50 The New 40 My Butt

Not sure who came up with this crock. I'm only mid way to 50 and can guarantee those extra 6 years past 40 make all the difference in the world. At 40 I still felt on top of the world. Although I still exercise, try to eat healthy, visit my doctor regularly for checkups, I am exhausted. That's not even the worst. I wake up in the morning with body aches and knotted muscles. It takes a few minutes to straighten out, stretch, take a couple of steps before resuming what we easily learned as toddlers, walking! I should not need two cups of coffee before I can focus and utter an intelligible sentence. 50 the new 40 my butt!

Life begins at 40 - but so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person, three or four times.
Helen Rowland

If this is now, I sympathize with those older than me and what's in store for all of us as we age. I'm sure there are a few who will lie and tell me how wonderful they feel and while I don't doubt they do it is all relative to age. You feel great for 50 but don't tell me you feel exactly the same as you did when you were 40. I won't buy it. My peers are all about the same age and they have the same or strikingly similar body aches and complaints. Growing old sucks as you reach that 40 year milestone and beyond. You are now considered middle aged face it, you are going down and that's all there is to it.

Looking fifty is great--if you're sixty .
Joan Rivers

Sure there are things you can do to ensure better health and mobility at any age. That being said, it doesn't change the creaking bones, occasional pain and flared up joints that go along with other age related conditions. Exercise and diet might help reduce them but still be prepared for some type of annoying symptom and discomfort.

You ever heard that saying, "your mind is telling you can do it, your body is saying who are you kidding". It was meant for the 40 somethings. I would be lying if I told you I knew what to do. So, what is this hub about? Its about the reality of growing old.

Half a century is about what we are good for before gravity and deterioration take hold. Let's see, your hair starts thinning, your eyes play tricks on you, forget nearsightedness you may have dealt with it or astigmatism throughout your life. Now you can't see eight inches in front of you, get ready for the bifocals. Lines spring up on your face almost overnight as do wrinkles and stray hairs. What is that about? Double chins appear, sagging bosoms and bottoms. Flab infiltrates your arms, belly and thighs. You may feel unbalanced at times, forgetful and have overall slower reflexes. This is just on the outside. You can only imagine what's all being rearranged, stretched and malfunctioning inside that once studly body of yours.

Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle .
Bob Hope

The only true advice I can give is to not wait until it is too late to start making positive and healthy lifestyle changes. The longer you wait the more damage you do your body and self and the sooner you will begin to decompose. It is harder to reverse bad habits and behaviors than to learn to treat yourself right and adopt positive habits correctly the first time around.

You are by now probably asking, "So what can I do?"  Well, they say it's never too late to start anything and anything you start and do today is better than not at all. Exercise, eat a well balanced diet, get some sleep, engage in activities you enjoy, socialize and laugh. Laugh at it all. It is the best medicine and will aid in releasing those good feel endorphins to help you cope better with your age related reality.

If you are still young enough, take heed. It's not just your parents telling you annoying things like "do this, don't do that, eat this, not that, exercise, don't drink, don't smoke, eat your fruits and veggies, drive the speed limit, and abstain from sex until married." It's the 40 something crowd whose been there done that and wished they had listened to the elders sooner.

Don't forget about treating yourself well and don't forget to pass on your 40 something knowledge to the younger generation. Your kids might not listen but you have a good chance your grand kids will. After all they adore you. That's one thing I don't mind about middle age at all!