Living 40FIED: Real Stories of Strength and Resilience for Men Over 40

Most fitness experts talk down to men. They warn, preach, and push generic fitness advice that feels disconnected from real life. Strength and movement coach Tamas Finta takes a completely different path with his book, Living 40FIED. Instead of fear, it offers clarity. Instead of hollow motivation, it offers lived wisdom. And instead of promising youth, it teaches you how to build something better: resilience.

This book is a window into what it really takes for regular men to stay fit and strong after 40. It follows men learning to juggle careers, family pressures, injuries, aging bodies, and self-doubt. It is full of exclusive insights from respected coaches, teachers, and practitioners whose work has shaped the fitness world. Their lessons are lived truths, earned through struggle, experimentation, and rebuilding.

A Collection of Human Stories

This is not just another random compilation of generic tips. It is a collection of stories — part memoir, part coaching manual, and part emotional reminder that becoming older does not mean becoming less. The author blends decades of coaching experience with deeply personal reflections, including grief, ego, injury, reinvention, and the humbling process of starting again. His knack for storytelling makes the book easy to understand and impossible to dismiss.

From the introduction onward, Tamas makes the argument that the forties, fifties, and beyond are not a downhill slide unless you decide to make them one. Strength and mobility are teachable, mental resilience is trainable, and a meaningful life does not have an expiry date. This framing feels refreshing in a culture that glorifies youth and writes off everyone else.

One of the most compelling sections is The Author’s Journey, where Tamas revisits his early years of martial arts, bodybuilding, ego-driven training, injury, and the shift from aesthetics to function, wisdom, and purpose. His honesty highlights that resilience is rarely glamorous, and growth often begins where identity breaks.

These Stories Show Strength Without Macho Posturing

Each interview offers a different lens on what it means to be strong in midlife. Eden Lee’s story stands out in particular: a ballet dancer turned Pilates instructor who rebuilt his body and identity after a devastating spinal surgery. His takeaway is that even when life knocks you back to “ground zero,” you are still capable of rebuilding. It may sound cliché, but it’s truly possible to find strength in adversity.

Living 40FIED is full of actionable lessons that everyday men can apply. The consistent message through every story is that success comes from consistency, self-awareness, and training with respect for the changing body. The tone is supportive rather than macho, which is something a lot of men desperately need but do not get enough of.

Finta also normalises something almost taboo in men’s wellness spaces: asking for help. Whether that help comes from a coach, a therapist, a training partner, or a supportive community, he treats it as strength, not weakness.

Who Should Read Living 40FIED?

Men over 40 who want to get stronger without hurting themselves.
Men who are starting or restarting their fitness journey after decades of inconsistency.
Men who are dealing with fear of aging, physical decline, or becoming irrelevant.
Women who want to understand and support the men they love.

Aging Well vs. Chasing Youth

What I appreciated most is that the book does not promise immortality or an ageless body. Instead, it centres something more realistic and meaningful: a body that lets you live the life you want, and a mind that recognises you are still allowed to dream big at 40, 50, 60, and beyond.

Conclusion

Living 40FIED Geoff Wilson Story — An excerpt from the book. Listen to Geoff’s full story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_5qVVSSc3U

Living 40FIED is not just another fitness book for men. It is an invitation to grow older without shrinking. It asks you to trade self-neglect for self-respect. What’s more, it also challenges the belief that being a man means pushing through pain and pretending everything is fine. And lastly, it leaves you with a quiet but powerful truth: your age is not the enemy. In many ways, it is your advantage. Anyone looking for a compassionate, practical, scientifically grounded approach to aging well will find this book worth reading and worth returning to.