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

[Anonymous]

I'm working on reconciling reality with memory. Like others, I had always looked younger than my years. Reality finally hit that day that I looked up into the hallway mirror and was startled because in the mirror I saw my mother, in the flesh, at 50 -something, and after the first reaction (gee Mom, what are you doing here?) I realized that the woman in the mirror was me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't think so. My grandma ran her last marathon when she was 60, and she kept running 5 and 10 ks into her 70s. I know a lot of older women who stayed in shape, and I plan to take care of my body and keep running into my old age, like my grandma.

But you do you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't think so. My grandma ran her last marathon when she was 60, and she kept running 5 and 10 ks into her 70s. I know a lot of older women who stayed in shape, and I plan to take care of my body and keep running into my old age, like my grandma.

But you do you.

Are you the 37 year old? If so, you have a little while before you have to worry about being middle aged and you certainly have a while before you hit 50.

Hopefully you'll get lucky and be running like grandma did well into her 70's. But just keep it in the back of your mind that YOU are not your grandma. You share some of her genes but your body isn't a carbon copy of her body. You are you.

[Anonymous]

So depressed. I'm not doing well at all

[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.

So you've given up on sex? Sounds like you don't care at all if you are sexually attractive. I'm 51. That would depress the hell out of me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So depressed. I'm not doing well at all

I'm sorry . We all have days like that I think. But that post up thread a ways from the 50+ lady who has discovered a new sense of freedom in leaving behind some of the frivolous/petty worries of her younger days...is nice. That's a nice place to arrive at and really something to look forward to if you haven't reached it quite yet.

[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.

So you've given up on sex? Sounds like you don't care at all if you are sexually attractive. I'm 51. That would depress the hell out of me.

Where does she say she has given up on sex?

I lived this post!

[Anonymous]

^^^loved not lived

[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.

So you've given up on sex? Sounds like you don't care at all if you are sexually attractive. I'm 51. That would depress the hell out of me.

Older does not mean unattractive. In fact, confidence is very sexy.

[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.

Did you say 37? 37? 37???
Ok, you did not understand this post.

[Anonymous]

More weight
Crepey skin
Sun spots
Vision not great...need glasses to see far and near
Acheson
All between 50 and 60.
That's life. I'm going to figure out how to make this work.I will.

[Anonymous]

Ha, the list. Haven't seen that for a while, lol.

[Anonymous]

First, it is best to take off my glasses before looking in the mirror. If that doesn't work, I'll turn off the light too.

But seriously, I am 46 and finding it pretty tough to get my head around planning a positive future while leaving the past behind.

I took up running this year though. Lots of fun and very social if you go with a group.

[Anonymous]

For me, there has been a huge difference between 37 and 50. HUGE. I am a guy.

At 37, I would still get carded. Only happens now at places that card everyone.

At 37, I could play full court Basketball, at 50, I can barley watch full court basketball.

At 37, I could stay hard all night; At 50, well, sometimes the plumbing fails.

At 37, when someone asked me about surgery, I would talk about a tendon repair. At fifty, I talk about getting tumors (and organs removed: kidney and part of a lung lobe).

At 37, my biggest health worry was my cholesterol (genetically high). At 50, I have a stent collection thanks to my high cholesterol.

At 37, I was worried about my status at work. At 50, I don't give a f*** about my status. I just enjoy the moment.

At 37, I worried about things I could not control. At 50, I have learned to enjoy the moment.

I am happier at 50 (actually, 50+), more content, but less healthy. I am in constant pain (from surgical scar tissues), I have 4 stents and a pacemaker. But, I wake up each morning, and say "YAY! Another bonus day!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with getting older. It is called acceptance.

By 45, you should be done with the having a baby stage... and all the vanity and trappings that goes with it. It's time to focus on career, hobby, volunteering, world peace, whatever.

With wisdom, hopefully you are not stuck just thinking about "your aging body with the memory of your younger self".

Hm, what "vanity and trappings" come with babies? I have two under three at 43 and am looking and feeling my worst ever...