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Yep. I'm 38 (will be 39 this year) and committed to losing weight. I've lost 50 lbs in the last 7 months and am finally just overweight and am no longer obese. Looking forward to being a normal weight again.
First off great job. Second I feel this, I think I'm having a mid-life mental crisis and I have to change my ways. I've actually lost weight but it's because I don't eat much but I drink a ton. It wasn't great before covid but holy hell that kicked me into overdrive. I'm trying to buy less and less alcohol every day because I'll drink it all if it's here. Tough as hell even when you're trying to quit. I'd cry for help but I'm such an empath I can't put my problems on anyone else even though I crave support and think it goes a long way
Edit: any encouragement or advice is welcome and I hope I get some even from internet strangers
Dude asking for help is not a burden. Especially if you’ve never been that person. Being a human is a communal experience no one can do it alone. You say you’re an empath so I’m sure you used to giving the support, you deserve to get it too. Also the fact that you know there’s an issue is half the battle. Keep doing what you’re doing. Buy less, have less around you, actively choose not to drink or not to have another. It will get easier. You got this 💪🏼
Thank you so much, this really hits home. I know I have a problem and I know it needs to change and I'm willing, I do support my friends or even strangers on anything they're trying to accomplish or get through. I have resources through my job and you might inspire me to take advantage so I don't burden my friends too much. They already give so much to me, time to lean on my other resources
If drinking is the most glaring thing you’re trying to grapple with, there are many many support groups out there free of charge where you won’t feel like you are burdening your friends and you might start to form new friendships who share the desire for your healthier lifestyle. All you need is yourself and a desire to quit drinking. Covid also opened up endless possibilities of virtual meetings all over the world so even if you feel like your local area doesn’t have the type of community you desire, you can find something that jives with you better quite easily.
Naltrexone helped me greatly reduce my drinking, maybe ask your doctor if that would work! I know I sound like a pharmaceutical commercial but I’m for real lol
Have you looked into some therapy to help you? Some of the coping strategies I learned have been invaluable! It's also helpful to have someone who is impartial and non-judgemental guide you through setting boundaries and asking for help.
It helped me immensely.
I remember there was a moment when I was 36–nothing special going on—where for some reason I had a sense that my body’s invincibility had just ended. It was like a lurch, a pause, and a mental note from my body saying “This is the top of the rollercoaster. The free ride is now over. Good luck!”
Good advice. There is so much crap food in the grocery store, probably 80% of the stuff on the shelves. Getting educated on what is good and what is not is huge. Adapting your brain to healthier eating is a challenge that becomes easier the longer you do it and the results are totally worth it.
My grandmother always told me to shop the outermost aisles of the grocery store to be healthy. Ahead of her time!
Those aisles in the middle are all made of the same four or five things in different packaging.
Yes! Processed foods are a killer. Snacks, especially those we perceive as (or really marketed as) healthy, are not. They are "healthier" when compared to, say, potato chips but something like carrots and fruit are almost always a much much better option.
Also portions. I recommend everyone try and track their caloric intake for a week. You'd be surprised how little food it takes to reach the recommended daily 2000 calorie limit, especially when you're eating junk food. After some time of tracking, you'll be able to visually approximate the number of calories in any food. That is an important life skill.
I started doing a weekly meal delivery service about a year ago because I'm busy and cooking sucks during the week, not for health reasons. The first month I was always annoyed at the portion size. After a month I became very happy with the portion size.
A few months in I weighed myself (hadn't weighed in since before the meals) and was down 5lbs. Couldn't figure out why. Fast forward to now and I'm down 20lbs, right at the same weight I was in high school over 20 years ago. All I did was learn proper portion sizes, completely by accident.
I'll still put away an entire burrito when I hit chipotle once in a while, but I'm very content eating less than I ever have. Portion size is so important.
Calorie intake is a big one. When I was younger and dumber I couldn't figure out why I struggled to lose weight, even after cutting out all the processed snack shit and mostly eating real food. Finally got a scale and started weighing shit to track, come to find out 3000 calories for dinner isn't all that difficult for me...oops
Call me odd, but I like those comparisons of a certain number of calories from a junk food option and the equivalent calories from a healthier one. Like, potato chips compared to carrots and celery with hummus. I’m visual, so it’s helpful to see that and be like, “I get so much more food with the healthier option, and don’t have to feel hungry if I’m eating a measured portion.” I eat junk food occasionally, but a lot less than I used to.
I’m only 30, but I realized that I actually enjoyed cooking when I take the time and find good recipes to try. So, I try to make things with less processed ingredients and use more fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. I keep it simple during the work week since I’m usually busy, and it can be overwhelming to try and make anything complicated for just one person (I literally don’t know how to cook one meal for one person, just big batches). I try to take time every weekend, though, to prep and make something tasty that I can eat throughout the week, along with simple meals.
39 here, I quit drinking Jan 1st this year and started running this month. So far so good!
I noticed ppl are really concerned that I quit alcohol, like as if I’m missing out by not drinking.
I stopped drinking for about 2 years in my 20s cause it was getting way out of hand, and people thought I was crazy. I love that Gen Z is averse to drinking. There's a major shift happening, especially where I live.
I quit drinking about a year and a half ago. Hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the feeling of FOMO is a weird one. You start to realize how much drinking has permeated into every activity or social event. So the missing out feeling is there, but you get to a point where you just kind of think “what am I even missing out on?”
Quitting drinking has made me realize how many things I can do when I put my mind to it. I was in deep. Like a fifth a day alcoholic. It was such a boost to my own life knowing how much control I actually have over it. After that I told myself,” If I can quit drinking, I can definitely start a workout routine.” Sure enough that came easy, because every time I didn’t want to I just thought about what I had already accomplished and realized how much easier it is than trying to stop drinking.
Good luck on your sobriety, and your health!
An annual comprehensive metabolic panel as well. A lot of health insurers will pay for one free wellness visit/checkup per year, so check yours and cash that in. I started going around my birthday every year after I turned 30.
