11 Tips to Get Fit at 40

By Jeanine Natale

When I turned 40 this past February, one of the pledges I made was to look and feel much better than I had at 39, or at 38, 37, or 36, for that matter. I'd become pudgy and very out of shape through a combination of a badly broken toe that stranded me on crutches for months, terrible eating habits, and, of course, no exercise other than stumping around on those sticks.

Even after I got off the crutches, it was several more months before I could really walk and move around normally again. Sick of how I was feeling and looking, I made up my mind that by the Big 4-0, I was going to be fabulous! Here are 11 tips that have helped get me to where I want to be.

1. Favorite sports, new activities. My big transformation happened over summer, which meant I got to surf free of my wetsuit! Even without the effort of struggling into a suit, it takes good overall fitness, especially solid core strength, to carry that longboard over long stretches of sand, paddle, and master the all-important pop-up maneuver. If surfing isn't your thing, think about the kinds of activities and workouts that you loved doing when you were younger, or perhaps always wanted to do and never got around to. And if you've got kids, take a look at the kinds of things they like to do for fun. Okay, maybe learning to skateboard at 40 isn't such a bright idea, but playing basketball or soccer are both great workouts, as are ballet and martial arts.
2. Solid workout. While trying new activities is always a thrill, it's also a good idea to have a solid, regular workout program for developing overall fitness. Programs like Power 90^®, Slim in 6^®, and Turbo Jam^® provide an excellent system to get yourself back in shape if you've let yourself go, so you can get back to those activities you love to do without the frustration of struggling to catch your breath in the middle of a game, when everyone else around you is raring to go. Then, too, the workouts are challenging—and fun—in their own right! Remember, you're as young as you feel, and as aging causes us to start losing muscle mass and bone density, getting back in shape doing something you love is a great way to fight back.
3. Take a hike and do some yoga. Getting back on my feet, I found that doing a daily low-impact walk was a great way to get rid of specific sore spots in my feet and knees from limping around on crutches. And warming up before and after any kind of walk or run is a good way to avoid undoing your efforts at exercise by just being stiff and sore for days after. There are several studies showing yoga to be one of the best stretch exercises around at any age, but especially for those of us 40 and over. Even my own mom and dad, who have NEVER been fitness buffs, have discovered yoga and stretching at the ages of 70 and 80 respectively. I've seen the positive changes especially in my dad, who suffers from osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathy, and now Parkinson's disease. My mom, recently recovered from a broken hip, makes a great yoga buddy for my dad, and as the two of them have been at it for the last 6 months, I see my dad up and taking walks now, and eating healthy (something he also never did before!). And my mom isn't limping anymore or getting stiff knees. They're smiling more, too. I took an informal poll, and I found that at least 85 percent of people I know over the age of 20 who are in good health and good shape do yoga on a regular basis.
4. Get a little color in those cheeks (but not too much!). Taking a walk on a sunny day is one way to do that. However, it is crucial to be safe and smart about it. That baking-sheet-style, lie-out-roasting tan isn't good for your skin at any age! Wear sunglasses with UV protection and carry sunscreen with you at all times when you are out in the sun. Apply it liberally and often! If you are working up a sweat, or you're walking on the beach splashing in the waves, sunscreen washes off—even the waterproof kind. Also, if you're taking a calcium supplement such as Beachbody's Core Cal-Mag™, a moderate amount of sunshine is one good way to get the vitamin D necessary to help your body absorb calcium. But I repeat, do NOT forget sunscreen!
5. Moisturize! No matter what time of year it is, I'm finding that my skin really is more sensitive to humidity levels, and dries out much more quickly. Do some research and find the products that are suited to your skin type—you'll be able to tell pretty quickly which lip balms and lotions are right for you—and use 'em! For summer especially, make sure they contain a strong enough sunscreen. Keep a little sample-size bottle in your car, another in your backpack or purse, and don't leave home without it!
