Nearing 40

[c172]

I'm 42, and feel fairly ancient in a bodily sense, but sometimes like a kid, or at least a teen, as far as my dealings with society. I''d love to be able to reincarnate back to when I was maybe 14. I was fit. I did wc track and field (selected for Team USA in 1989 Junior Worlds), and dibble dabbled in other sports as well (the University of Illinois, out of, I think, their rehab department, had an adaptive sports camp for a week or two each summer where we'd be exposed to track, tennis, archery and other things we might or mightn't normally do).

But once I entered, say, my senior year of high school, moving from the Tampa Bay area after two years to the Phoenix area to attend a boarding school, I dropped all that, and became too concerned with girls, and knee deep in homework and such. Plus, there was really no wc sports programs I could be a part of, and so my body over the years fell into disrepair.

At 42, I am 60+ pounds overweight and have hypertension. And my appetite is still as strong as it was as a teen. Not what I envisioned when I was 15. I thought I was invincible back then, as I think many teens, even over in the able-bodied world, do.

I am also experiencing strains and cramping of my shoulders from walking that I never did (I've always primarily walked, but I did have wheelchairs for longer distances, like 2am Denny's runs at university). All of this means I have lots of fatigue now, and am not the happy go lucky guy I was in my teens.

Hormones aside, I do miss my teens.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I definitely have a lot more pain than I did when I was in my twenties. I always used to feel indestructible. I could sleep a couple of hours, eat whatever I wanted, sporadically workout, and workout hard, without any consequences. Life is different for me now. I wouldn't say I feel old so much as I feel sore.

That's why combat troops are usually young folks. They have the bounce-back to keep going day after day. They will hit the wall eventually, but not as soon as a forty-something.

[KittyAnn]

I definitely have a lot more pain than I did when I was in my twenties. I always used to feel indestructible. I could sleep a couple of hours, eat whatever I wanted, sporadically workout, and workout hard, without any consequences. Life is different for me now. I wouldn't say I feel old so much as I feel sore.

everything will pass away after your 40.... as we say, life begins after 40

Btw I doubt what you say...you look great and fit so you need to feel good too

[I_am_not_mafia]

Still about a year and a half away, but I thought I would bring it up now.
...
What is/was your experience with aging?

I'm 43. Your life ends the day it turns 40.

Enjoy your last year and a half.

[Minimalist]

Mother Nature will start to fuck with you.

But the 40's and early 50's are not the worst.  That comes around 55.

[brewer]

Everybody's different. I grew up with the phrase "don't trust anyone over 30". 

I didn't feel much of the aging process until a couple of years ago but I've definitely slowed down at 60. Just coasting and dwindling now. 

Embrace change, gonna happen whether you like it or not.

[downbeatplumb]

Still about a year and a half away, but I thought I would bring it up now.

I remember when I was a kid, I thought teenagers were old and that people in their thirties were ancient.

Now that I am almost forty, I don't even feel that I am old.  Rather, I feel as though I can comfortably live another forty years.

What is/was your experience with aging?

I am 50 next month.
Growing old is better than the alternative.

[Shell B]

I definitely have a lot more pain than I did when I was in my twenties. I always used to feel indestructible. I could sleep a couple of hours, eat whatever I wanted, sporadically workout, and workout hard, without any consequences. Life is different for me now. I wouldn't say I feel old so much as I feel sore.

everything will pass away after your 40.... as we say, life begins after 40

Btw I doubt what you say...you look great and fit so you need to feel good too

Some days I feel great, but I definitely get sore way easier, and not the "ooo, that feels good like I worked it" sore. Like the, "I wonder if I should go to the doctor" sore. I've put on a little weight that I'm determined to lose. I think some things will feel like less of an effort then. My wrist won't support arm balances. I've had to have physical therapy for back spasms. I apparently have a nerve disorder in my fucking face. AND . . . wait, nah, that's it. No dramatic and. Sex life is good. Strength is pretty good. Anxiety is mostly in check. Life is gooooooood.

[KittyAnn]

everything will pass away after your 40.... as we say, life begins after 40

Btw I doubt what you say...you look great and fit so you need to feel good too

Some days I feel great, but I definitely get sore way easier, and not the "ooo, that feels good like I worked it" sore. Like the, "I wonder if I should go to the doctor" sore. I've put on a little weight that I'm determined to lose. I think some things will feel like less of an effort then. My wrist won't support arm balances. I've had to have physical therapy for back spasms. I apparently have a nerve disorder in my fucking face. AND . . . wait, nah, that's it. No dramatic and. Sex life is good. Strength is pretty good. Anxiety is mostly in check. Life is gooooooood.

yes ... unfortunately, certain ailments get worse with age ..meh
But I agree with you, life is good, and most importantly, that sex life is still great .. or even better !!!

 I'm glad you feel happy 🌸
Lot's of love in your beautiful life❤️

[Bahana]

I turned 40 less than a year ago. It made me feel like I needed to adjust a few things. Even though I'm still single, going out to bars tends to look sadder and sadder the older you get. I've also come to terms with the fact that I may never have children. I know some men do after 40 but dealing with teenagers in your 50s isn't something to look forward to.