Doctor puts in a lab order for the panel a few days before, I go in to the lab so they can draw blood and run tests, then the doctor goes over the numbers to discuss what looks good and what doesn’t (and compares to prior years). He also does a basic physical. Gives you a chance to see what lifestyle choices might need adjusting before a more serious problem develops, or if there are any issues you were completely unaware of.
Plus it’s good to actually get established with a primary doctor so you don’t have to go to a busy urgent care or an expensive ER if you need a doctor for something. I suspect a lot of you don’t have an established doctor. It’s good to get in with one when you’re healthy and don’t *need* one because a lot of doctors have long wait times to see new patients.
This would be great, if health insurance actually covered preventive mammograms before 40 or colonoscopies before 45 (which should REALLY be moved up given the rising rates of colon cancer in people in their 30s).
Colonoscopies are fun, the prep is not.
I remember waking up in recovery, and the OR nurse told the recovery nurse quietly “he had an accident, so we had to change him”, and I laughed hysterically.
I was a party favor the rest of the day. Literally pass gas on demand. But, it was the greatest sleep I ever had.
What colonoscopy did you get? Got damn. I was miserable before and after, as I also tried the pill version of the prep rather than drinking all those fluids, and wound up vacillating between hurling and shitting beginning at 2 AM. And no, I did not sleep well before or after.
They put me to sleep. They had an anesthesiologist there in the OR with his own nurses.
I swear I had a full sleep complete with a dream that had a beginning, middle, and an end. I remember being so well rested and yet the nurses were telling me to go home and rest. I did obey their orders, and just watched Netflix, and crashed sometime at like 7 PM.
The prep was no bueno. They had me do dulcolax pills then half a bottle of Miralax and then again at 3:00 AM. I was up all night running to the bathroom. Maybe got 2 hours of sleep if that. That’s why I was so surprised I had all this energy after waking up from the procedure. Could have been adrenaline, who knows. But I was VERY gassy.
EDIT: I remember BY FAR the worst part was before going in to the OR they could *not* get the needle in the vein in my hand. They poked me like 6 times and that shit HURT. I ended up with bruises on my hands.
New studies are showing even the “one glass of wine” is not beneficial like once thought. Depending on your sex and age drinking is not good above one drink or less per day. No more than 7 drinks in a week. This is “not a lot” for people who go out with friends two to three days a week. Drink less!
Yeah I went to the doctor right after I turned 40 and found out I had high cholesterol. Getting old is just a journey full of twists and turns.
I started exercising 5 days a week about 6-8 months ago. Started with 10 minutes a day, couple of days a week. Now I'm up to 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, and sllloooowwly increasing weight and intensity. I'm 41 now so I don't want to do some dumb shit and injure myself.
I used to do construction and it was a pretty physical job, so that was basically my workout every day. Then I got a desk job and put on a little weight and started getting even more stiff and sore. So I exercise, but I also get up and take a quick lap around the office every hour just to get some movement in. The back and knee pain I had for so long is almost gone now since I've started trying to move my aging, crumbling body around more often. On the advice of my PT I also bought a better pair of shoes. I got Brooks and they are incredibly comfortable.
I started riding my bike to work a couple of weeks ago too. It's not very far, like 2-3 miles, takes me 15-20 minutes, but every little bit of activity I can get, I'm going to take while I still can.
My wife's a dietician so eating better is a lot easier with her around.
>Then I got a desk job and put on a little weight and started getting even more stiff and sore. So I exercise, but I also get up and take a quick lap around the office every hour just to get some movement in.
Stretches and yoga are recommended. Especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Oh yeah that helps too. I do all of that every morning and every night in addition to the exercise. It’s a world of difference for all the aches and pains I had.
The chronic pain loop is hard to break. Don’t want to exercise because of how sore you are, but you’re sore because you aren’t getting enough movement. That’s why I started so lightly and have been turning the dial up very slowly since then. I feel way better now than I did a year ago.
Go to shoe store and try on Brooks vs New Balance, you will have your answer. I wear Brooks and they are super super comfortable. The shoes make me want to run when I’m wearing them! I can’t run though, bad knee.
I’ve had both and prefer the Brooks myself, but definitely go try both (and other brands) on and see how they feel. I paid like $170 for the Brooks I got. I think they were Glycerin GTS’s. They were immediately comfortable when I put them on and walked around a bit. They’re the second pair of Brooks I’ve had now.
I was seeing a physical therapist for my knee and she gave me a list of recommended shoes based on how high your arch is. I think if you google ‘Hruska shoe list’ it’ll get you there.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2021 when I was 33. I have a very strong family history of it.
My advice when you get your yearly check up is to always ask your provider that they request the lab get your A1C too, even if you don’t have diabetes, because then you’ll have a baseline.
Knowledge is power.
I heard on the radio a couple months ago about how bad the issue is with us not getting enough fiber. They spoke of a study of obese people who were told to make sure they ate 30g of fiber from natural sources (no supplements/powders) and they lost more weight than the control group.
More I read about fiber, more I realize how important it is in digestive health, so I’ve been eating more fruit, oatmeal, nuts, beans, whole grains, etc to get a good mix of soluble and insoluble fiber.
I was already taking care of my health when I got hit at 38-41 with perimenopause and an autoimmune disease. I have to take medication every day for the rest of my life.
I also did an elimination diet for auto immune disease and discovered I can’t have ANY soy, not even soy sauce. There is even soy bean oil in jarred pasta sauce at Trader Joe’s :( Dairy hurts me so I have very little when I can’t resist it, and chocolate makes me feel like I need the emergency room.
I was very health conscious my whole adulthood and I still got hit with major health issues.
The autoimmune only got found last year, so this will be my first hiking season to see if I am more fatigued etc. I know my second job I do during summer is a very active job it feels more exhausting this summer , but I’m hoping I just have to build my stamina back. This is all wishful thinking as I already know I am impaired, it’s why I ended up at the doctors in the first place. I am still in some denial about not being able to do what I did before.