6. Truly healthy juices, truly healthy shakes. And I mean serious juice—the kind with dark leafy greens, beets, ginger, carrots, etc. I do love my juicer. Why? Because it leaves all the fibery goodness in my cocktail and I can get a heaping plateful of summer-fresh fruits and veggies in one glass—I always replace at least one meal, if not two, with a big 16-ounce glass of juice. But if dealing with a juicer and prepping veggies and fruits sounds too time consuming to you, check out Shakeology^®, the Healthiest Meal of the Day^®. This is a new discovery for me, and it contains everything I love about my juices, plus so much more.
7. Vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements. Feel free to explore the vast world of supplements, vitamins, and minerals. I tend to have a very sensitive stomach when it comes to taking the pill form of some vitamins and herbal remedies, but recently a 46-year-old friend of mine, who is an excellent massage therapist and yoga buff, made me a juice with the following supplements: echinacea, goldenseal, ginseng, gingko, biotin, spirulina, chlorella, blue-green algae, yerba santa, grapefruit seed extract, acidophilus, 5-HTP amino acid complex, and bee pollen. I washed down a handful of probably 20 pills and capsules with that juice, and was very pleasantly surprised that it gave me no trouble whatsoever and had me feeling good all day. Do your research and find the mix that works for you.
8. Be nice to your body—it needs you. Pulling all-nighters, eating junk food, and hunching over the computer for hours moving nothing but your fingertips: Ahhh, the good old days! If you still love doing this and you've been out of college for more than a decade, at least trade in the junk food for a healthier choice. And your body will thank you profusely if you just stand up every half hour to move around and stretch, even for a couple of minutes. In all honesty, recovering from those late nights—whether you're out partying or fervidly working on an important project—becomes much harder to do as our bodies age. If you have to be at work in the morning after a rough night, it shows up under your eyes, in your back, in your knees, in the heavy fog coating your brain—you get the picture. You can't always be on an optimal stress-free schedule, but being mindful of your body really does help.
9. Avoid late-night meals and midnight snacks. If you've been active on a beautiful long summer day, you'll be good and ready for bed. If you want the experience to be a restful one, avoid eating a heavy late-night meal. While there are many studies and opinions on the actual long-term health effects of this, the general consensus is that if you do eat just before bed, keep it light and simple. As Chris Idzikowski, Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, says, "A heavy meal can sometimes lead to heartburn-type or reflux symptoms as you're lying down with a full stomach."
10. Get a good night's sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep needs change over a person's lifetime, and older adults may produce and secrete less melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. Being active during the day and getting enough exercise goes a long way to not only keeping you healthy, but leaving you feeling more relaxed and, well, ready for bed.
11. Be proactive and be proud of your active self! Whether you've always been in shape and are now beginning to feel the effects of aging, or were out of shape and reached 40 with more of a beginner's outlook on fitness, the fact that you are taking steps to get fit and get healthy both inside and outside is a major achievement that takes time, commitment, sweat, and effort. The payoffs are many, including less time feeling out of sorts and less time in the doctor’s office. With all the science and knowledge we have so readily available today, there's no reason to despair about old age. Age truly is just a number. In fact, a recent 2010 study by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research showed that, overall, people aged 70 and older who had a positive mental attitude about aging and who were physically active reported feeling much younger than their years. Conversely, those who had a more negative attitude about getting older tended to be less active; and reported feeling at least their age, if not older; and reporting more health problems than the younger group did.

