Late 40s, menopausal and fading

[Swedes2]

I haven't as yet submitted to the full beard and elasticated waistband trousers. But heck, it's hard isn't it? I absolutely love clothes, make-up, and all that shit.... but I am becoming more and more interested in my garden (not a euph). Last night I went to the garage to buy milk in my gardening clothes.

Anyone else going through the same thing? Have you any tips you can share?

miniegg - Oh that's great, thank youl. Do you have an iPod/iPhone -- you can download an app for the couch to 5K. I'll link to it later.

Swedes, I'll do the couch25k with you. I need to get my mojo back and a bit of gentle running will do nicely. I think I'll be doing a mix of dawn and later in the day - how many times a week do you have to do it?

Bonsoir - You don't have to do it at dusk. Does your DD get homework? In any case, my littlies go to bed looooong before dusk.

Yes, my DD has homework! And she certainly doesn't feel like doing it right after school (she likes to go the park for a play with her friends if she doesn't have an afterschool activity). We normally get home at about 6.30 pm.

The only realistic time for me to go running is right after school drop off at 9am. Hmm.

Swedes - I've just been googling the C25K this morning - will reluctantly happily join you! Although dusk might be an issue; I'm definitely better with exercise first thing.

Nothingnatural - Great, thank you. We can all support each other.

couch to 5K here

It takes 9 weeks. And apparently if you have a bad/hard week, it's best to just repeat a week.
DH and DS1 (who are both v v fit) are trying to get me to run the Herts 10k with them in October.

We could all get together and run a 5K in the summer - at some convenient location? We could all then go out and celebrate together afterwards.

I'd love to power walk/jog but my boobs joggle up and down which is painful and embarrassing(cup size F)and even when I diet they still stay the same. If I had my time over again I'd go for breast reduction at age 20. Too late now, as I am post-menopausal and don't think the trauma is worth it for such a short term. I've probably got more fatal/important things to worry about now if you see what I mean.
If it's any help ladies, you feel a whole lot better once the periods and stuff is over. At least you can go away on holiday without looking at the calendar. Also I don't have pmt or any of the other stuff that goes with periods.

Unfortunately I cannot run due to a heart condition but I can walk miles! And I have been doing that for about 9 days now and already noticing a huge difference esp in stamina. The first couple of days I couldn't wait to reach the coffee place(in park) to sit down whereas now I happily pass it 2 or 3 times on my circuit! I really feel the exercise is the key to looking and feeling good about yourself and eating a healthy diet aswell. On day 6 I think of no wine and i think it is working i look better first thing even one glass makes me crepey.Good luck with the running x

BIWI - Great. Yes, everyone should just do it on the days/times most convenient to them.

That's 4 of us now.

Oh lord, I might join you.

I will do Couch to 5k too. I really need the motivation to keep with this.

Crossword, you just need a really good sports bra. You can get some that look a bit like corsets complete with the little hooks up the front and then you can jump up and down and NOTHING will dare jiggle even slightly.

Swedes I have similar (fading) colouring and really want to go blonder as well because it will help hide the grey roots.

Sports bras . . . with zippers!

Whatever you get, it's gonna look like part of a uniform issued by an Eastern Bloc country during the cold war but -- it doesn't matter.

Pagwatch & Mittenkitty - Marvellous. Six of us now.

So we have a week to limber up and get kitted out. I'm going to go and get a really good sports bra and I'm also going to go to one of those running shops and get a pair of really good running shoes, that are suitable for the way I run. (They make you run on a machine and analyse your footfall.) That way I'm less likely to give up due to injury.

Oh no I feel left out now! I shall come at teh end and provide a picnic of my fab cooking and show off teh results of my walking mania!

Crossword, I have G cups and I wear an Enell bra - the one mitten was talking about I think. It's like a straitjacket to get on but those babies ain't going nowhere!

I'd love to do the 5k thing but wonder if you can do it at the gym?
I know outdoor is best, but where I live I'm surrounded by woods and hills. I can run locally as I had a 3 month phase a couple of years ago, to kick-start my weight loss - but I've just negotiated an upgrade to a peak-time gym membership with DH, and he'll be thoroughly pissed off if I don't use it.

I'm thinking if I run outside twice a week then once at the gym that might cover all angles.

Noddy - Argh - sorry. You are absolutely included. Can you do a 9 week power-walking regime alongside us?

We have one of those in town swedes. I would need running shoes too. And nigellas beach outfit to run in.

Do you think if I go and blast a fortune in sweaty Betty I will feel better about the wobbly bum and bright red face.

I am trying to figure out how to do this without telling dh. He is lovely. But his support will consists of saying " have you run yet, are you going out today, you could go now, shall I phone you and remind you, how far did you run, aren't you leaving it too late, if you ran more than the download says you would get on quicker......"

I thought it was just me...I am the wrong side of 45 and until about two years ago was an effortless size 8 (5'2") now I am a 10 and I don't even want to get on the scales. I have a tum and annoying bits on my hips (are they saddle bags?). Too much wine and it takes me a week to recover (I have taken to watering it down ). Am realising it is now time to buy good, well cut expensive clothes, as cheap tat are just unforgiving......

WWWY -- YES! I couldn't remember the maker but it is indeed Enell. Black and a bit shiny, right? DH thought I might be able to bring in some side income as a dominatrix.

Right now though I'm only a C/D and in my good old Champion high-compression bra -- not that flattering but does the job and doesn't overheat me. Might treat myself to a new one as it looks a bit pilly and disreputable.

Nothing like getting some new workout clothes for motivation . . . !

I am only joking swedes I am planning to up the walking and see if i can make it a run eventually. I have out foxed the docs many times and this is just another challenge! Now shoes I do need a pair Where to get them and what kind?

Pag, my dh is exactly the same, he thinks he's being lovely and supportive and I want to kill him. I wish he'd just leave me al

I wish he'd just leave me ALONE. (bloody iPhone)

I think we have to be all for one and one for all. Barring injury or something devastating, we absolutely MUST stay with the programme. It is perfectly OK to repeat a week, just so long as we keep going.

Bonsoir - are you in?

Pagwatch - at your DH. You might have to be like that actuary who took a lover and told the wife he was with his lover and the lover he was with his wife, but really he was in the office doing actuarial calculations.

The best way I found, when I had my brief foray into running, was to go straight after the school run. I don't get out of the car so it didn't matter that I was unwashed and in running kit.

Not so easy if you work, though.