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Are You Turning 40 and Looking for a Profound Life Change?

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Reflections on turning 40 bu Augiegus

I was at work the other morning waiting for my relief to come on and the only thing I could think of was the line or two from David Lee Roth before the Van Halen song Hot for Teacher. You know the part where Eddie is twidling on the main guitar riff and David Lee ab libs, “I don’t feel tardy.”

I suppose that is sorta how I feel about turning 40. I don’t feel forty. A good point is that no I do not listen to Van Halen much but my Ipod is instead loaded with Sublime, The White Stripes, Shiny Toy Guns, Wilco, TV on the Radio and the like. I suppose I believed when I was a kid that forty year olds just listened to Paul Anka and were busy yelling at the neighbor kids to get out of their yard.

I suppose it is a blessing to feel more at ease talking to those younger then me then those older, but it is a bigger blessing that I feel I have more in common with the youth. Some of this youthful outlook is great. I love working out. Most folks my age seem to be less fit and as time goes on just give up being healthy. What started as weight loss morphed into weight training and now is taking on new avenues of fitness. I Loved bicycling into work the last few days and flipping off the gas sign on the way. I plan to do this until late fall (gas sign flipage contingent on future gas prices), but who knows we may have a mild winter. The point is that I am in the best physical shape of my life and I plan to improve to a higher excellence as time goes on and that is not the thinking of an old man.

The down side was I could of accomplished much more if I was not so immature in other areas of my life. My youth was not filled with sex, drugs, and rock and roll but two out of three ain’t bad. I would of took them all but their is no accounting for taste in the fairer sex. It is sorta silly to look back with regret. I mean the first time I benched four sets of 10 I did the bar alone. The next week I improved. We all start somewhere and when we start is different for all of us. Why did I wait until 38 to get healthy? The only thing I can come up with was I was resting from what I thought was an overwhelming life. Now I workout to get more from life.

All and all it is a beautiful life. Their is plenty of things to work on but I suppose I feel rested and ready for the challenge. I keep my eyes open for the wonder and never say never. It is like Dylan sang, “Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger then that now.

Read more from Augiegus

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Why Do I Care by Christopher

I think it is very telling that there is a site started just two years ago called ‘turning40′. I think our generation is  “insistent”, in some ways, of not having the turning 40 stigma. I mean didn’t MTV just celebrate an anniversary?

I turn 40 in 5 days and I asked a bunch of people for a list of all the things I should do in the next 5 days that would be socially unacceptable for me to do after I turn 40. The only thing that came up was “take dirty pictures”.

I am very happy with how my life has turned out. However, one of my goals in life was to reach that point…. no matter WHERE I was in life at any given time. That’s all we all really want is to just be happy regardless of circumstances.

The only thing I am NOT happy with is my weight. I lift heavy weights alot so I have sort of a football player look to me, but, I do carry more fat than I want. But on the other hand, I think, WHY DO I CARE? I have the most amazing wife in the world, awesome kids, and a fun life. Why do I care if I’m ’sexy’? BFD! Right? Now I just have to convince myself of that.

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Physical Training at 40 by Todd

Physical Training

Read more from Todd at his site

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Create a Vision Board by Rosa

A way to break through any block is to create a vision board.  I have used this technique for over 25 years. What it does is focus your brain on what you want instead of what is holding you back. Then the mind will begin to find ways to resolve those blocks to keep you moving toward your vision. It is highly effective. I always seem to get what is on my board. If I don’t it is often because, I realized I really didn’t want it.

When I was losing weight I had images of lean and slender woman who looked fit. As I was turning 40 and I was at my ideal weight I changed my focus. I put on my board a caption that was on a magazine that said “40 and WOW”. Look for photos and phrases that are inspiring to you and make your goal real. Create a board of these images. This is a great thing to teach kids, my children and I have done this together as a craft project.

Place the board somewhere where you can look at every day. I have one right in front of me right now, it is focused on my business and has images of success. The brain unconsciously works on this goal even when you are not thinking about it. Give it a try.

If you do create one show it to me! Here is the one I created when I turned 40, I wanted to workout with weights and reduce my body fat. I was also focused on my ebusiness and writing a book, so this helped me to stayed focused on my goals.

