5 Things I Wish I Knew About Fitness at 40

I didn’t expect the weight to creep up the way it did.

I didn’t think much of it at first. A few pounds here and there. My clothes fitting a little tighter. I figured it was just part of being in my 40s. Everyone said this was normal—“welcome to menopause,” right?But deep down, I didn’t feel like myself. And I wasn’t ready to just accept it.So I started paying attention. Not to how I looked, but to how I felt. My energy was off. I was tired. My workouts weren’t working the way they used to. And the truth? I had no idea how much my body had changed—and how much I’d need to change with it.Here’s what helped.

I stopped doing what used to work.

In my 30s, I could skip a few meals and run on caffeine. Now? That only made things worse. What I needed wasn’t less food or more cardio. It was a better plan. A smarter one.I started strength training regularly—nothing crazy, just a few days a week at home with dumbbells. I focused on form, consistency, and building muscle instead of burning calories.And I felt stronger. Not just physically, but in general. More grounded. More capable.

I got real about recovery.

I stopped pushing through fatigue. If I was tired, I rested. If I didn’t sleep well, I gave myself grace.Turns out, sleep and stress matter just as much as workouts and food. Probably more.

I’m not saying it was fast or easy.

But it was possible.If you’re in this season of life and wondering if it’s too late to feel good again—it’s not. You don’t need a total reset. You just need a better strategy that meets you where you are.And you’re allowed to take your time.Let me know if you want a follow-up post on what I ate during this season or what a week of workouts looked like—I’m happy to share.

I gave up perfection.

This was the biggest shift. I used to think I had to do everything “right” to see progress. But what actually worked? Showing up consistently, even when it wasn’t perfect.I didn’t overhaul my life. I didn’t follow a strict plan. I just made a few changes, stuck with them, and trusted my body to respond.