Middle aged spread - what to do?

[radiatordrama]

Was just looking at this photo of myself and I am a bit alarmed by this tummy pooch. I'm at a fairly low weight, but I am sure my middle used to be more slender. Or are my clothes unflattering? Should I be doing more core work?

Actually, I think we're both right. 😊

Fatty infiltration into muscle as you age...

I'd like the boots but my legs wouldn't fit.

Honestly, have a look at your self-esteem. Not loving yourself, regardless of how you look as you age is the road to depression.

I know. 🙁

Weddings feel like a younger woman's game and I think that the idea of being a bride is causing me extra anxiety about ageing etc.

It sounds as if your cup is half-empty @radiatordrama .
Being a bit long in the tooth doesn't have to mean you can't look like a princess.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's Wedding - Looking Back at Charles and Camilla's Wedding Photos

Boden?

White Stuff

My comment about the bride's age was a bit mean but she does look radiant.
It was 20 years ago!

What about Skims or similar?

or a sense of fucking perspective

You look perfectly normal.

I guess I want to look better than normal due to the whole middle aged spread thing? Unless you're saying that this is inevitable and it's impossible to fight biology?

Just switch to skirts with a side zip.

I'd kill to look like that...

Tell me about it!

It's taken me two years of exercise to get my arms back. (I'm 65.) Don't ask about the rest of me...

I was a size 8/10 until I hit 43 and now at 45 I'm a size 12 and have middle aged spread on my tummy and thighs but am embracing it and not worrying about it at all

I think it looks as though there is a zipper down the front of the skirt that maybe isn't well-designed?

I can see what you mean about a slight pooch outwards, but I'm not sure it isn't a zipper that is a bit long for the cut of the skirt so is pushing it outwards?

She looked stunning that day.

I did think she looked very lovely but also remember thinking she looked really old! Seeing that now she looks quite youthful! How time flies! And how relative things are ...

Or is the skirt just one size too small? That might be why it is cutting in below the belly area.

If you haven't noticed it in other clothing I really wouldn't worry. It just looks like the skirt is not quite right to me.

@Calliopespa I have been wondering if it was at least partly that. It's very confusing.

@Calliopespa , same here. William and Harry look so young there. They have hair!

These are all good points about ageing gracefully, and I do appreciate the fact that even royals do marry when older!

I think a back or side zip is always more flattering in a skirt.

I also think a size up might make it less pronounced.

There's no going back, unfortunately. I'm so disappointed in these ugly engagement photos. All I can see is the pooch.

A pooch is a dog.

I’d just get the photos edited, but some new skirts and move on with my life.

I think most women tend to thicken a little through the middle unless they are very focused on not allowing it. But life is quite short to spend much of it fighting a natural tendency and is it really worth it? I mean you won't fight every aspect of aging and is a hot bod on a 80 year old really such a thing to strive for? It's about accepting where you are on your journey and using your time and focus for what brings most pleasure and richness to your existence.

I think it's the whole bride thing making you feel this way. We tend to think of bridal bodies as being kind of fresh out of the packet (ie youthful, pre-pregnancy etc) and I think you will have a different perspective once you are an old married lady op!