For many people, turning 30 is a milestone to utterly dread.
After all, social pressures at one point told us that, by our third decade on planet Earth, our lives should be quote unquote 'together'.
It was previously engrained into us that we should have purchased our first home by that point in our lives, and we should be nearing the peak of our professional career. We should be engaged - if not, already wed - to the love of our life. We should be trying for baby by now, or at least, have made plans for when we'll start trying.
At one point, human beings were tricked into believing that our thirties marked the death of freedom and joy - we were told, 'it's all downhill from here', 'here's where it gets serious', and 'you're a real adult now'.
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Thankfully, though, over time, a new sense of personal autonomy and self-acceptance was being felt by people in their 30s, and they started experiencing a welcome break away from strict societal timelines.
'Woo hoo, go us!', you might be thinking - and yes, you'd be right to consider yourself in a newly-defined 'golden' era, but there's a 'but'.
According to health experts, there are a number of physical affects to turning 30 that we should probably be aware of.
No, they're not as dramatic as they'd be if we were turning 70, like our boobs suddenly needing to be tucked into our trousers, or our lips getting thinner.
But apparently, they are pretty weird.
Your strength slows down
Prior to turning 30, the body was able to strengthen and build muscle during exercise without needing to try - on autopilot, you might say.
After this period, however, this 'natural' gaining of muscle mass gradually begins to decline, and the body begins responding to consistency, which essentially requires trying harder in the gym.
Body fat goes up
Whilst for many people, turning 30 might be the fuel they need to kickstart a health transformation, or implement a new form of exercise.
And apparently, this could prove a pretty good idea, given that body fat usually starts climbing up after this point.
More specifically, it tends to cling to a person's middle, meaning bellies, boobs and upper thighs.
At the same time, muscle tends to slowly shift downwards around this age. This combination might change the way your clothes fit or affect how quickly a person is able to warm up during exercise.
Metabolic myths
'Your metabolism will slow right down at 30', 'you'll have to make major changes to your diet because of this', 'good luck doubling your exercise routine to burn off those calories'.
We've been scare-mongered into believing these myths about our metabolism for donkey's years, but that's exactly what they are - myths.
Sure, changes in muscle mass and body fat (as mentioned) could cause minor amendments to your physique and overall weight, but this has nothing to do with your metabolism.
In fact, in-depth studies into this exact possibility in relation to energy measurement have found that it's your 60s that are most likely to affect your metabolism, not your 30s.
Sleep struggles
Are you in your 20s and already struggling to achieve a wholly undisturbed sleep? Are you waking up frequently throughout the night, or battling with all your might to drift off?
Ha, well good luck - your 30s will likely prove a whole new world of pain.
The National Institute of Health reports that as we age, sleep becomes lighter, making a person more susceptible to be woken up by light, sound or other discomforts. Better start upping that coffee intake now.
A loss of close-up skills
You might boast 20/20 vision at the moment, but according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the 30s are the most common age for being diagnosed with presbyopia.
Again, this condition isn't as life-shattering as it sounds - it just means that your eyes will struggle slightly more to take in things that are happening up close. If it's any consolation, it's the 40s whereby this sensation really kicks into gear.
Unexplained injuries
If you were something of a party animal in your 20s, you were probably used to waking up in the morning with a bruise that you don't remember getting, or a pain that seems to have had no source.
This concerning occurrence reportedly increases in frequency as we age.
Technically, our tendons start aging when we hit 30, which is why you're more likely to feel a twinge or a tear whilst working out.
You might have overlooked warming up or cooling down in the gym before, but I promise, once you hit 30, you won't have a choice in the matter.
Rhianna Benson