How do you reconcile the reality of your aging body with the memory of your younger self?

[Anonymous]

OP, at 49 I thought all I had to do was exercise and use creams or whatever. Fast forward 10 years maybe some of that worked but now I never stare too hard in the mirror because I might post something a little more desperate than you did! So I just moved on to more fun thoughts cause what are you gonna do?

[Anonymous]

Was ok until I turned 60. Then just yikes

[Anonymous]

59 and work out almost every day. My theory is that if you can keep the weight down, things will be OK.

[Anonymous]

I turn 54 next month. Exercise (running, weights, classes at gym) has made a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

I'm 61 and I love this decade! Two issues: There's how you look and how you feel. I never was beautiful so I don't miss my looks because I never had them. But I feel great because I work out hard five days a week with people whose company I really enjoy.

Other good things about this age: Kid is grown and I enjoy her company but don't have to take care of her. We have enough money so that we're comfortable. I've made my peace with my career disappointments and have a job that works for me. I wouldn't have said that about my 40s and early 50s when it was really hard to stay on top of all my commitments so all I can say is to hang in there and I hope things get better.

But I think working out is key. If you have aches and pains, find a good physical therapist. I thought my knees hurt because of arthritis but it turned out that I needed to stretch more. It wasn't getting old that was the problem and with adequate stretching my knee pain went away. All I can say is that when I was young I expected that my 60s would be a time of decline. Instead I feel really good every day.

.

[Anonymous]

On the cusp of 60. Feeling and looking good - partly daily exercise (mostly walking), partly eating smart, partly genes (thanks Mom!).

I wouldn't turn the clock back for anything. So much I fretted about before just isn't that important.

I do my best to look my best, age adjusted. I work on friendship and family relations. I have a very low bar on expectations of my husband (secret to a happy marriage) - he often exceeds them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I run almost every day, and I've also recently added light weights. I don't see much difference at 37 and I love how toned my legs and butt are from running.

I really suggest you find an exercise routine you enjoy enough to do regularly, and then do it enthusiastically and hard enough that it will actually work your muscles. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but yoga has never been enough/effective for my body type, and it does not give me that glorious "high" I get from a super hard run. My friends whose exercise consists of yoga or similar ARE getting saggier with age, even if they are not overweight. You need hard, regular cardio as you get older to keep off the middle aged spread, but it is very possible to maintain if that is what is important to you.

Also, you don't care about your "age number" when in the throes of a runner's high; you only care about how great you feel. This is a lot better than fretting.

Uh, this is posted in 50 and over, brainiac. They don't want to hear from whippersnappers like us.

37 is not young. Only thing separating 37 and 50 is 13 years... it will go by in a couple of blinks. Aging is relative. You'll be here in no time. Just enjoy every age.

Actually it's not. After 40, your body will break down. Somewhere between 45 - 50 you will have to stop running. You will have pain. You will go to the doctor and she/he will say it this or that or it just old age. The doctor will tell you to bike or swim and stop running. It comes quick and you are getting very close to the age. Seriously there is a reason you do not see many 50 plus runners out there.

[Anonymous]

I was very vain in my younger years but never comfortable in my own skin. I figured it was anxiety. Do I look good, do I wear the latest fashion, own the latest hand bag, is my makeup perfect, am I fronting someone I know I'm not. On and on and on ...

Then when I turned 50, I let it all go. No more caring what others thought, no longer caring about fitting in, being who I wanted to be, not some stupid mold someone else thought I should be.

I do what I want when I want. I dress how I want. Rarely wear makeup. Don't color my hair. See wrinkles.

For the first time in my life, I AM FREE.

My younger self should stay gone. I don't like her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I run almost every day, and I've also recently added light weights. I don't see much difference at 37 and I love how toned my legs and butt are from running.

I really suggest you find an exercise routine you enjoy enough to do regularly, and then do it enthusiastically and hard enough that it will actually work your muscles. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but yoga has never been enough/effective for my body type, and it does not give me that glorious "high" I get from a super hard run. My friends whose exercise consists of yoga or similar ARE getting saggier with age, even if they are not overweight. You need hard, regular cardio as you get older to keep off the middle aged spread, but it is very possible to maintain if that is what is important to you.

Also, you don't care about your "age number" when in the throes of a runner's high; you only care about how great you feel. This is a lot better than fretting.