Rosa is a life coach  with a speciality in wellness and weight loss. She is certified in Hypnosis, NLP, EFT and Success Coaching. She is the author of Mind Over Platter: Train Your Brain to Think Thin, as well as the creator of Hypnosis CD’s for weight loss. Her site is www.mindoverplatter.com

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5 Tips to Stay Vibrantly Beautiful Over 40 by Stephanie

Turning 40 may mean your youth is gone but it doesn’t mean that your youthful look has to go with it. Elle McPherson and Cindy Crawford are looking hotter than ever, and although you may not be a former model, there are some things you can do to help you stay looking vibrant as you age.

• Drink water: The more you keep your body hydrated the longer your skin will stay elastic and supple. Your inside will be happy as well and be less likely to hold on to water weight due to “water faminine” just like your body adjusts and slows down your metabolism for “calorie famine” when you severely cut back on eating.

• Create a support system of positive people: As you get older, life changes become far more stressful thus reeking havoc on your body and your appearance. Life is much easier and less lonely when you have a support system of really wonderful people who will back you up and remind you of your strength and lovability. Your support system will also help make you laugh which is something you need to do more of during those stressful life changes.

• Stay physically active: You don’t have to go to the gym more to stay fit after 40, you just need to keep moving and participate in activities that involve movement like dancing, kayaking, or dog walking. As we get older, we tend to sit more thus minimizing opportunities to burn calories and keep the muscles active. Joining activities that involve groups of people can also help you make new friends or make you feel like you belong to a group which leads to better overall happiness.

• Bask in the sun sparingly: If you’re over 40 and have a hot bod, by all means you should show it off at the beach or the pool, but do it sparingly. Basking in the sun for hours and days will only increase the rate at which your skin wrinkles, shows spots, and mature faster than your actual age.

• Stop taking yourself too seriously: Because we’re grown-ups now many of us feel the need to always act like a grown-up and be serious all the time. After all, we’re now parents, leaders, business people, and the “example to the younger ones,” so with all that seriousness you smile less and feel more stress. Phewy! You can be the adult and still radiate some kid-like vibrance. So much of your life is spent on the serious things going on that you forget to have fun and be playful along the way. When you lighten up, your whole glow lightens up too.

More about Stephanie and her blog - Back in Skinny Jeans 

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Men Turning 40—What It’s Really Like

With the right attitude, this decade can be enriching and invigorating

“Your sex appeal is history.” “Might as well toss that sports equipment.” Your buddies are happy to pepper you with these myths as you approach the big Four-O, but here’s the truth: a man’s 40s can be a great time of life.

“These years are life-changing, not life-ending,” says clinical social worker Bruce Curry of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “You might not have the same feeling of invincibility you had in your 20s and 30s, but you can feel more confident and content.” Here’s how to reach that comfort level:

Pay attention to your health. “Young men tend to ignore it, but it’s important to focus on health now to prevent problems later,” says internist Gregory Stout, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. That’s especially true if you have conditions like heart disease in your family. Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked, watch your weight, and give up unhealthy habits like smoking.

Take a new approach to sports. You might not be able to keep up with 20-year-olds on the basketball court, but you can keep your competitive juices flowing in an over-40 league—or in a new sport, like golf.

Have realistic goals. It’s the key to avoiding a midlife crisis. “If you’re not the tycoon you thought you’d be by age 40, adjust your expectations or you’re in for a fall,” Curry says.

Be proud of your career achievements. You’ve worked hard to establish yourself and now might be a manager or shop foreman. Explore how you might use the skills and experience you’ve gained to help younger co-workers.

Spend time with your family. Don’t keep putting off that ski trip you promised your children—they’ll be grown before you know it. Stay attuned to your partner’s feelings as she makes her own midlife transition. And learn from your parents, who can help prepare you for a rich life well beyond 40.

Get involved in your community. Whether it’s coaching a children’s soccer team or helping clean up the local park, you’ll broaden your circle and enrich your life.

Want to Know More? For a list of 10 top health tips for men and a schedule of regular checkups you need, call 610-402-CARE, or click here.

