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.” —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.