This really awful photo was taken in the summer of 2010. As you can see, I was fully immersed in my frumpiness.
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| Summer 2010 |
My reason for posting this terrible photo is to prove that even small changes in what you eat, how you dress, and how you view yourself can make a lot of difference in your life. After seeing this and the other photos taken on the same day of a woman I hardly recognized, I started making small changes every day. Within three weeks, I began to see a difference. Within six months, I had lost almost forty pounds!
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| Summer 2012 |
I stopped thinking of myself as invisible and old, which subconsciously allowed me to stop caring about how I looked. A positive attitude is so essential. I started going for more walks and eating only vegetables, seeds, nuts, and whole grains, along with a few fresh fruits. (Read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman for more information on what to eat and why.) I stopped wearing loose-fitting dull clothes.
I still weigh 143 pounds at five feet six inches tall. Yet, I am 58 years old in the photo above, and I am so much happier than I was even in my thirties and forties.
I don't do any special exercises, but I try to walk more and sit less each day. I don't eat meat or processed foods.
I am sharing all this with you as an example. (There are so few of us over fifty gals in advertising.) I want to show you that even small changes in your life can make you much healthier and help you feel better about yourself. I also want to encourage you to go out and enjoy all that life has to offer. My fifties have proven to me that life really does get better.
I sincerely hope that you will make a firm commitment to yourself to be the most positive, happy, healthy person you can be. You deserve it!
63 comments:
You've come a long way baby! ;) Good job, Susan!
You are awesome Susan!
Thank you for this inspiration!
Susan, thank you for your willingness to be real! Your blog and FB posts are a tremendous inspiration to me. I have a long way to go, but that's okay. I've started the journey and once my son's wedding is over in early January, I look forward to giving more focus to healthy eating. .....to healthier days ahead!
Fabulous looking...with such great advice to all of us!
Wow, the transformation is amazing! You look so dynamic in the second photo. I totally agree that the right mindset is crucial and must be our starting point for any life change.
Awesome....Thanks for sharing!
I guess I am weird but I like the first photo better. This person looks friendly and approachable to me whereas the second photo seems a little intimidating. But you look great in both pics!
What an inspirational post!
Here's to a Happy & Healthy New Year!
You look amazing in your "Pretty Woman" dress. If you appear in any way "intimidating" it's because you're FIERCE(with a snap)...and confident. :) I thank you for putting yourself out there and trying to help others (me) realize we too can make changes that will improve our health and self image.
I just found your blog and am very impressed by your style, choices, and attitude. I do have one question though... are you really able to wear all of your high heels comfortably? If so, I would surely love to know your secret!
Thanks,
Becky
becali9@yahoo.com
thank you for this amazing post you look awesome.
I am able to wear some of my heels all day long. If the arch isn't too severe such as in platform heels or wedges there isn't so much pressure on the ball of your foot. Otherwise I wear high heels to go out to dinner or other social functions were I know I will mostly be seated. Normally I do wear some sort of small square heel or wedge with at least a couple of inches of height (no ballet flats for me).
Thanks for all your lovely comments.
I wish the best for you in the coming year.
Susan
Susan, This evening is one of those rare times when I have just been sitting and going through my blog page by page looking for ways to improve it. That was when I found one of your comments from October. I apologize to be so late to respond....but thank you for reading and commenting. I am thrilled to find your blog and hear your story as well. I look forward to reading more. I will add you to my blog roll and make sure that I follow you! Thank you so much for reading and again, please accept my apologies for being so late with a response. Have a Wonderful New Year's Weekend!!
Thank you Pam. I understand completely. I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
In answer to a question that was deleted, yes it does require a lot of work to operate a blog. You must first have something interesting to say that people will want to read. You must have a good grasp of your own language (sentence structure and grammar) so that your articles are easy to read. You should include interesting focused images that relate to your subject. In order for your blog to be found you need to visit other blogs and leave interesting and positive comments (but not your web address). It is considered rude to try to promote your page on the page of others and will often result in your comment being deleted. Use of Search engine optimization (SEO), pertinent key words in your header HTML code and participating in connection swaps such as "Visible Monday" will help people to find your blog also. Don't forget the importance of participating in social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Good luck!