Way back when, a friend of mine commented that he just couldn't keep up like he used to on the volleyball court—that he was perhaps getting too old to do that sort of thing anymore. We were only 27 years old! It was probably the first time I had heard anyone my age mention something like that, and then—as now—I simply refused to accept it. Don't get me wrong, there is always the (unwelcome) possibility that some underlying health issue is a contributing factor, in which case serious medical attention must be sought. Fortunately, it wasn't so in this instance. But I remember being surprised by my friend's statement. He was in great shape—probably in better shape than I was—and at the time, I was riding at least 20 miles a day on my bike and was, indeed, quite healthy! Now at the ripe old age of 40, having "let myself go" only to make some much-needed and welcome improvements, I believe there's a lot to be said for being and feeling as young as you think you are, and there's no time like the present to be your best.

How Darrick Beat the Odds (and His Genes)

Topping the scale at 440 pounds, Darrick Smith was on a short road to huge health problems. His doctor told him it was in his genes, and there was nothing he could do. Guess again. With the help of Power 90^®, Darrick took control of his life and won $1,000 along the way.

Click here to watch his story and see what he looks like now.

My Transformation Story - David Keenan

By David Keenan

My older sister told me about this program that helped her and my aunt lose weight, and they enjoyed it. Now, for one, I'm skeptical by nature. Secondly, I have tried many programs that range from the cabbage soup diet to the 10-pounds-in-2-days diet and from the ab rolly thingy to the ab springy thingy. Lastly, neither my sister nor aunt was remotely as large as I was. One thing that helped was how enthusiastic she was that it would work for me. She even got our younger sister to join. The next thing I knew she wanted to do was take "before" pictures and measurements. "What if the program doesn't work?" I remember thinking. I did not want measurements written down because I thought that the next time I checked, I will probably be bigger anyway. As for the pictures, I would not even take off my shirt because I was too embarrassed of myself. Even in front of my own family.

"Welcome to Power 90, I'm Tony Horton." This program changes lives? We'll see how day one goes. Right off the bat, Tony was moving. I was already behind and struggling to catch up. Tony and the crew lifted their knees, so I lifted mine. I kept up until I had to fight gravity with jumping jacks. Gravity won the battle, big time. Something in the program and in my mind kept me going. By the end of the 35 minutes, I looked like I stepped out of a pool and panted like a woman giving birth. But for whatever reason, I felt good. Each day, I kept Pushing Play. People who saw me sporadically said I looked like I lost a bunch of weight. That motivated me more. Before I knew it, I was halfway through the program and lost 40 pounds! Granted, I had about 100 pounds of pure Krispy Kreme to lose, but it felt great! I was swimming in my clothes. I tried to only buy a few shirts, because I knew I would be swimming in those, too. I got down to 250 pounds in one year, but then I hit a plateau. So I got Slim in 6. Talk about kick-starting your life again. I had a whole new wave of dedication. For one month straight, I did Slim in 6 in the morning and Power 90 at night. Not to mention, my diet was close to impeccable. I was hooked. I then got P90X. Talk about challenging gravity; say hello to Plyometrics. Ab Ripper X—I hate it, but I love it. This program was the most challenging physical activity I ever even attempted. I got down to 180. Half of me . . . GONE! Luckily, it wasn't my good half.

Things change and they did. I had a surgery which put me on a slow recovery phase. I ate badly, and with no exercise, I gained some weight. I got up to about 235 pounds. I felt horrible. It was just a short time ago that I was feeling better about life than ever before. You know, one of those feelings that can only be felt. I let it slip away, and I wanted it back. This time I joined the gym to lose it. Don't get me wrong, the gym is great, but it wasn't for me. I never pushed myself as hard as I did when I was Pushing Play. I jumped back into Power 90 then P90X, and I'm down to under 200 pounds! I could not be happier at this time of how I have complete control over my diet and my body.

Coming up on year 5, I have managed to lose a total of 160 pounds and at least 25 percent body fat. More importantly, I have kept it off and changed my lifestyle. My eating habits and my exercising routine are all designed to help me be a better and healthier me. I have gained an abundance of knowledge. I have learned that the sluggish feeling comes from eating badly, whereas in the past, those nachos would have been part of my normal diet. I have learned how important exercise is to my health. My friends and family ask me—a former 360-pounder—diet and exercise questions. I have learned that it is not people seeing me in a different light now that I am in great shape, but rather me seeing myself in a better light.

To struggle with a battle your whole life and come out victorious is the greatest feeling anyone could ever experience. I won. Losing weight has obviously benefited my life physically more than I could have ever imagined. Friends from high school don't even recognize me. I now enjoy physical activities such as hiking, basketball, and even pull-ups (except corn-cobs). While going to work, I leave the train station and get pleasure from being the only one to take the stairs. I love my body, but my most valued changes through this are internal. I am making better decisions with my life then I ever did. I have more drive, determination, confidence, enthusiasm, success, and the list goes on, than ever before. There is nothing I can't do, and no one could convince me otherwise. I owe it all to Tony Horton, Debbie Siebers, the entire Beachbody staff, the Team Beachbody community, and my family and friends. Thank you all for making me live and love life.

Click here to see David interviewed by Matt Lauer on the TODAY show.

