Latest news with #midlife
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
I'm a fashion expert. Here are the seven anti-ageing outfits every woman over 50 needs this summer
Albaray loves pockets. Pockets in skirts. Pockets in trousers. Pockets in everything. Praise be. Don't know them yet? Allow me to introduce you to the brand that's surging through the high street leaving savvy midlife shoppers swooning in their wake. Along with pockets, you can expect well-cut sleeves, forgiving waistlines, elasticated bits – with on-trend designs that offer just the right amount of glamour to make a statement, day or night. That's what happens when you put grown-up women in charge of your wardrobe.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Skinny is back in fashion – but it's a trend that could prove deadly to the over-60s
In case you hadn't noticed, skinny is back. Sigh. Both the jeans and the Twiggy physique to slip into them. But while the glossies are full of suggestions on how to style your denim, there's a bit of an information gap when it comes to shedding the midlife pounds without damaging your long-term health. Fail to lose enough and you won't fit into that Hobbs summer dress. Shed too many and you could really be storing up trouble. As we age we lose muscle as well as fat and that places individuals at risk of becoming frail. I thought it was just an adjective, but frailty is actually a medical condition, which is common in older people. Symptoms include reduced muscle strength, fatigue, slower walking pace, lower activity levels, weight loss and increased vulnerability. Research by The Royal College of Anaesthetists and the University of Nottingham has just revealed that frail patients stay an average of three days longer in hospital after an operation than patients who are fit for surgery. Those who are severely frail remain on wards for six days longer. They are also three times more likely to suffer from complications and three times more likely to die in the first year after surgery. No wonder then that experts have called for all surgical patients over the age of 60 to be screened for frailty as standard practice to bolster recovery and slash extended stays in hospital. It sounds like an eminently sensible idea, but it might be better if more emphasis were placed on prevention rather than cure. In the age of the fat jab, a great many older people are reaching for Ozempic and Mounjaro to reduce their appetite and silence the food noise that has plagued them for most of their lives. But it's all too easy to get hooked. Photos of early adopter Sharon Osbourne are enough to put the wind up anyone. The 72-year-old wife of erstwhile hellraiser Ozzy was among the first celebrities to publicly confirm using the diabetes drug Ozempic in December 2022. She lost three stone in four months, but had subsequently admitted it was 'too much'. Her gaunt 'Ozempic face' caused concern among her fans and so she set about gaining a little of her old weight back. But to her consternation, she discovered she couldn't. The pendulum – or its metabolic equivalent – had swung too far. And although she's been off the drug for a while, she remains a shadow of her former self. Then, just last month, Dame Patricia Hewitt, 76, who was health secretary in Tony Blair's government, urged the NHS to tell slim elderly patients to maintain a higher 'buffer weight'. This came after she became severely ill on holiday in Australia, spending six weeks in hospital, during which time her weight plunged 'absolutely catastrophically' to below seven stone. She has since been advised to gain two stone to protect her health in the future. It might sound counter intuitive, but science has identified a 'longevity paradox' in that overweight, older adults are less prone to fragility and actually outlive those who are underweight, especially among women. Supermodel Kate Moss once observed that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. She's 51 and sylph-like as ever. But perhaps any day now she'll conclude that tastes change over time and future-proofing her body is the most delicious treat of all.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
As an influencer, I invited followers into my life. Then a disturbing incident made me stop
When I started 'Meet You at the Barre', my online barre and strength platform, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I didn't have a microphone or a tripod. It was lockdown and I was home-schooling four children with a husband working full time. What I did have, however, was a gut feeling that midlife women deserved something better than the typical, punishment-heavy fitness content we're constantly bombarded with. I was 42 years old, I'd just completed a course that qualified me to teach barre, a form of exercise using the ballet barre, and I kept thinking: what if I could build something that actually works for women like me? What I didn't realise, though, when my classes were picked up in an article about the best lockdown workouts and I started to get hundreds of people joining my workouts, is that an online business is a double-edged