The phrase \u201cmid-life crisis\u201d wasn\u2019t coined to describe fat, bald men in their 40\u2019s who purchase a BMW.<\/strong><\/p>\n (Or a hooker\u2026\u2026)<\/p>\n The phrase \u201cmid-life crisis\u201d was coined to describe the point where most adults look around at their lives and collectively inquire\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n Is this it?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n With your vibrant youth becoming smaller and smaller in your rear-view mirror, your mid-30\u2019s can be a troublesome time.<\/p>\n You may have young kids who are slowly turning into adolescents, sucking the energy and life directly out of your soul.<\/p>\n You may have had a few promotions by now and as a result have a job which renders you a corporate zombie for 60+ hours each week.<\/p>\n Your risk-taking, adventurous, out-all-night early 20\u2019s seem like a facade. These days, you prefer \u201cNetflix and Chill\u201d to pretty much anything.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not a euphemism for sex, either \u2013 you actually want to watch Netflix, chill out, and go to bed at 9:30<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t mean your fitness levels need to take a hit, however.<\/p>\n Many of our successful transformations<\/a> and our online clients<\/a> are in their mid-30\u2019s and beyond.<\/strong><\/p>\n\r\n EDITORS NOTE:<\/strong> Knowing what and how much to eat for weight loss is critical towards your success.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure how to calculate your calories in order to burn fat, Get Your Free Fat Burning Calorie Calculator For Quick Weight Loss & Burn More Fat Than You Thought Possible In 30 Days=> Fat Burning Calculator<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n But a half-assed approach will no longer work. You can\u2019t simply avoid a few carbs, hit the pavement a few times each week and watch the fat melt from your mid-section any more.<\/p>\n All that nonsense from your MLM friends on Facebook? It might help a bit.<\/p>\n Deep down inside, however, you know jumping around to Team Beachbody DVDs a few times each week probably won\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to get serious in your mid-30\u2019s if you want to get some serious results.<\/p>\n So, how do we make your 40’s count?<\/p>\n How do we make this crazy and tumultuous time the most productive time it can be and set us up for long term health and longevity from here on out?<\/p>\n Here are a few recommendations to begin to take control of your expanding waistline, and make you a stronger person than ever before.<\/p>\n by: Jason Helmes<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/a>The relative ease of our lives and the high likelihood that you have an office job requiring little physical activity makes strength training a must.<\/p>\n Picking up a barbell, dumbbells, or even nautilus machines and striving to gain strength during this time will set you up for maintaining your muscle mass as you age.<\/p>\n Sure, cardio is great for the heart and should be included in your training regimen, but to preserve and (possibly) build the muscle you have, you need to be doing a bit more than jogging.<\/p>\n If you are not exactly sure what kind of training you should be doing, here’s What Guys Over 40 Are Doing To Get Ripped<\/a><\/p>\n As a bonus, when your kids see you becoming a stronger version of yourself, you\u2019ll be setting an excellent example for them to follow.<\/p>\n <\/a>Your days of pulling all-nighters should be firmly in your past.<\/p>\n In your 40’s, hangovers aren\u2019t just one-day affairs.<\/p>\n A good drinking session can easily set you back a good 3-4 days before you fully recover.<\/p>\n If you consistently drink to get drunk, it\u2019s time to re-evaluate yourself and your priorities.<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone goes through various phases in life. Your 20\u2019s were likely a time for bar trips and night clubs.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re still stuck in that mindset, and you\u2019re having trouble getting the results you want, eliminating (or at least cutting back) on your drinking is an easy way to improve your workouts, enhance your recovery, and drop extra calories (and likely pounds) quickly.<\/p>\n <\/a>We all know how important it is to get our solid 8 hours of sleep each night.<\/p>\n We also all know how difficult it can be to make those 8 hours of sleep quality and uninterrupted.<\/p>\n Keep your smartphones out of the bedroom, and make reading a book a priority for the last half-hour of your time awake.<\/p>\n Supplement with some zinc, melatonin, and magnesium to give your sleep a much deeper and potent quality.<\/p>\n Make your room cool and dark, and purchase some high quality sheets.<\/p>\n And buy a muzzle for each of your children.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be the best $10 you\u2019ll ever spend.<\/p>\n <\/a>It\u2019s tough to get to the gym 3 times per week with a busy work schedule.<\/p>\n There are always tasks and responsibilities which can take you away from your workouts.<\/p>\n Make your workouts non-negotiable.<\/strong><\/p>\n To properly train, you need to be making progress on a regular basis.<\/p>\n It\u2019s nearly impossible to make proper progress without being in the gym religiously.<\/p>\n Training consistently will improve your mood, your confidence, and cause a ripple effect into all other aspects of your life.