Getting old

omens

omens

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I turned 40 this year. Old to some of you, young to others. But the biggest bugbear I have is that I seem to lack energy. I am quickly fatigued and don’t have the stamina I did when I was young. I could blame COVID but I never knowingly caught it and I’ve been feeling like this since 2019.

I am spectacularly impressed by those older than me who can go to work, come home and do all sorts of things like train for a marathon, or do some DIY work around the house. I come home, am knackered and have no energy to do anything until it’s time for bed and I go to sleep.

To those of you who have managed to keep fit and active as you get older, how do you do it? What life lessons or pearls of wisdom do you have to impart?
 
I'm about to be 66 and feel fairly knackered a lot of the time, but tbh it's mostly a state of mind I think (unless there is an obvious medical issue).
I would recommend looking at your diet - it should be balanced and healthy, organic if possible but in any event not processed food.
Are you motivated to do things? If you are just going through the motions, that's your answer. You need purpose, a reason for being/doing.
 
I'm 55 now and a few things have changed,

I used to have 20/20 vision, now I can't read without glasses,

I could climb a hill briskly, not that long ago, now I get breathless quite quickly, especially if I have a camera bag on my back. I had pneumonia a few years ago and I've not been the same since.

I used to cycle an average of 25 miles a day, through my 20s and 30s. The other day, 4 miles half killed me. I stuck at that one for a while though and my cycling stamina returned quite quickly.

I walk slower these days, not conciously, I just do.

Aches and pains, I get that a lot, never used to.

Quite a funny one but it does get tiresome, I cannot run the kitchen tap without having to run to the toilet

Like you, my energy levels are not what they used to be although I was around 50 before I started noticing it. I think it hits people at different ages and IMO, is related to genetics and lifestyle. My desire to keep fit is less than it used to be but I'm sure if I pushed myself and trained, I could get myself back to about 90% of what I used to be.

I've had Covid twice (that I know of), very mild the twice and I recovered fully.

I think slowing down as we get older just happens, earlier for some than others. I do think though that it can be mitigated to an extent by staying active and fit, which will also help energy levels and motivation.
 
Omens, I think you need to take a look at yourself. I don't mean that in a nasty way but at 40 if you lack energy and are easily fatigued then you need to ask why? is it because you don't actually exercise, have a "poor" diet, or have a hectic life (not making time for yourself). Some of these can be changed and will help, but it could also be a sign of something else. May be worth having a word with your doctor.
 
Everyone's different but 40 seems very young to be feeling that way. I'm 64 BTW.

My brother cycles long and hard at 73 and my dad was still playing golf at 90.

Definitely look at diet. Make sure you're getting B and D vitamins especially. An exercise routine of some sort becomes more vital as we get older.

Have you had a check up lately?

Edit - seems I cross posted with munch saying much the same in a different way.
 
Just turned 61 last week worked for a big part of my life outdoors but first job cost me as worked with breaking up asbestos after leaving school, loved my outdoor job in all weathers, sadly had to stop though as my lungs from the asbestos gave me COPD smoking did not help. Had covid once and don't want that again as made my lungs worse, can't run anymore and when I do go out then I just walk slowly as to quick knackers me right out. Use to ride a lot as well but not at the moment. Many folk don't believe me when I say I'm 61 as they say more like 45 lol
 
69 next month. A few pounds overweight but no issues carrying a DSLR/MF film gear about. My wife expects me to be full of beans so I make sure that I am.

What munch says ^^^^^^^
 
I am 74, I walk for 3-4 miles around the park most mornings with the camera, do 20 mins daily on an aerobic step, do flexibility and strength exercises 4 times a week.
We go out for a longer walk at least once a week, normally 6 or 7 miles and are off to North Norfolk soon where we will do walks each day of about 10 -12 miles.
I have just decorated a bedroom and put up a 1.8m wide - 2.1m high flatpack wardrobe by myself.

As others have said look at your whole lifestyle
For energy levels you need to build up your stamina which is what my daily walk and steps do for me, and the best time to start is now.

This is what got me started go4life exercise guide.pdf it is from the USA NIH. It was recommended when I did a course on future learn about strategies for succesful ageing.
 
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Suvv said:
I am 74, I walk for 3-4 miles around the park most mornings with the camera, do 20 mins daily on an aerobic step, do flexibility and strength exercises 4 times a week.
We go out for a longer walk at least once a week, normally 6 or 7 miles and are off to North Norfolk soon where we will do walks each day of about 10 -12 miles.
I have just decorated a bedroom and put up a 1.8m wide - 2.1m high flatpack wardrobe by myself.

As others have said look at your whole lifestyle
For energy levels you need to build up your stamina which is what my daily walk and steps do for me, and the best time to start is now.

This is what got me started go4life exercise guide.pdf it is from the USA NIH. It was recommended when I did a course on future learn about strategies for succesful ageing.
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Thank you so very much for saying about the go4life guide, just bookmarked it now so will have a better look later as it does look great.
 
