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?!!

Sorry - meant to add actually Pahla B might be exactly what you are looking for- she's on YouTube.

Thank you - I’ll have a look

2 channels for entry level fitness that I love are

https://youtube.com/@repstotherhythm3764
It's usually him and his mom and they're so cute together.

https://youtube.com/@PaulEugene
Senior led fitness

@EdithHowland - if it's gentle fitness and strength you're looking for, try Lucy Wyndham Reed to start with. Rebecca Louise is also great if you're new to exercise - try her stretches, which are great for overall flexibility, as well as her arm and abs workouts. Or this:

I'm a similar age and in a similar position to you. I'm not overweight but now I work from home making silver jewellery, the personal maintenance has gone by the wayside. I'm also a warm autumn by the way and that colour pallet really suits me.

I've given up on my hands. My nails are a mess and there is nothing I can do about that other than give up metalsmithing.

I've just had all my long red hair cut off and replaced with a blonde bob which blends the greys really well but does require styling and I've had to dust off the straighteners for the first time since 2014.

I'm now re-assessing my make up to go with the new colour and to be honest I have really got out of the habit since lockdown. I# That I think needs to change but I have no idea what I need to buy now. I really need some more lipsticks but I've always struggled getting a colour that doesn't look like I've been at the jam. My favourite is still an old Rimmel colour that I've been wearing since I was 16!

As for exercise - I used to walk 5-7 miles a day but I now have PF so I struggle to walk around the house. The lack of exercise does worry me quite a bit.

I'll be following this thread with interest for some tips

@LadyPoison I had PF and tendonitis affecting my achilles. Both have now cleared up after consistent feet/ankles/calves strengthening and stretching - the exercises on YouTubers like Lazy Dancer Tips are good. It took a good couple of years, but it really did reverse a very painful condition. In the meantime, can you get to a gym and use a bike for cardio and push some weights? Giving up 7 miles walking a day is a big loss of exercise.

It is and I'm noticing it.

The gym would be a last resort though. I have had a membership in the past and never enjoyed it. I'd like it even less now even with ear plugs.

I'm glad yours has gone! I have a number of issues going on in the one foot, including tearing a very small ligament that I'm told may take up to a year to heal.

I always hated the gym and never went for years, but various injuries and circumstances made me decide that the option of using low impact cardio machines like cross trainers was useful. Plus having access to the fixed weights machines that would help me build strength while keeping good form. I stick an audio book on and am content to give it an hour or so twice a week.

I did join a gym last year with lots of good intentions, but my back packed in after the introductory session . That out me off! I need a routine that won’t hurt my back.

Exercises will work to straighten out problems, done with good form, warming up, stretching, etc, etc. But - and this is what physios don't like telling people, because they always say they don't have time - you have to do about 3 times as much for about 5 times as long. 20 minutes a day will never be as good as an hour a day. But do you spend 30 -40 minutes an evening watching TV? then use that time to stretch out, do hip mobility routines, hold planks, do you Pilates five, whatever. Do rises to demi-point while brushing your teeth, do pliés while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Or don't! After all it's only your one body.

I picked up new glasses yesterday. They are lovely, but downside is I can see more clearly how crap I look (old glasses were a bit scratched up). 😭

I reluctantly dragged myself along for an introductory visit to a gym a few years ago, and left agreeing to join.

Sprained my ankle going down the steps at the exit.

They never saw me again!

We alll feel like that sometimes, I used to be mean to myself in the mirror all the time but here's a psychology trick. Everytime you put your glasses on, reframe the sentence - my new glasses are fabulous and so am I.
😍

@Vivfor60 . We alll feel like that sometimes, I used to be mean to myself in the mirror all the time but here's a psychology trick. Everytime you put your glasses on, reframe the sentence - my new glasses are fabulous and so am I.
😍

Very pleased today I bought a lovely new Max Factor lipstick in rosewood which is a pretty much perfect match for my own natural tone as in me but better!

Also Maybelline fit me concealer is a great colour match with good blend ability and cover

And yesterday I went out without scarf regretted it and stopped off at a charity shop where I discovered a cream and pink fringed cashmere shawl for £2. Two quid!

Am feeling rather elegant today.

I will try that, thank you!

Brilliant start. Enjoy your new products.

Couple of months on, and no effort with the weight 🤔 but very pleased with some new summer clothes, (a dress and skirt,) and some gold sandals and black t-bar shoes, both leather, more expensive than I would usually but they look and feel good and will last and wear better than my usual Shoe Zone stuff.

Perfume - I've loved the two discovery sets I've nearly finished (17 different ones!!) and I've fallen back in love with scent after a long gap caused by lack of money and a Covid-disrupted sense of smell.

I know now it's yes to jasmine, lemon, vanilla & sandalwood and no to patchouli and oud.

Perfume is a pleasure! I'm back 🤗

Also been using hair mousse for the first time since the 80s. It's taking a while to get it right - too little and it's still dandelion bouffe.

Too much and it's crunchy telephone cables.

On we go …

I am a similar age and size,a bit shorter and

...with a tummy. I just feel fat and sad in everything. I do wear bright colours, unusual earrings and have purple hair but none of that makes me feel feminine and glam. Just have to accept that look isnt for me. Currently in an ancient pair of knee length shorts, bare feet and one of ds old gray tshirts!

@Hedjwitch
I'm being thorough about morning and evening routine and find it sets me up and makes me feel and look better.

Night: always remove makeup and moisturise, teeth whitening paste, little mini dental brushes and mouthwash for fresh.

Morning: teeth again, hair I always condition every time, the stuff in a tub rather than tubes/bottles seems to do extra duty. And curl cream/ mousse.

I like to do a blob of E45 moisturiser, a blob of baby oil (and a little itch relief cream if it's annoying) smooshed in my hands then massage all over, including hands and feet.

Razors I'm not very green with and chuck them after a few uses.

I usually do makeup - I'm not a heavy coverage sort but I'm very taken with the contour with different shades thing I'm seeing all over Insta tho I'm not very good at it. I'm more likely to do tinted moisturiser, pink vaseline lip salve and black mascara as my basic, then a rose lipstick and nude eye palette and brown/grey pencil for more.

And perfume. Ho yes indeed.

A bra fitting and some new ones worked wonders.

Maybe think capsule wardrobe and then build on it?

My biggest issue in the S & B stakes is working out what to wear, inevitably I buy too many clothes because I always think I need something, when I actually don't and inevitably I've got so much stuff that I can't see the camis for the tees!

So, on a good day, when I really like my outfit, I photograph it, so I can look back in my little album on my phone and see what I've been wearing as I can't possibly remember 😂 It's also helping me to see what I do need because I never ever want to stop shopping, I just want to do it better.

Have you had your bra fitting? I recently had one. Makes such a difference. I have always been flat chested but have grown in peri-menopause, and was wearing a size too small.