sword. Success is rooted in you – your voice, your home, your energy – and when you're growing an account, particularly in the early days, you feel pressure to share more and more of your life. Instagram is a beast that constantly needs feeding. At first, I tried to meet that pressure. There's something uniquely complicated about being a woman on social media – especially when you're trying to be 'relatable'. People start to feel like they know you. And in many ways, that's the point. I built my platform on honesty, warmth and realness – I didn't want some perfectly curated, robot-fitness influencer vibe. But sometimes, people confuse access with intimacy. And that's when things get uncomfortable. I've had people message to let me know they think I've gained weight. How generous. Others have told me they don't like my outfit or that I'm looking tired. Shrugging off these kinds of remarks gets easier with time. But then there are the comments that make you pause. Such as the woman who messaged to say she'd spotted a logo on my child's school jumper and now knew where they go to school. Or the woman who recognised the hotel I was staying in from a photo and messaged, 'I live nearby – want to meet for a drink?' It was meant kindly, I'm sure. But it made me realise that by simply living my life online, I'd inadvertently given away more than I had intended. I feel for Alexandra Saper, the Instagram blogger who was followed to Bali by a British man with a rope in his suitcase. He'd been harassing her for almost a year with emails and video messages: 'You're never getting rid of me,' he told her. I've never experienced anything serious, thank goodness, but I've had to block people – especially men. When I was doing live workouts during lockdown, there was one guy, Charles, who showed up to every class with ridiculous comments. Thankfully, my followers had a great time taking the mickey out of him, but still – it was draining. And some men are persistent. They'll make a second or third account to keep watching you. That said, I think the majority of them steer clear – probably because what I do is clearly not aimed at them. The only time I've ever pulled down a reel was a few years ago. It was a funny, chaotic snapshot of surviving the summer holidays with four young kids. I showed more of my personal life in that video than usual – my house, my children, the reality of daily life. Most people laughed and related, but a few came at me hard with judgments about my parenting, my privilege, even the layout of my kitchen. People are, of course, entitled to their opinions – but if you don't like what you're seeing, there's an unfollow button. I wish they wouldn't use their keyboards like a weapon. That said, the community I've built gives me a great amount of joy. Today, I have more than 1,000 monthly members worldwide, almost 30,000 Instagram followers and a brilliant, loyal community of midlife women who want to move for joy, not my dog ran away, one woman – a follower with a tracker dog – drove three counties to help me find him. I still can't believe that happened. And the number of DMs I get from people checking in when I've gone quiet for a few days – it's astonishing and humbling. Over time, I've made conscious changes, though. I don't share where I am until I've left. My teenagers want nothing to do with my feed – which is fair. And I'm a lot more careful now about what I show and whom I show. This isn't out of fear – I'm not hiding behind the sofa – but it's awareness. You start noticing where the line is once someone's crossed it. I'm lucky I haven't experienced the full trolling storm that some of my peers deal with. But I've seen how comfortable people feel commenting on your face, your body, your choices – especially as a woman over 40. I haven't had any work done, but I've had messages comparing my face from old videos to now. Others slide in saying things such as, 'Your eyes look really puffy – are you OK?' It's framed as concern, but it's invasive. There's this weird notion that once you've put yourself online, you've made yourself public property – and this idea seems to grow with your follower count. I have friends with much bigger accounts than mine who get relentlessly targeted. It's usually jealousy disguised as 'constructive feedback'. These are women doing creative, brave work – and getting penalised for daring to take up space. Still, there's no part of me that wants to walk away. I've built something I'm deeply proud of – not just a business but a space where women feel seen, supported and reminded that they matter in midlife. We move together. We laugh. We cheer each other on. It's not just about the workouts – it's about being allowed to take up space and to do it unapologetically. As told to Anna Tyzack Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
As an influencer, I invited followers into my life. Then a disturbing incident made me stop
