via Brandon Wenerd
Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by MDVIP, but the mid-life crisis and health anxiety are 100% Brandon’s own.
Turning 40 comes with a heavy, bulky set of emotional luggage. It’s weird. You hit this number and suddenly you’re standing at a true midpoint. You look back, and you look forward.
Looking back, you go: Wow. What a ride.
I think about the travel, the places I’ve lived, the relationships, the heartbreak, the victories. I think about the parties. Lots and lots of parties. The good times, and definitely the stress of the bad times. But mostly, I look back and wonder: What have I actually done?
The psychology of “40” is heavy. I didn’t feel this at 30. 30 just felt like “old youth.” But 40? Man, 40 feels like the moment the warranty expires.
If you’ve been reading BroBible for a while, you’ve probably noticed we are incredibly wellness-focused right now. We want to be the best versions of ourselves. If you can’t tell why, it’s because those of us who started this thing 15 years ago are all hovering around this milestone. We have reasons to look forward now. We want to keep enjoying the ride of what we built. We want to be around for our families, our friends, and our communities.
And to be around, you have to actually… well, be around.
That is why I’m partnering with MDVIP to conquer my “Just Turned 40” health check.
The “Cattle Herd” vs. Actual Care
Here is the reality of healthcare right now: Most primary care physicians are responsible for about 2,000 patients at any given time. Do the math. That is a cattle herd. It is a one-size-fits-all approach where you get rushed through the chute in 15 minutes with a doctor who barely remembers your name, let alone your history.
MDVIP started 25 years ago because a group of doctors saw this writing on the wall. They realized that to actually help people, you need time. MDVIP-affiliated physicians manage a fraction of the typical patient load. That means same-day or next-day appointments. It means unhurried visits (remember those?). It means actual personalized attention.
TAP HERE TO SIGN UP FOR MDVIP
I need something more than a doctor hitting my knee with a rubber mallet and telling me to eat less salt. I already know that. I need a comprehensive, proactive plan.
The “Maintenance Light” Is Flickering
I’ll get personal here because I think a lot of guys my age are in the exact same boat but won’t admit it. There is a lot on my mind.
A couple of years ago, stress absolutely got to me, and I came down with shingles. Like a lot of ‘80s babies, I had chickenpox in elementary school, so the virus was just lurking in my nerves, waiting for my immune system to let its guard down like a ticking time bomb. I’ve always had a hard time managing stress, and I need a doctor who can actually help me navigate that, specifically with a focus on cardiology.
This is where the MDVIP approach feels different. It’s not just a basic blood panel; it’s like Sabermetrics for your body. Standard test results are like looking at a batting average—they tell you something, but not the whole story.
The MDVIP Wellness Program is your personal Bill James, digging into the advanced stats:
- MPO (Myeloperoxidase): This checks for vascular inflammation that can be an early sign of cardiovascular risk.
- LipoFraction NMR: Instead of just “high cholesterol,” this analyzes particle size and number to find hidden risks.
- HbA1c & CRP: Deep dives into long-term blood sugar and chronic inflammation.
- TSH & Uric Acid: Insights into thyroid function (energy/mood) and metabolic health.
These are the numbers that actually matter when you’re trying to optimize, not just survive.
Then there’s the sleep. I’m a night owl. I love those quiet hours of the evening to get work done, but I know my sleep habits are trash. I need to fix that.
And, of course, the vanity metric: the weight. Your boy likes to eat, drink, and be merry. Here I am putting down some Dungeness crabs:
But that comes at a cost.
I have ping-ponged back and forth over the years. I consider myself active—I hike six to eight miles a day in my neighborhood here in California and love to ski—but I know I need to get the weights going again to be the physical version of my best self. I need to get back on the bike. I need to get moving, moving.
The Real Scary Stuff
But if I’m being totally honest, there is one thing lurking in the back of my mind that drove me to BroBible’s willingness to partner with MDVIP.
My dad had prostate cancer at age 49.
He caught it early, thank God, and he is still with us over 20 years later. But doing the math—I’m 40, he was diagnosed at 49—that has always lingered in my head. I’m now at the age where I need to be aggressively proactive. I need to make sure my PSA levels are tracked closely. I need to be equipped for this next decade.
I need a doctor with time to partner with me, not just a random provider
Time Speeds All the Way Up
Here is the one thing nobody tells you until you’re already here: Time is relative to your experience.
The decade from 20 to 30 felt long. But the decade from 30 to 40? It went by in a blink. It speeds all the way up. And I am fully expecting the jump from 40 to 50 to be even faster.
When you’re young, you think you have infinite time. In your 30s, you start to realize you’re mortal. People come and go. Your consciousness around mortality and your overall health and wellness shifts.
That is why I’m genuinely excited about what MDVIP does and how it’s customizable to your own individual situation, and how they make it turnkey for busy people like myself who always have something going on.
Their membership program is about being proactive, not reactive. It’s about having a plan. It’s about the convenience of having a doctor who is actually available—after hours, via text, or whenever the anxiety spikes—rather than waiting three weeks for an opening.
TAP HERE TO SIGN UP FOR MDVIP
It is an investment in myself. You have to be forward-thinking about your health the same way you are about your finances, your career, and your relationships. You wouldn’t ignore your 401k for a decade and hope for the best. You shouldn’t do that with your body, either.
I’m ready to see what the data says. I’m ready to get a baseline. And mostly, I’m ready to make sure I’m around to enjoy the next 40 years of the ride.
Go check out MDVIP here, and see if it’s right for you.
via Brandon Wenerd