It makes me angry because here I am, chronically ill and my husband who has never taken care of his health and partied hard for over a decade isn’t having health problems yet, and he’s older than me :( I am sure his will catch up, but it sure seems unfair that I put so much work into my health and here I am.
Also for those commenting they are mid 30’s and feel great. I was in the absolute best shape of my life in my mid 30’s. Then suddenly at 38 I felt sick all the time. I had to quit my roller derby league and it was so embarrassing to always be sitting out drills because I was “tired”.
Aww, I’m so sorry. That would be so difficult. But glad you’ve been figuring out what works for you.
I got hit with major health problems, basically starting in college. Didn’t realize what it was, and it wasn’t bad at first, and then found out in 2020 I had the hips of an 80-90 year old (26 at the time). Had my left hip replaced at 28, and my right hip replaced this last March, a month after my 30th birthday.
I’d been taught to be health conscious growing up (my parents are both medical), and my dad regularly had us kids from late teens until we had our own doctors get regular blood work done. I let things slide in grad school and first couple years working. But having my hips replaced not only sobered me up in terms of really taking care of myself, but it gave me a new lease on life, and I feel like I can actually take care of myself and feel motivated to do so.
Your experience isn’t trivial at all! Figuring out what foods you can or can’t eat and trying to minimize or eliminate some things is difficult, especially soy, since it’s in everything. And perimenopause and going into menopause is its own big adjustment.
PSA— work on your core strength as much as you can because it takes pressure and weight off your back and spinal discs.
36 here and “exploded” my L5-S1 disc in January by merely standing up off my floor while assembling a chair. The doctors asked if I had been in some kind of trauma or accident because it was so bad. I couldn’t sit up, walk, or do anything and my entire right thigh, asscheek, and hooha on that side went completely numb.
Spent a week in the hospital and had to get a laminectomy & discectomy in early February. The disc has already ruptured out again and the original numbness has never gone away since it happened, even before this 2nd rupture. Also, I gained some nice numbness in my right foot during the surgery which has also remained since then. Good times. Currently trying to decide if we redo the surgery or simply wait to see if any of it gets better (it may never improve, they said).
Do those ab workouts and lift with your legs, folks.
I disagree that this has to be a chronic condition from now on. I brought mine down from mid 140s to mid 120s with intermittent fasting and losing a couple inches around the middle. Please try some lifestyle changes before resigning yourself to meds. (Though take them in the meantime if that's deemed necessary).
I’m with you. I just found out I’m anemic and it’s not a huge deal but I have to take iron every day or I get really dizzy/can faint if I stand up too quickly/feel tired all the time/sometimes get severe chest pain, and now I have to take it every day forever and it’s humbled my feeling of youthful fortitude quite a bit.
No my iron levels just dropped as I progressed through my 20s. I’m on birth control and that keeps my period short and light.
When I was like 21 I fainted for the first time but it was at a music festival on a hot day so I assumed it was the heat.
Around age 24-28 I fainted multiple times and once fainted and fell backwards and hit my head on my tv😅
The symptom that led to me being actually evaluated was I’d get really intense and sudden chest pains, I really thought I had heart issues so I asked my doctor for an echo. He ran bloodwork and said I was anemic and my chest pains were likely a symptom of my anemia which surprised me.
He did the echo anyways and it was all clear.
Ever since I take my iron daily, I have no chest paints and haven’t gotten dizzy or fainted so I think it’s helping a lot
I’m not trying to humble brag but I have been working out religiously since I was a teenager. I’m in my mid thirties and don’t feel all that different now. It’s never too late to get started. The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time is right now.
Yeah. As someone who's been 300+ lbs for my entire adult life and 350+ for a long time, every year my health issues get much worse much faster, so the casual invincibility of being in my twenties is over.
I've been taking blood pressure medication since I was 29. I'm 34 now. I exercised regularly and was relatively healthy (or so I thought). Hypertension was found at a routine check-up, confirmed with follow-ups. Y'all, make sure you get routine check-ups even if you feel fine, we're getting to be that age.
There’s some recent research that stretching can help with hypertension. Hope this helps, bro:
https://proactiveforher.com/blogs/hypertension/hypertension-7-stretches-to-get-your-morning-started/
Annoying thing is at 30 my BP is borderline ok/slightly elevated.
I don't drink, I don't smoke, I exercise, eat 100% plant based with a mostly wholefood plant based diet, restrict processed food and get ~7 hours sleep a night. I also drink tea and not coffee.
My Mrs smokes and drinks socially and hers is absolutely bang on 🤣🤣
Life truly isn’t fair like that. A lot of what causes HPB is just genetic. My dad’s side all have this problem. I really should’ve been more cautious of it going through my 30’s but it’s easy to get sucked into the “it won’t be me” mentality. Sigh youth really is wasted on the young.
Yep it is what it is and I also think it's my dad's side too as HBP seems to be a recurring theme.
I just think how much worse it could be if I didn't take the preventative measures!!
I appreciate the reminder. I take pretty good care of my health and am notably mindful of eating Whole Foods and healthy over processed stuff, and even still I should prob keep an eye on blood pressure. Thanks op!
I’m going full throttle on my health as I decided NOW at this point in my life(38): that I want to become a Deputy Sheriff. 30 minutes of cardio daily and moving up as I get more used to it. We’re not young whippersnappers anymore!
My Dad had a heart attack at 59, vascular dementia at 61, dead at 64. I quit smoking and binge drinking and i'm on statins now. I hate the idea of leaving my sons when they are college age so im hopefully learning a lesson through my Dad's mistakes. He would love that
I'm 39, turning 40 this year. I started going to the gym and eating better last year for two major reasons:
1) I work retail and I see so many old people shuffling, complaining about a lack of chairs etc and I do not want to be them. I want to be like Dick Van Dyke who at 143 years of age, is still dancing and biking and exercising. I saw a tiktok where he was riding a stationary bike while talking and laughing. I want to be able to do that when I'm 95% dust like he is.
