How Confident Are You About Your Body?

1,000 MORE readers reveal their inner thoughts about their outer selves.

When asked how you feel about your changing figure, you didn’t hold back. Some kvetched about big bellies, flapping upper arms and the evaporation of male attention. But you also expressed a genuine appreciation for your bodies, which, many of you noted, have taken you a long way. “As you get older, you’re more likely to see your body as an instrument that expands your life, not just an ornament to be admired,” notes Margo Maine, PhD, author of The Body Myth. So while you may be a bit wistful for your nubile self, most of you are pretty pleased with what you see. Here, we tell you what you told us.

Percent of women over 40 who are satisfied with their bodies: 57%

A Sense of Humor Helps

“I recently discussed my body changes with a guy friend my age. He said, ‘What, you think I look the same now as I did at 18? We’ve all had some wear and tear.’ Yeah, I thought, you’ve had ‘wear and tear.’ I had a pair of seven-pound baby Girl Scouts camped in my uterus for the better part of a year, singing ‘99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.’" —Cornelia Read, 46

Lost & Found

Weight gained by 52% after age 40: 10 pounds or more
However, 13% reported losing that amount.

Older = Happier

Body acceptance grows with each candle on the birthday cake: 56% of those in their 40s vs. 58% after age fifty.

Tape This to the Mirror

"Confidence and experience trump youth and image anytime." —Allane Wood, 57

The Price of Pudge

Would you gain 30 pounds for $250,000? 55% said no. But 22% would consider gaining 10 pounds for $25,000. Now that's flexibility for you.

Color Me Fit

“I covered my gray for many years but recently decided to let it show. I think a fit body says more about your self-esteem than your hair does.” —Beverley Coleman, 61

Who is That Person?

“My mom told me that she once looked down at an old wrinkled hand and was startled to realize it was her own. I, too, struggle with the fact that my appearance is changing.”