Do most women post 40/45 yrs dislike their body?

Great reply.

If the picture in my mind is of some model my self-critic thinks I "should" resemble, or of myself 25 years ago, then I'm prone to finding my real and present body unsatisfactory.

If I've remembered who I am before looking at the mirror, then I see a somewhat chunky and puffy, slightly wrinkled woman who looks okay, considering age and health.

"Okay considering" is fine by me! I keep telling that inner critic; she'll cotton on eventually 😄

Great. Well, what secondary sexual characteristics men may fancy, and the kind of porn they pay to wank over, is really a reason for women to feel content with their own bodies.🙄

Through ageing and illness and the terminal illness of friends I have come to appreciate what my body can still do

I don't give shit, still allve Woooo

In nearly 40 and I'm quite proud of my body. I do eat and probably drink too much but I run daily and am always rushing about generally..
My face on the other hand 😅

I’m 65 and really happy with mine, tbh 😊

Wasn’t there a shop once where you could change the lighting in your cubicle?? Might have been H&M! Still wasn’t great !

No

I voted that you were being unreasonable. Objectively some may say my body is not aesthetically pleasing. It's old it's saggy it's got way too many scars, and it no longer works very well.

I say, its got me through one pregnancy and three rounds of cancer.

I think my body is just grand. I don't give a monkey's what anyone else thinks, my body has done wonderful things.

Honestly I don’t care.

I’m 51. I’m in OK shape for my age, I exercise a lot. I’m not thin (life’s too short) but not overweight. I look reasonably ok in clothes and my partner finds me attractive.

I consider myself very fortunate never to (yet) have had any serious health problems and my body largely still does what I need it to do. It’s good enough for me.

I can’t be arsed creating anxiety for myself worrying about failing to live up to an ideal that was unrealistic 20 years ago. I just consider myself lucky to have health.

M&S like to give with one hand and take away with the other

On the one hand you have their vanity dress sizing which keeps us all thinking we're a size 10 and on the other hand they have 3 way mirrors and bright lights in the fitting rooms!

I'm 49 now and know my body doesn't look as good as it did when I was under 45 but still feel grateful to be fit and healthy

I agree. I leave their changing rooms wanting to die!
But not all are like that. I think Next abd Fat Face have low lighting and flattering mirrors.

M&S mirrors are evil.

I hate mirrors too and I never try anything on in changing rooms. Too brutal

A large portion of my crises of confidence have been in M&S changing rooms. Brutal.

That, and fuck the patriarchy.

I was never drop dead gorgeous forty years ago , but I'm really not aging well now and I swear my nose has grown a bit!
I hate my hammer toe and weird feet too
I wished I had normal nice feet. I really loath my feet and I can't wear nice shoes. It Sucks.

We all age.
I often remind myself just how amazing my body is and am thankful for the journey we've been on.

OP, I hated those mirrors even as a teen! They don't flatter anyone. It's mad that shop designers put them in like that.

I was slim in my late 30s. Now I'm overweight (47) and I do try and stay healthy. I eat well but I don't do much exercise.

I drink too much wine.

But I don't care.

My body is but a mere shell for the wonderful human being it holds inside 😂😂

I know I need to lose weight for my health, moving forward. But I couldn't bring myself to actively dislike my body. It's been through a lot and it's given me a lot.

The patriarchy has a lot to fucking answer for.

I'll be 54 this week and my lofestyle seems a lot like yours. I actually love my body more than I ever have. Obviously it doesn't look as youthful as it did, but what it can do is pretty amazing.

40s hate my body. But have done since having my 2nd dc onwards. I am starrting to tell myself, 4 pregnancy hectic life balancing work and kids blah blah . My body does well there are better looking bodies out there but also far worse.

In my full length mirrors at home, I am gorgeous.

Strangely, in shop changing rooms mirrors, I’m considerably less than gorgeous.

Apart from Next. In there I’m 6 foot tall and about 8 stone. I need a Next mirror. 🤔

I was just about to say the same thing!! I'm not a big fan of the way I look in the mirror, but OMG M&S changing rooms are the worst!

Perhaps you have a critical eye! I can’t believe you look that bad.
I do do quite a bit of running and now do lighter weights as I get bottom heavy too, but Pilates was the thing that changed me the most. I do a few moves every morning, then 2 classes a week. I bloody love it too so it’s a pleasure to do.

Honestly happy with it. Still about fitting into my trousers. I try to be kind to it, because I plan to keep it going for another 50 years.