After 40 do you start falling apart

The math thing cracked me up! I turned 50 last year and I still can never get past the fact that the 80's were 30 years ago.

A friend always tells me that "We are all always 21 in our mind". I always tell myself that when I notice how wrinkled my hands are!
I had the worst 21 year old birthday. Was in a group trying to get extra preparation to pass a science exam for the next day. What's worse is the next semester I dropped out. Ugh!
 
Depends on genetics and how well you look after yourself. Here's Mick at 74.


Yep! I'm about 6 months older than Mick and still cooking. I gig regularly, still work full time, and don't have a ton of aches and pains. I do have a bad back, but it has been a mess since I was 17, so nothing about being old on that.
I have had my gallbladder removed, but the rest of the parts are still intact and functioning normally.
I come from a line of people that live and function a long time. Most make it in their 80s or 90s and we've had a few make 100. I expect to be the next to do that.
 
Same here. At 40 I was still mountain biking and playing lots of hockey and could still put the beers down. 10 years on, many aches and pains, limited range of movement. But I contribute that to stopping the mountain biking and cutting back on the hockey. I have since hit the gym and am getting back to normal, the aches and pains are slowly going away.

So my thoughts, keep active, keeps you sharp mentally and better feeling physically.
 
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I got lucky - my hay fever greatly diminished as I passed 50.

One nice thing - I was born in 1950, so I can figure out how old I am without doing new math. Even I can calculate from 50.

My biggest complaint is that feet don't get better with age, and mine are proof. Even with prescription molded orthotics, I can walk about 9 holes, but after that it hurts enough that I'm ready to quit. But if that's the biggest problem I have, I'm in a much better situation than many people my age.

In general, the more active you are participating in low to no impact activities, the better your body will hold up. "Use it or lose it" is true. I'm doing yoga and it's more work than you would think.
 
I can uncategorically say NO. When I was 40 I still smoked; was overweight; had back issues; felt like an old man.

I am now 54. I had surgery on my spine, and that helped a lot, but I also quit smoking; started eating better; got a ton more exercise; got divorced; and I've never been healthier and happier. I'm singing better; playing better; having tons of sex, and when haters start in on me, I laugh because they are LOSERS, and I am NOT.

Life is short. I've lost some good people. I will lose more. Someday, the body on that slab will be mine. I don't intend to waste one minute on regrets; self-pity; or worrying what anybody else thinks. I like people, so if you have something positive to say to me, or interesting, or helpful, I will enjoy it very much. If you have something negative to say to me, I can't tell you in strong enough terms how much you can f the f off.

I am offering this advice: live your life. Live it in the absence of fear. I hate to quote a stupid sneaker company ad campaign, but JUST DO IT.

Do NOT put poison in your body. Respect this life, respect this world, respect yourself and respect others. But also DEMAND others respect you, and if they don't, cut them out of existence.
 
I am 43 going to be 44 in May. Since turning 40 I have:
  1. Now become allergic to Posion Ivy which before I could have rolled in it and never catch it
  2. Now have allergies
  3. Trouble getting off the floor
  4. A tooth broke
  5. Saying things like "Damn kids" or "Back in my day"
  6. Actually having to do the math to confirm how old I am
  7. Trouble remembering anything anymore including why I walked into a specific room

I am sure there is more but that is all I can think of for right now.

Well, I’m 65 working in two Bands, one a commercial dance band, the other a British Invasion type, plus a praise and worship ministry. I find that activity keeps you moving and sharp.

Physically, I’m in pretty good shape. Three stents, and a cranky right knee that’s minus an ACL I donated to my basketball career. The doc says, stay on my meds, stay out of KFC, get some exercise, and I’ll be around a while. I’m still shlepping 150 lbs of gear to most gigs, so I guess I’m better than my peer group conditioning wise.

Attitudinally, I’m saddened by the deterioration of our society. We are running from God as fast as we can, and at the same time, wondering why all hell is breaking loose.
 
