Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.
It is true that it is a privilege to grow older and I’ve no doubt that anyone still here and in good health is incredibly grateful but truth be told for 50+ woman it can come with some sucky stuff! Let’s be real, the slide into ‘the change of life’ can be tough, and tougher for some. Don’t despair though, there are some really good things about life after 50 too!
Wee bit of info: The average age an Australian woman reaches menopause is 52 but it can generally occur anywhere between the ages of 44 to 55 and a lower percentage of women reach menopause prior to the age of 40.
Here’s 20 truths about life after 50 as a woman:
Challenging Stuff
- You are an unpredictable volcano of emotions. Lucky dip anyone?
- You can explode with fury over the most infuriating things … like um … well stuff … irritating stuff OK!
- You can be wide awake during the nights and sleepy through the days. Sounds slightly vampirish don’t you think? Might explain No. 2 above!
- Your midsection increases without any delicious banquets to cause it. It has a mind of its own – it’s freaky!
- You learn that if you so much as look at food you gain weight. Avert the eyes at all costs!
- None of the usual tricks to lose weight work anymore. Time to think outside the box or outside the more complex polygon more like it!
- You look in the mirror and you see your mother!
- Instead of wanting your period to come you want the bastard to piss off and never, ever come again!
- You become one of those people who gets aches and pains in hips, knees etc.
- You prefer your social activities be during the day rather than night.
- Shoes are chosen for comfort first, vanity second.
- Your memory and concentration are shot. Where was I again?
- You have internal thermostat issues. Is it hot in here?
- Even with glasses on, you need to ask a person with ‘young eyes’ to read the small print for you.
Good Stuff
- No more school drop off or pick-ups. No more packing school lunches, remembering library days, swimming days or show and tell days and no more having to dress up the kids for book week. No more parent/teacher evenings or speech nights! [the exception being for those Mum’s who had kids later in life of course]
- You can have a holiday at any time of year. You are not locked in to school holidays!
- More time to yourself
- More freedom to do what you want to do
- You can make your relationship with yourself No. 1
- You are still alive!! Yay!!
Are you a woman over 50? Maybe you’re under 50 but there are things in this post that you can relate to? Are you sailing through change of life or are you one of those doing it tough? Are you on the other side of the change – tell us what it’s like over there! What would you add to this list?
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Kylie Purtell for #IBOT
27 Comments
Ha ha yes, definitely all of the above! What I like about being 50 something is having my life back and finally feeling comfortable in my own skin. I don’t really care too much about what people think of me anymore. I am embracing being older and loving every minute of it!
I like having my life back too Kathy … and rediscovering what it is I like to do. 🙂
Sometimes it’s just a little bit infuriating that blokes seem to get an easier ride with all this stuff. GRRRRRR. I’m not even 50 yet and I can still relate to your top 15! My breast cancer treatment put me on the fast track to menopause. Yay. But yes, number 20. I will be so happy to be 50 and over with all the aches and pains just for that reason! I’ll also still be doing school drop offs because I have a 7 year old. I’ll probably be mistaken for his Nanna. Surprised that this hasn’t happened already tbh because my hair grew back all grey and curly. Classy.
Oh yes it’s rather frustrating that men seem to get an easier ride through the life cycle! However, I suppose they do have to put up with us BUT we get the rougher deal for sure (sorry to any guys reading but it’s true). You have been such a trooper through your breast cancer treatment Ness. I’ve seen a piccy of your hair and I think it looks awesome! My sister-in-law went through what you’ve just been through (many years ago) and her hair grew back curly too. Her hair is back to how it used to be now. It didn’t stay curly forever! Your 7 year old will keep you young Ness! 🙂 xo
Nodding along to these and I am 35! I do joke that I have skipped the parent phase and headed straight to nanna town! What is with the midsection? Babies or not there is a lot there that never was before!
