Does this sound familiar: You’re working out regularly. You’re eating clean. You’re caring for and nourishing your body. Nothing in your wellness routine has changed — but your body has. 

As you age, you may notice you’re feeling less lean, strong, and toned as you have in the past, and your stamina might be lagging, too. “When we get older, we lose lean muscle mass and hang on to more body fat,” says Dr. Vinita Tandon, Lifeforce’s Medical Director and a board certified endocrinologist. “The things you used to do to stay in shape may not work as effectively as they did before.” 

Research shows that when comparing people who are under 40 and over 40, muscle mass and strength can decline anywhere from 17% to 41%. 

So what do you do? Make adjustments and keep adapting. 

Why Your Body Is Changing

It’s tempting to just throw up your hands and say, “Oh well, I can’t help that my body is changing.” While change is constant, you do control how you respond to it. Knowledge is power, so it’s helpful to know the why behind the changes. There are several physiological reasons your weight may be going up and your lean muscle mass going down — even if your diet and exercise routine remain status quo.