2) Both my parents died of cancer in 2020, then 2021. 53 weeks apart. When I was just a teen of 36 and 37. Both were in not-bad-to-ok physical health beforehand and it made a difference. Going into the ordeal in peak physical shape can make a difference. Even if it's only a slight change in the odds, it's worth it if I can beat cancer. My dad's brother had the exact same cancer my dad did and he beat it. A combo of luck but also my uncle was in fantastic shape for a man in his late fifties.
If y'all don't listen to OP, then listen to me, because I lived through one of the more devastating things somebody can go through and who knows if my dad would have survived if he had been in better shape (and hadn't lost his wife). My mom was doomed (tumour in the reproductive systems the size of a football, and no I'm not exaggerating) but maybe you could survive the ticking timebomb of cancer if you take care of yourself.
I’m elder but put on 15lbs in a year and felt completely out of control with eating. My A1C was high so I immediately cut down carbs to 100g a day and I’ve lost that 15 lbs plus on track to eat more. I still have room for a small ice cream or one piece of candy but I have so much self control now and I get full quicker. I’m happier without the carbs honestly
Yeah I got into it earlier this year. 39 now and found I have high cholesterol after a blood test. Now I'm on a daily pill but I've also upped my fibre intake, got back in the gym and try to eat less fatty foods.
Completely dropped the ball for the last 3 weeks while on holiday but I'm back to my routine again.
Hopefully my levels go down.
Agree 1000%. I'll be 40 next month. All my life I was skinny. 6'6 around 190lbs. I could eat anything and never gain any weight. That all changed in my 30's. I'm up to 250lbs now and it's like all in my gut. I went to the doctor recently for a check up and he said I'm hovering around pre diabetic. Basically if I continue doing what I'm doing I will wind up with diabetes. That scared the shit out of me. Cut out all the sugar and bullshit, stopped eating before bed, exercising daily, and trying to quit smoking.
I gave up caffeine a few months ago because my heart rate and blood pressure were getting high. The numbers have normalized and I am here to tell the tale!
Oh man, I had such a coffee habit you have no idea. But the two weeks since I found out I have high blood pressure, I’ve given up coffee along with eating better and exercising daily and it’s helped a lot.
Can I ask, did the improvement in your BP happen immediately after giving up coffee and stayed low or was a gradual decline over weeks?
I got an at-home monitor and it went down pretty quickly after I stopped. It has stayed low .. except at the doctor’s office, where I have white coat syndrome. 🥴
Could not agree more. My spouse and I made a commitment when we got together at 24 that we would prioritize exercise and healthy habits while we were young so that we didn't have to worry about making it a habit later. We both work out 6 days a week. We cook often and we eat healthy, while also allowing ourselves to indulge. I'll be 40 this year. I don't have any chronic conditions, no heart problems, no chronic pain. I haven't changed my clothing size in 15 + years, and I look like I'm 30. Taking care of your body will always be a good way to spend your time and money. We only get one, after all.
One of the best ways you can take care of your health right now is by wearing an N95 or KN95 face mask when you go out of the house. One of the biggest COVID waves yet is happening right now.
Yup, my ex was super healthy conscious and I thankfully picked up a lotta those habits, I got into yoga, a better ( not perfect lol) diet, more gym, etc.,
And yeah we gotta start checking for stuff regularly just to be safe, in the past 3 years I've had my T, colon and skin checked for the first time lol
You’re me in the future. The nurses always “ooh and ahhh” at my blood pressure, telling me how perfect it is. Pshh, you like that?
One day (I’m 34) it’ll come to an end.
I learned my cholesterol was through the roof a couple months back. It wasn’t exercise, it was my horrible diet. I thought I could outrun a bad diet but ldl numbers don’t lie. Have gone a major lifestyle change. No more processed food and less than 5 grams of added sugar a day. If you have that part sorted out then it could be genetics and you’ll need meds
My husband has an angry mole right now, waiting to get an appt from dermatology to take his little friend off and biopsy it. He also has high BP but he’s had since late 20s. It’s more genetic for him.
There are a LOT of poisons in our food, environment and habits. This is a new book worth a listen or a read..
https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy
We all age... but we don't have to be on a plethora of medications with a myriad of symptoms.
38 here (1986)
Had a badheart attack and stroke 6 years ago 3 months after turning 32. No cholesterol. But HIGH blood pressure and very overweight (6ft 1. Nearly 300lbs at the time, now 240s).
Simple stuff like watching my sodium and sugar intake and portion Control brought most of my labs under control that needed it. The heart attack was a freak genetic issue my team still doesn't have a cause for but it was a perfect storm
I’m glad to hear that you’re okay. And yes, sometimes just little changes in lifestyle like you said is all most people need. The key is to find new habits that one can stick to.
I’m 35 and just found out I have (mild) obstructive sleep apnea. I’m sure I’ve had it for years, but getting diagnosed felt like “oh shit, I’m getting old.”
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Yep. I'm 38 (will be 39 this year) and committed to losing weight. I've lost 50 lbs in the last 7 months and am finally just overweight and am no longer obese. Looking forward to being a normal weight again.
This is what I was going to ask OP. Lost 170 lbs and the BP regulated.
Let's go! I'm at 97lbs myself. Feels great to be back in a healthy weight range.
Great work! That’s a whole small person.
