What ability did you lose in middle age or old age?

To lose weight as easily. Each year, it gets harder

Well, since three of my grandparents never saw their 40th birthdays, I’ll answer this, even though I’m 27. And because i just don’t want to be left out. Haha

I lost function of my gallbladder. I’ve lost the ability to wear high heels. My ankles just won’t accept them.

Ambition and energy. Neither is totally lost but both are definitely waning.

Most distressing is the loss of being pain-free most of the time. Over the past two years, my Rheumatic Disease has impaired my ability to stand or walk for long, and also my fine motor skills are challenged.

Eyesight changes make tiny objects hard to see and I need to rely on magnifiers.

I don’t remember numbers and dates as easily as I used to.

I’m 45.

I’ll agree that losing weight is tougher. Actually, maybe it is that I gain it much easier. This started in my mid 30’s and is worse in my 40’s.

To keep the hair in my head. Thyroid function has gone haywire and my hair falls out like crazy because of it. My hair is about 30% thinner than it was when I was younger I would say. Also related is being able to sleep well through the night. Right now I am back to sleeping well after months of not. Finally have my meds back down low enough. Flipping thyroid affects everything. My thyroid went whackadoo in my mid 30’s.

To do physcial activities for long periods of time. I used to work all day standing on my feet, part of the time lifting, and now after a few hours of walking or standing I have to stop from weakness. If I am dancing or actually exercising, after an hour I am weak, sometimes in pain or shaky in the muscles I used for the activity. The severeness of this muscle trouble varies depending on several factors. It’s frustrating and makes me feel old. The saving grace is it takes some time, some actual physical exertion for it to happen, so if I just need to do something for a short time my strength is still good, not as good as it was, and the problem is barely apparent with short duration activities. This also started in my mid 30’s….hmmm, I am seeing a pattern. This is a great question for me, to see the relationship between some of the things going on in my body.

Just starting to have my sight change a little. Very small print is harder to read, especially in low light. Most print I can still read with no trouble. I would guess within a couple years it will get much worse, we’ll see. Everyone says it happens pretty suddenly once it starts. I actually in my early 30’s had my far sight change slightly, went from better than 20/20 to 20/35. So, it’s still very good, but since I had amazing sight I notice the difference. It has stayed the same perscription for over ten years. I only wear glasses for the theatre and to read subtitles sometimes, so I guess I kind of use them like opera glasses

The flexibility for creative sexual positions.

Yep, stamina, waning eyesight, harder to drop weight and old injuries making themselves known via random aches and pains. I have tendonitis on my thumbs and opening jars is a PITA. The other day I had to bang a pickle jar on the floor and use every bit of strength to pop the freaking seal. I was exhausted after the 10 minute jar opening ordeal. lol

My ability to suffer fools. I have found an alarming ability to be rude to people, after my father died. With both parents dead, I found that I simply didn’t care who I insulted any more and started speaking my mind more, even cutting off one sister entirely.

The aches and pains are around, but I am doing much more physical work than I ever have in my life, so I can’t say that is because of age. I think it is more due to lifting stubborn 5 year olds who won’t come in for lunch when they are called at work. I’ve had bad eyesight since I was in 4th grade, and now I may be needing bifocals, but don’t want to find out. I am the same weight I was as a teen and find keeping weight ON a harder problem than keeping it OFF. I’m stronger mentally and physically than I have ever been.

BUT, I would say that my number one ability that I have lost in my middle-age is to have faith in the human race. I am more cynical and disappointed and have given up on reading or watching the news. Misanthropic Me.

@cazzie Yep, I too do not suffer fools gladly anymore either. I am never rude or unkind unless the person is toxic and needs to be firmly confronted. I also checked out of all media over a decade ago. Very, very few people are worth knowing or loving, and rarely, “forever.” haha

My ability to use my brain as efficiently.

I lost the ability to eat 2 or 3 bags of M&Ms/week without gaining weight when I was in my 30s.

It’s a bit hard for me to tell what is from what. I am at my highest weight ever right now. And am far less active than I was even five years ago. Also I am on the computer a LOT.

My eyesight has gotten much worse in the past five years. (again, that could be from computer use, I don’t know)
I have also lost the ability to have boobs that are even close to perky.

20/20 vision.

@anniereborn Haha…yes, the boobs going south.
I’ll never be on top again, not even in the dark. They have served their purpose for almost 40 years now, practical and recreational. lolol

I’ve lost the ability to sit comfortably on the floor, to run without pain and to stay awake past 1am.

Yes; sitting on the floor isn’t at all comfortable for me anymore.
Besides double vision to the left, I don’t need glasses except for reading.
I have knee problems; probably because I prop my feet up on my desk and a doctor told me to stop it ten years ago but they automatically go up there . They have minds of their own. I know I’m stupid.
Advice to those forty and under: do not stop exercising and get a good bathroom scale. Do not gain weight. No matter what.

My lack of stamina, which I had most of my life, has gotten worse.

@cazzie I believe I listed it as a gain on then other Q. A gain to not tolerate idiot people who are horrible.

I’m still a kid. I’ll let you know when I get there.

I can’t sing like I used to either @Hawaii_Jake . I used to love to sing. I still do it, just not in front of people anymore.
I also lost my eyesight, and working so hard when my kids were young I lost a lot of precious moments. Thank goodness I am getting to enjoy some of them with my grandkids, although none of them live in the same town as me.
I also lost my desire to skydive although I still love roller coasters.

Resiliency and tolerance for bull.