WTG! Love your blog. Soooo inspiring!
Susan I am like your first photo now. I hope to change in the coming year. :)
What a fabulous transformation! Love your dress's polka dots and structure style. Just perfect! Happy New Year!
Wow, you are a beautiful woman in both pictures, but your confidence just radiates from the second - your smile, posture, everything about you says "Visible"! Thanks so much for sharing with Visible Monday : >
Very inspiring! I'm happy I found your blog, you look wonderful!
Happy New Year! Now, I think I'll go out for a walk. ;)
Oh, one more thing. Is it possible to add a regular blogspot "follow" option? I don't have a facebook so I can't follow you. Thanks!
You look great. And I'm with you. We can do this if we want to. Redefine the age, if we want to.
I have been reading your blog for a while and really like how you dress. You look fantastic but I wish you could get another hairstyle. The gray hair looks very nice but the cut is for an "old lady". Maybe a bob or a bit longer would make you match your youthful body.
Thanks for the suggestion andimaxx. I'm always looking for a better hair style but with a round face and thin curly hair my options are limited as to what actually works. I'm in the process of growing it out some now. Wish me luck!
You are a credit to yourself, the photos are the proof! Well done on such a transformation. Off to have a little peek around your blog...J
You look beautiful! You did before, too, but I know you feel awesome now is good from the inside out. Congratulations. I also read how all this came about and am so glad you're doing so well. Happy New Year!
I wanted to let you know, too, that you won one of the copies of Jean Power's books on my website. Send me your snail mail address and I'll get your copy in the mail to you. Have fun with it.
Hi Susan,
I just found your blog. What an amazing story. You have certainly inspired me.
I look forward to reading more.
Best wishes
Hello, I was reading Lucky Sew and Sew blog and she made reference to your blog. You are an inspiration, just awesome. Happy New Year
What a transformation! I love that all the woman of Generation Fabulous are continuously transforming themselves.
I am so enjoying all the stories of the women from "My Worst Fashion Mistake" on http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=179108
This is so inspiring! I have been following you on facebook for a few weeks. I did not realize you also have a blog. Wonderful!
I am so amazed and inspired by this post. I am currently the frumpy and invisible sister of the woman in your before picture. But, watch out world! If you can transform yourself this way, I can do it too!
Thank you for sharing your experience to help others!
You have inspired me! I've heard about "Eat to Live" from a variety of people, so it's now on my download list. Thank you -
I rarely comment on blogs... but WOW!!! you are stunning! What an inspiration!!
The transformation is impressive. (I thought you looked pretty cute before, too!)
You are a stunner in that dress though!
Geez Louise!! Your transformation is truly stunning. You are lovely in the first picture, but statuesque and, yes, fierce, in the second.
You've really come a long way baby!
You happen to look great in both pictures, but how inspiring!
You rock!!! A healthy lifestyle is what is going to keep us around enjoying the next 50 years!!!
Ok, I didn't think you looked bad as a frump but seeing the second picture, I get it- you look glorious- womanly, chic and sexy. And full of vital confidence. I love it. Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing the frump pic. I shall adore both.
Wow! What an inspiring post. Please continue to share more about healthy eating and lifestyle. You Do look amazing.
Wow! You look amazing. What an inspiration.
Fifty shmifty. Age is just a stupid number. You are right. It's all in your attitude. And you rock!
What a lovely attitude!
I love before and afters!! I also love the fact that you embraced your gorgeous undyed hair throughout. You look GREAT!!!
Wow!!!! SO inspirational!
You are an amazing, inspiration role model Susan for so many!!