Yup to a quick visit to a Dr. It could be something... or something simple like B12 deficiency.

I'm 61 now and one thing with me to be honest is it's as much about avoiding the lows and depression than anything physical. Listening to music and getting out no matter the weather helps enormously. A good diet will always help too :D

Good luck with it omens. I hope you're soon on top form :D
 
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Well I’m now 76 + and even with a dodgy ticker ,climb mountains as I did on Saturday. ,, I then got fed up with the mountain so head/face butted it .
Swmbo has grounded me till I start to act my age , can’t go anywhere anyway till the swelling on my nose and the two black eyes allow me to wear my specs again anyway .. age is just a state of mind
 
lindsay said:
I would recommend looking at your diet - it should be balanced and healthy, organic if possible but in any event not processed food.
Are you motivated to do things? If you are just going through the motions, that's your answer. You need purpose, a reason for being/doing.
Click to expand...
Diet is good and better than it ever used to be. Mainly vegetarian. I try to limit processed foods. That purpose thing though…I do feel like I’m just going on the hamster wheel every day..
Dale. said:
I think slowing down as we get older just happens, earlier for some than others. I do think though that it can be mitigated to an extent by staying active and fit, which will also help energy levels and motivation.
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I know it happens but feel 40 is a bit on the young side.
munch said:
Omens, I think you need to take a look at yourself. I don't mean that in a nasty way but at 40 if you lack energy and are easily fatigued then you need to ask why? is it because you don't actually exercise, have a "poor" diet, or have a hectic life (not making time for yourself). Some of these can be changed and will help, but it could also be a sign of something else. May be worth having a word with your doctor.
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Diet is good. Exercise - I do treadmill running twice a week, and lift weights 3-4 times a week.
simon ess said:
Everyone's different but 40 seems very young to be feeling that way. I'm 64 BTW.

My brother cycles long and hard at 73 and my dad was still playing golf at 90.

Definitely look at diet. Make sure you're getting B and D vitamins especially. An exercise routine of some sort becomes more vital as we get older.

Have you had a check up lately?

Edit - seems I cross posted with munch saying much the same in a different way
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Never bothered with vitamins as I felt a good diet should cover all bases. I still exercise but I’m just generally exhausted the whole week.
 
So you answer all the questions apart from the one about seeing a doctor. Please consider it.
 
@omens

As noted by others....... time to go get a "well man" type of check up.

You mention your diet is good but mainly vegetarian. Though seen more in vegans, your B12 might be low and the fatigue you mention could be due to many things.....one of which is anaemia.

And with the best will in the world 'mental health" can impact on physical condition.

All the best with getting an answer as why you feel the way you do :)

PS as for age.......late 60's and not as fit as I should be.....also carry too much weight....age related changes do affect me but though I don't exercise much I can walk at a pace that is much faster than the majority of any age. My recovery from getting breathless after walking hard for 30 minutes (when I am in a hurry ;) ) is under 5 minutes [though I never time it]

Oh, my blood oxygenation is >97% and my resting heart rate around the 60 mark and was at your age about 50 bpm
 
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As above, GP/Well Man check, including blood test for vitamins and LFT. On mental health it's a harder nut to crack (no pun intended). I mentioned motivation, and you mentioned the hamster wheel. I don't want to get into the details on a public forum, but it does sound like you need some talking therapy of the right sort (which the NHS doesn't offer), essentially to help you focus on what you are looking for in life at this stage. The combination of things you've said also point towards developing depression, which is not unusual these days, and needs to be caught early to avoid becoming chronic. I don't practise as a counsellor any more, but feel free to PM me if you would like any guidance on that area.
 
My wife and I are vegetarian and eat a planned balanced diet but we still take a Multivitamin every day. The low cost is worth it.
Are you hydrated? dehydration can cause lots of problems and it must have occured a lot during the recent spell of hot weather.
 
Totally agree with everybody saying see a doctor. The internet is not the place for advice like this - except to say from what you describe excessive tiredness doesn't seem right.

It's possible you are low in iron - veggie diet + lifting weight + few processed foods can lead to an iron deficiency. Supplements are cheap, generally safe and effective. If you can't get to see your doctor for a while, maybe try a pack of Spatone. If it is iron, then improvement should be rapid. If you get to the end of the box and don't feel better, it wasn't that. B12 is more complicated and is definitely one for a doctor.
 
I am 64, and although I am slightly overweight, I was very fit up until March 2021. We both have a healthy diet, cook from scratch, like our fruit and veg. Back in 2020, we were walking a couple of hours a day during lockdown and managed to each lose around 7kg in weight.
One week after having my first vaccine on 28th February 2021, I had severe joint pains in my knees, elbows, wrists, strange burning sensations in my quads and lower legs, speech and memory problems, balance issues (extreme vertigo), constant sore and runny eyes. I have never tested positive for Covid.
After my secdond consultation with a rheumatic consultant, who first said I "might" have reactive arthritis (seriously, after one week?), she now said that I "might" have fybromyalgia.
She has now discharged me and I have to start the whole process again.
Yes, doctors can be good, but only if they do their job.
Sadly, over the past two years my faith in the NHS has dwindled substantially.
 
