"Everything hurts after 30" - And other jokes that need to be retired

We need to retire the "everything hurts after 30" jokes.

As much as I can find them funny from time to time, I'm tired of them.

They're not funny, they're lazy. And they subtly convince people that pain is just something you're supposed to accept instead of doing something about it.

This message is intended to bring the responsibility back to you.

You don't fall apart because you turned 30. You fall apart because you treat your body poorly and are shocked when it feels poorly. Your body is not a car that wears with mileage, and then trade it in for a new one. This one is all you have.

Imagine never running more than a 5k and then acting shocked when you get injured trying to run a marathon (42k).

Imagine never lifting while living a sedentary life, then having to lift some furniture around the house and hurting your back. Most will say that they just "lifted wrong" or that they're too old to be doing stuff like this.

In reality, your body was criminally underprepared for a basic task like lifting furniture and couldn't handle it.

I can sympathize. You hit your late 20s and early 30s, and life gets busy. Work ramps up, and stress goes through the roof as responsibilities add up. I'm a new father in my 30s, and I can tell you that I haven't had a full 8-hour sleep in almost two years.

With this increased busyness, movement drops off. Training disappears or becomes inconsistent. But instead of changing your strategy, you just throw your hands up and joke about it.

"I guess I'm old now."

No. You're just deconditioned. Your joints don't suddenly break down. Your spine doesn't become fragile overnight. Your tissues respond to what you do consistently, and if you consistently do nothing, then your body will be prepared for nothing.

Years of sitting, under-loading, and ignoring recovery add up. That's the real wear and tear.

Training and moving are NOT-OPTIONAL if you want to preserve any sort of muscle mass, bone density, strength, and functionality.

So no, turning 30 isn't the problem. The problem is that we normalize neglect of our bodies and health, call it aging, and laugh it off instead of facing the music.

It's not easy work. As a parent, I know how difficult it can be to juggle everything, but it is simple:

• lift weights at least 2x per week

• do 150 minutes of cardio per week

Don't let yourself off the hook, and don't blame aging for how you feel. How you treat your body, regardless of your age, is ultimately how you will feel as you age.

To your good health,

Coach Stephen

---

P.S.

Whenever you’re ready, here are a few additional ways that I may be able to help you.

Free:

Instagram: @CoachStrumos

*I share tons of bite-sized lessons and tips here

Paid:

1-on-1 Pain Management and Strength Coaching: Apply here