I've changed shape! Have you?

If it were not for an unfortunate slip on my stairs coming down from the loft (I fractured my lumbar/spine in two places) that little accident caused me to lose three inches of my height, thereby compressing my whole physique. Hmm… I don’t like it and I’m very careful about the style of clothing I wear now.

This on top of natural aging, more natural shrinking 🙄, what are you gonna do?
USA Gundy

AshleysGran

I have an hour-glass figure - as I got older, it sank to the bottom.

Too funny! My hour glass got stuck in the middle.

I am not particularly pleased with the changes in my body - varicose veins developing in one leg, patchy skin on legs and a crepe-like appearance, not to mention saggy arms. I think I need to do an exercise class and will look for one - but I believe to maintain the sort of body shape that Jane Fonda, and the like, have would mean exercising to exhaustion every day. I am not prepared to do that - I have other, more interesting, things to do.

I think it is important not to "let yourself go" but it is about moderation, in my view. To be obsessed with one's appearance does not make for a happy person, or one who is particularly interesting.

AshleysGran

I have an hour-glass figure - as I got older, it sank to the bottom.

😂

Eloethan

I am not particularly pleased with the changes in my body - varicose veins developing in one leg, patchy skin on legs and a crepe-like appearance, not to mention saggy arms. I think I need to do an exercise class and will look for one - but I believe to maintain the sort of body shape that Jane Fonda, and the like, have would mean exercising to exhaustion every day. I am not prepared to do that - I have other, more interesting, things to do.

I think it is important not to "let yourself go" but it is about moderation, in my view. To be obsessed with one's appearance does not make for a happy person, or one who is particularly interesting.

I agree, having a bit of pride in yourself is one thing but obsessing about looks isn’t a great idea. Most people, men included carry some extra weight when older. Being here and feeling reasonably well is the main thing.Dress doesn’t fit? Buy a bigger one.

I'm more or less the same shape - like others I carry weight in the front. Currently six pounds over my preferred weight and it's all on the abdomen.

Like other health matters I think shape is a combination of lifestyle, diet and genetics. Later I'm off to my jazz dance class where the age range is 58 to 90 - the 90 year-old is slim, not skinny, ramrod straight back, and even has straight elegant fingers which are beautifully manicured.

I once got chatting to a woman in the park who was rolling up her yoga mat - she was in good shape in jogging bottoms and t-shirt and I could see she was around 70 but was astounded when she said she was 91 !

Yes for sure is my answer. I was size 8 my whole life even after my 2 DDs then hit menopause crept up to size 12 and stayed there. Nothing changed in my life style or diet to cause the weight gain just age and hormones. I do aqua swim and weight bearing exercises at home to stay fitter and healthier.

I think we need to understand that our body changes shape naturally after the menopause and not expect to be able to stay looking the same. Once the hormone production from the ovaries diminishes, the abdominal fat takes over this role. So more fat collects in this area and less on the hips and bottom.
A weight gain of half a stone for every ten years over age 50 is normal. Trying to lose weight can lead to wrinkled skin, especially in the face, and loss of muscle. That is why older women need clothes that flatter their new shape, as discussed in a previous thread.

Well, it's worse than I thought. Today a man on the bus (sitting in the seat for those who find it difficult to stand) actually stood up to give me the seat!!