When I started 'Meet You at the Barre', my online barre and strength platform, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I didn't have a microphone or a tripod. It was lockdown and I was home-schooling four children with a husband working full time. What I did have, however, was a gut feeling that midlife women deserved something better than the typical, punishment-heavy fitness content we're constantly bombarded with. I was 42 years old, I'd just completed a course that qualified me to teach barre, a form of exercise using the ballet barre, and I kept thinking: what if I could build something that actually works for women like me? What I didn't realise, though, when my classes were picked up in an article about the best lockdown workouts and I started to get hundreds of people joining my workouts, is that an online business is a double-edged sword. Success is rooted in you – your voice, your home, your energy – and when you're growing an account, particularly in the early days, you feel pressure to share more and more of your life. Instagram is a beast that constantly needs feeding. At first, I tried to meet that pressure. There's something uniquely complicated about being a woman on social media – especially when you're trying to be 'relatable'. People start to feel like they know you. And in many ways, that's the point. I built my platform on honesty, warmth and realness – I didn't want some perfectly curated, robot-fitness influencer vibe. But sometimes, people confuse access with intimacy. And that's when things get uncomfortable. I've had people message to let me know they think I've gained weight. How generous. Others have told me they don't like my outfit or that I'm looking tired. Shrugging off these kinds of remarks gets easier with time. But then there are the comments that make you pause. Such as the woman who messaged to say she'd spotted a logo on my child's school jumper and now knew where they go to school. Or the woman who recognised the hotel I was staying in from a photo and messaged, 'I live nearby – want to meet for a drink?' It was meant kindly, I'm sure. But it made me realise that by simply living my life online, I'd inadvertently given away more than I had intended. I feel for Alexandra Saper, the Instagram blogger who was followed to Bali by a British man with a rope in his suitcase. He'd been harassing her for almost a year with emails and video messages: 'You're never getting rid of me,' he told her. I've never experienced anything serious, thank goodness, but I've had to block people – especially men. When I was doing live workouts during lockdown, there was one guy, Charles, who showed up to every class with ridiculous comments. Thankfully, my followers had a great time taking the mickey out of him, but still – it was draining. And some men are persistent. They'll make a second or third account to keep watching you. That said, I think the majority of them steer clear – probably because what I do is clearly not aimed at them. The only time I've ever pulled down a reel was a few years ago. It was a funny, chaotic snapshot of surviving the summer holidays with four young kids. I showed more of my personal life in that video than usual – my house, my children, the reality of daily life. Most people laughed and related, but a few came at me hard with judgments about my parenting, my privilege, even the layout of my kitchen. People are, of course, entitled to their opinions – but if you don't like what you're seeing, there's an unfollow button. I wish they wouldn't use their keyboards like a weapon. That said, the community I've built gives me a great amount of joy. Today, I have more than 1,000 monthly members worldwide, almost 30,000 Instagram followers and a brilliant, loyal community of midlife women who want to move for joy, not guilt. When my dog ran away, one woman – a follower with a tracker dog – drove three counties to help me find him. I still can't believe that happened. And the number of DMs I get from people checking in when I've gone quiet for a few days – it's astonishing and humbling. Over time, I've made conscious changes, though. I don't share where I am until I've left. My teenagers want nothing to do with my feed – which is fair. And I'm a lot more careful now about what I show and whom I show. This isn't out of fear – I'm not hiding behind the sofa – but it's awareness. You start noticing where the line is once someone's crossed it. I'm lucky I haven't experienced the full trolling storm that some of my peers deal with. But I've seen how comfortable people feel commenting on your face, your body, your choices – especially as a woman over 40. I haven't had any work done, but I've had messages comparing my face from old videos to now. Others slide in saying things such as, 'Your eyes look really puffy – are you OK?' It's framed as concern, but it's invasive. There's this weird notion that once you've put yourself online, you've made yourself public property – and this idea seems to grow with your follower count. I have friends with much bigger accounts than mine who get relentlessly targeted. It's usually jealousy disguised as 'constructive feedback'. These are women doing creative, brave work – and getting penalised for daring to take up space. Still, there's no part of me that wants to walk away. I've built something I'm deeply proud of – not just a business but a space where women feel seen, supported and reminded that they matter in midlife. We move together. We laugh. We cheer each other on. It's not just about the workouts – it's about being allowed to take up space and to do it unapologetically.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
