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?

Hell's bells, pag, you are nearly 50!? I never imagined you to be so old .

lol @ fat rib cage. I am in a perpetual state of conquering a fat rib cage.

On another thread, someone called their gunt a 'ken doll'. I quite liked that. Even more so because I haven't got one of those.

I don't do gym. It's boring.

Is running as good an option as I suspect?
Those of you who run, have you always run or if not, how did you start iyswim.

Running would be easier in terms of logistics than my gym visits but I just have cross country nightmares.

How do you start?

at pointy . Cheeky mare.

I ought to have a party really.......

Make sure it finishes by 11pm. You'll be tired.

What can I have as a snack in the evening when skinny do and ds are stuffing cakes in!?!

Dp not do

pag I'm still building up the courage to run outside - I really want to do a 5k marathon. I just run on the treadmill at the moment. Am scared to run outside as I'm so red faced!

Running - try Couch to 5K, it's really achievable and doesn't take more than half an hour each session.

teahouse you mentioned stress incontinence and the fact that you're on HRT. Google it to find out the research on this, and be pissed off it's not mentioned in the side effects, though it's very well-documented.

I'm fortunate enough not to need HRT now, but found incontinence cleared up very quickly after stopping it.

noddyI think that protein in the evening is meant to be good but I've been having cheese and oatcakes which should be fattening but hasn't been IYSWIM.

Thanks corny am off out now for my 2 laps of the big park it's 3 miles and all I can muster! Then to the co op to get some supplies as going to my mums for a BBQ tomorrow and it will be calorie central.

I may go for a run round the deer park later if I'm feeling brave but I'm going to wait for everyone to go home first!

Right. Off to gym to subject thunder thighs to treadmill.

I'm finding this thread inspiring too.

I am going to start c25K just as soon as my youngest gets over his chickenpox and our Easter visitors have gone. Next Sunday I think that means for me -- I'll start out by shuffling round the block at dusk. And I'm cutting calories too.

I think running is the way to go.

25k - wow!

can er have a MN menopause marathon?

Thanks corny. will look at couch to 5k. We do have some decent places to run locally.

Noddy, I like dips in the evening. A really garlicy dip especially. With celery, cucumber etc. I can eat a lot of that without feeling deprived. Or cold meats.

The only trouble is they go really well with a glass of wine...

ah yes the wine...as soon as I smell garlic I find it difficult to resist.

LadyCorny - No not 25K C25K is couch to 5K.

Yeah .. until recently when I told people my son was 23 I always got "No .. I can't believe it" etc. etc.
Now I just get "Oh really"

cabbage - thanks for the advice. I don't go to the Doctor's as a rule, so I'm not sure what the etiquette is about questioning his diagnosis. I've only recently changed to him, and it was a bit of a faff, so I don't want to change again if I can help it. I should have read up anyway, so it's partly my fault that I'm not better informed, but I started to feel better over the winter. Now I'm feeling flushy again and it really drags me down sometimes as it affects my motivation to do stuff. Are you through the meno yet? I seem to have got over the not-sleeping bit, at least.

PS - has anyone bought themselves a bike yet? I have!! I'm not sure if it's any good for calorie burning, but I got asked out by a man I accidentally pinned against the wall whilst on mine!!

This is me out for a Sunday spin on my bike

that picture reminds me of my sister and myself on a moped in corfu. When we went up a hill the bike tipped up and we both fell off the back.

Pag - started running at 35 ( I think - it was some time ago) - I'd never run before. We used to hide in a friend's house when we did cross country at school as the route passed her back garden.

I didn't do a timed run/walk thing - I had a route that was a half mile out and a half mile back from home and I just went out and randomly ran/walked it until I could run the whole mile. Then i just added on. The first time I went was with dh and he pushed me to run about the last 300 m back to the house and I seriously thought I was going to die. I lay on the living room floor for about 20 mins after. You need to push past your comfort zone but don't go too fast or too far otherwise you'll think feck it I can't run and give up. Try running between lamposts and then go to every other lampost. Set yourself little targets.

I've run pretty religiously every week since and it definitely helps level my mood among other things. And it's good if you're time poor or only have random chunks of time where you can't go regularly to a class. All the better if you can find a friend to go with or get some music on an ipod and take that for company.

I've rambled but try it. How bad can it be ?

Hey ladies, count me in.

I'm 43 and tragically rapidly instead of my trim, chic mum starting back at me in the mirror I'm starting to see my jowly baggy father gurning in the glass.

Ghastly.

I am short, 5'3" and always have been an effortless size 8/10 (yeah yeah I know) but now have increasing bulk and creases everywhere.

I tried running but my hips and back hurt so retreated to my bed.

Every Feb I give up booze for a month and then feel spectacular all sort of whizzy and fit and gorgeous but then start back on it and look like crap again.

Irritatingly I have a younger dh who feels the need to comment on my advancing years. I really should trade him in for an older model. If I had a nice comfy 50 yr old I'm sure he'd appreciate me more.