Blog - Page 44 of 53 -

June 8, 2020February 8, 2022

Muffintop tales

Yes Bird, that’s my muffin top and flabby arms you see in all their glory.
It took many years of not giving this body a second thought to realise how special and important all parts of this this squidgy, marshmallow body are.
It’s; been burned in a fire, thrown from a horse, produced a human, in a car crash, climbed mountains, floated in oceans, overfed, taken for granted, taken to the brink, critically ill. Uncared for and overlooked.

I’m still a work in progress.
It’s never too late to start caring. Your body will thank you.

Stress affects my weight and ability to maintain the perfect score on the scales. I’m working on that.
I keep my house uncluttered, space to think. I eat healthy food, fuel to function. I listen to music, to calm my mind. I walk to meditate in nature, birdsong and the sound of the waves soothes my soul. I sleep.
I’m not embarrassed by my muffin top and flabby arms. My body isn’t photo perfect. I’ve learned to love and appreciate every stretch mark, scar, and hopeless imperfection.
Swimwear @wildislesswim
#bodypositive #aging #ageing #midlife #muffintop #midlifespread #selflove #over50 #midlifewoman #agepositive #over50bikini

June 8, 2020February 8, 2022

The best advice for those about to hit 50?

The question I am asked most often? ‘What’s the best advice for those about to hit 50?’ Start taking care of your health, because nobody cares about your body as much as you should. I will be 53 this summer, I still feel 16, no aches or pains and I am beyond grateful to my body for providing me with wonderful quality of life.

Eat a diet of colourful fruit and veg, nuts, seeds and beans. Drink lots of water, minimum caffeine intake (I drink one coffee per day) and if you read my post yesterday….avoid drinking too much alcohol. Even if Julia Roberts in the film I watched last week ‘EAT PRAY LOVE’ embraced her fuller figure, eating lots of pizza, pasta and red wine, I can tell you… buying larger jeans is not the answer!

Exercise! Even if you are feeling like a slug (a comment which made me laugh yesterday), or a full on couch potato, slip on some comfy walking shoes and take a walk outside. The wind in your hair (I love the wind!) and sun on your face will see those stresses melting away, along with the excess weight if you walk or hike regularly.
My hair is having a salty, sun kissed day today. Very casual, feeling liberated from years of colouring and treatments (perms….remember those!?!?). Swimming in the sea without having to worry about the effect it’s having on my coloured hair is bliss! I really like the feel of salty hair, I like to scoop it all up into a messy bun after a dip in the cove.
The hair around my face is becoming so white, and I LOVE IT! I chose very natural makeup today – such a lovely matt lipstick from Thrive.

What are your best tips for feeling great?

Lipstick: Kaisa @thrivecausemetics
Hair: Shampoo from @whitehothair
#ageing #midlife #positiveaging #aging #silverhair #grayhair #vegan #over50women #agingbackwards

June 8, 2020February 8, 2022

Weight ups and downs

The violet and blue tones have completely washed out of my hair and I am back to my natural sparkles. I’ve been using #whitehothair shampoo which has really made my whites pop. Check out all my hidden shades of silver on the sides!
The other day I mentioned in my stories that I’d gained 8lbs/3.6kg in a very short time…. 2 weeks! I had very puffy legs which is unusual and my face was quite swollen. I had been enjoying red wine again and maybe got a bit carried away with a glass (or two) every day. I had a mini meltdown seeing the scales shouting my gains as I am very careful with my weight, having spent most of my life carrying too many extra pounds.
Today I woke up with my ankles back to normal and my weight down by 4lbs. Still 4lbs to go but thats better than 8. I desperately don’t want to gain weight, I feel great and want it to stay that way. Maybe I am suffering with water retention but I have no idea what would cause it. I’m laying off the wine regardless.
Yesterday I (finally!) met up with my gorgeous friend Emily (I hadn’t seen her for almost 3 months) and her two Vizslas. We enjoyed a socially distanced stroll along the oak tree lined river in Totnes and swam in the cool and refreshing gently flowing river with the 4 dogs. It was an absolute joy to see Emily and to wallow in the dark fresh water straight off the moors.
A new batch of freshly hatched yellow and black striped ducklings joined us in the shallows, which caused chaos as Ginger wanted to eat them all as they darted in every direction. I managed to scoop Ginger up and carry her to shore to allow the fluffy bundles to enjoy their first adventures along the river bank without a pair of excited teeth snapping at their tail fuzz.
I’d really missed Emily, our walks and chatter. Apart from people, what did you miss most during lockdown?
Hair: @whitehothair
Lipstick: Paige – @thrivecausemetics
Earrings: @_jasperrocks
#matureskinmakeup #maturemakeup #over50 #midlife #grayhair #greyhair

May 21, 2020February 8, 2022

Lighting is everthing

Lighting is everything! As I mention in this Instagram post below, I use a ring light. Here is the one I use:

Neewer Ring Light Kit:18″/48cm Outer 55W 5500K Dimmable LED Ring Light, Light Stand

Sunshine always makes my photos look so much better – it’s a game changer. Without it I struggle to take a good photo (I’m not a photographer, just a snap happy enthusiastic amateur) The sunlight bounces off the skylight below my office window to light up my face. I put my camera directly in front of the window and use a ring light to help illuminate my face with warmer tones. Who else loves their ring light?
I use this one from Neewer: https://amzn.to/3e5liXn

Without the light I am sure I would look ten years older! It was certainly a good investment. TOP TIP: I also use it for video conference calls!
Lighting is everything.
Just editing a realtime video of my makeup for this shot as I’ve had so many requests over the past few days following my before and after photo. The transformation blew so many women’s minds! Anyone can look glowing and a little more vibrant after a few minutes with some makeup and a magic wand… I mean brush ?

Check back soon for this IGTV.
Earrings: @_jasperrocks
#matureskin #silverhair #over50influencer #50plus #matureskinmakeup #pinkhair #violethair #lightingiseverything #over50women #over50plus #over40makeup #grayhair #greyhair #braids #silverbraids #midlife #emptynest #middleaged
#healthyageing #vegan #plantbased #ageinggracefully #over50style #boho