Uh, this is posted in 50 and over, brainiac. They don't want to hear from whippersnappers like us.

37 is not young. Only thing separating 37 and 50 is 13 years... it will go by in a couple of blinks. Aging is relative. You'll be here in no time. Just enjoy every age.

Um there is a BIG difference between 37 and 50. At 37 I had recently had a baby. At 50 I'm hitting menopause.

I feel good when I work out but my body simply is not responding the way it used to. I am older now and believe me - I know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I run almost every day, and I've also recently added light weights. I don't see much difference at 37 and I love how toned my legs and butt are from running.

I really suggest you find an exercise routine you enjoy enough to do regularly, and then do it enthusiastically and hard enough that it will actually work your muscles. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but yoga has never been enough/effective for my body type, and it does not give me that glorious "high" I get from a super hard run. My friends whose exercise consists of yoga or similar ARE getting saggier with age, even if they are not overweight. You need hard, regular cardio as you get older to keep off the middle aged spread, but it is very possible to maintain if that is what is important to you.

Also, you don't care about your "age number" when in the throes of a runner's high; you only care about how great you feel. This is a lot better than fretting.

Neither did I at 37. Check back with me in 10 years. At 45 is when I started noticing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was very vain in my younger years but never comfortable in my own skin. I figured it was anxiety. Do I look good, do I wear the latest fashion, own the latest hand bag, is my makeup perfect, am I fronting someone I know I'm not. On and on and on ...

Then when I turned 50, I let it all go. No more caring what others thought, no longer caring about fitting in, being who I wanted to be, not some stupid mold someone else thought I should be.

I do what I want when I want. I dress how I want. Rarely wear makeup. Don't color my hair. See wrinkles.

For the first time in my life, I AM FREE.

My younger self should stay gone. I don't like her.

I still color my hair, use face cream, put on makeup. But that's mainly for me. I am a middle age mom of teenagers and I look like middle aged mom of teenagers.

I've had a couple of young 20 something guys in retail call me "young lady" recently - ugh, makes me cringe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I run almost every day, and I've also recently added light weights. I don't see much difference at 37 and I love how toned my legs and butt are from running.

I really suggest you find an exercise routine you enjoy enough to do regularly, and then do it enthusiastically and hard enough that it will actually work your muscles. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but yoga has never been enough/effective for my body type, and it does not give me that glorious "high" I get from a super hard run. My friends whose exercise consists of yoga or similar ARE getting saggier with age, even if they are not overweight. You need hard, regular cardio as you get older to keep off the middle aged spread, but it is very possible to maintain if that is what is important to you.

Also, you don't care about your "age number" when in the throes of a runner's high; you only care about how great you feel. This is a lot better than fretting.

Neither did I at 37. Check back with me in 10 years. At 45 is when I started noticing.

Same with me. And at 37 I never would have considered myself "middle aged".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No issues. I'm 46 and look 15 years younger. Good genes.

You don't realize that EVERYONE thinks this. Literally every woman I know says that she looks younger than her age. People say this to others all the time out of courtesy, or because you expect a 50 year old to look really "old." But yes, I'm sure you have AA skin or something that guarantees that you look 30......you're deluding yourself! Now that you're almost 50, develop some self-awareness and wisdom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was very vain in my younger years but never comfortable in my own skin. I figured it was anxiety. Do I look good, do I wear the latest fashion, own the latest hand bag, is my makeup perfect, am I fronting someone I know I'm not. On and on and on ...

Then when I turned 50, I let it all go. No more caring what others thought, no longer caring about fitting in, being who I wanted to be, not some stupid mold someone else thought I should be.

I do what I want when I want. I dress how I want. Rarely wear makeup. Don't color my hair. See wrinkles.

For the first time in my life, I AM FREE.

My younger self should stay gone. I don't like her.

Yes!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was very vain in my younger years but never comfortable in my own skin. I figured it was anxiety. Do I look good, do I wear the latest fashion, own the latest hand bag, is my makeup perfect, am I fronting someone I know I'm not. On and on and on ...

Then when I turned 50, I let it all go. No more caring what others thought, no longer caring about fitting in, being who I wanted to be, not some stupid mold someone else thought I should be.

I do what I want when I want. I dress how I want. Rarely wear makeup. Don't color my hair. See wrinkles.

For the first time in my life, I AM FREE.

My younger self should stay gone. I don't like her.

Yes!!!!!

+1