‘I am a woman in my mid 60s and I'm having fun with a flirtatious man, but I'm worried he might want sex'
Question I am a woman in my mid 60s and have been volunteering for some time with a historical site. I have loved it and found like-minded people to mix with, and it has been a delight. However, now there is a man, who also volunteers with the group, and he seems to be interested in me. He is in his late 60s and his wife died about eight years ago. He has a wild eye and, from what I can see, he has always been dating someone in our group. He invited me into a WhatsApp conversation, and I must say it's been flirtatious and fun, but what if he expects more? Honestly, the body preparation involved for women at my age to consider actual sex with someone is more than beyond the effort I am prepared to make. The trimming of pubic hair and exposure of my parts to another human being is quite simply impossible. However, I'm liking being found attractive and it's entertaining to put on nice clothes and for someone to notice and comment. He is also cute in a way, but I know better than to think that I am the love of his life. Weirdly, this is really occupying my thoughts and I'm less contented, but more excited, than I have been for quite some time. READ MORE Answer Really, you are not at the stage of having a problem yet. You are enjoying the flirtation and attention and so far there is no decision to be made. It is a lovely thing to find that you are attracted to and desired by another human being, and this is a delight that is worth savouring. You seem to be very clear that you are not exposing yourself to any physical intimacy, and so all that might need to happen at this stage is that, at an appropriate time, you voice that and make sure that you are heard. However, it might be that this particular no-go area is one that needs another look and may be worth reflecting on. Many women in their later life report that they are looking for companionship and not sexual intimacy, and this is a legitimate ask. Equally so, many more report excellent sexual satisfaction and there is no reason that this must be off the cards for you. With age, there is some hope that the body scrutiny of younger ages might fade to be replaced with a sense of the body's right to pleasure without criticism. Indeed, many simple pleasures can be had without intercourse and, if there is enough safety and comfort, some long lingering physical engagement can be wonderful. Think of the heavy petting of the pre-contraception days and how good it was to delay gratification – yes, there was plenty of frustration too, but sex was less performance-based and wooing could go on for weeks, if not months. Your concern that your body will not be up to scratch is something that you could address This man too might also be experiencing some sexual difficulties (perhaps this is why he is going through so many other dates) and this would be within the normal scope of the body slowing down. With the help of medication this can in many cases be addressed, but some men might find it counter to their health (if they have certain conditions) to take these medications and so struggle with intimacy also. In any case, for those in later life seeking relationships and intimacy, it probably involves some honesty, some light-heartedness and a gung-ho attitude. As long as you remain clear-headed, you should be able to enjoy your current flirtation and perhaps move it into something a little more pleasurable. When and if it starts to become heavy or demanding, then you can push the pause button and explain why you need to take a break. At this age, you should not need to take on someone else's emotions and in fact you can trust that they have managed life well enough not to need you to carry their needs or worries for them. This will free you up to take pleasure where you find it and, hopefully, wallow in it a little. Your concern that your body will not be up to scratch is something that you could address. Comparing it with younger or more nubile bodies is unfair and will close it down to pleasure. Buffing and dehairing it may also further your self-consciousness so consider doing nothing at all and instead focus on what your body enjoys and likes. This is something that may require time, investigation and even a partner in order to arrive at success. You seem poised at discovering that your body continues to express desire and, whether you decide to give this man a chance to awaken it or not, it might be fun to open up and expand your horizons. You might enjoy reading A Round-heeled Woman by Jane Juska about late-life adventures in sex and romance. To send your question to Trish Murphy, fill in the form below, click here or email tellmeaboutit@ .form-group {width:100% !important;}
