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?!!

Happy birthday! I was meaning to suggest ballet based exercise but then lost track of the thread. It worked for me after Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi etc left me bored senseless. I think it appeals to the 8 year-old girl who adored Margot Fonteyn and who's still in here somewhere. Lots of stuff - both pay for and free - on www.balletbasedmovement.com/ Or just google ballet over 50.

Happy birthday, sounds like you had a lovely day and are looking forward to re inventing your style.
It seems that you’ve re discovered your love of dance, that’s great. It’s important to do the exercise you enjoy, after 60, I found tennis and now play several times a week. Exercising indoors bored me!
I have also joined a choir, it’s so good for your breathing and the social side is a bonus.
Enjoy your new life adventure.

Hello OP, and happy birthday! I am 57, so not a million miles away from that significant round number you've reached, and I do find that focusing on well-being, exercise, good diet and - for me - not drinking (which has the additional benefit of helping my body shrug off days when the diet is less than perfect).

Another fan of ballet, yoga and pilates here. Lazy Dancer Tips and Kathryn Morgan have loads of free workouts and classes on YouTube for ballet. Yoga with Kassandra ditto. Scottish Ballet have half-hour workouts that are more like Joe Wicks - planks, push-ups, squats, core, abs. I have always done lots of exercise, but lockdown pushed me out of the gym, obviously, and onto YouTube, and I have found that ballet in particular exercises all those small niggly bits, like feet, ankles, achilles, hips, shoulders, that other methods can leave out. Pliés, and tendus, done properly, work EVERYTHING, and are the first two exercises in any ballet class. If you go no further than those, you will gain benefits.

I was doing adult ballet a few years ago in a great class but then we moved house. It was amazing . I have had back problems for the past three months and am only just getting back into exercise. I tried some yoga online today and was horrified that I am struggling to do basic moves.
I’ve lost so much flexibility it’s untrue.

Flexibility, balance, strength - all those older lady things have started to prey on my mind. And the thought of 'having a fall ...' 🤔

Noticed I make oof noises getting up off the sofa in the evenings.

Still could eat for England so MUST do something.

Weird thing - now I am a 60 year old consultant I was very confident telling my line manager what they need to do to achieve what they want yesterday! Like I now have a label on my head saying 'Wise Woman. Listen'.

Im not 60, 54 but having done all the high impact stuff and running my knees are buggered now so i do yoga. Can recommend it, its good for the mind as well as the body x

I’m 60 next week! I’ve been feeling in such a rut-and am using the fact I’m going on a European city break after not having been abroad for 3 years to gee me up. I’ve looked frumpy for years. I live in old walking leggings and tops and wanted something fresher.I’ve bought some Levi slim straight jeans and clumpy boots which look great. I never wear heels, my legs are full of varicose veins so the boots look good with dresses and opaque tights. I need maxis for the summer-veins-ideas for alternatives are very welcome.
I’ve booked some HD brows as mine are almost non existent after overplucking in my youth. And I ditched the mumsy, ageing bob for chunky layers -think cross between bob and wolf cut. It has totally lifted my face. Not interested in any ‘tweakments’.
One exercise I love is hill walking. If you can get away to a mountainous area and start walking up hills, it will feel amazing. You’ll get out of breath and very tired legs but persevere with it. It tones your legs and gives you an amazing bottom. And the mental benefits are huge. The rest are combinations of Jillian Michaels Shred(old but good) and yoga. I see lots of older people in my job and it’s really important to move a lot for as long as you can.
Very best wishes for your 60th year-and what an inspirational thread!

@Hongkongsuey yep, the veins are a thing here, too... I like the thought of an amazing bottom just from walking somewhere nice. Looked at a local gym yesterday - the fluorescent lighting and the grim faces and the smell... Nope. I want to DO something I enjoy and get the side benefits. Ballroom dancing and stage combat (yes) in my past - much nicer than aerobics treadmills and weights.

I’m totally with you about gyms. Such soulless places.

I recommend … Stylecrone over on Insta. Look. She has just celebrated her 80th birthday. I would like to be her when I grow up.

She looks great. She is very slender though so clothes hang well. I would need to lose a couple of stone to look that svelte!

