Migration and shrinkage

Except for that time a few years ago when most food tasted bad or made me nauseous (and I lost 17 pounds and wore a size 4 and looked great) I have basically been the same weight for decades. I know this because I can still wear jeans and skirts from the 90's and before.  Why I still have these clothing items is a mystery - but the point is - they still fit.  My annual trip to the doctor (complete with a weigh-in) provides further proof.  Aside from the time I porked out and went over 140, I hover around 130 -135.  For me, that's a size 6-8. I'll take it.

Staying the same weight sounds like a positive. Problem is.. as I age.the weight stays the same but it doesn't stay in the same PLACE.  I cannot boast ever having a flat, firm tummy. I've dreamed about it. I've even promised myself that I'll start working on it. But I never have. Never will.

My excess body fat appears to have called a family gathering in my middle.  The family has stayed put. I suddenly have a wiggly tummy and a muffin top.  This is not attractive. I now understand why older women buy and wear billowy tops.  I don't own a billowy top. I don't even know where people get them. QVC maybe?

Weight shifting is not the same as shape shifting.  If I could shape shift I would become Marion Cotilliard.

My Dad used to complain that old age had made him shrink. He was correct. It's another yummy part of aging. He went from a whopping 5'7" to 5'4" over the course of fifteen years. Thankfully he had a friend who was good at altering his pants.

I am still 5'3 and I will do all I can to stay there. But other things are shrinking.  The source of my current physical problem centers around a shrinking part. Did you know that "use it or lose it" is based on fact?  I didn't use it enough (or use the estrogen inserts I had) so it shrunk. Apparently past use does not count.  And now I'm going through some less than enviable stuff to return it to it's upright and locked position.  The estrogen ring was inserted several days ago and the process was agonizing.  The "ring" has a circumference of much larger proportion than the host. Overcrowding.

It's these little changes - and a few more - that remind me I am not 40 or even 50.  I am grateful, however, that my mental age of 30 remains unmoved and unbroken.