Our bodies are bound to change as we get older—I’m only 30, and I’m already feeling it! To help you feel less alone (or less “old,” depending on how you look at it), people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s from the BuzzFeed Community recently shared the changes they’ve noticed in their bodies. Here’s what some of them experienced. Feel free to share your own changes below if you’ve noticed anything similar!
“I’m 35, and the hair on my shins and calves has stopped growing—now it’s just light fuzz on my thighs and arms. I also have way more freckles than before. I used to manage work on just three hours of sleep, but now I need at least eight hours to feel okay.”
“I’m 42 and look young for my age, but I’m shocked at how quickly my close-up vision went from ‘perfectly fine’ to ‘where are my reading glasses?’ It’s definitely a humbling experience.”
—mydogisadumb
“I turned 40 this year, and now everything creaks. I’m tired all the time. My scalp is dry and itchy, I can’t lose weight, and I have thick black hairs growing from moles on my chin and upper lip. Even my feet are getting bigger—I used to wear a size 8.5/9, but now it’s 9.5/10. On the bright side, I feel more comfortable in my own skin and am pretty content with life overall, so there’s that!”
—jessethecowgirl
“I just turned 33, and now it’s much harder to lose weight even though my lifestyle hasn’t changed. I’m tired all the time and constantly hungry. I had eczema as a kid, which went away when I was a teenager—but about a year ago, it came back worse than ever.”
“When I wash my hair, I feel like I lose way more hair than I actually have on my head! Meanwhile, my body hair is darker and coarser than ever. I also can’t handle drinking or smoking like I used to, and I’m more sensitive to foods like spicy stuff, dairy, and gluten. Getting older is a gift, but it has its downsides too.”
—looneylovegreat
“I’ve lost the ability to balance on my right leg, even though my left leg is fine. I can balance on my left for a minute, no problem, but working on the right is taking a lot of time and effort. It’s good to work on balance, strength, and body awareness as you age!”
“I just turned 47, and in the past few years, I’ve started getting thick hairs on my chin—I actually have facial hair now! I even have to shave my face… and I’m a woman.”
—brandielitchfield
“I started getting gray hair at 22. It runs in my family on my mom’s side, but she didn’t notice hers much because she’s blonde. My hair is dark brown, though, so it shows more. I don’t mind it—I actually like gray hair, and I’m getting more pretty slowly. But I do have lower back and knee pain already, and I’m only 25.”
—nathanvh
“At 75, I’ve noticed that my orgasms have gotten stronger with age. A few years back, one was so intense that I actually went to the doctor to make sure everything was okay. So while aging has its downsides, if you’re like me, there’s something to look forward to!”
—Anonymous
“As you get older, your body starts making all sorts of clicking and popping sounds when you move. The weirdest part for me is when my chest pops like my elbow does.”
“I played sports into my late 40s and learned what it means to ‘lose a step.’ That quick, first burst of speed is gone now, so ground balls get past me because I don’t have that quick reaction anymore. Even my hitting power isn’t what it used to be.”
—irienewf
“I started having vertigo when I turned 43.”
“As you get older, you bruise more easily, especially women. Your skin gets thinner, fat layers decrease, and blood vessels become less stretchy, making them more likely to break.”
“I’m 52 and a woman. I can’t put grocery bags on my forearms anymore because they leave bruises. Even a bag with just four regular-sized cans of soup leaves a perfect bruise where the handles were. I’ve also lightly bumped my arm on something, and it tore my skin and bled a lot.”
—trishmcdermott
“Bone thinning is another issue for me. I have a genetic condition that makes me more likely to have fractures (it’s not osteoporosis, but it’s similar). I’ve had tiny fractures in my foot and broke my fibula from a fall that would’ve just caused a bruise for anyone else. This all started happening as I began entering my ‘older years.'”
Have you noticed any changes in your body? If so, please share your experiences in the comments below!
