Matt Espeut’s Fit For Life: Fit at Forty

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health + Lifestyle Contributor

Throughout my 30s all I heard from my non-fitness friends was, “Wait until you turn 40! It’s all downhill from here." But I had friends in their 40s who were running marathons, competing in body building competitions, and challenging me at mountain biking. Well, here I am, now - at the age of 44. I’m fitter, faster, more mobile, and the healthiest I’ve ever been. Maybe not as strong as I was, but I am a lot lighter, too.

Why is this? For one, I have another 10 years of knowledge, experience and muscle maturity. I also have better eating habits.

The 20s

Let’s look at the 20s—that usually youth-driven, full-of-adrenaline person. If they are training, more often than not, it’s for reasons other than being healthy and fit. I was a bouncer in a nightclub, so I wanted to look big and intimidating, so I packed in pasta and pancakes and trained with reckless abandon, including lifting heavy weights.

The 30s

Those in their 30s are outwardly focused—concerned with family and career, often working ridiculous hours, eating lots of less than optimal food, including fast food, getting minimal rest, and chasing the American dream. It can be a time when you are putting your own health low on the priority scale. Missing workouts more than making them, if even working out at all.

The 40s

So, then you hit your 40s. You probably are looking at 10 years or more of your kids' leftovers—the mac & cheese, those chicken fingers… you’re looking at them right around your mid-section. Add to that a couple of drinks a day hitting your liver, experiencing lower libido, and adrenal fatigue in your blood. Your kids are in school, and are getting more self-sufficient. So, you look at your life and make the decision to get your fit life back—now—or to start, for the very first time. I promise it’s not too late to be 40, fit and in fantastic shape.

Start with these tips:

Eat better. Avoid man-made processed foods. Make the effort to prepare your meals for the day. Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks to ensure your metabolism keeps burning all day.

Move more. Anything helps—stretching, walking. Strength training with proper technique builds muscle and helps fight flab.

Relax more. Your body REQUIRES it for repair and rejuvenation. Get massages, 8 hours of sleep, etc.

Although not necessary, it might help to have a trainer in some capacity who can keep you on target and moving forward.

It’s your time—now! You’ll reap the rewards long into the years ahead, reducing disease risk, preventing injuries, and looking great, too. Approach the years ahead in your best shape ever.

Matt Espeut has worked as a personal trainer for almost 20 years with clients ranging in age from 14 to 86. His focus is on overall health, strength, and functional conditioning. Holistic health and nutrition is the cornerstone of all his programs. Matt works in private and small group training available at your home or office location or at gym facilities. Matt offers his services to everyone wanting to be more fit and healthy, overweight young people, youth/collegiate athletes, and seniors. Matt has worked and continues to train at several facilities in the Providence area including Gold's Gym and CORE Studio, and he believes continued education is a must in his field. Email Matt: [email protected], check out his website at www.fitnessprofiles.net or on Facebook at Matt Espeut or on Twitter @MattEspeut.