Approaching 60 - and lost my way, trying to find it again for this new phase

[JFDIYOLO]

I'm staring at my looming 60th birthday, had quite a vile menopause (out of of it now tho).

Going very grey, am the heaviest I've ever been at 14 stone 10 lbs, at 5'8" (still only think in imperial!)

My colours were done in my 20s and i was labelled warm autumn and tho I still really like a lot of the colours in my folder, I'd like to do it again.

It's ... difficult. But I've made some decisions about what I'm going to do as part of my 60th:

Have a bra fitting and buy some gorgeous new ones

Find my fragrance

Keep up with hair colouring as I don't like the way it's going grey

Do default French manicure and handcream and declutter the dafter colours and gloopy glitter polish

Use sunscreen

Walk more

Rethink the wardrobe.

I haven't done heels in a long time and pretty much content with ballet flats, black trainers, brown Saxon/Game of Thronesy boots, flat metallic sandals depending on season.

Tights are black opaque (veins ...), none in summer.

So skirts usually ankle length in summer, shorter other times.

Tops usually fitted, skirts usually A-line - I have at least got a waist and no matter my size, I still have the remains of an hourglass shape.

Financial constraints meant I had very few new clothes for a long time so am hesitant and uncertain where to start. With spring round the corner and I don't thrive in hot weather ...

Where on earth do I start?!!

Sounds like you’ve made a great start, great. Hope tomorrow goes well for you.

I wear these tops under blazers, the wide straps cover bra straps and the v neck is flattering - I also wear long swingy cardigans, jersey coats and Zara faux suede stretchy coats. I wear M & S Lily jeans which are a good mid waist and straight leg, I've got them in all the colours dark blue, mud blue, black, grey and white. The camis also look good with bias cut midis for evening with a jacket.

www.wallis.co.uk/tall-plain-v-neck-cami/BYY06134.html?color=105

The trouble is the camis are made of viscose and polyester.

I'm following this with interest as I'm also approaching 60. I'm only 5 ft and slightly overweight and really struggle with buying clothes so very rarely do. The clothes in my wardrobe are just so old! I just don't know where to shop and really hate buying online as I like to try things on. I used to buy from Wallis and Principles as they did shorter ranges but they don't seem to exist anymore. I live in skinny jeans (although I understand these are no longer in fashion!) and boots with a bit of a heel as they give me some height and various tops.

Knowing I was fast approaching 60, I started dieting 14 months ago. I've lost slowly but steadily. What keeps me focused is the terror of losing mobility and my health. Hypertension and strokes run in my family so I have to be vigilant. Now that I've lost weight, I have so much more energy.

Morning! I do wish MN would let us comment and respond to posts, like on Facebook. 🤗

Brilliant ideas and suggestions here. I have my bra fitting at 13.30 and looking forward to my perfume arriving.

Theatre, film and dinner plans in progress.

And some very nice tech kit for my business, coming too.

So much of this is around controlling mindsets, making decisions and acting on them ,isn't it?

As my user name says - JFDI because YOLO.

I treated myself to a fitting and some new bras at Rigby and Peller. They don't use a tape measure, they do it by eye.
Mind boggling.

Done! M&S tape measure job, came out at the size I'm wearing and the tryout one was just right. Back on Saturday to get some new ones.

Sounds good! Don't buy too many though....... once you start exercising with weights, in time you may notice some subtle changes to your arms and shoulders!! 😎

@RhadamanthNemes

Most sensible advice posted ever on MN. There's way too much pussy footing around weight and health. That whole "embrace the figure you have" is damaging to health.

On the exercise front, I thoroughly recommend Couch to 5K. I'm approaching 62 and have pretty much avoided strenuously exercise all my life, but the programme is amazing and you can just put a pair of trainers in and do it.

Running is fine for those who enjoy it, but one needs to be fairly fit to begin with.

Here is a great, very short workout by the lovely Caroline Girvan:

That's really not true. I started from nothing. C25K starts with running for 60 seconds at a go. I'm never going to be a marathon runner but I do 5k three times a week.

