Calling all those who made changes in their 40's

[Mandiba]

Sooo..

Currently 42 years old and ready to make some permanent changes in my life.

In the last year I've made an effort with my hair, make- up, nails, eyebrows etc so that's all good.

What I haven't changed yet is my weight ( currently 1st 7 lbs overweight)

I don't do any exercise. I was doing 5 exercise classes a week 2 years ago but injured my neck so gave up because of the pain.

Clothes are only ok. I've never had much knowledge about fashion but I'm not totally clueless either. I try but definitely need help.

So my question is ....

For all of you out there that have made changes and are feeling the best they could feel for their age. What have you done & what kind of routine do you have.

Thanks 💐

i'm 41, and started using Retin A a year ago.
I upped my vegetable intake, drastically lowered my carb intake, and cut out a lot of sugar, increased water intake.
I started seriously weight training, and doing HIIT
I'm a lot more toned up, and my bingo wings, and muffin top are no more.
I also bought and use a Lumea which has meant that hair on my legs, underarms and poonani are gone.
Obviously I use Spf 50 on my face.

Hitting the gym hard and drinking 3 litres of water per day. New Years resolution is to cut out lattes altogether, costing me too much and a waste of calories, not even nice from Costa etc I don't enjoy them
I've started to wash my hair just once a week and have it blow dried about once every three months. As a result it needs trimming once a year, no damaged ends so it's growing better too

New, I feel exactly the same about Costa.A stupid habit that doesn't even taste that nice. I gave up for 6 mts last year & drank 3 litres of water every day. I felt great!! I really must start again.

Right, keep looking at the Lumea and wondering if it's worth the money.
My biggest problem is my hair, it's wavy & dry and my grey roots start showing about 10 days after I colour it. It's bloody hard work.

When I look back, the most effective changes I made were:

Acknowledging I was never going to join a gym so found ways of incorporating exercise into my life e.g. walking to work, using stairs rather than lifts etc.
Cutting right back on the booze.
Eating more fish, fruit and veg.
Working out my body shape - and fifteen years on, working out that it had changed again.
Finally realising I look shite in black.
Discovering specs rather than contacts - they distract from the chaos that is my face.
Having a baby - it was shit for my looks but I don't care

(I already didn't smoke or sunbathe and I used sunscreen every day.)

Also found meditation and yoga.

I use a Jawbone, have lost over 3 stone and feel comfortbale in my skin again. I try not to dress "fussy" i.e not too much pattern or accessories. I'm enjoying my 40s now.

MissBattle, what is a jawbone ???

Jawbone is a fitness tracker. I also started wearing a fitness tracker every day about two years ago (am now 43) and have become much fitter. I lost 4kg last year and started hiking - wonderfully meditative . I also went through a style makeover and updated my makeup and skincare. Simple stuff like daily sunscreen and acid pads and avoiding pore clogging cosmetics have transformed my skin - my rosacea and acne are under control. I feel enjoy my life more post 40!

I stopped drinking and drug-taking in my 30s (to be frank it had got right out of control) and I've been making small changes ever since. I stopped smoking a couple of years later, and I now don't eat meat and do try to drink 3l of water a day but sometimes miss - I notice when I don't because dehydration is a migraine trigger for me - and I exercise quite a lot - ashtanga yoga, pilates and weight training, dogwalking, and in the summer swimming. I don't like swimming in a pool and I'm not hardcore enough to swim outdoors in winter. I swim with my dog in a large pond in the woods near my house, it's the most zen thing ever. I saw kingfishers last year.

I also started watching a lot of youtube videos on makeup and my makeup is a million times better now. I'm still struggling with clothes because of a niggling worry that I'm too old for certain styles now. But as I approach my 50s I've decided I'll wear whatever the fuck I want, and I won't care. I'd stopped wearing short skirts but my legs are probably my best feature so fuck it.

I think I'm gaining confidence as I get older, despite feeling a bit invisible to the world at large. Maybe the invisibility gives me confidence. Anyway, who cares. I feel happy in my skin for the first time in my life.

Since turning 40 3 years ago I've :
Started doing and outdoor bootcamp at least once a week
Cycling to work
Giving up sugar. Creeping back to eating sugar. Giving up etc. I feel fab without it though and look better so need to get back on that wagon.
Had my colours done and style analysed
Started hrt. Too early to tell whether it has made much difference yet (although I am less stroppy!)

