Now, I don't know about you, but I've had my

fair share of moments where I've stared in the

mirror and where that

25 year old with the perky well,

everything a too. But you know what?

I'm over it. I'm embracing this

50 plus body of mine, wrinkles,

jiggles, and all, and I want to help you do

the same. So today, we're gonna talk about

body positivity.

Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old fashioned

ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're ready to

own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch of

sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging with

grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here

with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of

fun just for us, women over 50. So grab

your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and let's

get started.

So what is body positivity and why does it matter?

In simple terms, body positivity is all

about accepting and loving your body as it is,

regardless of shape, size, age, or

any so called imperfections. It's

about shifting the focus from what society

tells us we should look like to appreciating

and celebrating our unique beauty. This

movement isn't new, but its

relevance for women over 50 is huge.

We've grown up with so many mixed messages about what

our body should look like. And as we age,

those messages don't disappear. In fact, I

think they get louder, which brings us to some of

the unique challenges that we face. From

an early age, we're bombarded with images of

what the ideal body should look like, youthful,

wrinkle free, and slim. Remember Sass

song Brick House by the Commodores? Well, they

sang about the measurements of 36,

24, 36. According to that song,

that was the perfect figure, kinda like the

hourglass figure. And I can tell you, I a

to have those measurements. Well, it never

happened. But as we mature, those

unrealistic expectations can take a serious

toll on our self esteem and our body

image. Our bodies are Aging,

thanks to menopause and aging, and society

doesn't make it easy to feel good about those

changes. I'll admit, there have

been times Sass I've gotten older when I've looked in the

mirror and felt totally dissatisfied with the

changes that I've seen. But you know what?

My changes and yours too represent

the journey of our lives. The laughter lines from the

years of joy, the softer silhouette that

cradled the new life, our bodies are evidence

of the experiences that have shaped us.

I know this journey isn't always easy.

We all have those days when we just feel

down on ourselves. That's why I wanted to

discuss this topic and share some practical

tips to help you cultivate body positivity.

So let's talk about those challenges that I mentioned earlier.

Society and media often portray

aging as something to be feared or avoided

at all costs. A don't want to avoid with at all costs because then

when you think of what happens when we stop aging,

I don't think we're ready to go there. But we see

these perfect images of youth and beauty

everywhere, and it can really be hard

not to compare ourselves. On top of

that, our bodies are navigating

menopause, weight fluctuations, wrinkles,

and all a these can impact our self image.

But guess what? We don't have to buy into that

negative narrative. We can choose to

embrace our bodies and all the amazing

things that they've done to and continue to

do for us. I wanna share a personal

story. So for many years, I a

with accepting my body, especially as

I saw it change with age and with the fluctuations in

my weight. There was a time a few years ago

when I put on weight a

due to work related stress and also

because, my need for hip replacement surgery and

not being as active as I used to be. So I'm a

stress eater. So I was stressed

about work, so I ate. I was

stressed about the hip and the corresponding pain,

so I ate. Then I tried to lose weight, and

it wouldn't come off, so I stressed about not being

able to eat, to lose weight, and I ate some

more. Each time I walked in

front of the mirror, I did not like what I

Sass, but I realized that every line,

every curve told a story.

Now was it a story that I wanted to hear at that point?

Probably not. But it was a testament

of my life, my experiences, and my strength to

control what was in my a. And

that was to stop stress eating.

And I know I'm not alone in this journey.

I've had the pleasure of talking to some

incredible women who have embraced body

positivity. Their stories are powerful and

inspiring. Take Janae, a a

vibrant 62 year old who decided to start a

fitness journey not to lose weight, but to

feel stronger and more connected to her body.

Or Lynelle, who at 55 began

modeling to challenge the stereotypes of beauty.

These women are living proof that it's

never too late to love yourself just as you

are. So how do we start embracing

body positivity? Here are a few tips that have worked for

me and many other women. Number 1,

ditch the negative self talk. Instead of

focusing on your flaws, celebrate your strengths. Be

kind to yourself, replace negative thoughts with

positive affirmations. Look in the mirror and appreciate

the unique beauty that's staring back at you. Don't

concentrate on rolls or I see flab

here. I could tone here. Write down

3 things that you love about your body every day.

Trust me. It really does work wonders.

Number 2 is prioritize self care. Make

time for yourself, whether it's a relaxing

bath, a walk, or just sitting quietly with a good

book, which is my favorite. Self care is

crucial. Number 3,

healthy habits. Focus on what makes

you feel good. Take care of your body by eating

nourishing foods, moving your body in ways

that feel good, and getting enough sleep.

