Starting (or Restarting) Your Fitness Journey After 40:

A Practical Guide for Grown-Ups Who’ve Seen Some Things

Written by 6x Mr Australia

7/3/20253 min read

Somewhere between your last ABBA phase and the day you realised Uber Eats had a loyalty program, you drifted from the gym. Or maybe you were never really there. No shame, no guilt—just facts.

You're over 40 now. Time isn’t the only thing getting shorter. So is your patience for BS, crowded gyms, and influencers who now think a camera and tripod are gym equipment.

The good news? You’re exactly where you need to be. Let’s break it down.

Why Starting After 40 is Smart—Not Late

Your joints creak like old floorboards, you’ve got opinions on foam rollers, and you’ve learned the hard way that sleep is more important than pre-workout. Welcome to the club.

You’ve still got fire, but now it needs a plan—and maybe a warm-up first.

Strength training isn’t just for 25-year-olds with TikTok delts.

After 40, it’s a non-negotiable:

It boosts metabolism so you stop gaining fat every time you look at bread.

It preserves muscle mass, which naturally declines with age.

It keeps your joints, bones, and brain in the game longer.

And most importantly? It helps you feel in control again.

Common Fears (a.k.a. What No One Admits Out Loud)

Walking into a big commercial gym after 40 can feel like crashing a party where no one invited you:

“Too many people. Too many Gym Bros.”

“What the hell is that machine? Is it a torture device?”

“Is everyone watching me fumble with this bench like it’s a Rubik's Cube?”

“Do I look clueless? Is that 18-year-old laughing or just breathing funny?”

“Will I still be here at 10pm trying to figure out how to turn the damn thing off?”

You’re not imagining it. Commercial gyms aren’t built for you. They’re built for volume. Turnstiles, not transformation.

Let's be honest at 40 youre more sceptical of fads and fakes.

you probaly can't abide being barked at to do your pushups and burpees by a 20 something,

you deserve respect.

The Boutique Gym Advantage (Why Body Matrix Might Actually Be Your Jam)

At Body Matrix, we’re a little different. We’re not fancy. We’re not fake. We’re not a spaceship.

We’re a boutique gym in South Melbourne run by real humans:

Two entire gyms in one: Upstairs is the Studio Loft. that looks like a typical fitness gym

Downstairs is the meatworks styled dungeon. (Control your anxiety)

Point of difference is, both have equipment that was picked because it works,

not because it was in a catalogue.

It looks like a real gym should, with equipment you can recognise and might remeber how to use.

Low crowds, no egos.

You’ll never wait 25 minutes for a machine while someone films a superset for their "CoachLife" series.

Expert guidance from veterans.

Chief Rohan J. Reid isn’t here to judge you.

He’s here to get you where you want to go in the safest, most efficient way possible,

he's frequently walking the floor giving a gentle tip or two.

Your Step-By-Step Comeback Plan

Let’s make it simple:

1. Start with a PT Session (It’s Free)

No guesswork. No generic plans. You’ll sit down with a trainer who actually listens. We’ll talk goals, injuries, time commitments, fears, and what keeps you up at night (spoiler: it’s usually carbs or your kids).

2. Set Reasonable Goals

You don’t need to bench press a barn.

Let’s talk about:

Building some strength

Losing body fat (not your mind)

Improving energy and mood

Avoiding injury

3. Come 2–3x a Week

That’s enough. Seriously. Life is already full.

But those 2–3 sessions will become the anchor in your week.

Your spine will thank you. So will your brain.

4. Focus on Strength and Mobility

At Body Matrix, we train for shape, function and longevity.

That means:

Strength in movements that matter

Injury-proofing your body

Keeping your joints happy

5. Stay Consistent, Not Perfect

You’ll fall off some weeks. That’s okay. we send gentle emails and texts if you forget.

When you come back. We’re still here. Probably lifting something.

So What’s the Catch?

There isn’t one. The first PT session is on us, and if you’re not already a member,

we’ll even give you a free week to try the space out.

Come meet people who look like you, move like you, and want the same thing—

a body that works and a mindset that lasts.

We’re not here to sell you transformation porn, or make you a bodybuilder.

We’re here to help you get better—whatever that means to you.

Ready to Start? Or Start Again?

Message us. Call us. Or just show up.

We're open from 5am to 11pm. We'll be here most of the time.

We’ve got real iron, real humans, and real results.

This is your comeback story. Write the first chapter.