I still drink a couple of times a week and try to eat relatively healthy. I've been moisturising and using eye cream etc for years anyway.

I'd say I've regularly done wardrobe overhauls but as for those since turning 40 I've done a few things differently. 1) This year I cleaned out my wardrobe of all the stuff I wish I could wear again or that never suited me to begin with. 2) I stopped binge shopping - I will never again have the experience of getting something fabulous but have nothing to wear it with, no where to wear it or discovering it isn't so fabulous and forcing myself to wear it. 3) I got some really god tips on what colours I should wear. As for my body 1) I take better care of my hair and skin because I massively dried out head to toe this year. I don't know if what I've done has stopped me looking my age but I feel so much better with richer hair and skin products. 2) I take a complex b vit daily and sometimes a fish oil if I haven't had fish in a while.

I'm just inside the healthy BMI on the chart but I feel about a stone overweight. My lack of motivation comes from this; clothes on I think I look great, clothes off I think I look like I need to loose a stone.

I go to bed ridiculously early, avoid too much socialising and have developed my interests that fall outside of work.

Good luck to you OP!

Thank you all for your replies & for all the great tips. It struck me reading through them that as we all get older everything becomes very personalised. What works for some may not suit another. I've often fantasised about being a vegan but I know I would have zero energy. Eating a little lean meat energises me. I'd also like the idea of Zumba but hate loud noise and fast movement so wouldn't enjoy it. I am a classic introvert so really am more suited to tai chi and walking. I read a really good quote recently.It said " In order to stay young you have to let go of your youth". It really resonated with me. I feel like I'm transitioning into a phase of my life where I'm really getting to know who I am.

That makes perfect sense. I looked at the photos of George Michael and Carrie fisher and thought how they both improved looks wise with age, beautiful when young but more attractive as their lives progressed

I'm 50. In my 40s I had my colours "done" at the House of Colour and started doing regular yoga (just at home with YouTube videos - Yoga with Adriene) . Cut down on carbs as was starting to feel a bit sort of lumpy. Kept going with running and started doing more cross-country. Feel pretty positive about it all but would like to start learning more about makeup and skincare.

Liking this thread.
I had an overhaul and decided to get fit before my metabolism slowed. Got fit, then got pregnant.

Once I get a full night's sleep I will tackle sugar.
Now planning to exercise again, I try to drink more liquid, but with realism have a mug of water to match every cup of tea.

I have stopped buying clothes that are OK, and try to buy what suits me.

I got very ill when I hit my 40s and I could do 0 to fight ageing as all time went on staying upright. Even so I improved quite a lot.

10 things that work with no exercise or effort:

1. Scent (perfume) every day
2. Eyebrows threaded
3. Epilate tach
4. Vit D spray and vit B daily
5. Body lotion + leave-in conditioner daily
6. Bright nails, Revlon diamond hard lasts a week
7. Lisa Eldrige No Make Up video
8. Dropped black tops for white tops

9.Dropped heels for flats 10. Dropped HM for Weekday and Cos

I also bought a sofa with no back so I had to sit up. I regret this daily but my spine is in good shape for the first time in 30 years.

New, I couldn't agree more about Carrie Fisher. Very attractive woman. She looked so well in her recent pictures it's hard to believe she is gone. So sad.

Lanor, well done on making all those changes despite being ill. I'm currently trying to imagine a sofa with no back to it though 😱

I like quirky looking people but what I really love is someone who is 100% comfortable with who they are. If i could magic anything for myself it would be that.
There are days when I genuinely wonder how I come across to other people. I've absolutely no idea!
Anyone else feel like that ?

I diet on and off when I need to and am in the right frame of mind - but always try to eat healthily - cook fresh etc
Take regular exercise - for me gym and swim
Have my hair dyed n cut every 6 weeks
Always wear nail polish - have nails done with gel for holidays and special occasions
Eyelashes tinted and brows done
Buy good quality timeless basics in natural fabrics and fibres - which I supplement with occasional cheap fashion items or charity shop finds
Comfortable shoes that look good are possible if you search - always polished - no worn heels etc