I've been reading about midlife makeovers, but I haven't followed through yet. Good for you! Have you seen this book? Staging Your Comeback? Some great tips. Now I need to follow your lead.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2445596.Staging_Your_Comeback
Definitely not frumpy! Wonderful post and wonderful transformation!
Stopping by from the Aging Gracefully blog hop!
http://momopolize.com/2013/03/28/lying-about-our-age-ladies-weve-been-doing-it-all-wrong/
Amazing before and after photos. Congratulations on your courage to change your life.
Sue Bock
http://couragetoadventure.com/blog
You look amazing. Do you still where hats?
Yes, Marie Davies, I still wear hats often in the summer. My hair looks a fright in the humidity!
Love the name of your blog, and my 15 yr old who was just peering over my shoulder thought you look lovely.
As do I.
Congrats on the lifestyle change - it suits you xxxx
I love your hat in your "frumpy" photo. Does that make me a frump?
I think my mother in law aged herself prematurely. She was already dressing old and thinking old when I met her. She was only 45.
The woman in the first picture has gorgeous eyes (as does the one in the second picture, but the smile is the second one rocks.
Congratulations on getting where you wanted to be with your life and body.
you keep giving me inspiration to keep on keeping on. Losing my husband of 58 Yrs. was devastating. With the trauma of my own near death experience,losing over 20 lbs. and the loss of him,another 25 lbs. I had to buy new clothes at a time I wanted to crawl in a corner. But seeing you post the way I used to and wanting to look again got me to get up and move on. Thank you, I love the classic,no frills look you show and that can be worn by almost anyone.
Dear Susan,
Thanks for inspiring us to be glam and sexy at any age. I'm 57 and I convinced myself that I had to settle for less. My husband tells me I'm beautiful, and I told him to delay getting his eyes fixed because I don't want him getting a shock when he sees me clearly one day LOL! I realise that I've become lazy and complacent regarding my appearance and I've decided that a change is necessary. Your blog is great and I love your sense of style.
Many regards
Di Redhead
Australia
Love this blog post Susan. Your willingness to use yourself as an example of how small changes can make big differences is inspirational. You certainly have motivated, and I think will continue to motivate others to make similar changes in their lives. Also, I read Joel Furhman's book several years ago and I follow many of his recommendations as well. Looking forward to many more posts to come!
WOW! I hadn't seen this picture before, Susan. What a transformation. I hope I can do the same thing this year. I feel like I'm trapped in this body and I want out! Thanks for the inspiration.
Agreed-too many women of a certain age just give up. Not 21 anymore but who wants to be? Even if you aren't a size 8 or whatever you can still dress stylishly and look good. Love your postings!
Three years ago, aged 52, I started walking, just what I could manage to fit in to my schedule, and started eating sensibly. I am a vegetarian since 1989. Within four months I'd lost two stone {28lbs} Now, aged 56, I'd like to lose another two stone, and once the new year is settled down a bit I'm going to get going again. Anyone who uses age as an excuse not to do this is only fooling themselves. It comes down to mindset and determination.
The only problem I'm having is, having let my hair return to its natural colour, I cannot find good, suitable organic hair care products. I'd love some suggestions if anyone has some.
Thanks for sharing the "before" photo. Gives me ambition to make a change myself. You were pretty before and now Gorgeous and alot younger. That's what I'm looking forward to. I will be getting that book.
Sharon
Someone made a suggestion that your hair looks "old lady" and that you should consider a bob or longer style. Please don't! Your hair is so perfect for your face. I don't think bobs are always flattering as we get older, most of us need some softness and fullness around the face. Just like clothes, we have to pick and choose which trends work for us as we age, and not follow the herd.
Love the haircut and site in general. Having entered the fabulous fifties, I have kinda lost myself. Being petite, I am always faced with buying children's clothes. Now look for simple classical items and rev it up with jewellery and subtle make up.
So if you feel you have a compelling enough reason and are ready for a change in your life, then by all means pursue that change.
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