‘What’s your fitness mantra?’ a common query amongst youngsters and young adults.  What would be truly wonderful is to see the same happen in the 40+ age group, especially with women.  That is not to say that the 40+ men should not be exercising, but here I would like to specifically address the women.  

Through your teens and young adulthood you made efforts to look good, adopting (hopefully) exercise and healthy eating as a means to doing so.  However, getting into your 40s, factors such as children, homes, careers or just the mere fact that one’s now 40 somehow has you slowing down in your fitness related activities. A pity. For this, especially, is the time when your health and fitness need to be your top-most priority.  

Women in their 40s are entering a critical period of their lives, one that will determine their health and physical well-being through and after menopause.  A matter of huge concern for any woman.  Women have a tendency towards weight gain during and immediately after menopause; that leads to negative emotional and health implications.  Regular exercise helps combat this weight gain and can also lower the risk of breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease.  As Dr Suhasini Inamdar, a gynaecologist in her 40s who also exercises, says “If women were to exercise regularly, the weight gain associated with water retention, when they are peri-menopausal, can be brought under control.  Also, symptoms such as hot flashes can be dealt with better if one is exercising.”

Chronic conditions, such as osteoporosis and arthritis, which may have you believing you need to slow down, are the very reasons that make it critical to stay fit. So, when women say they cannot do as much as they could when they were younger, it’s not necessarily because of age.  Rather, it’s a function of doing fewer activities so as not to overload their muscles.  Stronger muscles, through weight training, place less stress on the body and help prevent atrophy from disuse. 

Decrease in mobility and functionality along with joint pains are dreaded aspects of aging.  A well-planned exercise programme will ensure that your muscles, including your heart and lungs, do not become weak and that slouch you thought would be a permanent part of you, as you aged, need not be so.

Emotional benefits of being physically fit include feeling happier and less anxious, while also sleeping better. There are various mind-body fitness programs such as yoga, pilates, and tai chi, that are not only low impact but include stretching, flexibility and strength while working on the mind and body. 

Taking action

Whether it’s a walk, dance or stretch class you need to get up and move.  It’s a wonderful feeling to go from a state of feeling slow and ungainly to getting up, taking action and feeling lighter, physically and emotionally. 
So, whatever your age or level of health, it's never too late to take up exercise and improve your level of fitness.  The benefits of staying fit in your 40s (or for that matter at any age) start from your mind and extend all through your body leaving you fitter, with greater mobility and functionality, and feeling more energised and higher in spirits than you could have possibly imagined.  

Women who are doing it

Diana Tholoor, 52 years old and a Corporate Trainer, says “my workouts give me joy and energy and strive to enhance passion in all I do.  It’s what allows me to stand for 7-8 hours at work and still feel good.”
Sixty-year-old Sudha Puri has this to say, “Working out makes you forget your age, your aches and pains.  In the gym being around others, young and old, all exercising makes you feel good.  In fact there are times when I’m on the treadmill listening to a good beat and I feel like grooving along with it!”

The author is a certified fitness instructor  and can be contacted at 9880121418