Today’s story (with incredible tips!) on body confidence after 50 was contributed by Astrid Longhurst, a world-class body confidence coach, fitness expert, author, and age empowerment coach. She has provided expert advice, articles and comment for Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, and many more. This story motivated me to be kinder to myself and take action! Enjoy, darlings.

Transitioning to Visibility & Body Confidence After 50

I was coaching this fabulous lady the other day in one of my age empowerment body confidence sessions. She had no idea of just how marvelous she was. As we sat talking about her life and where she was now at age 60, she said, “I don’t feel like myself anymore. I feel as if I have become invisible and it makes me feel sad.” If only you could have seen her. Her energy and warmth simply shone out of her eyes, and she had a sense of grace that flowed effortlessly through her body and soul.

I asked her who she saw when she looked in the mirror. She replied that she had stopped looking in the mirror a long time ago because what she saw reflected back disappointed her. As we continued to speak, it became clear that somewhere along her life journey, she had become invisible to herself. She had stopped seeing the wonderful vibrant woman that she was. She felt disappointed by her amazing body that had safely carried her through three miscarriages, gave birth to two healthy children, had undergone two bouts of Cancer, and was still looking after her every day of her life. Learning to accept her body and its changes, and being more accepting of herself, was a crucial step in her journey.

And so began her journey of coming “home” to herself. Of recognizing just how extraordinary she is and gently choosing to become visible to herself again. It’s a journey that all of us take at some point or another in our lives. Accepting and appreciating our bodies as they change with age is an important part of this process. Life is constantly inviting us to grow, evolve and transform into the next version of who we might become. This is never more profound as we grow older and are asked to step into ALL of who we authentically are.

We all must deal with changes as we age, and accepting these changes is part of the process of coming home to ourselves.

Become a force of fabulousness

Reinventing and boosting our body confidence is one of the key ways we begin to see ourselves anew and step into the woman we most desire to be. Our bodies are where we live. They are our “homes” throughout our lifetime. When we make our bodies the happiest, safest and most beautiful places to live, we are able to express all of who we are in ways that feel exciting, authentic and alive with purpose. It’s important to value yourself as a whole person, recognizing your unique qualities and identity beyond just your appearance.

Understanding Your Evolving Body Image and Shape

As we move through midlife and beyond, our bodies naturally change in shape and appearance. For many women, these changes can bring up feelings of uncertainty or even low self esteem, especially in a world that often celebrates youth. But embracing your evolving body image is a powerful act of self acceptance and self love. Instead of focusing on negative body image or comparing yourself to others, try to see your body as a reflection of your unique journey. Every line, curve, and change tells a story of resilience, growth, and life lived fully.

It’s important to practice positive self talk and remind yourself that confidence isn’t about fitting a certain mold—it’s about feeling comfortable and proud in your own skin. Midlife women can boost their self confidence by focusing on what their bodies can do, not just how they look. Remember, your body is your lifelong companion, and nurturing a positive relationship with it can transform your self image and overall confidence. By talking kindly to yourself and focusing on your strengths, you can begin to see aging as a beautiful evolution rather than something to fear.

Appreciate the journey of your body and embrace its unique story

Your body has carried you through so many amazing things—moments of joy, challenges, and triumphs. Appreciating the journey of your body means honoring all that it has done for you, rather than fixating on its appearance. Practicing self care, whether through gentle exercise, nourishing meals, or simply taking time to rest, is a wonderful way to show gratitude for your body and boost your mental health.

Focus on the positive aspects of your body image by celebrating the strength in your muscles, the softness of your skin, or the energy you feel after a good walk. Taking care of your physical and mental health helps you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Remember, self esteem grows when you treat yourself with kindness and recognize the unique story your body tells. By prioritizing your well-being and focusing on what makes you feel good, you’ll naturally boost your confidence and develop a more positive outlook on aging.

Body Confidence After 50: My Top 5 Tips to Invigorate Your Body, Mind, Heart, & Soul!

#1 Reinventing and boosting your body confidence after 50 begins with a feeling

True body confidence after 50 starts from within—with a feeling of self acceptance and self love. Letting go of negative beliefs about aging or appearance can be liberating, opening the door to a more joyful and confident self image. Surround yourself with friends and loved ones who lift you up, and seek out activities that make you feel good, whether that’s trying on different styles of clothes, meeting new people, or simply spending time doing what you love.

