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Question of the Day | 09/26/2008 12:00 am

What are the biggest changes, positive or negative, your body has been through in the last ten years?

© iStock
Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen | 09/26/2008 12:00 am

Candice Bergen's Freakish Body Part

Easy. For starters, 30 pounds.

Twenty-five at least. I took off ten in the last month or two but am still Blimpola. Then various chronic things. Daily medication. But my back is better since I work much less. My feet, however, are bigger … by half a size in the last ten years.

And two whole sizes bigger over the last 40 years. Which seems a tad freakish to me.

Liz Smith

Liz Smith | 09/26/2008 12:00 am

Liz Smith: The Pros and Cons of Aging

NEGATIVE: Well, this old body which remained 118 pounds for thousands of years, suddenly, after about age 60 grew to be a bit fluffy around the middle. And though I try, I don’t seem to get rid of that. My belt size went astronomical. I have minor but irritating arthritis and there is no cartilage left in my right knee, but I refuse to give in to it. I keep on dancing and climbing stairs and trying to work around it and to ignore it.

POSITIVE: Well, they say the legs are the last thing to go and I admittedly still have those and they don’t look too bad. But my arms aren’t in sync, so I usually wear long sleeves which my friend Mary Tyler Moore did not do at the recent Emmys, much to observant dismay. I would say I look better now than when I was much younger, except for my wrinkles. Becoming a "natural blonde" and learning a little bit about how to do my own makeup, after years of observing how the TV artists do it, has helped me a lot.

Click here on this text to read my New York Post column.

143 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

C A Rose
phyllis, For me shape-shifting has become a problem over the past year. After going through years of emaciation from surguries and treatment, I no longer weigh 89 lbs looking like bones with skin stretched over them. I am now having to adjust to my returning curves. It is strange how your body image can change when it is one way for a long time and then jumps from size 0 to size 4/6. I have to work hard to not think of myself as obese. I actually want to lose 15lbs of my newly acquired weight. The extra weight also plays poorly with my arthritis.The upside of this is the smoothing of otherwise desert wrinkled skin. So it ain’t all bad! CA
By C A Rose on 09/27/2008 3:04 am
Sharon Belko
The worst thing was re-gaining most of the weight it had taken me 5 years to get off - when I moved to AZ 7 yrs ago - THEN - the best thing was to fall in love with someone who loves me no matter what size I am - and he saw me at my smallest 7 yrs ago and has loved me through all the fluctuations and then some! (The really worst thing is being afraid of McPalin being our next prez!!)
By Sharon Belko on 09/26/2008 2:35 am
Step away from the BLOG!
Sharon, “(The really worst thing is being afraid of McPalin being our next prez!!)” That’ll have us all chowing comfort food and chugging the vino. (see, I’m even starting to talk like her. Except have to cut the ‘g’s off the end of every word. chowin’ chuggin’ startin’…and then use a voice that peels paint off armored Humvees)
By Step away from the BLOG! on 09/26/2008 3:26 am
Dona Howlett
Suzanne…………….. Don’t you just love all of us………………. Sometimes I laugh so hard the tears run down my face.
By Dona Howlett on 09/26/2008 7:19 pm
Step away from the BLOG!
Dona, Yes, and what my parents recited to me when a girl applies, “There was a little girl, with a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good. And when she was bad, she was horrid!” Always liked that silly verse ;) To you and your power mobile!
By Step away from the BLOG! on 09/26/2008 8:53 pm
Jeannot Kensinger
I need to get rid of 30 lbs but that is n’t going to happen. I recently started chiropractor adjustments, helping with the vertigo. I was not a believer before this. Wear Merrell shoes they help with psoriatric arthritis but I am lucky I can still work part time and often walk the 2 miles to work and then back. Try every day to make a joke of things at hand. I can be funny so I have to regain more of that and less drama.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 09/26/2008 6:32 am
Dona Howlett
JMK Wow being able to walk 4 miles a day. Thats fantastic..
By Dona Howlett on 09/26/2008 6:50 am
Jeannot Kensinger
Dona, I am not taking it for granted either. My good thoughts and prayers are going your way. I was so sad to read your blog. You always sound so up! And on top of what is happening. Good for you. Know that I am thinking about you.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 09/26/2008 10:52 am
C Hardy
JMK…I was getting really bad tension headaches and dealing with bouts of severe vertigo and someone told me to try the Chiro Dr so I did…its expensive but it has helped. Its amazing how much better I felt just after the first adjustment. And to see the damage I have already done to my spine, makes me sit up straigher and walk taller! I am not getting my 2 year old to stand up straighter and sit up at the table. Its amazing to see what all nerves that go thru your spine and what they are connected too.
By C Hardy on 09/26/2008 10:08 am
Jeannot Kensinger
Hi C O, I am so amazed at how much better I feel in general. I get a big of vertigo the day or so before I am due for an adjustment. I waited decades to do this therapy. My daughter works with a couple of Chiropractors and told me of the many changes she sees daily so I trusted her judgment and went. Fortunately now Medicare pays most of it. Feel better, I also take Juice Plus and that helps.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 09/26/2008 10:59 am
Agyness O
C O…Use one of those large sports ball to sit on off and on at your desk. They come in three sizes and have instructions which are easy to follow. You will see such a difference in your spine and the tummy, too. Done correctly, you won’t even need to go to the chiroprator…I’ve done both. I
By Agyness O on 09/26/2008 1:32 pm
Agyness O
C O and everyone who doesn’t know about “the ball”…it is so much fun and makes you feel great and sit tall and feel all stretched out and the tummy a little tighter while you are sitting at the desk and you won’t even know you have done it. You get them at sport’s stores. They come in 3 sizes according to height. I keep mine by the desk and just switch off from time to time. It does so much for the spine and, I think as much as the chiroprator does as I have tried both. And, remember to do neck rolls daily to prevent the “hump”…also shoulder rolls both ways. All is so so simple, it is just remembering to do it. The best part is it can all be done as we just sit here talking to each other!
By Agyness O on 09/26/2008 1:58 pm
C Hardy
agyness…i may have to look that up & see what i can do!!! that kind of sounds like fun! keep the day going! Thank You
By C Hardy on 09/26/2008 3:07 pm
Step away from the BLOG!
Interesting, Agyness. My mother was always death on posture, thank goodness, but I catch myself recently at the desk slouching over…very bad. This was a goo reminder. Put a post it on my laptop.
By Step away from the BLOG! on 09/26/2008 8:56 pm
Diana Yacoby
My mom, who passed away at 82 always said “Don’t spend one minute worrying about getting old. It is all down hill from here”.
By Diana Yacoby on 09/27/2008 9:33 pm