Completely reinventing your body over your late 30s...

Not just some weight loss, but a big weight loss and completely making over your body, over 38, or even over 40. Is it possible? Of all the body makeovers I see on television or in magazines, including Men's Health, I never see any men (or women) who've made over their bodies. I don't want information about Weight Watchers or Jenny, etc. etc., I'm talking a complete body makeover, without surgery. Is it common? Can you do it? I've failed myself.

No, it is not common. Yes it can be done but it requires changing everything. Eating, drinking exercising, sleeping. Every aspect of your life will be work. Is it worth it? It is if you want to get laid by other hot guys.
R1, do you speak from experience?
As R1 said, of course it can be done. But it requires tons of motivation and a complete change in how you live your life. It is worth it if you care about your health. You only have one body, one life. You should make yourself feel the best you can. You'll have more energy, feel happier, be sick less often.
It is always possible. Don't expect the results to be quick as when you were a teen.
Yes. You will have to be dedicated enough to workout A LOT.
Goddamn this makes me hopeful. Kadooz. op!
Yes I speak from experience, but not in my late 30's my early 30's.
I'm thinking of taking two weeks off from work to jump start myself, but don't have a plan yet. I've considered this for two years, I think I'm ready but it's a mountain I'm not sure I'll be able to climb. If I can't do it, I suppose I'll give up on it all but, we'll see. Would appreciate any first hand experiences from anyone.
op
1200 calories/day, OP. It works.
Its not impossible. I am 47 and I have a very thick and beefy body, thick legs, big ass, etc. Always have been muscular and worked out a lot, but with that kind of body comes the thick waist that you just cant get rid of..I used to play rugby so that thick body always helped(doesnt help that I love my beer and my food and Im not going to give that up.) This last year I changed my workout a bit just to see what it would produce...started eating a lot more protein (shakes, etc) and upped the cardio (Which I freakin hate.)I also found in the past the more cardio I would loose muscle mass and get "skinnier," but my gut stayed the same. The thing that really changed my body is when I started doing high intensity cardio (short bursts of speed, longer period of down, cycle it over and over) only two times a week for 20 minutes. Amazing, I didnt loose muscle, but got more"cut," and have started to actually have my abs show (probably for the first time since I was three.) I know it wont last, (secret is to change the routine up) but what the hell, it is nice to know you can do at this age.
Yes, it is possible, but R1 is correct this takes a great deal of dedication and discipline because it is a lot harder to whip your body in shape and "make it over" after you are 40. As R4 said, the body of a 40-year-old will not respond the same way that the body of a 19-year-old will. Anyone who hopes to do this rapidly is in for a great deal disappointment. And, you have to be realistic. You can erase many of the sins of the past in terms of what you did (or didn't do), ate, and drank, but you are not likely going to be erase all of them.
In general terms it does take a lot more commitment to physically reinvent yourself in your late 30s and early 40s (and older). Most importantly drink a lot of water and moistorize. Avoid too much sun exposure. A good physician and trainer will be of great help. Appropiate dress sense (no, you are no longer able to pull off Abercrombie and Fitch wear). Don't underestimate the attraction power of dogs and their owners in parks.
Lipo
You can do it. If you are dedicated and write your progress down you will see it's not as difficult as you thought. Getting the proper nutrition will actually be your hardest task. OP, you are taking the wrong approach. You have the idea NOW so you need to start NOW. Whatever excercise you can do now you should. Write it down and appreciate that you started. Tomorrow do a little more. Do your research on work outs and proper diets day by day. Slowly do more and eventually you will be able to handle a full work out and diet regime. Weighttrainer.net has a couple calculators you can use to see what your natural potential is. Go to the link below for a large resource on training.
http://www.exrx.net/
Oh, poor deluded OP. Of course it might be possible. But after 35, no one is looking at you anyway.
hawt young gym boi w/slim jacked bod
"Most importantly drink a lot of water and moistorize" LOL.... don't forget the cucumber slices.
I know several women (all of them have kids and wanted to get back in shape) who have had great changes to their bodies using the Body for Life system. I think it's 20 minutes interval cardio three times a week, lifting weights three times a week and eating small portions of protein and carbs every 2-3 hours.
According to health magazines and the cosmetic industry there are differences between male and female fitness and beauty regimens.
Absolutely. I am in my 50s, presently not in great shape, but I was in the very best shape of my life in my early and mid 40s, buff, cut, and very low body fat. I found it quite easy at that time to maintain top physical condition. Alas, those days are no longer. Now it is very difficult.
