age 46 and not too bad, though struggling currently with a tibial injury and knee issues. I was doing pointe work up until recently, and still enjoy ballet and modern dance, hiking, cycling to work, snowshoeing, canoeing/canoe camping wilderness trips. Have maintained a low normal weight for the last four years even with surgical menopause and hypothyroidism. Unfortunately due to an eating disorder for a number of years prior I have very low bone density, but now doing what I can to help that. I enjoy my work and have been with my partner for 20 years. Life could be worse.
I am almost 42, and I gotta be honest. All I keep thinking is, if everything already randomly aches this much, how am I going to stay alive for another 40 years?
But I do have more muscles and more defined arms and legs than I’ve had at any other age, so that part is fabulous.
My 20s: Morbidly obese with a knackered ankle, did very little exercise partly because of said ankle, suffered from severe recurring depression, shame and self-hate, and terrible relationship decisions (because thinking you're a bad and unworthy person does not dispose you to be picky about your boyfriends or indeed husbands).
My 40s: After two and a half years of hard work, I am of a normal weight and capable of doing two cardio gym classes in succession or hiking 18 miles with a single break for lunch. I took a year out of work to follow my academic dream, had an absolute blast, realised I maybe didn't actually want to do academia as a career, and started a new job in my old career in the same month I began looking. I don't have time to be depressed, plus I have learned a lot about emotional resilience and have all sorts of strategies at my disposal that I didn't when I was young. I also don't have time for a relationship, am perfectly fulfilled without one, and anyway have standards it would be hard for any person of the appropriate sex to meet, because frankly I THINK I AM AWESOMESAUCE.
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But I do have more muscles and more defined arms and legs than I’ve had at any other age, so that part is fabulous.
My 20s: Morbidly obese with a knackered ankle, did very little exercise partly because of said ankle, suffered from severe recurring depression, shame and self-hate, and terrible relationship decisions (because thinking you're a bad and unworthy person does not dispose you to be picky about your boyfriends or indeed husbands).
My 40s: After two and a half years of hard work, I am of a normal weight and capable of doing two cardio gym classes in succession or hiking 18 miles with a single break for lunch. I took a year out of work to follow my academic dream, had an absolute blast, realised I maybe didn't actually want to do academia as a career, and started a new job in my old career in the same month I began looking. I don't have time to be depressed, plus I have learned a lot about emotional resilience and have all sorts of strategies at my disposal that I didn't when I was young. I also don't have time for a relationship, am perfectly fulfilled without one, and anyway have standards it would be hard for any person of the appropriate sex to meet, because frankly I THINK I AM AWESOMESAUCE.
Youth, shmouth.