Thankyou for the videos! I'm in trainers lugging my laptop to and from work every morning, and consciously walking fast. That's a first improvement on taking the bus every morning - I do think it's about building small changes more and more and getting used to each one. My menopausal tum has to go. I'm thinking about what I'd most ENJOY - we used to do ballroom dancing and loved it - it's really good for your legs! I think a dance class maybe straight after work would be really nice. I'm making a list 🤗

I absolutely agree I have to get on with it. Lugging this extra weight about year in year out is not good for veins, joints, heart etc. I've actually found myself needing a moment to get up off the sofa instead of springing up, and having to bend down to get to my floor locker is always a bit of an effort. I do think I CAN have pretty and effective bras and some nice clothes before I 'transform' - might help me feel better, more positive - more worth it.

Nice French mani done this evening. Nails are shorter and do look better.

I guess it is possible to become a runner in one's 50s even if one is unfit to start with, @beguilingeyes , but I think it would require a huge amount of commitment. Personally I feel that the effort is better expended on weight bearing and resistance training. As we enter the menopause we need to shore up the strength our bones in the entire skeletal system, and exercising with weight is an integral part of this. Also, with running, there is always a risk of injury, through tripping or losing one's footing. I prefer to train at home and love the workouts I have found on YouTube, especially Caroline Girvan and Growingannanas.

I also think chair yoga is great to incorporate some simple movements into one's day. There are zillions of videos on YouTube. This is just one example:

Just lifting and dropping your shoulders or rolling your shoulders back throughout the day helps posture and relaxes the neck and face to a fair degree.

This is very relaxing and quite similar to the stretches I do at the end of my workouts - except I do them standing up. I'd add the pilates roll as a very useful exercise that aids posture.

This is such a useful thread. Thank you everyone, Mumsnet at its best.

I found a video by a ballet dancer where she recommended a movement for legs feet and hips. Of course I can't find it again but it's basically:
Stand with feet well apart and turned out

Bend knees with feet flat and knees outwards to open hips
Still knees bent, come up on toes then raise up on toes

Feet flat then start again

I'm doing it while I clean my teeth, one hand on sink for balance
I will keep looking for the video to post it

I can feel my hips getting stretched - I want to be more supple and graceful as well as healthy hips

Also feel it on bum and and thigh muscles

(If you have feet knee hip problems maybe take advice first).

JFDIYOLO I am going to try that exercise.

I read another one that can be done whilst cleaning teeth-standing on one leg (one hand on sink for suport). Apparantly good for maintaining balance to prevent falls.

This thread has really motivated me, thanks for starting it. This week I have restarted going to gym after a long pause. I have had a very long overdue eye test and treated myself to new glasses. I am determined to be fitter, stronger and feel better about myself before I hit 60 in the autumn.

If you watched this video on YouTube it'll be in your Library under History.

Darcy Bussel has some ballet type exercises for adults:

And here is a more sedate Barre session with Rebecca:

Anyone know where to get the stretchy bands or hand weights?

From Amazon, Argos, JD Sport.

TK Maxx sometimes have them but they tend to be low weights and light resistance bands. It's worth getting good quality bands as the cheap ones wear out quickly.

Some people get adjustable dumbbells, but changing weights can be a faff during workouts. If you consider getting these, I'd check reviews carefully to see how convenient they are.

Personally I prefer hexagonal dumbbells with steel grips and just buy new ones when I'm ready to go up. Admittedly they are taking up a fair bit of space...

Morning!! Well it happened over the weekend, I got to be sixty and it was lovely 🤗 - nice things happening over two days!

Yes there was quite a lot of food and wine and chocolates involved ...

Last week I did a couple of days where I just ate fruit, and felt well doing that. Again today.

I'm going with eat less, eat better, move more.

I'm doing the little ballet pliés thing while cleaning teeth am and pm and I can feel small leg and bum muscles saying hello 🤣

I need to gather together lots of little doable exercise things I can do throughout the day rather than a grimly determined workout, to start with. Handy videos on this thread 🤗

I have a couple of small hand weights I got from one of those high S youtreet sports stores, when I had frozen shoulder - just a nice small extra effort, though you can use (full!) baked bean tins. I have a stretchy band the physio gave me, too.

The bra sizing happened and two v pretty lace bras were included in my prezzie from my partner along with some Next Define perfume plus my Saltworks scent sampler set should arrive today, so I'm feeling perked up and perfumed this morning, typing this over my pre work cappuccino.

I have also got obsessed with scarves and clever ways to tie them so they look like a cardi, a bolero, a cape, a top - feels like I have some new clothes when it's actually something clever and new I'm doing with what I have. Having said that I've spotted an animal print scarf I REQUIRE.

Things are good - but I'm going to have to make a doctor's appointment about that ... pain.

How are we doing this morning?