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Forget that. I embrace what I am and what I will be. This whole stay young nonsense....BAH! If I start going bald I will buzz it, if I can't walk I will get a walker, if I can't wipe my own butt well in that case might have to start the car in the garage with the door closed. I have to draw the line somewhere.

no reason to do that just get a bidet or one of these handy TP holders https://www.amazon.com/Juvo-Products-Self-Assist-Assistance-SATA1/dp/B0151FP9AY/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?
 
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I am 43 going to be 44 in May. Since turning 40 I have:
  1. Now become allergic to Posion Ivy which before I could have rolled in it and never catch it
  2. Now have allergies
  3. Trouble getting off the floor
  4. A tooth broke
  5. Saying things like "Damn kids" or "Back in my day"
  6. Actually having to do the math to confirm how old I am
  7. Trouble remembering anything anymore including why I walked into a specific room
I am sure there is more but that is all I can think of for right now.

Started about 35 for me. Or maybe earlier, as I weighed 120 consistently until my kid was in her mom's belly (at about 25), then I went up to 150 suddenly. Stayed about 150 to this day. A year later I got fixed and right then my hair started going.

1. Used to love working on the floor, have a hard time getting back up now.
2. Was only allergic to longhair cats, now am allergic to them all.
3. Can't remember if my keys are in my pocket, ATM card has been removed, a few weeks ago I couldn't remember the code to get into the R&D room at work, been the same code for 10 years. Sometimes I don't remember anything about the last 10 miles on the road but that's probably because I've done it for too many years.
4. Digestive system has been piecemeal since I was born, but since 35 have acid reflux, achalasia, and motion sickness. Hauling in a bag of pellets or walking across the yard puts me out of breath temporarily. Leg swelling, had first DVT blood clot 5 years ago, have another doozy at the moment which I'm tending. Dad's side of the family is known for heart attacks in the 40s, after that everybody's known to live a long time.
5. Teeth going bad in back, but thankfully some of those were wisdom teeth that needed out anyway.
6. Used to have plain nearsightedness, now astigmatism. And probably more since my eyes are never really the same from one second to the next.

I heard many times if you break your hip, it's guaranteed you will be dead within a year replacement or not.
I am no expert but that is what I hear.

My grandma broke both hips at different times, few years apart. Over 5 years ago but yeah, dead compared to what she used to do. Used to be mowing the lawn, shoveling the driveway, and tilling up her garden in her early 80s. Now she can sort of get around on her own but is forever housebound. She's 89 now.
 
Yeah, you pretty much do start falling apart. The sad fact is that a male Homo Sapiens is pretty much designed that way, 'cause we weren't expected to live very long. 10,000 years ago, you'd be a very old man - almost certainly the oldest one in the tribe - and the guy voted "Most Likely To Be Eaten Next" by the first carnivore that happened along. You're waay past your sexual peak, and no longer of much use, as far as Mother Nature's concerned. You (and I - I'm 66) are in the file labeled "Surplus To Requirements". So, just relax, and enjoy every day you have left - until that Sabre-Toothed Cat comes along...:whistle:
 
You only fall apart if you allow it to happen.

Forget abusing your body.

Start eating better. Take a multivitamin.
Stop binge drinking. Exercise daily.

I have noticed distinct differences in aging people. Those who take care of themselves. And those who dont.

Given some are dealt a bad hand when it comes to health.

I'm 50, i exercise daily, eat right about 75% of the time, still drink. I feel pretty good most of the time . I also have some health issues that i stay on top of.
 
