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

[Existentialtimes]

I'm 54, post-menopausal. I'm not overweight, but despite working out a lot, I don't look particularly muscly. I have a little belly and a biggish bum because of all my glute work, and thighs that have cellulite and a little thick. I was overweight in my teens, hit my fitness stride at 29, lost tons of weight, looked my absolute best and thinnest in my thirties...and then had kids etc...

That's the background.

Today, I went to find a new swimming costume. Looking at a three way mirror in M&S, I could have cried. I just hated what I saw. I'd love to practise self-love but I just can't. I hate being so shallow. I want to be grateful that I'm fit and well, but Instead all i feel is self-loathing.

The shop lights are not designed for body positivity. It sounds as though we might have similar exercise routine and body type and I love my body but even I avoid looking in shop mirrors.

Never ever look in a 3 way mirror, in shop lighting, nobody looks good

I'm happy with my body, my skin is getting saggy and wrinkly which isn't awesome, but completely expected.

I work out at the gym and have a 1 year old plus younger husband, which keeps me active and very happy. That is what counts!

This

I'm fairly comfortable with my body at age 45 but shop mirrors are not my friend. You'd think it would be in the shop's interests to try and make them as flattering as possible to encourage a sale.

You would. I handed all the swimsuits back to the nice woman on the door - I'd only tried on two - and said, please, get rid of those effing mirrors. She said, oh I agree

There are certainly times when I liked my body more but aging and weight gain and loss happen but my body is a vessel to get from A to B much like my car. I don't hate my car so I don't hate my body.

It might be a remnant of any loss of self confidence you had when you were young coupled with an awareness that you're changing in ways you might not necessarily enjoy. I'm about the same age and find it hard. It sounds like you're in pretty good nick really though, so avoid shop changing room mirrors as much as you can and celebrate your health and wisdom in keeping fit. Enjoy the swimming cozzie you choose!

I'm 45 and hate my body in shop mirrors only

My body has nurtured two children and been through major surgery. I have bumps, lumps and a bit of fat because I love my food.
I am not a 20yo model, never going to look like one, but my body is marvellous and I love it.

My body is not great but I've found a way to dress it and I'm too busy to matter.

Buy online and try on at home - much better!!

I am ok with it. Would I prefer my 25 year old body back if I could have it with the wave of a wand? Yes. Do I spend a lot of time thinking about it, or will I get surgery? No.

I try to stay busy with other things.

I loath my body as im
Overweight and have now discovered actual dents !
Nothing much suits me and clothes buying is a pain.

My view of my body is "Not great, not terrible ". (waves to any Chernobyl fans out there)

I quite like my body until go into changing rooms. Like PPs have said why they make them so unflattering is beyond me.

Mine's a bit wrinkly but mostly works fine, so I'm happy enough with that. DH is the same age and looks significantly older because of health problems.

I think it helps if you were always a bit potato shaped in the first place. There's less to regret on going from 'smooth potato' to 'wrinkly potato'.

I am reasonably healthy and am very grateful for that.

Fitting room mirrors are horrendous, someone told me years ago that the glass is magnified in shop mirrors. God knows who come up with that idea.

Another that says shop lights- they’re awful!!! It’s not you it’s them!!!!

No way, I’m over 40 and way more body confident than I was when I was younger, for some reason my tits have only improved with age (and kids!)

This is why I never try stuff on in the changing rooms, the mirrors always make me look horrendous.

Oh, I don't think those mirrors existed when I last went clothes shopping in an actual shop. They sound horrible and guaranteed to be unflattering.

I haven't set foot in a changing room in a shop for more than 20 years! As soon as online shopping got fully up and running, I switched to online. I try things on in the privacy of my own home, with the option to dim the lights if appropriate!

I'll bet you look a lot better than you think you do.

I'm a bit older than you and generally like my body. But not in shop mirrors, ever. No idea why they don't realise they would sell a lot more stuff if their mirrors weren't so very unflattering.

I’d be fine with my body if I wasn’t overweight and could fit into all my old lovely clothes.

Same here !

I’m 52 and just bought my first bikini in 20 years - after trying on with mirrors in M&S.

Pilates, weights, running. Healthy Mediterranean non UPF diet.

Happy and healthy. And yes, just a bit fucking smug as a lifetime of exercise has finally caught up with me.

Perhaps you need some cardio back in OP. When you say a lot of working out, what do you mean? I don’t think I do a lot but I expect it is above average.