First off great job. Second I feel this, I think I'm having a mid-life mental crisis and I have to change my ways. I've actually lost weight but it's because I don't eat much but I drink a ton. It wasn't great before covid but holy hell that kicked me into overdrive. I'm trying to buy less and less alcohol every day because I'll drink it all if it's here. Tough as hell even when you're trying to quit. I'd cry for help but I'm such an empath I can't put my problems on anyone else even though I crave support and think it goes a long way Edit: any encouragement or advice is welcome and I hope I get some even from internet strangers
Dude asking for help is not a burden. Especially if you’ve never been that person. Being a human is a communal experience no one can do it alone. You say you’re an empath so I’m sure you used to giving the support, you deserve to get it too. Also the fact that you know there’s an issue is half the battle. Keep doing what you’re doing. Buy less, have less around you, actively choose not to drink or not to have another. It will get easier. You got this 💪🏼
Thank you so much, this really hits home. I know I have a problem and I know it needs to change and I'm willing, I do support my friends or even strangers on anything they're trying to accomplish or get through. I have resources through my job and you might inspire me to take advantage so I don't burden my friends too much. They already give so much to me, time to lean on my other resources
If drinking is the most glaring thing you’re trying to grapple with, there are many many support groups out there free of charge where you won’t feel like you are burdening your friends and you might start to form new friendships who share the desire for your healthier lifestyle. All you need is yourself and a desire to quit drinking. Covid also opened up endless possibilities of virtual meetings all over the world so even if you feel like your local area doesn’t have the type of community you desire, you can find something that jives with you better quite easily.
Day by day, internet friend! You deserve to be healthy
Too many hearts 💗💗💗
Naltrexone helped me greatly reduce my drinking, maybe ask your doctor if that would work! I know I sound like a pharmaceutical commercial but I’m for real lol
Have you looked into some therapy to help you? Some of the coping strategies I learned have been invaluable! It's also helpful to have someone who is impartial and non-judgemental guide you through setting boundaries and asking for help. It helped me immensely.
Nice
Congrats! Sounds like a lot of hard work, that’s amazing
Same age. I've never had to watch my weight until now. Metabolism slowed down and I swear I can eat a lot more now than as a teen.
Way to go!
That's great, keep it up!
I remember there was a moment when I was 36–nothing special going on—where for some reason I had a sense that my body’s invincibility had just ended. It was like a lurch, a pause, and a mental note from my body saying “This is the top of the rollercoaster. The free ride is now over. Good luck!”
Wow. Get out of my head. I just hope there’s no gravity on this health roller coaster
But there is. And fitness is how you fight it.
Good advice. There is so much crap food in the grocery store, probably 80% of the stuff on the shelves. Getting educated on what is good and what is not is huge. Adapting your brain to healthier eating is a challenge that becomes easier the longer you do it and the results are totally worth it.
My grandmother always told me to shop the outermost aisles of the grocery store to be healthy. Ahead of her time! Those aisles in the middle are all made of the same four or five things in different packaging.
Yes! Processed foods are a killer. Snacks, especially those we perceive as (or really marketed as) healthy, are not. They are "healthier" when compared to, say, potato chips but something like carrots and fruit are almost always a much much better option. Also portions. I recommend everyone try and track their caloric intake for a week. You'd be surprised how little food it takes to reach the recommended daily 2000 calorie limit, especially when you're eating junk food. After some time of tracking, you'll be able to visually approximate the number of calories in any food. That is an important life skill.
I started doing a weekly meal delivery service about a year ago because I'm busy and cooking sucks during the week, not for health reasons. The first month I was always annoyed at the portion size. After a month I became very happy with the portion size. A few months in I weighed myself (hadn't weighed in since before the meals) and was down 5lbs. Couldn't figure out why. Fast forward to now and I'm down 20lbs, right at the same weight I was in high school over 20 years ago. All I did was learn proper portion sizes, completely by accident. I'll still put away an entire burrito when I hit chipotle once in a while, but I'm very content eating less than I ever have. Portion size is so important.
Calorie intake is a big one. When I was younger and dumber I couldn't figure out why I struggled to lose weight, even after cutting out all the processed snack shit and mostly eating real food. Finally got a scale and started weighing shit to track, come to find out 3000 calories for dinner isn't all that difficult for me...oops
Call me odd, but I like those comparisons of a certain number of calories from a junk food option and the equivalent calories from a healthier one. Like, potato chips compared to carrots and celery with hummus. I’m visual, so it’s helpful to see that and be like, “I get so much more food with the healthier option, and don’t have to feel hungry if I’m eating a measured portion.” I eat junk food occasionally, but a lot less than I used to.
I’m only 30, but I realized that I actually enjoyed cooking when I take the time and find good recipes to try. So, I try to make things with less processed ingredients and use more fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. I keep it simple during the work week since I’m usually busy, and it can be overwhelming to try and make anything complicated for just one person (I literally don’t know how to cook one meal for one person, just big batches). I try to take time every weekend, though, to prep and make something tasty that I can eat throughout the week, along with simple meals.
39 here, I quit drinking Jan 1st this year and started running this month. So far so good! I noticed ppl are really concerned that I quit alcohol, like as if I’m missing out by not drinking.
I stopped drinking for about 2 years in my 20s cause it was getting way out of hand, and people thought I was crazy. I love that Gen Z is averse to drinking. There's a major shift happening, especially where I live.
I quit drinking about a year and a half ago. Hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the feeling of FOMO is a weird one. You start to realize how much drinking has permeated into every activity or social event. So the missing out feeling is there, but you get to a point where you just kind of think “what am I even missing out on?” Quitting drinking has made me realize how many things I can do when I put my mind to it. I was in deep. Like a fifth a day alcoholic. It was such a boost to my own life knowing how much control I actually have over it. After that I told myself,” If I can quit drinking, I can definitely start a workout routine.” Sure enough that came easy, because every time I didn’t want to I just thought about what I had already accomplished and realized how much easier it is than trying to stop drinking. Good luck on your sobriety, and your health!
It’s time for all the preventative tests, friends. Mammograms, colonoscopies (if you have family history), skin checks.
An annual comprehensive metabolic panel as well. A lot of health insurers will pay for one free wellness visit/checkup per year, so check yours and cash that in. I started going around my birthday every year after I turned 30. Doctor puts in a lab order for the panel a few days before, I go in to the lab so they can draw blood and run tests, then the doctor goes over the numbers to discuss what looks good and what doesn’t (and compares to prior years). He also does a basic physical. Gives you a chance to see what lifestyle choices might need adjusting before a more serious problem develops, or if there are any issues you were completely unaware of. Plus it’s good to actually get established with a primary doctor so you don’t have to go to a busy urgent care or an expensive ER if you need a doctor for something. I suspect a lot of you don’t have an established doctor. It’s good to get in with one when you’re healthy and don’t *need* one because a lot of doctors have long wait times to see new patients.
