Are the 40s the new 30s?
Are the 40s the new 30s?
Hey Carlos, why are you writing about longevity? Well, it is not about longevity. It is about my experience and lifestyle. When I was 20, I thought that 40 would be old. Most of the people I knew who were 40 at the time were not athletes; most wore business attires, had a pale face, and were either thin or overweight. I remember a conversation with Carlos de la Barra 20 years ago. He talked about how he ran 10k before breakfast during spring break and that his friends were in the pool with huge beer bellies. In my experience, most of my uncles were fat, and most of my aunts were on a constant diet. I thought that when I reached 40 or now reaching 50, I would be watching a ton of TV, with a ton of body aches, and taking a mouthful of prescription drugs. It would be when I would start to move slowly and drop everything risky. If you are around 45, you may feel like me, young at heart and physically. Yeah, you might be losing hair and have some wrinkles, but you can do stuff that, in your mind, was only reserved for 20-year-olds.
My outlook comes from having a 6-year-old and playing around with him, teaching him how to ski and skate, paddle board and ride a bike, carrying a sleepy big boy plus bags and toys, and climbing stairs that is a regular weekend. Mentally, I am also working towards accumulating wealth and advancing social mobility, not retirement. I thought that I was part of the FIRE movement. Gaining “Financial Independence to Retire Early” was my goal, but when my son might be under my roof for at least 15 more years, I might be a financially independent retired regular old guy. Am I wrong? Or, is there a misconception in aging and physical and mental capacity? When do you reach The Peters Principle? When you are tired or when you are old? Or it has nothing to do with any; it is just skillsets and your willingness to work hard towards a goal. I believe it is a little bit of both. In the last 20 years, medicine and lifestyle have allowed us to keep our mental and physical strength longer. It has added some years to our life expectancy, but the most exciting part, at least for me, is how many years you can add with fully functional capabilities. Yes, your hair is thin, and yes, you your joint are aching, but can you perform at your job? Are you able to take that long hike with your grandkids? Are you able to get into the pool and play with your children? We have living proof that it is possible to be at the top of your game in your 40s; Lewis Hamilton, at 39, recently won a Grand Prix; Fernando Alonso keeps on competing at 43; Tom Brady won his last Super Bowl at 44, Lebron is killing it in the Olympics at 39, Ronaldo can play at the Euro at 39, Laura Kraut at 58 just won an Olympic medal.
I do believe that the 40s are the new 30s. Many things have happened in my 40s.
I had my first son
I rode my first downhill
I rode my first wave
I got my first real motorcycle and did track on it
I ran 51 miles
I learnt how to ice hockey stop
I did my first jump snowboarding
I paddled to a island in the middle of the ocean and;
I started my first financial company
I am no longevity expert, but I can see a trend when I see it. I see my friend Nico looking ten years younger, and Fernando achieving beast mode while having his second son. What are their secrets, I have asked. Here are the top answers I have gotten to look and feel younger.
Exercise, exercise, exercise, I see it in both sides of the spectrum, the cardio guys, marathoners and cyclists, and the gym types, the bodybuilders and cross-fitters, both have amazing results. Recently I learned that I am a hybrid athlete; I do both l, I bike, and I train in the gym. I’m only competing with myself in every discipline. Most will train or exercise 5 days a week with a 2-day break for resting. If you are not into sports, start walking, move, take the stairs, take the dog out, or take a walk.
Measure, it is not about weight only it is about achieving something; for the runners and cyclists, it is easier, how fast they can run, for how long or if they can achieve a longer distance. How many repetitions can I do for the gym type of person and how heavy can I carry? What is my personal best is a common term among both groups. If you are a data nerd like me, weight, VO2, sleeping hours, body temperature, oxygen saturation, body fat, , stress levels and resilience. I have many tools; Apple Watch, Oura Ring, and Withings scale are my top three. I use Lumen from time to time.
Become elastic. From the blue zone in Okinawa to the leading longevity gurus, elasticity is essential. It needs to be physical and mental elasticity. We are able to adjust and adapt to the ever-changing conditions, and the willingness to learn new things will keep your mind and body sharp. I stretch every night for 8 minutes; it might not be the best-stretching routine, but it is the one that I do, and for the first time in ages, I can touch my toes standing up. It took five months.
Consistency is key. It doesn’t matter if your goal is to do 100 pushups daily to touch your toes or eat 100 grams of protein; start today, try daily or four times a week, or to compete in the Ironman, and don’t get discouraged if one day you binge eat or you skip the gym or your routine. Return to your routine the next day or week and start again. I used to binge eat every weekend, and by Wednesday, I’d be in my weight again. If you are too tired, it is time to rest, skip one day, and get back stronger. The same thing applies to your job; if you are exhausted, rest. Resting is an undervalued activity that can enhance productivity in every aspect of your life.
Stress will make you look and feel ten years older. The important thing is not to avoid stress but to manage it properly. Once, I read that stress is caused when you want to do many things at the same time or be in different places at the same time. Be present in what you are doing; be here now. Stress is relieved by doing what you are supposed to do. Easier said than done. Breathe, meditate, get busy, and melt the stress away. Reality is one and we can are able to manage a few things, focus in what you are able to manage to change the reality that is stressing you.
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that combines the words "iki" and "gai" to mean "a reason to live". Find your reason, find your purpose, life is a beautiful gift, embrace it and find your reason to live. It doesn't have to be something heroic, it just needs to give you an infinite amount of motivation. My Ikigai is to make you wealthy by investing in technology that makes the world a better place and create generational wealth in the process.
Food is a topic, and plant-based diets are healthier. I am not vegan, and I don’t want to be one; I am very happy eating meat; I try to avoid beef for ecological reasons, but lamb, fish, chicken, and pork work. What I try to avoid are processed foods. If you are overweight, stop overeating. I learned in a KETOGAINS boot camp that food should be medicine; it makes sense, and food should make you healthy. Eat what makes you healthy. Learn to listen to your body and nourish it with what it needs.
If you are in the US, this is a hard one: belong to a community, make and have friends. Spend time with your friends and your family. I know it is hard. With remote work and American exceptionalism, belonging to a community where everyone has your back is uncommon. Other cultures are more family and community-oriented, and belonging is easier. While writing this, I feel nostalgic for the social life that I left in Mexico, and that has been so hard to recreate here in the US. Don’t give up.
8a. I follow a ketogenic diet. It has evaporated the brain fog and most probably helps with my ADHD. If you read What I learnt from running 51 miles you’ll see that, 15 months ago I wasn’t in shape. 2024 was the year I committed to return to my best physical stats. I’m not there yet, eight months in, and there’s still work. I’m not even close to squat 205 lbs or bench 130 lbs. Your 40s and, I am guessing your 50s are a time to create, to grow, to learn, and to take risks. The top entrepreneurs start in their 40s, and I can bet that in 10 years, the top entrepreneurs will start in their 50s. I’m probably not doing another snowboard jump, and mmm, no, I’m not getting back to the kite; wakeboarding looks like—a lot of fun. We will see next year.
Let me know what you think!