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Frame of Mind Makes All the Difference by Pete

I turn 40 tomorrow, and all the horror stories I’ve heard aren’t getting any credence from me. I am into bodybuilding, I have maintained my youth through good diet and plenty of sleep. I looked at myself at 30 and liked what I saw, and I am more buff and ripped at 40. Sorry, guys, but my life isn’t deteriorating any time soon. Oh, and time still drags for me. Seems nothing can get done fast enough. It just goes to show it’s a frame of mind as well as a physical condition.

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All About the Journey by Kathleen

I am turning 40 in April…hoping to be in the best shape of my life…it definitely is All About The Journey right now!!

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Stay Fit After Forty to Reduce Stroke Risk

News you may not know

The Latest Health Craze

Sure, it’s not the most joyous of all occasions. But, turning forty needn’t be a harbinger of life on the decline. In fact, with just a bit of care, the decades beyond forty can easily be the most enjoyable period of one’s life.

Scientists continue to verify the health benefits of an active lifestyle. Especially as we age. A recent study by researchers at the University of Cambridge finds that even modest exercise helps those over forty prevent stroke.

A little background information will help us gain a bit of perspective. 15 million people worldwide suffer strokes each year. 5 million of these people die, and an additional 5 million are permanently disabled. In the United States, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds - someone dies of a stroke every 3 to 4 minutes. In 2004, females accounted for over 60% of the stroke deaths in the U.S.

The researchers examined over 13,000 men and women, ages 40 to 79, between 1993 and 1997. They then followed their health status through 2005.

The researchers assessed the participants’ physical abilities in completing everyday tasks: climbing stairs, carrying groceries, kneeling, bending and lifting. They found the more capable individuals were in completing these tasks, the lower their risk of stroke. Those in the top 25% of physical capability were 50% less likely to have a stroke than those in the lowest 25%.

“People who reported better physical health had significantly lower risk of stroke,” said study author Phyo Kyaw Myint, MRCP, with the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Go ahead - enjoy your fortieth birthday. And, to make sure there are many more, add a bit of stretching, bending, walking, stair climbing, and grocery carrying to your daily routine. Before you know it, you’ll be celebrating with a cake blessed with too many candles to count - and, a life full of vibrant years to match.

To read more about the study, see this from ScienceDaily. To learn more about stroke prevention, see this from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Psychological Forty

Turning 40 is one of the key psychological milestones in a person’s life when they evaluate who they are and where they want to be going.

GEORGE NEGUS: Now, something just a little trickier and much harder to define - the psychological impact of hitting the four-score mark. It used to be summed up by the simple term ‘midlife crisis’. According to some of the experts, there’s no such thing - at least not in a quantifiable medical sense. On the other hand, there are self-styled geniuses out there who’ll tell you that psychologically, turning 40 is a major milestone. Confused? Well, here’s Dr Caroline West with some very thoughtful people who might be able to sort this out for us.

DR CAROLINE WEST: According to some psychological research, you’ll face two events that will change your life forever. The first crisis is adolescence and the second is, you guessed it, turning 40. So, what’s the psychology of a typical 40-year-old? Well, given that there are a few hundred thousand of us in this country, there are probably a few hundred thousand different answers to that very complex question. And if it helps any, I’m 40 - well, just - and if I think about it, I don’t know if my psyche’s changed that much from when I was 30…or has it?

JULIE McCROSSIN, RADIO NATIONAL: 40 was good for me. I was full of that Sophie Tucker ‘Life Begins At 40′ and it felt like that for me. I felt physically fit and intellectually confident.

DR CAROLINE WEST: You’ll know Rebecca Wilson from ABC TV’s ‘The Fat’. She’s just turned 40. She’s a single mum and she’s a highly motivated, extremely successful sports commentator.

REBECCA WILSON, ‘THE FAT’: I felt fantastic when I turned 40. Plus I’ve got young children, but they’re now getting to an age where they’re great mates rather than being a chore. So, through my 30s, you go through that really, really difficult time of being a new mum and juggling work commitments and all those things. And now, in your 40s, you can sit back and enjoy the…the rewards of all the hard work you did in your 20s and 30s - from a professional and personal viewpoint.

