The question we want to answer today is why men change after 40. Are we just going through a phase? What does this mean? How does this happen? Is there something wrong with us when we reach our 40s?
The average man starts to lose his hair around 30, and he loses muscle mass at a rate of 2% per year. By the time he reaches 50, he has lost 20 pounds of muscle and gained 15 pounds of fat. And by the time he hits 60, he looks older than his actual age.
Men who stay fit and eat well enjoy better health and longer lives. They also experience fewer illnesses and live longer than those who don’t exercise regularly. This is why fitness experts recommend that men should aim to build strength and endurance through regular exercise.
A midlife crisis isn’t always a negative thing. Some experts believe it can lead to positive change in our lives. There are many different definitions for what constitutes a midlife crisis. Some say it occurs between ages 30 and 50, while another group says it begins at age 35. For most men, there’s nothing wrong with having one.
Why Men Change After 40?
Men may experience changes in their bodies after they reach 40 years old. Some of these changes include a decrease in testosterone levels, changes in the prostate gland, hair loss, or/and weight gain. These changes are often referred to as “middle age.”
A midlife crisis is a popular way of describing a sudden shift in mood and attitude toward oneself. Most commonly associated with men entering middle age, a midlife crisis is often characterized by buying a new car, moving out of the family home, changing jobs or relationships, etc.
Men are prone to midlife crises when they reach their mid-thirties or forties. At this age, many men feel like they’ve hit rock bottom and wonder if something might be better for them. Research shows that men who experience these “midlife crises” often become happier later in life.
Is there such a thing as male menopause?
Male menopause (also known as andropause), or low testosterone syndrome, is an unhelpful phrase sometimes used in the media to describe the symptoms associated with lower testosterone levels in older men.
While some people believe that the symptoms are caused by a sudden drop in testosterone levels in middle age, this is not true. Testosterone levels decrease steadily, at about 2% per year, from around 30 to 40.
However, this does not mean that you suddenly become infertile or develop prostate cancer.
Although testosterone levels fall as men grow old, the decline is steady and gradual, unlike the sharp drops experienced during female menopause, which happens abruptly. There is no evidence that testosterone levels affect sexual desire or performance in older men.
A testosterone deficiency that develops later in life, known in lay terms as late-onset Hypogonadism, is sometimes responsible for the symptoms. Still, in most cases, the symptoms are unrelated to hormones.
Exposing the male menopause myth
Menopause is often associated with female hormonal changes, such as hot flashes, mood swings,s and night sweats. But no scientific evidence supports the claim that men experience similar symptoms. Most men do not go through the same physical changes as women during perimenopause and menopause.
The average age of onset for menopause is 51, while it typically occurs around 45 for women. However, the transition into menopause does vary based on factors like genetics and lifestyle choices. For example, some people start experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms earlier than others.
For those already experiencing menopausal symptoms, hormone therapy is still recommended. This includes estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), progesterone, and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). TRT is usually used for treating men with low levels of naturally occurring testosterone.
While many doctors believe ERT and TRT are safe for both sexes, risks are involved. Women taking hormones could develop breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots. Men taking hormones could increase the risk of prostate cancer.
There are also side effects associated with TRT. These include increased hair growth, acne, oily skin, and weight gain. Some men also report having erectile dysfunction.
In addition to treatment options, there are ways you can manage your symptoms. Exercise regularly, eat healthy food, and avoid smoking. If you suffer from anxiety, talk to your doctor about medication.
Recognizing low testosterone levels
Low testosterone levels are expected among older men. Symptoms associated with low testosterone don’t necessarily indicate low testosterone.
Symptoms such as decreased sex drive, erections, fatigue, loss of strength, depression, memory problems, and reduced bone mass could mean you have another medical problem.
A blood test is needed to determine whether low testosterone levels are present. If you experience these symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing your testosterone level.
What Is A Midlife Crisis?
A midlife crisis occurs when someone experiences a sudden change in life circumstances that causes them to feel they need to make a significant change in their lifestyle. This could include buying a sports car, moving into a bigger house, getting married again, having children, etc.
What Causes A Midlife Crisis?
Men are prone to feeling like they missed out on significant milestones in life because they didn’t grow up fast enough. But it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. You have a lot of catching up to do.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait until you are over 40 to experience a midlife crisis. Many people start experiencing one around 30.
You probably spent most of your 20s working toward financial security for yourself and your family. Now that your kids are older, you want to spend more time with them.
But you can’t afford to take off work or stop paying bills. So you find yourself doing things you never imagined you’d have to do.
For example, you might buy a car that costs $30,000. Or you might move into a bigger house. Or maybe you even decide to change careers.
My intake on this is that you should embrace your midlife crisis. If possible, don’t try to take it and yourself too seriously. Start learning that new language you always wanted to know. Make those “silly” changes in your life.
Pick up that old guitar and start practicing. Buy that sports car if your finances (and wife) let you, and most importantly, take care of your family and start living healthy if you already didn’t.
Learn how to cook healthily for yourself and your family. Sign yourself up for a gym membership and start working out. By doing these “midlife crisis” things, you’re creating a win/win situation.