OP, I'm 58, and I have re-invented my body to look 19 - or at least, so I've told countless times. This is my regime: I work out 6-7 days a week - 2hrs I drink lots of water I eat very healthy I do not drink liquor or alchohol I do not smoke I use Advanced Wrinkly Repair by Neutrogena I use fake tanner: Medium/Tan "Sublime Bronze" by LO'Real I use SPF 70 everyday - twice a day This is all I do, and I get confused for 19, or a hot frat guy non-stop. Just last night at the gym for example, this kid asked if I played hockey for a rival high school team. I blushed and said, "Nah, brah. Wasn't me." Good luck, bro.
LOL R20!
"I think it's 20 minutes interval cardio three times a week, lifting weights three times a week and eating small portions of protein and carbs every 2-3 hours." That's the regime I was talking about.. you do the intervals at the very top of your heart rate, and then bring it back down to normal, etc Three times a week is a bit much if you really kick ass when you are doing it, but maybe that's just me. I really haven't changed my diet that much (except for more protein) and still drink like a fish and still it works. I think its hard for people as you don't really loose pounds as much as you tighten up and your clothes fit better and you look good. Some people need the scale to tell them what they want to hear.
[quote]Yes I speak from experience, but not in my late 30's my early 30's. Then you don't speak from experience, since your experience doesn't match the OP's question.
Yes, it is at any age, but results may vary. If you want to do it, find reliable coaching and reliable trainers. Take up at least one active sport that you actually enjoy doing. Use peer reviewed science and university or better quality coaching to guide your training instead of relying the nonsense available on-line. Eat only healthy foods. Enjoy a little wine, not a lot, with meals. Don't worry about whatever wrinkles that you earned. They aren't going away.
Age%2061
I've been thinking about this today and I don't think it's possible for all WOMEN. Men have a better shot of acheiving this than women due to titties, pregnancy etc. U just can't reshape some of that shit.
R20, have we met?
Tom Bianchi
Found this thread during a Google search and remember it from many months back. Not the OP but hoping someone would have chimed in on OP's question, someone who really reinvented his/her body over the age of 40 without surgery. Still wondering how possible and easily achievable this might me.
OP, lookup Body For Life.
Call Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Of course you can do it. Our bodies are simple machines, when you break it down. Calories in, calories out. Work out to help with that process as well as to keep your body toned (or muscular if that's what you want). It will take time, discipline, and tons of sweat and a few tears. But do it. Why not?
I don'think that the intern that was murdered--Chandra Levy--was a random event by a rapist. I could be wrong, though. Never jog at night, or in isolated areas. And don't go out running in other countries--some cultures DO regard a single woman running as a rape game. Overall, I think guys just appreciate athletic women and want to talk with them. It's not an insult if a guy wants to get to know you, the woman jogger. Anywhoo, the latest news is that jogging is TERRIBLE for women and extremely aging to the face and bones. Women aren't meant to run long distances. Throughout history, women stayed home and tended to the fields and children. They never ran anywhere. women's bodies are built for strength, not for speed.
Gospel man
Op, you need to have a goal to reach. Pick a sport to add to your new lifestyle. Say a triathlon/marathon. Then you are changing your lifestyle to excel in that area. Then you will eat and train like a professional athlete. Changes your mindset and once you succeed you will want to do another and another. It's not to late.
Several years ago, a 40-years old woman I worked with lost 80 lbs and went from being a couch potato to a runner/yoga enthusiast. She really didn't start working out until halfway through her weight loss (which took less than a year). She started walking on a treadmill for an hour a day, eventually led up to running. I saw her recently and her body is completely different from how it used to be. Not just thinner, she has very ropey looking, defined muscles. Her chest bones (ribs?) are sticking out through her skin where her cleavage used to be. Her throat even looks ropey and kind of boney. I think she's replaced baking and eating with running and doing yoga. She is planning to run the NYC marathon this year. She's healthy now but I think she looked nicer a bit softer.
I did it at age 47, dropping a significant amount of weight by eating right, regular cardio, and weight training. I've struggled a couple of times since to maintain but I'm still doing well today, regularly jogging five miles to work. The key is to not think of this as a temporary program. The only way to make this work is to think of this as a permanent lifestyle change. With anything you think of trying, if you can't envision yourself doing it for 30 years, just don't do it (e.g., a 1200-calorie diet). Think small changes rather than large ones; long timeframes rather than short ones.
Is R20 just joking or extremely delusional?
Brah
I waited too long OP. It was always easy to lose 30 or 50 pounds back in the day. But this last years, now that I'm in my fifties, I've struggled all year and still barely lost 20. And this morning I woke up with leathery hands and an age spot on my baby soft face.