I'm almost 60 and realised it's now or never. I go to the gym with a PT and lift weights. Use cut right back on booze. Eat very few carbs and almost no sugar. I'm the same height as you and weighed similar. I couldn't wear the clothes I liked as I was too fat. I now weigh just over 12 stone and look loads better. Honestly exercise and eat better. It's boring but essential for health.

She's far too thin for 80. You don't want to be that frail at that age.

Great thread. I am embracing (a bit of) exercise after seeing dsis, who moved into a flat 10 years ago, gain weight and lose masses of mobility not helped by always using the lift. I always make sure I run up the stairs at home and use the stair option in any (that are left) shops.

I suddenly look very aged in my late 50s. Looking back at old photos people looked ancient by 50, so perhaps we are now used to “fantastic-looking” celebrities of a certain age who swear their youthful looks are down to genes and soap and water

I have a relative who started using a wheelchair late 50s for convenience and somewhat attention seeking.

There's a lot of mental illness in my family, myself included.

She sprained her knee some months ago from a fall and took quite literally when an orthopedic specialist said to rest it.
I don't think she meant doing absolutely nothing for 4 months.

Like you said, all preventable.

Late to this thread, but this is so me!
Where would people recommend for bra fitting? Mid price range? I see M&S, John Lewis & Next all do it.
(Sixty in a couple of months. Eek).

It really is ‘use it or lose it’. If gyms aren’t for you, and they’re not me, try something else. I’m 60+ and when I left work I took up badminton, but wanted something outdoors so I invested in some tennis coaching. It was expensive, but the coach had someone who’d share the lesson with me. ( bonus I now have a good friend). He then put a group of us together. We play twice a week and coffee/ socialise together.
in short look for an activity that really suits you rather than think it has to be gym based.

@Cookerhood I had my fitting at m&s one lunch time - book online, you're measured with your own bra on, so not embarrassing, then several test ones to judge fit. I got a card with fitters name and my size. No hard sell at m&s. I went back on Saturday and bought two lovely ones, paid for by partner 🤗

Thank you. I've reached the age of 59 without ever having a bra fitted properly!
I've heard mixed things about m&s but I guess it partly depends on the fitter.

I'm almost 70 and I can attest to the truth of what you say!

It's actually not too difficult...
Mediterranean diet rich in plants and lean protein
No UPF and little alcohol
Weight bearing and resistance based exercise several times a week.

We are so lucky as there are many fitness trainers on YouTube - no need to work out in a gym unless you want to. Caroline Girvan literally changed my life, but there's others like Growingannanas, Heather Robertson, Sydney Cummings, Rebecca Louise, Lucy Wyndham Reed, Fitness Blender, Popsugar Fitness, Mr&Mrs Muscle........ I'm sure there's someone for everyone!

What's the best way to start with Caroline Girvan

Do EPIC Beginners with manageable weights as many times as you need to feel confident about the moves.

Then have a look at a full body workout from different programmes to see which format feels best for you.

EPIC Endgame may be a good starting point. I also like EPIC 3 and Heat. EPIC 1 and 2 sessions are quite long. Leave Iron for now.

Start challenging yourself with the weights. I started out with 3kg dumbells, then 5kg, 8kg, then 12.5kg. I still use all of them except the 3kg for different moves.

NB: Growingannanas also has some excellent workouts using dumbells. They are HIIT but also a good way to work up to Caroline.

So can anyone recommend the absolute best for ENTRY LEVEL fitness (sorry to shout!). I tried Yoga with Adrienne and couldn’t for the life of me follow what she was doing. Trying to do manoeuvres whilst peering at my propped-up phone and taking my glasses on and off… useless.

I’m looking for more gentle fitness and strength rather than moves and poses.

I'm 66 and I decided to take up Park Run for for my 60th birthday. I did a couch to 5K. My time is dreadful and I don't go as often as I should but it does help.
For clothes I went for a capsule wardrobe which sounds a bit wanky but does work. I think that it's better to have a a couple of good quality things rather than lots of cheaper things. Although maybe not spend too much until happy with your weight. I go to shops where I think I might like the stuff and have a trying on session and then hunt down things I like secondhand on vinted and other places.
There are lots of blogs and instagram help for capsule wardrobe.
I think that it's worthwhile not thinking 60 when you are talking to younger people because there is still the idea that we might be at death's door. I think of myself as dressing for my 40s

Go to a class. Honestly there's nothing easier than yoga with adrienne! You can watch it in half speed if that helps