Changes in Metabolism
Men lose about 10% of resting metabolism after 40, and women don’t lose any resting metabolic activity until menopause. And while we know that our metabolism slows down as we age, it isn’t clear how much of a difference there is.
Women don’t lose anything until menopause. A study published today in Cell Metabolism found that men lost about 10% of their resting energy expenditure when they were younger. This means that men and women are metabolically different at every stage of life.
The researchers used data from over 2,300 people to find out what happens to metabolism as we age. They looked at people aged 20 to 90 and compared them to each other based on gender and whether they were overweight or obese.
When they did that, they could see that men lost about 10% of their metabolism after 40 and that women didn’t lose any resting metabolism activity until menopause began.
After menopause, women’s metabolism slowed down even further, but not enough to compensate for the loss during their reproductive years.
While the study doesn’t explain why men lose more energy than women, it does show that men and women are very different metabolically. In addition to being different at every stage, men and women also respond differently to exercise and diet.
If you’re trying to lose weight, you might want to start sooner for men. For example, women tend to burn more fat when they exercise, whereas men burn more calories overall. So, if you’re trying to maintain your current body mass index (BMI), you might consider starting a workout routine earlier for women.
Strength changes
The human body loses strength as we age. But it doesn’t mean you have to accept being weak. Strength training helps build lean muscle tissue, which burns calories even while you sleep. And it boosts your metabolism, helping you lose weight and keep it off.
Metabolism drops dramatically after 40. Most people gain weight after 40 — because they don’t exercise enough.
Resistance training builds lean muscle mass. Lean muscle tissue burns fat even while you’re asleep. So resistance training helps burn belly fat.
Short rest intervals are essential to building muscle. If you do three sets of 10 reps per set, you’ll give your muscles plenty of time to repair themselves.
Growth hormone stimulates your body to make new muscle cells. These cells grow and multiply, increasing your muscle mass.
Your body uses more energy to stay alive. A bigger body needs more energy. You burn more calories during the day. Increased muscle mass raises your resting metabolic rate.
Does Men’s Exercise Change After Forty?
Men, after the age of forty, experience a significant decrease in their physical fitness. They are less likely to participate in regular physical activity and are more likely to become obese.
When men reach the age of 40, their testosterone level begins to drop. Testosterone is responsible for increased bone density, improved muscle mass, and better overall body composition.
In addition, men begin losing lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass provides the energy needed for daily activities. Without proper amounts of muscle tissue, men are less able to perform everyday tasks such as walking up stairs, climbing ladders, lifting heavy objects, etc.
To prevent all this decrease in physical fitness, you should follow a healthy diet and start working out. You need a good fitness program with low-impact cardio exercises and strength workouts.
In many blog posts, I explain exactly how to eat and exercise to stay or become as healthy as ever, even after 40.
What should your training program after 40 look like?
For muscle hypertrophy, the specific strength training parameter is between 67 to 80 percent of one repetition maximum (1RM), 30-90 seconds rest between sets, and four to six sets. 1RM means One Rep Max, the maximum weight someone can lift once with the correct form.
A person can lift for 8-12 repetitions at 67%-80 % of one repetition maximum (1RM). The component is the longer rest interval between sets. If you’re doing 30 to 90-second rest intervals, you’re not giving your muscles enough time to recover between sets fully.
This causes the anaerobic lactate byproduct. More sets mean more lactic acid accumulates in the muscles.
Men over 40 should learn to include strength training exercises focusing on muscle hypertrophy in their exercise regimens. The increased muscle mass increases resting metabolism and testosterone and contradicts obesity, making people healthier.
Strength training can help counteract the declines that men have to deal with as they get older.
As I mentioned, combine this strength training with a healthy diet plan. Add some cardio and stretching to your fitness plan, and you’ll be fit in no time.
FAQ’S Corner
How long does a midlife crisis in men last?
A male midlife crisis lasts, on average, around 5 years, depending on how you cope with it. Embracing your midlife crisis, not taking yourself too seriously all the time, and meditation will help you get through your midlife crisis faster.
How to fix male menopause?
Besides relaxation exercises and meditation, you can undergo Testosterone Replacement Therapy. (TRT), to help improve your testosterone levels.
Conclusion
Now we know why men change after 40.
Men tend to change after 40. A couple of the emotional symptoms are feeling no longer young and vibrant, and they want to live life to its fullest.
They know they’ll die someday and want to spend as much time as possible doing the things they love.
So if you’re a man who wants to stay young and energetic or a woman who wants to look her best, here are some simple steps you can take to help you achieve your goal.
First, you need to accept that aging happens. Midlife crisis or not! There’s nothing you can do about it, so instead of focusing on the negative aspects of growing older, focus on the positive ones.
For example, you’ll probably notice that your memory is improving over time, which means that you’re learning new things and retaining information from past experiences. That’s a pretty remarkable side effect of growing old!
Second, you need to embrace your midlife crisis. Don’t let society dictate how you act or dress. Instead, decide what you like and don’t like, and follow through on that decision.
Finally, it would be best if you kept your priorities straight. When you were younger, you had plenty of energy and time to devote to hobbies and activities. Now, after 40, you have less free time than ever before. Make sure you use your remaining hours wisely and spend them doing what you care about.
I hope you have enjoyed this article and if you have any comments or questions, please drop them in the comment section below.