When you feel good on the inside, it shows on the

outside. 4, surround yourself

with positivity. Follow

social media accounts and join communities

that promote body positivity, proaging,

and self love. Fill your environment

with messages that uplift and inspire

you. And 5, experiment with

fashion. Find clothes that make you feel

confident and beautiful. Don't let anyone tell

you what you can or can't wear at this age.

It's your body and your rules.

Wear what makes you feel good. If you love bright

colors, then rock them. If you like print,

rock them. If you prefer Sass a,

then go for it. The key is to find

clothes that flatter your figure and make you feel

like a $1,000,000. Don't be afraid to try

new trends, but always stay true to your personal

style. You know what? It's

time that we redefine

beauty on our own terms. True beauty

radiates from the inside out. It's the graceful

confidence of a woman who understands her

worth isn't measured by a number on

a scale or the tautness of her skin.

When we embrace our bodies with compassion,

we free ourselves from the constraints of

meaningless a. Let's look

at and be inspired by these women who

are rocking body positivity. One that I've noticed

is Ellen DeGeneres. She embraces her

true self and inspires 1,000,000. And

did you know she has a skincare line? She does. Check it out.

Oprah Winfrey, we all know she promotes self love

and a through her platforms. And

then I recently saw Christie Brinkley on the

Touch Show. First of all, I didn't know she was 70,

but she mentioned how she talked about how

she embraces aging gracefully.

These women remind us that beauty is

ageless a confidence comes from within.

Now, unfortunately, the world sometimes still

carries ugly prejudices against older women,

often treating us as invisible or devaluing

our wisdom and experience. But we have the power

to challenge those tired stereotypes just by

existing as our authentic, vibrant selves.

Our presence shatters the misguided notion that

life's adventures end at a certain age. Girl, please.

With grace and courage, let's keep rewriting the narrative

around aging, celebrating every season of

womanhood. So let's

make a pact today to love ourselves

deeply, to reject the misguided judgment

of others, and to lift up our fellow

a along the way. Our bodies

are meant to be cherished and appreciated for their

amazing capacities, not criticized for

falling short of an unrealistic ideal.

When we lead with body positivity,

we give ourselves and then those around us

the gift of wholeness and belonging.

Let's keep fanning those flames of self love because a

confident, radiant woman over 50,

no. That's true inspiration.

Before we go, I want to share some resources that

can help you on your body positivity

journey. Check out these Sass, such as,

A Body is Not an Apology by Sass Renee

Taylor. And it's about celebrating everybody

and never apologizing for your body.

Another is Body Positive Power

by A Jane Crabbe. And then

and the 3rd book that I recently picked up is called

Fearless by Trinny, t r I n n

y, Woodall. I'm gonna put them in the show notes

so you can look them up. But and, also, follow

other podcasts that champion body positivity.

One last Aging. I have some exciting news. To

show my appreciation for all your support

and to help you on your body positivity journey,

I'm doing a special giveaway. I'll be giving away

a copy of a of the amazing books that I mentioned.

It's going to be A Body is Not an Apology by

Sonya Renee Taylor. So here's how you enter.

Leave a review of the podcast and take a screenshot of your

review and email that screenshot to me at

hello at Aging with grace and

style dot com, or you can

subscribe to our newsletter at pod.aging

with grace and style.com. Check the show

notes. I'll have them in there, this information in

there. I really, really want to give away a book. So

make sure that you complete one of these steps by June

11th, and then I'll announce the lucky winner on the

show on June 18th. I can't wait to see

your entries and hear your thoughts on the podcast. Now good

luck, everybody. Well, just

like that, we've come to the end of another episode.

This topic is really important to us.

I hope that I provided some encouragement to

embrace your unique, beautiful self

without apology. Remember, body

positivity is a journey, not a destination.

It takes time, effort, and a whole

lot of self love, but I promise with is

so worth it. Embrace your body,

celebrate your strength, and don't let anyone tell you that

you're not beautiful a as you are.

As always, thank you for tuning in. Until next

time, keep living your best life with

grace and style.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling

inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I love

sharing this space with you. And if you of today's episode,

do me a favor. Share it with a friend who could use some

extra inspiration. A quick rating and review

really helps too. Don't forget to subscribe so

you never miss an episode. Let's keep this conversation

going. Head over to pod.aging with

grace and style.com to sign up for my newsletter.

Until next time, keep shining with grace,

style, and a whole lot of sass.