Most men in their 40s let pain become their identity.
A stiff back, a tight knee, a sore elbow — and suddenly it becomes the story they tell themselves to justify avoiding the work:
“I would train, but my ___ hurts.”
Fill in the blank with whatever body part is bothering you today.
Here’s the problem with that thinking:
There is no world where you get older and magically experience less pain.
It doesn’t exist.
Every day you skip training, every month you stay stagnant, every year you let discomfort dictate your decisions — you get weaker, stiffer, more fragile, and more susceptible to even more pain down the road.
This is the truth most men avoid:
You’re not protecting yourself by avoiding pain. You’re accelerating it.
Pain Isn’t a Stop Sign — It’s a Signal
Pain isn’t a full-stop message from your body.
It’s feedback.
There’s a difference between:
- debilitating injury
and - discomfort, tightness, irritation, or inflammation from living in a human body that’s been used (and sometimes abused) for 40+ years.
Working out through pain doesn’t mean ignoring your body or pushing recklessly.
It means adapting:
- modifying exercises
- reducing weight
- changing angles
- switching machines
- training other muscle groups
- keeping the momentum alive even when you can’t go 100%
Pain management is part of the fitness journey — not a reason to avoid it.
A Real Example: My Left Forearm
Last week, I pulled something in my arm during a workout.
Instant weakness.
Pain gripping anything heavier than a water bottle.
Couldn’t curl more than ten pounds.
That’s the moment the average guy says,
“Guess I’m skipping the gym today.”
And honestly?
It’s the easiest excuse in the world.
But here’s where most men go wrong:
The more you give into that voice, the easier it becomes to let yourself off the hook next time. And the next. And the next.
So I went to the gym anyway.
My routine for the day was shot. My arm was basically useless. But I adapted:
- trained everything else
- found angles that didn’t aggravate the tendon
- even grabbed 5-pound dumbbells and did the lightest curls of my life
Not because they were impressive.
But because I refuse to teach my brain that pain means “stop.”
I left feeling stronger than any heavy session could have made me.
Not physically — but mentally.
Mental Reps Matter
Consistency isn’t built in the easy weeks.
Identity isn’t built when everything feels perfect.
Discipline isn’t built when your body is pain-free.
They’re built in the moments where you could quit —
and you don’t.
Every time you push through discomfort (responsibly), you’re reinforcing the identity of someone who shows up:
Your mind remembers.
Your body remembers.
Your habits remember.
Those are the reps that build the man.
The Real Enemy Isn’t Pain — It’s Stagnation
Pain won’t ruin your life.
Avoiding movement will.
Men in their 40s need strength, mobility, and consistency more than ever.
You don’t outgrow physical training.
You age into it.
This is what I help men do:
- train through pain safely
- build strength that protects their joints
- stay consistent even when life gets loud
- avoid the slow decline most guys accept as “getting older”
- rebuild their confidence and physical capability piece by piece
If you’re reading this, consider it your reminder:
Pain is part of the journey.
Stagnation is optional.
Stay accountable.
Stay in motion.
Your future self will thank you for it.
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