35 is young to relate to all this stuff Ashleigh! Oh the midsection thing – I did a little research and here’s what I found. OESTROGEN – As a woman’s ovaries produce less estrogen, her body attempts to draw from other sources of oestrogen. Fat cells can produce oestrogen, so her body works harder to convert calories into fat to increase oestrogen levels. Unfortunately, fat cells do not burn calories the way muscle cells do, which causes weight gain. PROGESTERONE – Water retention is often linked to menopause because water weight and bloating can result from a decrease in progesterone levels. Though this doesn’t actually result in weight gain, clothes can feel a bit tighter and a woman may feel as though she’s heavier. TESTOSTERONE – The amount of this hormone increases at the onset of menopause. It’s responsible for redistributing weight to the midsection instead of to the hips. What joy! 🙂
This is my problem, Min. Argh. I was told I would put on weight with my HRT and I have. Even if I eat healthily I still seem to be getting bigger around the middle. I’m dealing with this by eating more chocolate and drinking wine. Seriously though. Great research. Very interesting.
It’s frustrating isn’t it. I exercise every day and eat very, very healthy and I do feel that I’m toning up and stuff but it’s hard to tell sometimes if I’m losing any weight – with all the fluid retention and bloating issues (so gross)! I think dealing with it by drinking wine and eating chocolate is a very, very good idea! lol xo
Number five is like being on a seafood diet. I see food and it goes directly on my hips! What a great list, Min! Having just turned 45, I see I have a lot to look forward to!
Haha – yes I know that seafood diet very well. You might be one of those that sail easily through all this stuff Sammie. Have a great trip! Look forward to hearing all about it. 🙂 xo
44 so I admit I chuckled at the first 14 (but know my time is coming). The pros are amazing ones though especially being able to travel without thinking about kids school schedules
There’s no escaping it Deb so best to try and see the humour in it and focus on the positives! It’s great not being locked into school schedules anymore and being able to take off without kids! 🙂
I’ve heard lots about the night sweats and the constant temp changes. Not looking forward to that.
I haven’t reached that point yet! I’m just always hot it seems…!
Even though I’m only 39 I feel like I can relate to a lot of this having gone through premature menopause. Good times 😉
Hi Renee – yes I thought you would relate to a lot of this – except the no more school stuff etc. 😉 xo
52 but I am still so caught up in Number 15 as my twins were born 10 years ago when I was 42. So it’s school for me until I’m 60. Quite a thought… I used to have a flat tummy and wide hips and big legs, the latter are still them but now I have a podgy tummy too. I sometimes feel that I’ve sat down into a comfy chair and when I stood up the chair is still attached to me. But it’s comfy at least.
I feel a lot wiser than I did before 50 and that’s a good thing.
Flat tummy? What is this phenomenon? haha – it’s been a while since I’ve had my nice flat tummy. I have twins too (boys) – but I was 28 when I had mine. I had a daughter 2.5 years later. Yours will help keep you young Seana! 🙂
Yup this is me to a tee – I’m 50 in January!
You’re still in your 40’s – soak it up! lol Big party in January? 😉
OMG I’m turning 40 in less than three months and I’ve yet to make peace with the end of my 30s yet. Great post – remind me to read this in 10 years! LOL.
Oh *sigh* … I remember turning 40 like it was just yesterday! It was a disaster. I had planned a party but I got really ill and was admitted to hospital. Postponed the party to another date (once I was better) and so many people couldn’t come on the revised date. Didn’t have a party for my 50th! I hope you get 10 years before you have to worry ’bout this stuff!! 😉 x
Oh seriously!! I’ve entered the 40s already – didn’t realise we had all of this to look forward to. Crickey!!
#teamIBOT
…oh but wait…there’s more! Nah – don’t worry ’bout it till you have to! 😉 x
You’ve hit the nail on the head about life over 50 Min! And made me nod and smile 😉 Yep, been there, and doing that 😉
Thanks Jo – so lovely to have a ‘kindred spirit’ who understands! LOL Hope you’re settling back in to life on land ok? (as opposed to water) 🙂 xo