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62 here, have had nutrition well-managed since my teens thanks to my grandmother's advice and teachings(READ: I survived the abuse put on myself in my 20's during the long hair and spandex crazy rock band daze). The past 3 years had another big nutrition change going from SAD(standard American diet) to LCHF(low or no carb and high fat) and intentionally avoiding a ton of carb/starch foods. Weight went from 162 to 142, A1C is normal as are all other CBC testing results(4 per year, 2 at employer, 2 at normal doc). Cholesterol? I don't care as the standard tests do not classify the types correctly. If I want to or have to "fit" the current insanely lower numbers I can eat oatmeal every day at lunch and take 100mg of flush niacin twice per day....BOOM...numbers are perfect for the imperfect testing.

START OPINION COMMENT HERE: Current cholesteol numbers are lower to sell statins IMO. Statin kills muscle(heart and others included, depletes CoQ10 that is required by mitochondria<<the "dilithium crystals" of our cells). Correlate statin sales with Viagra sales and users of both. Then look up profits for selling those 2 drugs. Draw your own conclusions.
Inflammation causes the problems. Nutrition can prevent and correct that.
END OPINION HERE

Two huge key posts are these:
"It's not the years, it's the mileage." --Indiana Jones

Depends on genetics and how well you look after yourself.
When you local doc for decades says : "I never see you in here except for physicals. Don't know how you do it!" and you tell the cashier "All these supplements are cheaper than meds and better for me" when she looks funny at all the supps you just bought AND you see yourself spending a LOT of money on nutrition, it starts to make sense.

Still have a busted hip(arthritis under control with nutrition), rotator cuffs on both arms torn and semi-healed, one hernia(no plastic screen door mesh repair for me thank you), and a couple of other things to carry. We still move our own gear and do 70 to 90 gigs per year on top of full-time careers. After about 55, I told my wife after falling 5 feet off of our elevated deck one day onto my right shoulder(hurt for 2 months): "If it is still hurting after 6 months, it's permanent".

@fingerguy
1) You'll get immune to it if your immune system is strong
2) See # 1
3) Exercise more, specifically push ups and pull ups(upper body)
4) Get it fixed or get dentures and quit chewing on rocks(J/K)
5) Good! Watch the movie "Gran Torino" starring Clint Eastwood
6) More ginkgo and practice mental math.
7) Even more ginkgo and, if you do alcohol or do left hand cigarettes, stop. Brain cells beg you!

Good luck and take care of yourself.
Reading materials(disclaimer: not me and not related to any folks below, I just read them for info). Starters for ya'
P. D. Mangan (@Mangan150) | Twitter
Colin Champ, M.D. (@ColinChampMD) | Twitter
Prof Darrel Francis Help Cardiology Think Again (@ProfDFrancis) | Twitter
Dr Aseem Malhotra (@DrAseemMalhotra) | Twitter
Dr David Unwin (@lowcarbGP) | Twitter
SuppVersity.com (@SuppVersity) | Twitter
 
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Yes. Age 40.

Despite being subjected to 4 decades of cruel punishment, my body hit its 40th birthday with no real problems and I still practiced some heavy duty martial arts and rode my bike everywhere. By my 41st birthday, so much stuff started falling apart that it seemed to me that I aged 20 years in only a dozen short months.

I'll be 50 this May, and I like to think that I'm young at heart, but physically, I'm a wreck.
 
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Biologically, we humans are evolved to live in our natural environment (the African Savannah). for only about a 30-40 year life span. Nature doesn't like to waste energy on old individuals that have already had a chance to breed when younger ones are constantly available. That's why we tend to fall apart after age 40. Our bodies have mechanisms that constantly repair and renew damage and wear. These mechanisms slow down after age 30 and are significantly diminished by age 40.

For nearly all of the 200,000 year history of the human species, we've typically lived life spans of about 35 years. Now, our medical technology allows us to live to 80 years or more. This means that most of us will live the 2nd half of our lives in various stages of decrepitude.
 
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Never regret your age. It’s all about the time slot you fell in. The world was a beautiful place at one time. I’d hate to be born today. If I had my wish I would’ve been born in the early 50’s but again I’ll take early 70’s 1000000X over today.
 
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