To ask when you felt like you were in your ‘prime’?

[Cryingmakesmecry]

Interested to see when people have felt most in their prime as I’ve always considered early 20s to be ‘prime years’. I’m now 27 and definitely feel like early 20s was not my prime! It was riddled with anxiety, fear of other people’s opinions, poor motivation and dating someone in their late 40s

I know care way less about what others think and can do stuff that I wouldn’t have been able to do when was younger like go out to eat on my own, go jogging in the street. I also barely wear makeup now whereas 5 years ago I wouldn’t even go to the corner shop without it on!

Not sure if this can be considered ‘feeling in my prime’, but I definitely feel more comfortable in my own skin and hope it continues increasing.

So when would you consider your ‘prime’ age?

[wizzywig]

In terms of being feeling physically sexy and totally desirable it was mid20s. Personality and confidence-wise, its now in my 40s.

[LoseLooseLucy]

As wizzywig said. I'm just turned 40.

[Lemonmaid]

Lookswise 29 through to 35ish after I'd lost and kept off loads of weight, although not too bad now.

Physical fitness wise, definitely from 40 onwards.

[ssd]

Same as wizzy

[DeeTractor]

Still waiting.

[MarshaBradyo]

Same as Wizzy too
Physical prime 24
Confidence now

[MarshaBradyo]

Actually slightly different I didn’t feel particularly unconfident then, just feel better about stuff now, more secure possibly. Hard to pinpoint

[Inextremis]

Around about 32 - 35 I suppose. I'm 61 now and don't feel that I've totally crumbled :)

[Blondiney]

Plain child.
Dog rough teen.
Attractive 20-32.
Downhill steeply from 38.
Invisible at 46.

[The8thMonth]

My 40s. Have confidence and have completed my family, so career is back on track. I also happen to be in better shape now and about 10kg less in weight (mainly due to no boozing since I had kids and hangovers are killer).

I remind myself of the female bosses I worked for in my 20s and 30s who looked glamorous, put together, nice careers and older aged children. I'm that woman now.

[Ardnassa]

Still in it, I think. Felt this way since about 26 and am now 35. I dress well, eat well, career is fab, I feel confident and at peace. Long may it continue! Trying to relish each day of this for as long as it lasts.

[EmeraldShamrock]

Physically 20's mentally 30's. Now near 40 I'm content.

[Poetryinaction]

16-30.
I was size 8, fit, good figure, good hair.
Then I had kids.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and 7 years of ageing later I feel wobbly, fat, unfit, wrinkly and greying.

[NotNowPlzz]

Never. I looked great about 19 but was a mess. I'm now a better functioning mess but still not great. I wish for the day I can be a normal person and happy with my life.

[AnnaSW1]

Early 30s, 100%

[Cryingmakesmecry]

@The8thMonth that’s such a lovely thought! I will definitely take note of that.

Same with the being in much better shape, I was probably skinnier 5 years ago but very unhealthy, barely ate and when I did it was pure junk! Since having my DD I’m way more health conscious and actually enjoy working out. Hoping the career will take off once I graduate in 3 years

[HappyMealWithLegs]

Now. I'm 40. I look a million times better than I did in my 20s and 30s. Plus I'm incredibly confident in myself now. I know I look good, and I don't care if that sounds big headed! If you don't big yourself up, who will?!

[Cryingmakesmecry]

I also find that when I was younger I was heavily focussed on looks. I really felt like my life was only worthwhile if people found me attractive. I’m now much less shallow and don’t even consider physical looks important, I’m kind, funny (I think ) and am really conscious of other people’s feelings so I guess it comes down to what you personally believe your ‘prime’ is whether that’s confidence, looks, or overall mental well-being.

[romeolovedjulliet]

in my mid 50's, i feel vibrant, fairly healthy, confident and sassy. dress as i did in my mid 20's complete with dm boots [not short skirts any or nipple grazing tops as that would scare little old ladies and small furry animals]. funky hair colours and nearly down with the kids, i look at people my own age and think why are you wanting to fade into the background with grey hair and beige ? i'm going to be rocking it at 90 !

[firstimemamma]

24 - present (I'm 30 now).

[EmeraldShamrock]

Put it this way OP once you reach it you have it for many years, like a fine wine with some TLC it improves year on year with age.

[BetteDavisWeLuvU]

Looks wise 24-29. Even though I didnt think it at the time so much, I look at timehop pics and think wow 😂.

Around 30 things started to go v downhill struggled with my skin, hair and general wellbeing, I was obviously unwell but still don't know to this day what was going on. My hair started to thin drastically and break, it always looked a weird colour when it was dyed, my skin became awfully spotty as well whilst being really dehydrated and I just looked like crap a lot of the time.

I’m late 30’s now and have 2 toddlers and whilst I've struggled with my weight and looking knackered I feel I'm coming out of that horrible cycle.

Confidece and contentment wise I definitely don't feel there yet. I feel like I need a life coach sometimes 😂

[SenecaFallsRedux]

Early 50s definitely. Healthy, menopause over and done, kids on their own, promoted at work, parents still able to look after themselves, so lots of time to spend on my interests.

[OllyBJolly]

Now. I'm 58. Been fab fifties for me.

[AntennaReborn]

@HappyMealWithLegs

Now. I'm 40. I look a million times better than I did in my 20s and 30s. Plus I'm incredibly confident in myself now. I know I look good, and I don't care if that sounds big headed! If you don't big yourself up, who will?!

This. I'm 41 and have never felt or looked better.

I'm on top of depression / anxiety and I know how to manage them when they try and come back. I have become confident, have stopped caring what people think of me, and I don't feel guilty about doing things for myself when I need to.

Physically, I objectively have never looked better. I used to be a smaller dress size in my 20s and early 40s, but I was skinny fat and smoked 30 a day. I have been lifting heavy and paying attention to the quality of my nutrition since my late 30s, and I am so, so happy with the body I have built, I now look lean and toned even though I am the heaviest I have ever been (I even have visible abs, which my old skinny self definitely didn't have).

And I genuinely feel like I am still on the way up. Bring on ageing! 😊