How Confident Are You About Your Body?

—Jen Stalewski, 40

Department of Corrections

What body part would you most like to fix?

59% said belly
19% said thighs
8% said butt
6% said neck
4% said arms
4% said nothing: I wouldn't change anything; I earned all these wrinkles and marks.

Quieting that Inner Critic

“I was heavy growing up, which gave me awful feelings about my body. But when my forties came, suddenly my world no longer revolved around my weight. I still hate my butt in a swimsuit, but those are passing moments—not a constant worry.” —Martha Walker, 47

Retired Attire

78% have given up on bikinis.

It's Not Me, It's You

“My biggest complaint is not with how I see myself but with how TV portrays women my age. Commercials only use actresses my age if they’re selling medicine, Depend diapers or death insurance.” —Janna Zonder, 59

My Body, My Child

“I worry about transferring my body-image issues to my 13-year-old daughter. When she calls herself big, I try to help her reject messages from outside. But I also feel awful thinking she’s going to wind up with my thighs.” —Dawn Mayeda, 53

What's Most Troubling About Getting Older?

1. Wrinkles and sagging in face and body
2. Impossible-to-lose fat
3. Fear of developing a chronic health-related condition

Tough Love

“When I was 60, I found a lump in my left breast and had a modified radical mastectomy. Now, instead of fretting over a poochy stomach and saddlebag hips, I look at my Amazon warrior body and think how resilient it is. It took a direct hit and survived.” —Jain Ferdinand, 63

How do you feel about your body? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, below.