, in Euskadi, where I’m from, doctors have started prescribing exercise, which is a step forward. Little by little, we’ll realize that sports are the key to good health and enjoying a quality old age in the best possible conditions.

Being fit at any age

The truth is, it’s sad that society assumes that past a certain age, being fit isn’t normal. Just look at people in their 60s or 70s, where not even 10% do any kind of exercise, not even going for walks. Their bodies are neglected, obesity rates are huge, and that’s simply due to education, since we’re not taught to be fit, ironically, only to keep our lab results within certain ranges.

Society is ruled by big pharma. For example, there’s a huge lie about cholesterol, and it’s all because the lower the healthy range is set, the more profit big pharma makes by having to prescribe those famous statins that regulate it. Just look at how every 5 years they lower the healthy range; 12-10 years ago it was 300, and now it’s 200.

And big pharma doesn’t want people to be fit. Just imagine what would happen if people, even past 50 or 60, exercised more… they’d have way fewer cardiovascular diseases, something that doesn’t seem to interest them much. They’d rather advertise products that keep your cholesterol low or your blood pressure stable, or prescribe pills for depression or anxiety, which would probably be much lower if mature people practiced sports every day.

Fit at 40

Personally, I think there’s a need to spread the word that you can be fit at any age, guiding people to start a sport, and few activities are better than fitness (within your possibilities and adapted to your experience and real level), where fitness, balanced and smart nutrition, and above all health, come first.

The general idea about fitness is that it’s a sport for body-obsessed people, an activity for superficial folks who just want to show off at the beach, but from my point of view, it’s the best way to stay fit. They say swimming is the most complete sport, but fitness, although not considered a sport but a sport activity, trains the whole body evenly, balancing and compensating each muscle group, and above all prioritizes smart, controlled nutrition, ideal for staying healthy.

So, one of the things I did when I turned 40, a couple of years ago, was create a blog (EnFormaAlos40.com) for all those who want to start and be fit at 40, or any age, since there’s no specific peculiarity for people in their 40s, 30s, or 60s. Fitness is the same for everyone, within each person’s level, but the goal is the same: to be in the best shape possible.

So you know, forget the stereotypes, forget your biological age, life is way better enjoyed with an optimal fitness level, don’t you think?

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