First thing to check is your 'attitude' to life. Do you look forward to getting home and sitting on the couch in front of the TV or do you look forward to taking the dog out or going for a bike ride? Just giving yourself a little push toward the latter will make all the difference to how you feel within a week or two and this has been well documented and proven - exercise really does make a HUGE difference. Have a read of this: https://www.livestrong.com/article/251785-exercise-and-its-effects-on-serotonin-dopamine-levels/

Secondly, look more closely at your diet. Remember, we're omnivores by design - if you want to avoid eating meat you must make up for it in other ways. An apple won't replace a steak when it comes to nutrients and taking pills just won't cut it.

Finally, if the first two have been addressed - seek medical attention.
 
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omens said:
I turned 40 this year. Old to some of you, young to others. But the biggest bugbear I have is that I seem to lack energy. I am quickly fatigued and don’t have the stamina I did when I was young. I could blame COVID but I never knowingly caught it and I’ve been feeling like this since 2019.

I am spectacularly impressed by those older than me who can go to work, come home and do all sorts of things like train for a marathon, or do some DIY work around the house. I come home, am knackered and have no energy to do anything until it’s time for bed and I go to sleep.

To those of you who have managed to keep fit and active as you get older, how do you do it? What life lessons or pearls of wisdom do you have to impart?
Click to expand...



I am 66 and fitter heathier now than i was at 40.... yes you guessed it.. i gave up smoking 26 years ago last month aftre amoking for.. 26 yrs.. started at 14....so wierdly 26/26

I recently put on a bit of wight and 7th aug started doing a 2.5 mile walk every day and cutting caloried down... i lost a full one stone in two weeks... carried on with same regime and lost nothing the following two weeks so still just the stone gone to this date

keeping active without going too mad.. eating proper... i am quite fit and healthy... last night i drove 450 miles round trip and photogrpahed a football match in pouring rain.. felt fine when i got home.. ok not marathon type... but plodding along nicely :)

40 and worried? bah! :)
 
+1 for doctors visit to start with. 40 and feeling like this does not sound right at all. Could be any number of causes including mental health as mentioned already.

I’m 53 and no signs of slowing down so far. I do get a lot of my mojo from photography assignments and personal projects, striving for ever better images. I aim for the gym two or three times a week don’t always manage that if too busy.

Sending you best wishes. Please keep us posted how you’re doing!
 
I had a similar problem with energy levels being much lower than one would expect, right since my 20s. I was finally diagnosed with MS a little before lockdown started after being hospitalized because my GP thought I'd had a stroke. I was 50 at the time and almost certainly had it for nearly 30 years.
 
Doctors and a blood test will tell you if anything is missing .
 
I have two long term medical conditions. One is age related - vitamin B12 deficiency. This is fairly common and becomes quite common in over 50s due to the stomach stopping production of a stuff called Intrinsic Factor which is required to absorb B12. This condition can cause permanent nerve damage if untreated and treatment is a three monthly injection. Apart from nerve damage, the symptoms are much as you describe.

Go to your doctor as it could also be something serious and life threatening.
 
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omens said:
I turned 40 this year. Old to some of you, young to others. But the biggest bugbear I have is that I seem to lack energy. I am quickly fatigued and don’t have the stamina I did when I was young. I could blame COVID but I never knowingly caught it and I’ve been feeling like this since 2019.

I am spectacularly impressed by those older than me who can go to work, come home and do all sorts of things like train for a marathon, or do some DIY work around the house. I come home, am knackered and have no energy to do anything until it’s time for bed and I go to sleep.

To those of you who have managed to keep fit and active as you get older, how do you do it? What life lessons or pearls of wisdom do you have to impart?
Click to expand...
My best advice would be to stay active. Properly active I use an indoor bike a few times a week only need 20-40 mins to get the heart going. Since starting a couple of years ago I now have more energy than ever and a sleep great.
 
I'm 61 now. Ran a half-marathon in 2016, and if I didn't have some knee damage I'd still be running 10K+. In terms of keeping strength up, having a regular pattern of exercise can really help, but you need to enjoy it too.

Re diet, I seem to know a number of vegetarians that lack energy at the moment as they're getting older, more so than typical omnivores. If you can, get some meat in your diet, and if not then get some supplements or at the very least re-evaluate the value in what you eat.
 
omens said:
Diet is good. Exercise - I do treadmill running twice a week, and lift weights 3-4 times a week.
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If you can do the exercise, there's nothing wrong with you. However, I wouldn't consider doing it on a baked potato, nuts and lettuce leaves.
Also consider your hamster wheel lifestyle, it may be deadening your brain.
 
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