Master Fitness Trainer Tony Horton Biography (creator of Power 90, P90X, 10 Minute Trainer, Ho' Ala ke Kino, Power Half Hour)

If you want to know anything and everything about computer software, then you want Bill Gates. If you want to know all there is to know about fitness and how you can use it to improve your health, physique, and lifestyle, then you want Tony Horton. For over 17 years, Tony has acquired, perfected, and shared his fitness expertise with countless individuals across the country.

Tony is a Master Fitness Trainer. His expertise includes post-rehabilitation training, advanced stretching, yoga, weight and resistance training, cardiovascular/aerobic training, boxing and kickboxing, plus circuit, cross, and interval training.

From major movie stars and recording artists to the average Joe and Jane, Tony has helped people turn their lives around with the perfect mix of encouragement, humor, and discipline. Quite simply, he makes every workout uniquely challenging and fun. His expertise includes post-rehabilitation training, advanced stretching, yoga, weight and resistance training, cardiovascular/aerobic training, boxing and kickboxing, plus circuit, cross, and interval training. Aside from operating ASH Fitness, a state-of-the-art training facility in Santa Monica, California, Tony has been published in various health and fitness periodicals including Men's Fitness magazine.

Tony Horton wasn't always a Beachbody. Born in Westley, RI, and raised in Trumbull, CT, Tony preferred fast food to his mother's healthy home cooking. As a kid, he hated exercising and didn't particularly like sports. He describes himself then as the "quintessential 98-pound weakling," and had all the insecurities that go along with it.

After attending the University of Rhode Island, Tony moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He found himself working long hours, which didn't leave time to exercise or eat right or so he told himself. Although his ambition was high, his physical health was at an all-time low. With some urging from his talent agent, Tony realized that to make it in showbiz, he needed to get fit.

From that point on, Tony says his life changed forever. He joined the renowned World Gym in Venice, California, where Arnold Schwartzenegger and Lou Ferrigno worked out. He watched them, and asked questions and read every book he could get his hands on. But Tony didn't like the bulky, stiff, bodybuilder look, so he focused on exercises for speed, flexibility, and balance that would give him a more streamlined appearance. He learned cardiovascular training from world-class triathlete Mark Sisson, who introduced him to exhilaration drills and interval training.

As Tony got in better shape, he noticed that other things in his life were shaping up too. He felt better, his brain was sharper, and he was more productive in everyday life. Tony had hit his stride and his world opened up. He started rock climbing, in-line skating, and doing yoga, Pilates, and plyometrics. The more he learned, the better he looked and felt.

Friends and acquaintances were blown away by his physical transformation and started asking him how he did it. Before long, word got around that whatever Tony Horton was doing, he was doing right! Word soon got to musician Tom Petty. Tony helped Tom get in the best shape of his life, and then went on to train some of his rock 'n' roll friends. This began Tony's career as a sought-after fitness trainer.

Over the years, Tony built his training career, establishing ASH Fitness in Santa Monica. His acclaimed fitness techniques appeared in Men's Fitness magazine, and Tony established an on-camera presence as the spokesperson for NordicTrack. In the late '90s, Tony was retained by a major Hollywood studio to condition the entire cast of the motion picture The 13th Warrior.

In 1996 Tony met Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler through one of his clients. Tony and Carl hit it off immediately and soon became friends. Before long, Carl hired Tony to be his personal trainer. After three months of Tony's instruction, Carl was in absolute disbelief. In just 90 days, he saw changes in his body he never thought possible. Carl knew Tony had hit upon something truly revolutionary.

In 1998 Tony collaborated with Beachbody to create the Great Body Guaranteed! workout series. But it was the launch of the Power 90 in-home boot camp in 1999 that made Tony a Beachbody celebrity! Tony distilled years of fitness experience to develop the routines for Power 90, which promises optimal body transformation in just 90 days.

Since the introduction of Power 90, Tony has helped to develop the Power Half Hour workout series, 10 Minute Trainer, a yoga and stretching routine called Ho' Ala ke Kino, and P90X. P90X is the most extreme full body home fitness training system yet. Tony continues to work as a personal fitness trainer in Santa Monica, California. He remains dedicated to helping people get in the best shape of their lives, including lecturing, participating in live Beachbody chats online, and developing new fitness breakthroughs.