Can You Really Change Your Body After 40?
Yes! You can make dramatic changes to your body after 40.
But….
Things are changing as you get older and your approach to fitness and nutrition has to change too. In this article I’m going to help you understand what’s happening with your body at this time of life.
Before we dive deep, remember your 40-something transformation is possible you just need to do things differently now. I’ve helped so many women like you change not only their bodies but the trajectory of their lives. It is important to work with a coach who understands you so reach out to me at any time or check out my Over 40 Transformation Program to get started.
The Truth About Your Age
Is your age really holding you back?
Here’s a quick story from my own life on that point.
In my 20s I envied other women at the gym. I wanted their muscles so much! I floundered for over 10 years never getting real results because I didn’t know how to train properly and I didn’t understand my body shape and how to maximise it. Then, in my 30s. I learned to weight train properly and I spent years studying how to build the ideal female shape. I’m happier with my physique now in my 40s than in my 20s.
Last year I visited my family in Canada and I went to the gym with my 18 year old nephew everyday. He is an absolute beast in the gym. His training sessions are often around two hours and he lifts so intensely there were times I was worried he’d pass out before giving up. The very cool thing was that I could train with him and keep up. Even lifting heavier than him on some exercises. I definitely gave him a run for his money and we had so much fun.
I didn’t feel my age at all.
And it’s not just me. I hear stories like this all the time from my clients. So the truth is there are a lot of things about getting older that plain and simply just suck. But, before you blame age, you have to make sure you are doing every else right. Usually the problem is that you aren’t following a good program and eating properly – not age.
You might have to change your expectations slightly but you can have the best body of your life after 40.
Learn more about setting realistic expectations:
What’s Happening In Your 40-Something Body
The Way You Store Fat Changes In Your 40s
Belly fat is one of the biggest complaints 40-something women have about their bodies. As you get older you may be noticing the way you store fat is changing and your belly fat feels more stubborn.
This is happening because of changing hormones. For many women, fat storage starts to shift from the hips and thighs to the stomach – especially around menopause. Nature truly is cruel because as you get older you may also start to store fat more readily and burn it less easily. These changes, in large part, are due to declining estrogen in your late 40s and lower estrogen overall after menopause.
In my experience, this belly fat isn’t inevitable. Belly fat is related to insulin levels so the first thing to address is how you eat. For some women simply reducing calories won’t work. Many women try to address belly fat by increasing cardio but at this age especially your body views cardio as a stressor so it can actually make things worse.
Changing your body after 40 requires a holistic approach. You have to eat right to balance your blood sugar but you also need to get enough protein and not drink too much alcohol. Reducing inflammation and stress is really important too. Also, the more muscle you have the better your body will deal with insulin so that’s a huge part of the puzzle that’s usually missing for women.
Skip ahead to learn more about my coaching programs and how I can help you.
Your Body Is Getting Weaker
Gosh. There’s a lot of bad news in this article but stick with me because I’m going to start giving you some hope soon.
We need to talk about muscle loss as you age because it’s really important. If you are over 30, you are losing muscle, strength and function as a natural part of the aging process. This is called sarcopenia and it dramatically accelerates in your 50s and 60s.
Unless you are doing something about it (ie. weight training), you are losing muscle mass and becoming more frail each year.
Sarcopenia is the reason you get weaker as you age but it’s also related to other serious problems like dementia and susceptibility to certain diseases as you get older. You may be seeing some of these physical changes in your aging parents. Or maybe you are even experiencing it yourself.
It is so crucial for you to understand that building and maintaining muscle is key to feeling good and being independent in your later years. In your 40s, muscle is also going to help counteract some of those changes caused by waning estrogen talked about in the previous section, including giving your metabolism a small boost and helping balance blood sugar.
Your Youthfulness Is Fading
Do you feel sad lately when you look in the mirror? I sure do. It’s impossible not to see the fine lines and sagging skin. I often think Mother Nature is really cruel – particularly to women.
Not only do our hormones whack us around in our 40s, but our youthfulness is also fading. These changes cause a lot of heartache for us and I get asked about them all the time.
Cellulite is one of the biggest challenges and it gets worse with age. Most women don’t know that cellulite is not just a “fat” issue but it’s also related to aging because as your collagen breaks down cellulite worsens. Building muscle can help with some of these changes because it can fill up the void under saggy skin and cellulite and pull it smoother. I’ve seen big changes in smoothness even with women in their 60s so it is possible to improve skin’s appearance.
Not only will muscle tighten things up but it will make you look younger overall. A weak, thin body with no muscle looks old! You’ll have poor posture, you won’t move well and things are going to be even more saggy. On the other hand, weight training in your 40s will dramatically change your appearance, how you carry yourself and your confidence.
One of the things I love most about my job is looking at my clients’ before and after photos and seeing how much younger they look.
How To Start Your Transformation & Become Your Strongest Self
If you are struggling right now, it likely not your age but more so that you don’t have the right plan designed for your over 40 body and goals.
It’s easy to get discouraged in your 40s because you will face many challenges, not just with your changing body. This is a tough time of life for us! But for most women age isn’t the barrier to a major transformation. You need to follow a program that is created for your age and work with a coach who gets where you are at in life.
I wish every woman understood what weight training and building muscle will do for their lives after 40. It’s not just about the physical changes. Your confidence and youthfulness will be restored. It will truly change your health and your life. It will quite likely also change the lives of those around you as you will inspire them to change and join your journey. I’ve heard time and time again about the benefits my clients’ families experience when they start their transformation journey with me.
I’m so passionate about 40-something transformations because I know it will change not only your body but the trajectory of your life. It may take some work on your part but you can become your strongest self!
Check out my Over 40 Transformation Program if you are wondering how to get started and I’ll look forward to hearing from you!
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