[size="4"]Hello to anyone out there. I am new to this site but have been feeling just awful emotionallly this week. I have been in menopause officially since 42. SUnday I went to get dressed as the weather warmed up on Long Island and it is the first time I put shorts on my 45 year old frame. I was horrrified(lathough I can be brutal on myself) with ny cellulite laden legs, front and back) anbd felt I had no right to be seen in public. I have tried all week to maintain spiritual fitness and to recognize all that I have to be grateful for including arms and legs that can move freely, a loving husband and family, a full head of hair without one stray grey and the list goes on. I went through the alphabet thinking of something for each letter I could be grateful for and still could not shake my deep sense of sadness and loneliness. I feel so lost and empty at times. I feel like although I have numerous hobbies nothing intterests me or keeps my attention.. Does anone feel this way???

Count me in...that is exactly how I feel. I am blessed with a number of things around me but I can't seem to stop thinking about the negative things in my life. It seems I concentrate on the bad lately. My emotions are all over the place. I am 46 and I was hit with all of this including panic attacks last September. I thought I had every imaginable illness around but test say otherwise. I am learning to accept all this including the weight gain. I HATE when it gets warm and the shorts and bathing suits come out!! Talk about depressing!! I try to exercise more lately and eat better, and that has been a semi help. Keep your spirits up and hopefully this feeling will pass soon.

So glad you two newbie's join us, WELCOME!
Make yourself at home!
Where all in this together!

I'm also questioning if I will wear shorts and tank tops this summer, I put a pair on the other day OMGoodness!
I used to have such fit legs>>> and what even worse is the skin hanging under my arms YUCK!

I don't know why on my post it says [size 4], that was an error as I tried to change the font. My body is certainly not a size four. I suppose Snowmoon if I were looking at you in shorts and sleeveless I would be much kinder to you and really see you as beautiful wondering how you did not see in you the beauty I could see. But ofcourse when it comes to ourselves we are so often unkind and merciless. I often try to remember I am modelling for my children that which I hope they can become... and than my moment of clarity leaves and I lapse into my own head. you knwo what they say about that..being in our own minds.. it islike going to a bad neighborhood alone...never safe