And it takes a lifetime of healthy habits to compete that long with younger women. We're talking about the top of the mountain.
Funny. The old lady didn't see this post earlier or over the weekend. Too busy having fun in MIA. The article is kind of a sour grapes, quizzical 'what the hell happened all of a sudden' type article. From a woman who I doubt was ever top tier in looks to begin with.
This above ^^ is really the truth. Yes it certainly helps to have good genetics. But really it is lifestyle habits that make or break you by the time you reach your 50s. When we were in MIA this past weekend we went out to a couple of "it" restaurants (late a la Latin culture) and hit one of the top nightclubs. We got to chatting with one of the strippers there at the bar who was originally from our same city. Beautiful girl, size 0, pretty skin, pretty face etc. She of course was working the guy on the other side of her for a private lap dance. But it was interesting.
The way the club scene runs over there is that the top clubs are basically dual type clubs. Part high end nightclub, part strip club. Beautiful young women everywhere. The strippers are wearing nothing more than thongs, heels, garters (in some cases) and lace bras. So nothing is left to the imagination. Asians, Latinas, blondes, blacks, redheads, Arabs, you name it.
I had on a great pair of black satin/crystal Gucci platform heels, and a black minidress that reveals lots of leg, but is otherwise shortsleeve and had a high dress shirt type white collar and cuffs. Very hot dress, but classy, shows off the body/curves without showing off cleavage. Follows the show off one body part (legs) without looking like a tart principle. Sexy, classy, elegant...but nothing remotely frumpy going on. I'm a size 2 at 54 after 3 children (an accomplishment) with better muscular definition at my age than many of the girls we saw that night who are 30+ years younger than me. AND I know how to strut in heels. Surprisingly some of the girls working (and a number of the female patrons) were not terribly graceful in heels. Now some were of course, and there were any number of nice bodies on display but it was an interesting and enjoyable evening.
What was also interesting was my fiance's perspective. He's very particular about the look he finds attractive and there were 2 or 3 girls there who were his "type". He was not gawking at any of the women. At one point he said to me "Why did you bring me to a strip club?' and I told him this is how they do it in Miami. He's like, "I've already got this here (with me), plus all the other things these girls could never hope to offer. I'm over it." And he was not saying that to reassure me. I did not need reassuring.
As a woman if you want your skin to be supple into middle age you've GOT to avoid the sun. Nothing ruins skin faster. Smoking (cigarette or vaping) is a close second of things to avoid, followed by getting enough sleep and eating clean and regular exercise. Staying hydrated helps, and so does a positive attitude/outlook.
To me becoming less visible to ALL men is an advantage. It gets old after a while to be gawked at 24/7/365. I still get more than my share of attention and have plenty of options if I were single, but honestly it's kind of nice now. Everyone at the club was cool to us, nobody acted like we were "old" and it was a great time. I will say that when we were at dinner, some of the married couples were interesting...the wife who's gained weight after kids, still has a pretty face but can't show off her body so much anymore, and the strained attitude she cops for her husband who is still fit and good looking (and attractive to slender hot women)...we saw some of that dynamic too.
Weight is a killer. Nothing kills SMV like extra weight. And that does become more pronounced as one ages because the connective tissues and collagen do lose elasticity over time (resulting in cellulite).
So it's possible to retain SMV as a woman into middle age, but it is not easy. It requires discipline and frankly it requires good genetics too. It is what it is. To me there is no excuse for failing to maintain things that are within my realm of control. My age and genetics are not within my realm of control. My weight and my lifestyle choices most certainly are, and that has made the difference.