Positive affirmations can be a powerful tool for boosting your mental health and body confidence. Each day, remind yourself of your worth and the beauty of your unique journey. Focus on how you feel in your skin, not just how you look. As you begin to embrace self acceptance and self love, you’ll notice your confidence growing, and you’ll feel more empowered to express your authentic self at any age.

#2 Smile — it’s all good. You got up this morning

Never underestimate the power of a smile to boost your body confidence and improve your mental health. Smiling, even at yourself in the mirror, can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and toward the positive aspects of your life. Practicing gratitude for the small things—like a good cup of coffee, a chat with a friend, or simply the fact that you woke up this morning—can help you cultivate a more positive mindset.

If you find yourself feeling low, try writing in a journal or talking to someone you trust about your feelings. Focusing on the good in your life, no matter how small, can help you feel more confident and resilient. Remember, every day is a fresh start and an opportunity to boost your confidence and well-being.

#3 Rescript your body story and cut out any negative self-talk

The way you talk to yourself matters. If you catch yourself engaging in negative self talk or focusing on self esteem issues, pause and choose a kinder, more positive affirmation instead. Rescripting your body story means letting go of old, limiting beliefs and embracing a narrative that celebrates your strengths and achievements.

Practicing self-compassion is key to developing a positive body image and boosting your mental health. Whether you write in a journal, talk to a therapist, or simply reflect on your thoughts and feelings, make it a habit to focus on what makes you feel confident and proud. Remember, you have the power to shape your self image and create a story that honors your journey and your body.

#4 Write a future self-journal

A future self-journal is a wonderful way to boost your body confidence and support your mental health. By writing down your goals, dreams, and the amazing things you want to experience, you give yourself permission to imagine a positive and fulfilling future. Reflect on your progress, celebrate your achievements, and use your journal as a space to focus on your feelings and aspirations.

This practice can help you feel more in control of your life and more confident in your body. As you focus on your well-being and the positive changes you’re making, you’ll notice your self image becoming stronger and more resilient. Remember, your body is capable of incredible things, and by nurturing it with care and positivity, you can enjoy a vibrant, healthy, and confident life at any age.

# 1 Reinventing and boosting your body confidence after 50 begins with a feeling

Write down your five top feelings you would love to experience daily. There are so many feelings that you can choose. Go with the ones which feel the most alive for you. Some ideas are; feeling free, excited, happy, content, peaceful, motivated, passionate, wild, blissful, joyous, harmonious, radiant, loved, safe, etc.

Once you have the list of your top five desired feelings, write a small action that you can take every day which helps you to embody that feeling. For example, feeling free is one of my top feelings and dancing always brings me that sense of freedom. Pay attention to how each action feels—choose actions that evoke positive feelings and make you feel good, rather than ones that feel like a punishment.

Once you have your list of actions, make it your priority to bring them into your life every day. It’s normal to feel awkward at the beginning of this process, but it gets easier with practice.

# 2. Smile — it’s all good. You got up this morning.

Smiling is often overlooked as a way to boost our confidence and make us feel better. However, it has a profound physiological and psychological impact on our state of being. When we smile, we give a message to the nervous system that all is well in our world. The body reads this as “I am safe.” Smiling can also improve your mental well being and help reduce anxiety and depression. We often forget to smile at ourselves and yet will happily smile at those we love in our life.

Every single morning as you awake, give yourself a smile smoothie. This consists of three smiles. The first is for your body as gratitude for keeping you safe through the night. The second is for your beautiful spirit as you look in the mirror and honor how amazing you are—be sure to smile at your head and face, appreciating your unique features. And the third is for this beautiful earth you live on. Spend time each morning practicing this smile routine to support your mental well being.

# 3. Rescript your body story and cut out any negative self-talk.

The way that we talk about ourselves and to ourselves has a huge impact on how we feel. Words are the architects of our lives. Every word conjures up an image and every image creates a feeling within our body.

Most people struggle with similar negative beliefs about themselves, so you are not alone if you find your self-talk is harsh or critical. When it comes to reinventing and boosting our body confidence, we need to choose the kind of words that we would love to feel every day. Low confidence can make it harder to reframe negative self-talk, but practicing positive affirmations can help shift your mindset over time. The words that are associated with growing older are often negative or self-limiting. Choose to reframe old age words into new age possibilities. Here are some examples of how to re-frame and choose more liberating words.

