STOP THE CLOCK

CAN YOU REVERSE THE DREADED MIDLIFE HEALTH SLUMP? OUR 44-YEAR-OLD RIDER SHARES HIS HARD-EARNED LESSONS FOR OPTIMAL MIDDLE-AGE MOJO

- WORDS MARK BAILEY IMAGE GETTY IMAGES

The quest for better midlife health usually begins with a shocking photo.

Who is that tired person in the pic? A stressful house move, work challenges and a slide into my 40s had left me feeling old. If you're a middle-aged cyclist, you'll probably relate. I was chubbier around the face, with huge bags under my eyes, and I felt physically diminished, with an aching lower back and mental fatigue. A lifetime passion for cycling and exercise meant I was never going to freefall into obesity. But I had a brutal sense of physical decline. Something needed to change.

Fast-forward a couple of years to today and I'm fitter, stronger, leaner and more energetic. I relish exercise, the aches are under control and I sleep better. Friends tell me I'm looking 'trim'. I work more effectively, plan more adventures and feel more ambitious. On a recent trip to Catalonia, I tackled every col confidently.

This isn't about reliving a lost youth. I'm 44, not 24. I don't want to set Strava PBs or achieve 5% body fat - been there, done the 200km rides. It's about accepting the altered needs of my body and viewing health from a new perspective. Yes, I want to ride well, but I'm more interested in my heart and lung function, bone density, hormonal health, muscle mass, nutrition, energy levels, rest and sleep. I don't want to be fit for a sportive - I want to be fit for life.

If you recognise this sentiment, here are the lessons I learnt, through trial and error, with experimentation and expert help along the way.

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