DR CAROLINE WEST: Many of us 40-year-olds grew up surrounded by second-wave feminist ideas of managing a family and a career at the same time. But even those of us lucky enough to have healthy kids and a good job still wonder if we’re successful.

REBECCA WILSON: One woman said to me years ago, “It’s the truth serum decade.” And I think that’s right, that you feel that you have a…a great responsibility to yourself to be true to yourself that you don’t really understand through your 20s and 30s, and that the most important person in terms of that integrity is yourself.

DR CAROLINE WEST: In fact, an Australian survey of women in their 20s, 40s and 60s found that forty-somethings were well ahead of twenty-somethings when it came to emotional health. The majority were balancing a job and having kids at home, but were happy in spite of being hectic. For Rebecca, resignation to the fact of 40 only goes so far.

REBECCA WILSON: People start talking about Botox. (Laughs) And they say to you, “Are you thinking about Botox?” and you go, “Why?!”, because you always think of yourself as being 25, even in the face, and then you see things start sagging. And I think, physically, that’s a real issue.

DR CAROLINE WEST: For men, though, the mythology about turning 40 seems to be very different. Forget the idea of independence plus responsibility. The popular assumption is that 40-year-old men become utterly irresponsible as they battle to recapture their lost youth - the classic recipe for the midlife crisis.

JAMES O’LOGHLIN, ABC RADIO: It’s time to think, “Well, where am I really? “Am I…am I happy?” Um…and it’s got to be about me, really. I don’t want to do things because I’ve been doing them for the last 10 years and because it’s the right and appropriate thing to do.

DR CAROLINE WEST: For columnist, author and sports commentator Peter Fitzsimons, the issue is about more than appropriate behaviour. For him, the real psychological turning point was the balance between death and happiness.

PETER FITZSIMONS, AUTHOR: I suppose, you know, there are friends of mine who are in their 40s that suddenly… (Clicks) ..gone. Suicides, heart attacks, you know? Not a lot, but…in that area where now I’m conscious of my mortality.

DR CAROLINE WEST: And when it comes to blokey blokes, there are few blokier than Peter. A former Wallabies second rower, he played seven tests for Australia. He became an admired sportsman and media celebrity, and it all happened in his 20s and 30s.

PETER FITZSIMONS: In one of Bob Dylan’s less-known works, there’s a phrase he comes up with which is, “This ocean of hours I’m all the time drinking,” and when you’re 20, it is an ocean of hours ahead of you, it just doesn’t matter. And when you’re 30, it’s this huge, huge lake. And when you’re 40, it’s a very, very big-sized dam.

DR CAROLINE WEST: In other words, the older you get, the smaller the world becomes. Suddenly no unlimited horizon or future. And today, with wife Lisa away on business, even the luxury of contemplating mortality is out of the question.

PETER FITZSIMONS: It’s far more complicated in terms of where I was at 23 or 24, which was playing football and writing and no…not committed to one partner and no children. Uh…life then was far simpler, but not better. I mean, now - it sounds like a Hallmark greeting card - but I do ‘love my life’. I do love my life at 40, and long may it continue.

DR CAROLINE WEST: So what’s new about the psychology of turning 40 today? Well, I think one of the most interesting observations is that people are having children later. In our grandmothers’ day, you were most likely to have small children in your early 20s. These days, many people in their 40s have young families, and as we’ve just seen, the big 4-0 can be the beginning of contentment, independence and emotional maturity. So surely for our kids that must be a good thing.

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Writer encourages women to remain fabulous after 40

By Linda Miller
Fashion Editor -NewsOK.com

Gigi Levangie Grazer writes about women — their strengths, their struggles, their insecurities.
She especially knows a thing or two about women in their 40s — their celebrations, their confidence, their successes.

Grazer, in her mid-40s, wrote the screenplay for “Stepmom” and is the author of three books, including “The Starter Wife,” a novel about one woman redefining herself after her movie-mogul husband dumps her. Grazer also was executive producer for the television miniseries, based on the novel, that is airing this month on the USA Network.

As an outsider’s insider (she’s married to a producer), she sees many challenges that Hollywood women 40 and older face, but she also knows those are challenges shared by many women everywhere.