Old Age Language                      Fabulous Age Language

Old age	Timeless wisdom
Anti-aging	Pro more wonderful years
Be youthful	Be YOU
Dress age appropriate	Dress your authentic style
I am too old to….	I am far more than my age
The third act of our life	The present moment
Stay young	Keep growing more fabulous
It’s too difficult	It takes a little time
I should	I could
Look younger	Love being exactly where I am
I can’t	I choose not to
If only…	Next time…
It’s a problem	It’s an opportunity

4. Write a future self-journal.

This exercise helps you to turn your brain into a map of the future and to experience that future as if it is happening in the moment – in the NOW time.

Write down your intentions, how you desire to feel, what behaviors you want to practice, and what you are grateful for right now and in the future.

Every day begin your journal by writing, “Today, I see myself as………………..” Continue by building a picture of what it is you desire to feel, think, do, and be. This helps you to hardwire a new image and feeling of what you desire in your life.

# 5. Create your own authentic style and rock it every day!

Who are you? This is not always an easy question to answer, however, when you begin to explore this question more deeply, it opens up so many ideas of styles, possibilities, and combinations of clothes that you can weave together.

Some great questions to ask yourself are, “What do you love?” What era of clothing do you resonate with— for example, the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, etc.? What hobbies or pastimes do you love? For example, art, dancing, walking, singing, baking.

The secret is to take elements from all the things that you resonate with and bring them into your wardrobe. For example, I love dancing so I wear dance-inspired clothes such as my long “tutu” skirts. I also loved the freedom of the sixties, so anything with a touch of Boho and flower power fills my soul. When exploring your style, choose clothes that flatter your unique body shape and wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident. Older women can embrace their changing bodies and find styles that suit them, celebrating their individuality at every age.

Our bodies are constantly changing, bringing us different versions of ourselves to love and care about. The key is in being visible to ourselves and appreciating our amazing bodies in which we get to experience all of life’s wonders. Love your body, including features like stretch marks, as they are part of your unique story. Free your mind, express your soul, and adore your body!

For more inspiration on living fabulously in your fifties and beyond, please join me on Instagram at romancing your body. I would love to meet you there.

Astrid Longhurst, body positivity coach and expert.

For more inspiration on living fabulously in your fifties and beyond, please join me on Instagram at romancing your body. I would love to meet you there. 

Astrid Longhurst – Author, Body Confidence & Fitness Expert/ Age Empowerment Coach

Astrid is a world-class Body Confidence Coach, Author and Body Image Expert.

She is the author of two books on Body Confidence. Her most recent is “Romancing your body” (How to fall deeply, passionately & wildly in love with your body & your life). Available on Amazon.

Astrid was the former fitness presenter on GMTV (UK), delivering her hugely inspirational morning workouts for every shape, size, age, and ability! Her work has been featured in major Television & media channels including GMTV, BBC, RTE, SKY LIVING, DISPATCHES, CHANNEL 4, ITV, THIS MORNING, THE CLOTHES SHOW and many more.

She is the founder and director of the Institute for Body Confidence Coaching – a transformational Body Confidence Coaching program which trains, educates & certifies up and coming body confidence coaches.

Astrid is the “Go to” Body Confidence expert of choice for the media and she has provided expert advice, articles and comment for Cosmopolitan, Company, Zest, Health & Fitness, Woman’s Way, Bella, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, Health Plus, The Irish Examiner, Good Housekeeping, Red, Glow, The TV Times, Prima, Glamour, Sugar and You Are What You Eat Magazine.

Astrid wowed the nation when she became the first Plus size fitness presenter on UK National Television motivating people to love their body, get fit and feel FABULOUS no matter what their shape, size, age or ability!

Astrid was also one of the first generation of Plus sized models who pioneered the way for women to look and feel fabulous at every shape, size and age! She graced the catwalk stage at many of the premier London fashion stores.

Her passion is to inspire women all over the world to fall in love with themselves and see how fabulous they truly are – to let nothing hold you back from shining your beautiful light into this world. 

https://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody/?hl=en

www.astridlonghurst.com