This would be great, if health insurance actually covered preventive mammograms before 40 or colonoscopies before 45 (which should REALLY be moved up given the rising rates of colon cancer in people in their 30s).
Colonoscopies are fun, the prep is not. I remember waking up in recovery, and the OR nurse told the recovery nurse quietly “he had an accident, so we had to change him”, and I laughed hysterically. I was a party favor the rest of the day. Literally pass gas on demand. But, it was the greatest sleep I ever had.
What colonoscopy did you get? Got damn. I was miserable before and after, as I also tried the pill version of the prep rather than drinking all those fluids, and wound up vacillating between hurling and shitting beginning at 2 AM. And no, I did not sleep well before or after.
They put me to sleep. They had an anesthesiologist there in the OR with his own nurses. I swear I had a full sleep complete with a dream that had a beginning, middle, and an end. I remember being so well rested and yet the nurses were telling me to go home and rest. I did obey their orders, and just watched Netflix, and crashed sometime at like 7 PM. The prep was no bueno. They had me do dulcolax pills then half a bottle of Miralax and then again at 3:00 AM. I was up all night running to the bathroom. Maybe got 2 hours of sleep if that. That’s why I was so surprised I had all this energy after waking up from the procedure. Could have been adrenaline, who knows. But I was VERY gassy. EDIT: I remember BY FAR the worst part was before going in to the OR they could *not* get the needle in the vein in my hand. They poked me like 6 times and that shit HURT. I ended up with bruises on my hands.
Stop drinking alcohol. Not you, but all of us in general. It’s so bad for our livers and kidneys.
On that note, it’s bad for every single tissue in our body.
I’ still single and the apps don’t work. sorry kidneys and liver I gotta risk it or die alone.
Excessive drinking or a glass of wine/cocktail?
New studies are showing even the “one glass of wine” is not beneficial like once thought. Depending on your sex and age drinking is not good above one drink or less per day. No more than 7 drinks in a week. This is “not a lot” for people who go out with friends two to three days a week. Drink less!
I like to eat the rainbow (in fruits and veggies) and do yard work the hard way (hand tools and a push mower). Splitting wood also helps.
Yeah I went to the doctor right after I turned 40 and found out I had high cholesterol. Getting old is just a journey full of twists and turns. I started exercising 5 days a week about 6-8 months ago. Started with 10 minutes a day, couple of days a week. Now I'm up to 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, and sllloooowwly increasing weight and intensity. I'm 41 now so I don't want to do some dumb shit and injure myself. I used to do construction and it was a pretty physical job, so that was basically my workout every day. Then I got a desk job and put on a little weight and started getting even more stiff and sore. So I exercise, but I also get up and take a quick lap around the office every hour just to get some movement in. The back and knee pain I had for so long is almost gone now since I've started trying to move my aging, crumbling body around more often. On the advice of my PT I also bought a better pair of shoes. I got Brooks and they are incredibly comfortable. I started riding my bike to work a couple of weeks ago too. It's not very far, like 2-3 miles, takes me 15-20 minutes, but every little bit of activity I can get, I'm going to take while I still can. My wife's a dietician so eating better is a lot easier with her around.
>Then I got a desk job and put on a little weight and started getting even more stiff and sore. So I exercise, but I also get up and take a quick lap around the office every hour just to get some movement in. Stretches and yoga are recommended. Especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Oh yeah that helps too. I do all of that every morning and every night in addition to the exercise. It’s a world of difference for all the aches and pains I had. The chronic pain loop is hard to break. Don’t want to exercise because of how sore you are, but you’re sore because you aren’t getting enough movement. That’s why I started so lightly and have been turning the dial up very slowly since then. I feel way better now than I did a year ago.
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Go to shoe store and try on Brooks vs New Balance, you will have your answer. I wear Brooks and they are super super comfortable. The shoes make me want to run when I’m wearing them! I can’t run though, bad knee.
I’ve had both and prefer the Brooks myself, but definitely go try both (and other brands) on and see how they feel. I paid like $170 for the Brooks I got. I think they were Glycerin GTS’s. They were immediately comfortable when I put them on and walked around a bit. They’re the second pair of Brooks I’ve had now. I was seeing a physical therapist for my knee and she gave me a list of recommended shoes based on how high your arch is. I think if you google ‘Hruska shoe list’ it’ll get you there.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2021 when I was 33. I have a very strong family history of it. My advice when you get your yearly check up is to always ask your provider that they request the lab get your A1C too, even if you don’t have diabetes, because then you’ll have a baseline. Knowledge is power.
I just lost a 41 year old friend to a heart attack. I didn't think I'd be losing friends like that so early in life.
I heard on the radio a couple months ago about how bad the issue is with us not getting enough fiber. They spoke of a study of obese people who were told to make sure they ate 30g of fiber from natural sources (no supplements/powders) and they lost more weight than the control group. More I read about fiber, more I realize how important it is in digestive health, so I’ve been eating more fruit, oatmeal, nuts, beans, whole grains, etc to get a good mix of soluble and insoluble fiber.
More fiber...one of the few boomer advice that's actually legitimate...
I was already taking care of my health when I got hit at 38-41 with perimenopause and an autoimmune disease. I have to take medication every day for the rest of my life. I also did an elimination diet for auto immune disease and discovered I can’t have ANY soy, not even soy sauce. There is even soy bean oil in jarred pasta sauce at Trader Joe’s :( Dairy hurts me so I have very little when I can’t resist it, and chocolate makes me feel like I need the emergency room. I was very health conscious my whole adulthood and I still got hit with major health issues. The autoimmune only got found last year, so this will be my first hiking season to see if I am more fatigued etc. I know my second job I do during summer is a very active job it feels more exhausting this summer , but I’m hoping I just have to build my stamina back. This is all wishful thinking as I already know I am impaired, it’s why I ended up at the doctors in the first place. I am still in some denial about not being able to do what I did before. It makes me angry because here I am, chronically ill and my husband who has never taken care of his health and partied hard for over a decade isn’t having health problems yet, and he’s older than me :( I am sure his will catch up, but it sure seems unfair that I put so much work into my health and here I am. Also for those commenting they are mid 30’s and feel great. I was in the absolute best shape of my life in my mid 30’s. Then suddenly at 38 I felt sick all the time. I had to quit my roller derby league and it was so embarrassing to always be sitting out drills because I was “tired”.