The diet is more expensive than it was in my 30s. It really doesn't require more time to cook vs. carry-out, but there is more clean-up. Money-wise, the price of lean food has sky rocketed. It also takes planning. I sometimes have to eat chicken twice in one day just to get it out of the fucking refrigerator. I put my microwave in jail so I wouldn't waste money on frozen food. In my teens, I went from 210 to 140. Zero definition, btw. I kept a 140-145 range for ten years. Then I began drinking and ballooned up to 175 which is heavy for a 5'6" guy. At 34, I began working out and eating my own cooking; I went from 175 to 158. My waist was a real 29 and my suit size was 42 short. I dropped all carbs and people began asking if I was on meth. I didn't give a fuck because I had abs and visible groin veins for the first time in my life. At 42, I ballooned back to 170 - suburban living and driving everywhere. I decided to try synthetic weed. That lasted about two months. When I stopped, I freaked out and dropped 25 pounds over the course of a month. I did a shitload of cardio and dropped most of the resistance training. Now, I weigh 167 again. My stumpy legs no longer have the tone they once possessed. I've had to go back to P90. Tony Horton can kiss my hairy hole. My arms are good and the pecs are on their way. My gut isn't bad, but the back and hip fat annoy me.
Starting%20up%20that%20hill%20again%20at%2045
R10 did you actually have loose muscle mass or did you lose muscle mass? Learn the difference between the two words please.
The Body for Life guy got his body from steroids.
From R33: [quote]I saw her recently and her body is completely different from how it used to be. Not just thinner, she has very ropey looking, defined muscles. Her chest bones (ribs?) are sticking out through her skin where her cleavage used to be. Her throat even looks ropey and kind of boney. I think she's replaced baking and eating with running and doing yoga. She is planning to run the NYC marathon this year. She's healthy now but I think she looked nicer a bit softer. Not too surprising, because it becomes very difficult to lose weight and keep the right proportion of fat to help make up for the loss of collagen and skin elasticity as we age. And, it is probably harder for women than men. Tricky, but not impossible. And some of that depends on your genetic and environmental factors as well. I know a woman in her early 60s who exercises daily; she runs and does yoga and pilates. She eats a very healthy diet (lean protein, lots of vegetables and fruit). She never smoked and she doesn't drink more than an occasional glass of wine. And she too has a very "bony" look to her with wrinkles that are more pronounced than they should be for her age.
Yes, it's possible. I'm 57 and lost 20 lbs. since May 1. Lots of exxercise and careful eating.
I did it at 57....I was about 50 lbs overweight....I went on Weight Watchers...lost it. I always went to the gym but actually lessened my routine because I knew I'd do it and be consistent...my muscles firmed up and I was more cut than I ever was....but now it is still an over 60 body but my weight has been maintained because I haven permanently changed my eating habits. Muscles are still better than before and I look great for my age. I put a little weight back on because as many friends said I looked gaunt...with 10 lbs my face filled out a little and I look a lot better. It can be done with dedication...and the results are a healthier you.
Mrs.%20Jesus%20
It shouldn't surprise me but it's kind of shocking what bad attitudes most of you have in regards to your ability to effect change. You can do anything you want. It seems Americans are not only affected by the urge to binge and eat poorly (I guess as comfort for their unsatisfying lives) but have also internalised the idea that it's far too hard to change, be healthy and get fit. I mean, pretending that your life is over without any possibility of change in your late 30's is ridiculous. You have to accept who you are in terms of body type, your ability to gain or loss weight, etc., but you can absolutely become your best self, the absolute best you can be. The biggest challenge, aside from all this negative naysaying, is this idea that the only weight loss pursuing is rapid weight loss. That's probably the worst plan to pursue in any circumstance. Why does it have to be so fast? What's the hurry? The way to effect long-lasting change in your life is lay the groundwork, lose weight properly, really change your habits and body composition, as you claim you wish to do. I can't understand why, if that is what you want to accomplish, you're sitting on the fence wondering whether it's a worthwhile pursuit. It's your life, your health, your body. Why wouldn't you want to do it? Every day you exercise and eat right you're better off than you were the day before and that's the only progress that should concern you. Taking two weeks off work to get started? These changes would be for life, mate. You think you're going to make sufficient progress in two weeks? Get over yourself and realise that isolating this goal is...I don't even understand what you're on about. This is your life, these efforts and activities should be integrated into your daily life. Sounds like you're just trying to make it harder than it ever would be so you can keep talking yourself out of it. There are several components required here for success: exercise, nutrition that supports your training and your goals, supplemental nutrition (not fat burners and other nonsense), sorting out your digestion which is probably fucked, recovery and getting enough sleep and guidance in the form of a trainer. Don't even focus on the results - focus on doing the work. Yes, you can change your body but more importantly you can change your health, both physical and mental, and realise that you're capable of so much more than you think. You can build confidence, how you present yourself and how you interact with the world. And yes, all of that will change what you're capable of and what you perceive your future to be. Good luck.
