Your 40s Are a Wake-Up Call

Why Your Body Won’t Forgive You Forever

Ever wonder why older people always talk about their bowel movements? I used to shrug it off and laugh. Now, at 69, I get it. Back in my 40s, when my gallbladder decided to throw a fit and demanded removal, when diverticulitis showed up uninvited, when I gained 40 lbs by eating the same junk I ate when I was in my 20’s, when my achilles tendon blew out playing the game of tennis I once loved and when my chronic back issues flared from too many miles behind the wheel, I realized something: the body doesn’t forgive like it used to.

In your 20s and even 30s, your body is like a superhero in disguise. Late nights, skipped workouts, fast food, a few drinks too many—you survive it all without even noticing. In your 40s, your superhero cape starts to fray. Your metabolism slows, your organs get touchy, your hormones begin to fluctuate, and even sleep seems to have a personal vendetta against you. A little indulgence that would have been shrugged off at 25 now hits hard, and sometimes it hits with backup in the form of pain, inflammation, or insomnia.

I remember lying awake at night, stressed from work, my back aching from thousands of miles driven, and thinking, This is what 40s health looks like? It’s not just inconvenient—it’s a wake-up call. Your body starts talking to you, sometimes loudly, sometimes through your digestive system, and if you ignore it, the consequences grow louder. That’s why older people obsessively talk about their bowels—it’s not small talk, it’s survival wisdom.

I had to make a choice: continue down a path of decline, or take control. I cleaned up my lifestyle. I committed to sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Slowly, my energy returned, my body stabilized, and I realized that caring for yourself isn’t optional—it’s the difference between thriving and merely surviving.

So here’s my advice to anyone approaching 40: your body will no longer shrug off bad habits like it used to. Every late night, every skipped meal, every stressful week leaves a mark that becomes harder to erase. Treat your body like the finite, irreplaceable machine it is. Start now, because future you—and yes, your intestines—will thank you.