Aww, I’m so sorry. That would be so difficult. But glad you’ve been figuring out what works for you. I got hit with major health problems, basically starting in college. Didn’t realize what it was, and it wasn’t bad at first, and then found out in 2020 I had the hips of an 80-90 year old (26 at the time). Had my left hip replaced at 28, and my right hip replaced this last March, a month after my 30th birthday. I’d been taught to be health conscious growing up (my parents are both medical), and my dad regularly had us kids from late teens until we had our own doctors get regular blood work done. I let things slide in grad school and first couple years working. But having my hips replaced not only sobered me up in terms of really taking care of myself, but it gave me a new lease on life, and I feel like I can actually take care of myself and feel motivated to do so.
Mine seems trivial to having bad hips. I am sorry you are dealing with body breaking down too.
Your experience isn’t trivial at all! Figuring out what foods you can or can’t eat and trying to minimize or eliminate some things is difficult, especially soy, since it’s in everything. And perimenopause and going into menopause is its own big adjustment.
Good luck! Intermittent fasting took care of my high blood pressure. Not sure why but it worked.
PSA— work on your core strength as much as you can because it takes pressure and weight off your back and spinal discs. 36 here and “exploded” my L5-S1 disc in January by merely standing up off my floor while assembling a chair. The doctors asked if I had been in some kind of trauma or accident because it was so bad. I couldn’t sit up, walk, or do anything and my entire right thigh, asscheek, and hooha on that side went completely numb. Spent a week in the hospital and had to get a laminectomy & discectomy in early February. The disc has already ruptured out again and the original numbness has never gone away since it happened, even before this 2nd rupture. Also, I gained some nice numbness in my right foot during the surgery which has also remained since then. Good times. Currently trying to decide if we redo the surgery or simply wait to see if any of it gets better (it may never improve, they said). Do those ab workouts and lift with your legs, folks.
Oof, sorry that happened to you. But that’s good advice I haven’t really thought of. Thanks for sharing!
I am 29 I had high cholesterol in my mid teens I cut all sorts of things especially Macdonalds and you can feel it once you cut Trans fats
I disagree that this has to be a chronic condition from now on. I brought mine down from mid 140s to mid 120s with intermittent fasting and losing a couple inches around the middle. Please try some lifestyle changes before resigning yourself to meds. (Though take them in the meantime if that's deemed necessary).
I’m with you. I just found out I’m anemic and it’s not a huge deal but I have to take iron every day or I get really dizzy/can faint if I stand up too quickly/feel tired all the time/sometimes get severe chest pain, and now I have to take it every day forever and it’s humbled my feeling of youthful fortitude quite a bit.
Is your anemia due to heavy periods?
No my iron levels just dropped as I progressed through my 20s. I’m on birth control and that keeps my period short and light. When I was like 21 I fainted for the first time but it was at a music festival on a hot day so I assumed it was the heat. Around age 24-28 I fainted multiple times and once fainted and fell backwards and hit my head on my tv😅 The symptom that led to me being actually evaluated was I’d get really intense and sudden chest pains, I really thought I had heart issues so I asked my doctor for an echo. He ran bloodwork and said I was anemic and my chest pains were likely a symptom of my anemia which surprised me. He did the echo anyways and it was all clear. Ever since I take my iron daily, I have no chest paints and haven’t gotten dizzy or fainted so I think it’s helping a lot
I’m not trying to humble brag but I have been working out religiously since I was a teenager. I’m in my mid thirties and don’t feel all that different now. It’s never too late to get started. The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time is right now.
Yeah. As someone who's been 300+ lbs for my entire adult life and 350+ for a long time, every year my health issues get much worse much faster, so the casual invincibility of being in my twenties is over.
I've been taking blood pressure medication since I was 29. I'm 34 now. I exercised regularly and was relatively healthy (or so I thought). Hypertension was found at a routine check-up, confirmed with follow-ups. Y'all, make sure you get routine check-ups even if you feel fine, we're getting to be that age.
Became T2 diabetic in 2021 after getting outrageously fat. Walk, people! EDIT: Lost 80 pounds and got my A1C back in to nondiabetic range.
There’s some recent research that stretching can help with hypertension. Hope this helps, bro: https://proactiveforher.com/blogs/hypertension/hypertension-7-stretches-to-get-your-morning-started/
Annoying thing is at 30 my BP is borderline ok/slightly elevated. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I exercise, eat 100% plant based with a mostly wholefood plant based diet, restrict processed food and get ~7 hours sleep a night. I also drink tea and not coffee. My Mrs smokes and drinks socially and hers is absolutely bang on 🤣🤣
Life truly isn’t fair like that. A lot of what causes HPB is just genetic. My dad’s side all have this problem. I really should’ve been more cautious of it going through my 30’s but it’s easy to get sucked into the “it won’t be me” mentality. Sigh youth really is wasted on the young.
Yep it is what it is and I also think it's my dad's side too as HBP seems to be a recurring theme. I just think how much worse it could be if I didn't take the preventative measures!!
I appreciate the reminder. I take pretty good care of my health and am notably mindful of eating Whole Foods and healthy over processed stuff, and even still I should prob keep an eye on blood pressure. Thanks op!
I’m going full throttle on my health as I decided NOW at this point in my life(38): that I want to become a Deputy Sheriff. 30 minutes of cardio daily and moving up as I get more used to it. We’re not young whippersnappers anymore!
I like to live dangerously.
