Would you like more body confidence in your 40s and 50s? This week I was reading about a woman who felt that her body image was affecting her relationships. She explained that she was needing more reassurance from her husband and friends. Many women have body concepts that change based on circumstances.
We might feel good about our own bodies and health one minute, and then the next we don’t feel so good. I thought it was a good topic to touch on. Especially in a way that relates to us in our 40s and 50s. Let’s face it, it is different. We can’t follow the same routines that we did in the past and get the same results.
Much of the time midlife brings a more grounded sense of confidence and comfort in our own skin. But then, when we see others who are hyper focused on their body and questioning if they look ok in photos we might turn those same questions inward. (Maybe having film take a few days to be developed when we were teens was a blessing!) We start to question if our shapes are good enough. At other times, we feel great! Until we go to get dressed and can’t find an outfit that looks the way we think it should. If you have ever felt this way, hopefully this post leads to some ideas that help!
Also, we know that so much of what we see in the media is unrealistic. I was glad when my daughter was able to take part in a workshop. She was in her teens and the speaker at the workshop was a professional who had retouched hundreds of photos of women. The girls were shown the pictures, up against the true photos.
So knowing this is helpful, but we need constant reminders that we are ok and that what we see isn’t real. It is true that we need to stay in our own lanes. Comparison is so unhealthy, we all know that. We all have features that we are happy with and those we would like to change. For me the best thing I can do is work toward being the best I can be with the time I have. I also don’t want to cut into the time with family and friends by spending every free minute working out. I also know that being active helps take my mind off of insecurities. Do you feel this way too?
If you are feeling overwhelmed with a negative body image there are lots of places to go for help. Many people have trouble that leads to eating disorders or exercising to the point of exhaustion. If you have any question in your mind that you may be at this point where it is affecting you daily check this link . I have to include that because there are great resources and professional help available and I would not want to see anyone suffer longer than they have to!
Have More Body Confidence in Your 40s and 50s
This post is aimed at creating simple routines to help us feel better on a daily basis After all, if results and changes in our bodies are so hard to get, why would we try? The thing is I feel like the effort is part of the reward! I know a lot of friends who feel the same way. Better mindset about anything includes accepting what you cannot change and working on what you can. Improving your body image is no different. When you feel better about yourself and know that you are actively improving your fitness level it should also allow you to have more body confidence in your 40s and 50s Plus, the goal of fitness itself, and an overall feeling of health is a better to focus on than how we look.
The effort is part of the reward!
It just feels better when you take an active role in moving and keeping a good routine in place. Of course if you have ever been stressed out and begin a workout, you know the feeling when the endorphins kick in. It’s kind of the same idea, we feel a little better when we see some results and then it can inspire confidence.
I know there are a lot of posts with ideas for mantras and quotes about body image. Those can be very valuable and give a quick pick up when you need it! They may even change your mindset for a while. A reset is always a good thing. So of course, I will include a few of those.
In general though, today we will talk about how to actively make improvements in what you do every day that will lead to a better body concept! Here’s a quick list!
A Quick Rundown and Reminder!
- Drink Water, I know it’s just a reminder, I’m the worst at this one!
- Make a Morning Routine that Includes A Workout Tailored to You!
- Stretches and Poses to Increase Your Circulation
- Exfoliate your Body as Well as Your Face!
- Self Tanner
- Use a Formula to Get Dressed Best for Your Shape
- Smile!
I know that once in a while, I ignore one or all of these suggestions… So put that together and of course it is all going to add up to a problem. I find myself dehydrated often so that’s why I included drinking water first. Water plumps our skin in a really good way so it’s super important to the look of our body skin. Try to get a head start early in the morning by having one or two glasses. Try to set water as a reward for a habit. Before you get busy working on something set a timer and stop doing a chore to have a water break.
Find Your Best Exercise Routine!
There are many exercise routines that really target the concerns of women in our 40s and 50s. Any time that your posture improves, your body feels better and functions better. Incorporating a few exercises to improve posture can give you a great start in the morning.
Routines can be more or less effective for you. I remember months of walking on the treadmill for 40 minutes in the morning. I did it every day. It didn’t do a thing for me. At the time, I think I was stuck emotionally and the stress in my life was creating stress hormones that were keeping my body exactly as it was.Is there something weighing you down emotionally? On the other hand I always feel immediate results from kettlebell swings with good form, pilates and pvolve. Of course visible results take more consistency, but part of the progress comes with feeling better.
Have you noticed that the amount of stretching in your favorite videos isn’t enough for you? Especially if you sit during the workday, more stretching can really benefit your posture and form. Here’s a detailed list of stretches.
Some yoga poses really help with circulation, especially legs up a wall! It really helps with so much and it is so easy to do!
Exfoliate!
Using a self tanner helps to give an even overall appearance to the skin. It makes getting into your shorts so much easier! One tip is to exfoliate first, so these two bullet points go hand in hand. Use a sugar or salt scrub to gently exfoliate rough skin away. Your lotions will go on much more evenly. If you are following your scrub with a self tanner, make sure not to use a heavy oily one. It your favorite is very oily try to remove it with body wash before you apply self tanner. Night time is definitely the best time to apply the self tanner, let it dry even using a fan. Lay out dark clothes to wear to bed and of course be sure to wash it off your hands. To avoid dark areas, use a little lotion before applying on your hands, elbows, knees and ankle.
Be Happy Getting Dressed Each Day!
Get Instagram inspiration! Find an over 40 style blogger with a shape similar to yours to follow! She will inspire you with outfits chosen to work for your body! What a concept:) This is a great way to boost your body confidence in your 40s and 50s!
Use Clothing formulas that work for you! Make it simple by finding lengths that are flattering to you and sticking with them! Fit is so important and it is possible to get good fit in a comfortable look! One way to dress according to your figure is by using a 1/3 to 2/3 ratio. If your top is 1/3 the length from your shoulders to toes you will look longer and leaner! Pants can then be the other 2/3. So this is why heels can help! The nice thing is that we are getting back to belts and tops that have a tie at the waist to make them end closer to that 1/3 ratio. I
I know I have an outfit that is more 1/2 to 1/2. It was a top and knit skirt. We took a photo in it and I couldn’t figure out why it looked wrong till I saw this formula.
Smile
We don’t go around talking about whether or not we have body confidence in our 40s and 50s, we are more discrete than that. But, sometimes it can bring us down. Hopefully all the above tips give you something to think about and give you confidence and gratitude that your body is strong and working hard for you! Just like good posture, a smile is an instant improvement to our mood. It is also a way to take the focus outward, instead of worrying about how we look. At the same time it makes us look so much better!
Along with this goes the obvious… Stop the comparison trap. It’s easy to compare, but realize everyone has their own problems and insecurities. And the woman in the story, she realized that all her body confidence needed to come from within. She ended up getting it by moving her body. Not specifically to improve her appearance, but to feel better:)
Reminder, go find an instagram fashion over 40 blogger to follow! While you are there I would love if you would follow me @oneperfectsomething8. Sign up for the Newsletter below for updates!
Here is a link to a fun exercise to make you more confident in yourself!
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