April 15, 2000 Local and Regional News and Features The Record

Fashion

So what does a healthy mid-life woman look like?

By Robin Lassman

As we hit forty years of age every one will agree - little changes start happening to our body. We start to notice our clothes fit us one day , then not the next. To go one step further, they may fit a bit snug in the morning, then cutting off circulation by the end of the day (shoes and pantyhose especially). Body shapes change and start to become more noticeable. This is due to our fat cells (especially those in the waist) responding to lower estrogen levels, a drop in metabolism, and a biological need to maintain both physical and emotional health. Your midlife fat cells cannot be fought with diet, they will only fight back with more force.

So what does a healthy midlife woman look like? She is an ordinary woman who exercises, doesn’t diet and eats instinctively. She moves freely and feels comfortable in her own maturing body. Some of these healthy midlife women are known celebrities as: Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Whoopi Goldberg, Jessica Lange and Cybill Shephard. They’ve gained some weight but not a lot.

Curves, tight lines, high-waisted, low waisted, no waist - a variety of different shapes and weights is healthy. Many factors, including age, genetics, metabolism, bone structure, musculature and body type affect how much weight we carry and where we carry it. We are each biologically unique and therefore, we each have a different weight that is optimal and healthy for us. If you are exercising and fueling your body with instinctive eating habits, and your body gravitates to a certain weight - and it feels comfortable there - then that’s Your Healthy Midlife Weight.

Today, the average healthy woman weighs 145 pounds, has a body fat percentage of 32 percent, carries 98 pounds of muscle, wears a size 12 and has a 28 1/2 inch waist. But, this person is also 5’4" tall and has a medium frame. Since many of us do not fit this "Norm" we are not average but exceptional!

Depending on your body shape, you may need to add pleats to your pants and skirts, or maybe not have pleats at all. Others may have to be careful of where pockets fall on their body as well as the style of pockets. Skirts may need to be longer in length as well! When we go shopping we need to give ourselves permission to buy an outfit because it fits - not to look at the tag for size or even go into separates for different size top from bottom. Again, our bodies are unique, therefore one size does not fit all! However, there are some general guidelines that can help all!

If you are "V" shaped where your shoulders are two or more inches wider than your hips, you need to give the illusion of an hour glass by widening the hips. To do this, you may want to try choosing garments that have width and fullness in the skirt or pants.

If you are "A" shaped where your bottom is heavy, your shoulders are narrower than your hips you want to balance your body by widening your shoulders. To do this, you may want to try different styles of shoulder pads in either your blouses or jackets.

If you are "H" shaped where your shoulders and hips are the same width, you want to create an hour glass figure by giving the illusion of a smaller waist by using a belt for your garments.

If you are already an Hour Glass "8" shape where your hips are the same size as your bust and your waist is ten inches smaller, then you want to emphasize your "8" shape. To do this, you may want to avoid fluff and tight fit, especially if you are a plus size (size 14+).

Remember, our bodies have changed in weight and proportion. It has gained anywhere from two to ten pounds and the waist has grown one to two inches over the past few years. Illusion is the major tool in balancing any proportion that is out of balance. If the figure is surrounded by large items (i.e.. belts, jackets too big, accessories), the figure appears smaller and vice versa, if the figure is surrounded by small items (i.e.. jackets too small, skirts too short), the figure appears larger.

How do you know you’ve become a healthy midlife woman? When you can wear a bathing suit in public and/or you can look yourself in the mirror and say "Yes" rather than "Yuck"!