stay fit
Health

Stay Fit for Your Fabulous Forties and Beyond #LBL

It’s important to stay fit at any age. It’s even more important for us women after we hit our 40s. After 40, our metabolisms can begin to slow, our ability to burn fat can slow, and we lose more bone mass. Sometimes conditions like LBL (light bladder leakage) can keep you from feeling as if you want to tackle anything physical. But when we make an effort to stay fit as we age, we improve our physical, mental and overall health.

stay fit

 

Stay Fit – 5 Easy Ways to Keep Yourself in Better Health

 

Staying fit doesn’t mean you have to commit to being a full on gym rat every single spare minute. Getting fit and staying fit can be more about just keeping active and moving your body more often. Fitness looks a little bit different for everyone. What’s important is that you find a goal that works for you and then stick with it. I maintain a fitness routine that is important to me and I make it to the gym at least three times a week for a full hour at least. I like to try new things and novel classes – from Zumba to group fitness, centergy, pilates, yoga and weights. The key for me is to keep at it and to stay interested. I like variety and I enjoy challenges.

[tweetthis]You don’t need to spend hours at the gym unless you want to. Sometimes getting fit after 40 can be as simple as adding a few new habits. #LBL #ad [/tweetthis]

 

The Longest Path

Whether you’re parking your car or making your way through a department store, take the longest possible path. Park at the end of the parking lot. Walk along the outer perimeter of the store, taking the longest route to get to where you need to be. Doing those types of things will add a ton of extra steps to your day, which equates to more calories burned.

 

Complex Carbs are Your Friend

Simple carbs are the absolutely best way to NOT stay fit. Simple carbs like sugars and refined flour spike your blood sugar, which leads to increased fat storage, hunger, and fatigue. Instead of regular pasta and white bread, opt for whole grain pasta and multi-grain breads. These digest more slowly and help keep your blood sugar on an even keel.

 

More Protein

As we age, we lose muscle mass. To combat this muscle loss, we need not only keep moving, we also need to increase our protein intake. Increasing intake of lean proteins like fish, chicken, pork, and leaner cuts of beef can help us retain more muscle mass when we do it in conjunction with moving more.

 

Relax

You might not expect a section on taking a nice long soak or reading a good book to make it into a post on how to stay fit over 40, but these are activities that can greatly enhance your health. Stress is a killer – literally. Stress has been shown to take years off of a person’s life. So limit your stress. Take a nice, hot bath. Read a book. Do something that you love regularly.

 

Be Confident

One of the biggest hindrances to women and their ability to stay fit over 40 is self confidence. Many women suffer from LBL, and unfortunately, many avoid the things they love just because of a medical issue. I get it. It can be hard to focus on your walk or your weights or whatever activity you’re doing to stay fit when all you can think about is if you’re going to stay fresh. Or if you need to find a bathroom fast. Remember this. There are products out there now that protect you and keep you fresh, which means you can focus on your life rather than your LBL.

 

Stay Fit for Fabulous 40s and Beyond

 

It doesn’t take much for us to get started down a path to staying fit for our 40s and beyond. I am more fit in my 40s than I ever was in my 20s. All you need to do is make a few small changes, and you’ll be on your way to a lifestyle allowing you to stay fit. Little changes can mean the difference between success and failure.

 

Once again this year I am happy to join forces with Always Discreet to shine a light on common women’s health problems, such as light bladder leakage. LBL is a medical issue impacting many women, but until very recently nobody talked about it. Post sponsored by Always Discreet.

 

You can try a free sample of Always Discreet by visiting their website.

 

I created this post as a paid ambassador with Always Discreet. All opinions and advice are my own and I only work with companies I genuinely love.

 

How do you stay fit?

Mom of two beautiful active girls, traveller, fitness junkie, social media consultant, and keeper of the sanity.

12 Comments

  • Pam

    I had no idea that I needed to eat more protein as I aged! That’s good to know, I should change my diet.

  • JENN

    These are great tips! Unfortunately, I think my metabolism fell off at age 30. No matter what I do, I can’t seem to get it back!! My new goal is to feel healthy! I have begun a running challenge with a friend and I’m proud of my physical accomplishments!

  • ashley p

    Unless I am with my mom (she has a parking permit for handicap spaces) I park as far from the door as I can. I have been very conscious lately of just how bad of shape I am in. Trying to get as many steps in during the day as possible

  • Ann Bacciaglia

    I have been Hula Hooping to stay fit. It is an amazing workout and you can burn 7 calories a min. It helps build your core strength and that helps me with LBL.

  • Angela V

    Wonderful tips, thanks so much for sharing 🙂 I have a pretty good work out routine but it’s good to know about adding protein to your diet 🙂

  • Elizabeth Matthiesen

    I had no idea that I should be adding more protein to my diet – I am well passed 40, oh well the damage has probably already been done. Wouldn’t be a bad idea if Drs mentioned this when you go in for your check-up.

  • Jenna EM

    I find that taking a daily walk can benefit most people. It’s an easy, low-impact activity suitable for most fitness levels and it definitely reduces stress and is a great way to get a little bit of fresh air.

  • Rosey

    I take the long way when I can. It makes sense and it’s an easy way to get in a few extra steps every day. Every little bit helps.

  • Laura B.

    I stay fit but trying to walk around a lot every day. Even when I am on the phone I try to pace around and drink a lot of water and keep things moving!