What she hopes women realize after reading the book or seeing the miniseries is that they, too, can be 40 and fabulous simply by embracing themselves and finding their inner confidence. I caught up with Grazer by e-mail while she was doing movie-related events in Los Angeles.

Q: Is being fabulous at 30 different from being fab and 40?

A: Being fabulous at 40 is definitely different than being fabulous at 30. When you’re in your 30s, you’re still trying to be what society wants you to be and trying to define your happiness by society’s standards.

In your 40s, you come to terms with your imperfections and learn to love them — they are what make you fabulous. After 40, you learn to celebrate yourself and find a confidence that just wasn’t possible in your 30s.

Q: Forty seems to be one of those magic bullets for women. Certainly it’s just a number, but for some women, it’s so much more. Are women starting to move past the notion that it’s downhill from there?

A: Absolutely. I think the emphasis among 40-plus women is really about taking care of themselves. Turn ing 40 is still a turning point for most women, but not in the negative way once was. Turning 40 is now liberating Women can finally be selfish and do what makes them feel good, and as a result, they look good, too!

My book “The Starter Wife” really shows how life is just beginning after 40 which is why I’m so happy Ponds teamed with USA network to make it in to a national TV event. The six-part miniseries celebrates the sexiness, sas siness and confidence of women in their 40s.

Q: Do you think women who are married think differently about being fab and 40 than those who are single? A: Of course, it varies from individual to individual, but I think that women who are 40-plus have similar notions about being fabulous. It’s about something inside that shines through to your outer appearance, and I think that this metamorphosis is the same for both married and single women.

Q: How can women be fab and 40? Any fashion and beauty tips?

A: Here are some of my personal tips to help women look and feel their best in their 40s: ⢠Slip on some fun lingerie, and you will instantly look and feel sexier and sassier. I like to wear lingerie under my morning get the-kids-to-school sweats to remind myself that I’m not just a mom or a driver or the nutty lady who packs the lunch box, and I immediately feel more bold and sexy.

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Turning 40 no barrier to many major leaguers

USATODAY.COM

They love the game, they love the camaraderie, they love the money. So why stop?

Major League Baseball has more 40-somethings on rosters than at any time in the last half-century, and that’s even without 44-year-old right-hander Roger Clemens, who is deciding whether to play this season.

While every franchise searches for the next young box-office hero, it’s the sport’s senior citizens such as John Smoltz, Jamie Moyer, David Wells and Moises Alou who still play for postseason glory.

Some of the biggest names in the game are on the far side of 40, such as Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. They remain well-conditioned and well-compensated. Together, those five have more than 55 million reasons for continuing their careers in 2007.

“The carrot that dangles before them is bigger, shinier, more valuable and richer,” Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz says about why more 40-somethings commit to stay in top physical condition and continue sacrificing family time. “The next year they play might mean another $10 million or more.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 24 players 40 or older played in the majors in 2006. This season, 25 players who will be at least 40 during the season were on opening-day rosters or teams’ disabled lists. From 1962 until 1980, there were never as many as 10 major leaguers 40 or older.

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Turning 40, staying fit, feeling alive by Elyse Jarard

How many of you are turning 40 this year? How do you feel about it? Everyone perceives their birthday differently, with celebration, disdain, or indifference. This year I am turning 40. That might seem insignificant to some, but it is a big deal to me, because I am healthy, happy, and - alive!

To mark my birthday, I was inspired to organize a fundraiser in memory of two women who didn’t live to see their 40th birthdays. They died from ovarian cancer, leaving behind friends, mothers, fathers, siblings, husbands, and young children. “F.I.T. to Fight Ovarian Cancer” is a memoriam to my friends, Elka Klein and Sima Goldfarb, and an honorarium to everyone turning 40.

Health and being physically fit are very important to me, so I chose exercise as my venue. Most new research is showing that exercise can help us fight just about everything associated with getting older, proving to be a veritable “fountain of youth.” Exercise is also empowering, uplifting and enlightening. It connects us with our bodies in every way and makes us more aware of it. Some of us don’t like to think about our bodies, but that is a big mistake. It could literally be the difference between life and death.

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