Same here! Although I started the "shift" around 37. Wore belly tops until I was 36, not hoochie ones more like hippy clothes, but holy crap when the summer of 37 yo rolled around they were permanently shelved. I think I was deluded into thinking that if I maintained my weight I wouldn't look like I had aged significantly...wrong!

Ahhhh what ya gonna do? No one cheats age and the ones that try end up looking like a shrunken alien head, imvho.

You said a screenful, Jules! Is there anything tackier than older women dressed like teenagers? ACK! Buy a mirror for heaven's sake!

So true!! A funny but true story of just this scenario. I was in Publix and a woman was there who had on a belly top, short shorts and even had her belly button pierced. She looked like she had baked in a tanning bed for most of the year...her skin had the consistency of alligator hide. But she thought she looked hot! She had a little girl with her - probably 5 or 6 years old. And she was in front of me in line. The cashier was asking the little girl if she wanted a piece of candy but first said "you have to ask Grandma if it's okay first". The look on that lady's face was priceless. At first she looked shocked, then angry, then embarrassed. It was obvious to me that she wasn't the child's mother......or if she was she was an "older" mother. I assumed she was the Grandmother, too. But.....she was dressed like a 20 year old. Even from behind she couldn't pull it off. The little girl removed all doubt when she looked at her and said, "can I, Mimi?"!!

I'd have loved to have heard the conversation in that car on the way home!!

If I go get my hair colored (I've been going gray early since I was 17) then people think I'm in my late 20's or early 30's. (I'm going to be 40 a month from tomorrow.) I notice that when my hair is colored back to the color that I was born with, I get carded more often for alcohol (I dont buy alcohol that much...usually I get it at the store for my dad)

I usually let the color grow out of my hair to the point where I'm gray and the guy who cuts my hair is freaking out because I dont maintain the color job that costs me lots of money everytime I do it. (hey, he gets a big check on the days that I decide to re-color)

When I went to the MS Clinic last month, the stupid nurse insulted me and my gray hair. She asked me how old I was, told her I was 39 and was going to be 40 in May. She said something like "yeah, you look it with the gray hair" I was going to say something about her weight after that, (she was bigger than me!) but I decided to not tick off the nurse since nurses are who you usually have to go thru before seeing the doctor. Now I wish I'd used my snappy comeback, since the doctor was a real <bad word> too and I'm not going to be using the MS Clinic at all now.

AMEN to that Sister!!!

I hear you, Kell, things don't fit as they used to and when I weighed at the doctor's office last month, I was actually sad to see that I weighed a lot less than I thought!

Fortunately, I've never really had a figure and it looks like those old lady bungie bottoms aren't so bad after all.

Kitty, I noticed even though I did weigh the same a year or so ago the pants I owned didn't fit right. I did get new pants then that did fit right and they were in the same size. So my body did shift. But right now not only has my shape shifted my weight is going up and up no matter what I do. I am on a new serious watch what I eat and exercise as much as possible plan. I did loose 3 pounds. That is 3 of the 4 pounds I just gained which leaves all that other weight still waiting to get lost! So I hope to get back into my new jeans and hope they still fit right!

Our bodies shift over time and I know it sounds like a lame excuse but jeans and pants do shrink after so many washings. If I had lots of money and time to have a personal trainer and dietician maybe I'd be able to do it like those on TV. Oh wait, and not have MS!!

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I've also found that I wear different sizes in different clothing. Just depends on who makes it. The less expensive it is.....like something from Target or WalMart.....I will take a larger size. If it comes from Macy's or Dillard's I can wear a smaller size. Since I can no longer afford to shop at the high end stores anymore I guess I'm just gonna have to get used to a larger size....

I have found some cute things at JC Penney and I can order online and have it delivered to the house. It's been a long time since I've done that, though. I really have no reason to get more stuff just because it's cute and I like it. If a special occasion comes up I'll probably get something new.

It bothers me that I honestly just don't care anymore what anyone thinks of me or what I wear. As long as I am clean and dressed appropriately....if you don't like it don't look!! I'm just to that point!