As others have written, of course it is possible. Up the cardio intensity. Cut the junk food, refined sugars and alcohol out of your diet! And whenever possible...walk. If you're a couch potato, cut the cable, and go out. Enjoy the great outdoors. Believe me, you're not going to regret having missed an episode of whatever show on your deathbed. You will regret not taking better care of yourself at 40.
BonniePrinceCharlie
Is this possible when you're 44? Can you lose 90-100 lbs??
Yes!
That's interesting, R33. I'm 46 and have 30 pounds to lose. I'm 5'4 and weighed about 120 in my 20s, but my guess is I'm going to need 10 extra pounds to keep my face from looking gaunt. Catherine Deneuve was right, and I'm fine with my butt being a little big. I'm going to try Callanetics, because it tends to make you look a bit thinner than you are, so I can keep a softer look. I'm hoping that and eating low carb with quite a bit of fat will keep me from looking bony. I don't care about being buff or having Madonna ropey arms. I just want to look good.
This is inspiring
I will be 40 this month. My body has looked bad since 33 and I've tried a lot of things. Four months ago i started interval training and I've seen results and lost 20 pounds, but my body I getting more straight up and down. I want less waist and more ass and I really don't know if it's possible at this point.
You can do it through changes in your eating, exercise, and driving habits. Eating: Decrease all meal portions by 1/3. Do not eat in front of TV or computer. Give FULL concentration to the food you are eating. Learn to enjoy every single bite of food and don't let your mind wander after you've eaten three or four bites. Exercise: Learn to push away from the dining table before reaching for additional food. Walk, but NEVER walk into a fast food restaurant. Driving: Never drive your car to a drive-up window that dispenses food. Using the above rules, I lost 60 lbs. with ease several years ago. After maintaining the weight loss for three years, I donated all my fat clothes. For excercise, I walk, swim, and sometimes jog on the beach to keep in shape.
R49, training is not like ordering something off a menu. You need to work every muscle group in order to develop good proportion. Ignoring one muscle group over others does not build a physique. You want more ass? Do they have watt bikes at your gym or some other proper cycling equipment? Start cycling. You can do 10 or 15 minutes after weight training - great way to end a workout. Or do a full-on interval training of high resistance, high intensity sets of your fastest 500m, then rest for 2 minutes, then another interval, etc. Start with 8 sets, work up to 10 - 12, then back down to 8 sets, just keep the intensity up. If you don't have an ass after that, you're never going to have one. Good luck.
http://wattbike.com/uk/
I was in great shape my whole life until I hit 42, then I put on a ton of weight due to just being lazy. Is it over for me? Can I snap back or have I dug myself a hole?
TRX type training is really good too. There are so many things you can do, it's silly/not right to say that you've tried everything. Commit. Work with a trainer for a while, really push yourself. You'll learn so much about your physique and well being and what you can do to further your goals. Even if you only work with someone for 6 - 8 weeks, it's worth it. Someone who can take you through the process of not just effecting change in one body part but activating all of your muscle groups so they work together for optimal strength and form. That's a life changer. There's so much more to exercise/training than bicep curls and running in place.
Yes you cantotally change your body n your forties. Even you ladies can do it as well--so don't give up! No alcohol + walking + less sugar + weight training + lots and lots of healthy food = gorgeous new you! Also, water with a little lemon juice in it works wonders.
R52, it's never over. Every day you exercise and take better care of yourself is an improvement. Every day you exercise, you're making progress.
Hi, yes it is possible and yes there is proof - Tosca Reno. She is the author of the Eat Clean Diet. She went through a nasty divorce after 20 years of marriage. She was over weight, frumpy and unhappy (and nearing 40 at the time). She started dedicating herself and applying herself to lifting weights and eating clean. Within a year she was on a stage competing as a fitness model and she married a wonderful man, Robert Kennedy (creator if Musclemag and Oxygen Magazines). So yes - it is possible. She is in her 50s now I believe and still competing.
It's not impossible. I am 47 and I have a very thick and beefy body, thick legs, big ass, etc. Always have been muscular and worked out a lot, but with that kind of body comes the thick waist that you just can't get rid of... I used to play rugby so that thick body always helped (doesn't help that I love my beer and my food and I'm not going to give that up.) This last year, it all changed when I read an article about Bears. It was as if a light bulb had gone off over my head...
I'm trying right now. I'm 41 and am going to the gym for the first time in my life, albeit with a trainer. It's only been five weeks, but so far so good. No major change in my body, although I have gained weight. That makes me nervous, but the trainer is fine with it. The good news is that I actually enjoy going. I never thought that was possible.