<\/p>\n The time you spend in the gym is an investment in your future. In order for it to provide you with dividends, you need to be a regular contributor.<\/p>\n <\/a>With the wisdom you have acquired in your life so far, you should understand what it will take in order for you to make positive changes.<\/p>\n Are you aware of what your body is capable of?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve never pushed yourself to the limit in your workouts, you\u2019ll never realize your full potential.<\/p>\n In order for you to make a transformation, you must provide yourself with enough of a stimulus to force adaptive, physical changes.<\/p>\n Warm up properly, be sure to show good form, and don\u2019t do anything which could cause injury \u2013 but be sure you\u2019re giving it all you\u2019ve got during your training sessions.<\/p>\n <\/a>In your 40’s, you are probably finding out your metabolism is changing.<\/p>\n Foods you used to pound back without any adverse effects are now causing digestive issues, energy lulls, and poor performance in general.<\/p>\n You should be eating whole foods, ample produce, and supplementing properly.<\/p>\n Avoid the takeout nonsense, learn how to cook, and make eating real foods \u2013 like a true grown-up \u2013 a priority.<\/p>\n Dining out is for social events and special occasions.<\/p>\n Every diet in the world that actually works emphasizes eating real food.<\/p>\n That alone should tell you something.<\/p>\n <\/a>Admittedly, this could be the most difficult item on this list.<\/p>\n In your 40’s, you\u2019re nearing the time of your life where your earnings potential is rapidly rising.<\/p>\n As a result, often your work responsibilities will increase as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your boss will never tell you to work less hours or take on less responsibilities.<\/p>\n If you always say \u201cYes\u201d, you may be setting yourself up for burnout and unwarranted stress.<\/p>\n Looking back on your life, you\u2019re far more likely to wish you had worked less and spent more time enjoying the life you had created for yourself.<\/p>\n Spend time with your loved ones, reflect and enjoy the fruits of your labor, and laugh often with those you are closest to.<\/p>\n <\/a>If you\u2019re still using the scale as the only means of measuring your progress, it\u2019s time to jump into the 21st century.<\/p>\n Scales are notoriously faulty for recording your progress.<\/strong><\/p>\n Take pictures on a regular basis wearing the same clothing and in the same lighting.<\/p>\n Measure your waistline, your extremities, and your hips each week.<\/p>\n Be aware that fluctuations are normal. View your progress in one-month chunks instead of worrying about day-to-day, or even week-to-week variances.<\/p>\n True progress takes years, not months. Keep a level head and push on. If you\u2019re consistent with your diet, your training, and your recovery, you\u2019re likely making solid progress.<\/p>\n But you\u2019ll never see it if you\u2019re not recording it effectively.<\/p>\n <\/a>Same as with your progress, your workouts need to be quantified and analyzed.<\/p>\n Do you have people in your gym that don\u2019t write their workouts down?<\/p>\n Over the years, they often stagnate in progress.<\/p>\n Are you progressing over time? The easiest way to ensure you are progressing is to write down what you\u2019re doing on a regular basis.<\/p>\n Keep a notebook, a Post-It note, or record them on your phone.<\/strong><\/p>\n And after you do that…<\/p>\n <\/a>When you walk into the gym, you should have a plan.<\/p>\n You should know exactly what you will be doing \u2013 and you should know exactly what your goal is.<\/p>\n Writing down your training sessions ensures that your goal will be simple and straight forward.<\/p>\n Beat the numbers from your last session.<\/p>\n This might mean do the same workout with more weight, do a few more reps than last time, or include a couple of extra sets to your workout.<\/p>\n It may also mean doing the same workout with shorter rest periods.<\/p>\n No matter the method for progressive overload, if you\u2019re consistently beating your training log, you\u2019re consistently improving.<\/p>\n Which is pretty much the whole idea.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your 40’s can be what you make of them.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t take the bull by the horns and prioritize your health and well-being, your health issues will likely catch up to you soon.<\/p>\n Start by making positive decisions a priority and begin creating good habits you can use for the rest of your life.<\/p>\nGetting The Most Out Of Your 40’s and Beyond<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Embrace Strength Training<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Control Your Drinking<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Get Your Sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Stop Skipping Workouts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Push Yourself Harder<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Eat Like An Adult<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Have A Work-Life Balance<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Properly Record Your Progress<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Keep Track Of Your Workouts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Beat Your Training Log Every Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Call To Action<\/strong><\/h3>\n