My Dad had a heart attack at 59, vascular dementia at 61, dead at 64. I quit smoking and binge drinking and i'm on statins now. I hate the idea of leaving my sons when they are college age so im hopefully learning a lesson through my Dad's mistakes. He would love that
I'm 39, turning 40 this year. I started going to the gym and eating better last year for two major reasons: 1) I work retail and I see so many old people shuffling, complaining about a lack of chairs etc and I do not want to be them. I want to be like Dick Van Dyke who at 143 years of age, is still dancing and biking and exercising. I saw a tiktok where he was riding a stationary bike while talking and laughing. I want to be able to do that when I'm 95% dust like he is. 2) Both my parents died of cancer in 2020, then 2021. 53 weeks apart. When I was just a teen of 36 and 37. Both were in not-bad-to-ok physical health beforehand and it made a difference. Going into the ordeal in peak physical shape can make a difference. Even if it's only a slight change in the odds, it's worth it if I can beat cancer. My dad's brother had the exact same cancer my dad did and he beat it. A combo of luck but also my uncle was in fantastic shape for a man in his late fifties. If y'all don't listen to OP, then listen to me, because I lived through one of the more devastating things somebody can go through and who knows if my dad would have survived if he had been in better shape (and hadn't lost his wife). My mom was doomed (tumour in the reproductive systems the size of a football, and no I'm not exaggerating) but maybe you could survive the ticking timebomb of cancer if you take care of yourself.
Thank you for sharing. I can’t imagine losing both parents so close together. Obligatory, fuck cancer.
I’m elder but put on 15lbs in a year and felt completely out of control with eating. My A1C was high so I immediately cut down carbs to 100g a day and I’ve lost that 15 lbs plus on track to eat more. I still have room for a small ice cream or one piece of candy but I have so much self control now and I get full quicker. I’m happier without the carbs honestly
Yeah I got into it earlier this year. 39 now and found I have high cholesterol after a blood test. Now I'm on a daily pill but I've also upped my fibre intake, got back in the gym and try to eat less fatty foods. Completely dropped the ball for the last 3 weeks while on holiday but I'm back to my routine again. Hopefully my levels go down.
41. Thyroid Cancer with spread. This is cute to me.
>don’t smoke and drink less Instructions unclear, I quit smoking and am drinking less.
Agree 1000%. I'll be 40 next month. All my life I was skinny. 6'6 around 190lbs. I could eat anything and never gain any weight. That all changed in my 30's. I'm up to 250lbs now and it's like all in my gut. I went to the doctor recently for a check up and he said I'm hovering around pre diabetic. Basically if I continue doing what I'm doing I will wind up with diabetes. That scared the shit out of me. Cut out all the sugar and bullshit, stopped eating before bed, exercising daily, and trying to quit smoking.
I gave up caffeine a few months ago because my heart rate and blood pressure were getting high. The numbers have normalized and I am here to tell the tale!
Oh man, I had such a coffee habit you have no idea. But the two weeks since I found out I have high blood pressure, I’ve given up coffee along with eating better and exercising daily and it’s helped a lot. Can I ask, did the improvement in your BP happen immediately after giving up coffee and stayed low or was a gradual decline over weeks?
I got an at-home monitor and it went down pretty quickly after I stopped. It has stayed low .. except at the doctor’s office, where I have white coat syndrome. 🥴
I'm curious what has your diet and exercise been like for the last 5 years? Do you frequently eat fried foods, pizza, dessert, no exercise?
Could not agree more. My spouse and I made a commitment when we got together at 24 that we would prioritize exercise and healthy habits while we were young so that we didn't have to worry about making it a habit later. We both work out 6 days a week. We cook often and we eat healthy, while also allowing ourselves to indulge. I'll be 40 this year. I don't have any chronic conditions, no heart problems, no chronic pain. I haven't changed my clothing size in 15 + years, and I look like I'm 30. Taking care of your body will always be a good way to spend your time and money. We only get one, after all.
One of the best ways you can take care of your health right now is by wearing an N95 or KN95 face mask when you go out of the house. One of the biggest COVID waves yet is happening right now.
Yup, my ex was super healthy conscious and I thankfully picked up a lotta those habits, I got into yoga, a better ( not perfect lol) diet, more gym, etc., And yeah we gotta start checking for stuff regularly just to be safe, in the past 3 years I've had my T, colon and skin checked for the first time lol
You’re me in the future. The nurses always “ooh and ahhh” at my blood pressure, telling me how perfect it is. Pshh, you like that? One day (I’m 34) it’ll come to an end.
I learned my cholesterol was through the roof a couple months back. It wasn’t exercise, it was my horrible diet. I thought I could outrun a bad diet but ldl numbers don’t lie. Have gone a major lifestyle change. No more processed food and less than 5 grams of added sugar a day. If you have that part sorted out then it could be genetics and you’ll need meds
My husband has an angry mole right now, waiting to get an appt from dermatology to take his little friend off and biopsy it. He also has high BP but he’s had since late 20s. It’s more genetic for him.
There are a LOT of poisons in our food, environment and habits. This is a new book worth a listen or a read.. https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy We all age... but we don't have to be on a plethora of medications with a myriad of symptoms.
38 here (1986) Had a badheart attack and stroke 6 years ago 3 months after turning 32. No cholesterol. But HIGH blood pressure and very overweight (6ft 1. Nearly 300lbs at the time, now 240s). Simple stuff like watching my sodium and sugar intake and portion Control brought most of my labs under control that needed it. The heart attack was a freak genetic issue my team still doesn't have a cause for but it was a perfect storm
I’m glad to hear that you’re okay. And yes, sometimes just little changes in lifestyle like you said is all most people need. The key is to find new habits that one can stick to.
I’m 35 and just found out I have (mild) obstructive sleep apnea. I’m sure I’ve had it for years, but getting diagnosed felt like “oh shit, I’m getting old.”
it took you till 41? I got clocked in my early to mid twenties.
Everyone - go to the doctors at least once a year for a physical. It’s good for you and free!
Go vegan!