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.

I’m not full of body image self loathing and would never try on swimwear in a shop fitting room! Awful places. You get these things now that have slimming panels etc. Could you order a few online and try them on at home instead?

M&S mirrors are awful. I remember trying on bras and I looked terrible.

Meh, it's the only one I've got. Loving your body doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. I have a healthy self respect for mine, although I'm working on reducing it and getting fitter. It helps that I think I'm awesome and give zero shits what other people think of me.

I don't, but I was fat as fuck in my 30s and have now lost loads of weight, got some piercings and tattoos, and now I feel like my outside reflects who I am on the inside.

I'm still a wobbly 12 with big boobs but I feel so much better that I don't care.

And never follow it with a trip to the hairdressers! That way madness lies.

I do a lot of heavy weights and a tailored programme in the gym at least 3, mostly 4 times a week. This includes cardio like skipping (I don't like running anymore, have arthritic knee). I'm a size 10 top, 10/12 bottom. I try to do 8-10K steps a day. I'm careful what I eat.

I'm not sure how much more I could do

I think we have all been conditioned by the media to look perfect and never age. That way madness lies.

The only time I ever like my body is when I look back at photos and realise I looked fantastic. At the time I thought I was a mess. Have never liked my current body.

Honestly OP no one not even super models are perfect, I remember reading about Tyra Banks when she was in a changing room and she was gutted to see the cellulite on the tops of her arms, she was so shocked that it was even on her arms! Here’s an article on her body insecurities.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6989229/Tyra-Banks-admits-wore-long-trains-Victorias-Secret-shows-hide-cellulite.html

If you'd asked me a year ago, I would've said that my body made me a bit sad. However, last autumn I lost a stone, and started lifting heavy weights. I'm 50 now and I finally have the abs I had back in my 30's, I think actually my figure is better now as I was doing a lot of cardio back then and never really had a totally flat stomach whereas I'm more defined now.

I'm 46 and I've always looked like sack of spuds in any swimsuit (size 10-12 but small boobs and no waist) so I didn't look a great deal better in my youth and pre kids. Have definitely put on weight post 40 but I was always prepared for that to happen and I just accept that's how it is, we can't go on looking exactly the same and while I do make some efforts not to put on too much weight (mainly because I have a joint issue that could be exacerbated by weight gain) I'm not going to try to get back to being the weight I was in my 20s or 30s, it's not important enough to me to make that sort of effort, I'd rather enjoy life more.

For me it's less what I don't like it's more that I do not give two shits anymore about what others think about what I wear, how I cut my hair etc. If I like it, I do it and that makes me feel good about myself in general. I get good sleep, take my vitamins, I eat to nourish my body, I don't starve myself, I no longer exercise just to stay slim I do it for the benefits it has to my mental health more than anything.

But of course I'd rather not have wobbly bits 🤣

I'm 40s and having to really work at it. Even then I'm not how I want to look. I think I emotional eat? Then again I don't have much time to exercise like I did years ago due to being a parent. I accidentally took a picture of my face close up from a lower angle last week. It was bad. Really bad.

I think women look better the older they get, lumps and bumps in the right places are lovely. I've never heard a bloke moan about big boobs or a fat backside. In fact I've often heard them moan about stick insects.

There's a reason why ever porn site has a granny area.

42 and ok imo

I need to start moisturising and exfoliating reliably

No, I look fine in the shop mirror, it’s when I get home & look that’s the problem. But I don’t wear swimsuits, so I can cover up in something decent to hide it, if only I could find something decent. My face looks OK in the mirror too, but whenever I do a selfie to see how bad I look it’s absolutely horrific!

I've more or less stopped clothes shopping, nothing I try on makes me look good anymore.

I'm 54 and don't do enough exercise to be in great shape but I don't really care. I'm grateful to be generally healthy and have enough self confidence to not worry about how I look. I've just bought a bikini top to wear with a pair of fitted swim shorts on holiday (like big bikini bottoms). They cover a lot of the flab and cellulite 🙂

I think the majority of women, of all ages, have some body insecurities.

Between 39 and 42 I was in the best shape ever. I'm now 44 and have let myself go a bit, for various reasons. I'm back at the gym now and cutting down on all the chocolate, so fingers crossed 🤞🏼

I think most women are unhappy with their bodies at any age.

I think the pressure to love your body is part of the problem tbh. I tolerate mine! It largely does what I need it to do. It's a bit bigger and wobblier than I would like, but meh. I think we could all do with thinking a bit less about what oir bodies look like tbh.
I'm trying to do more exercise because It makes me feel better and will help ward off various health conditions. I am under no illusions that I will manage to find the time or motivation to do enough of it to significantly change my body shape.

I don't mind my body but I can't look at my face properly in mirrors (paticularly shop ones) . Wrinkles and hormonal acne!

I'm pretty happy with the way I look - have lost three stone and exercise a lot by MY GOD the mirrors and lighting in M&S changing rooms make me feel dreadful.

They must lose millions every year because people look so dreadful in their changing rooms.

More confident than when younger (what a waste) - cellulite the same as it was when I was about 20, no stretchmarks as older mother (apparently?!), but rounded stomach and flabby arms. And yes, changing room mirrors have made me virtually suicidal