Thorndike Press large print nonfiction series.

Includes index

Introduction: Aging ain't for sissies -- How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are? -- Six sure signs I'm aging -- Old age! Are we there yet? -- Strollers, cars, and wheelchairs! -- I'm not old; I'm 45 plus shipping and handling -- Not only is my short-term memory bad, so is my short-term memory -- Why can't I lose weight like I lose my keys, phone, and sex drive? -- Strong is the new skinny -- Become the CEO of your health -- Think like a doctor -- A heart-to-heart about your heart -- Keep moving! It's harder for the undertaker to catch up with you -- We're basically a houseplant with more complicated emotions: why we need water -- Sometime I laugh so hard, tears run down my leg -- Sleeping Beauty was on to something -- Did you know chocolate makes your clothes shrink? -- Will it matter five years from now? -- Life would be easier with piñatas placed throughout the day -- Mistakes & regrets: it's time to let them go! -- When there are lumps in the road -- Decline to decline -- Friends are therapists you can drink with -- An attitude of gratitude -- Be the person you want to have lunch with -- Be happy: it drives people crazy -- I want to be cremated: it's my last chance for a smokin' hot body -- It's never too late to be the person you want to be

"In her most candid and revealing book yet, acclaimed broadcast journalist and Baby Boomer Joan Lunden delves into the various phases of aging that leave many feeling uncomfortable, confused, and on edge. In her hilarious book, Lunden takes the dull and depressing out of aging, replacing it with wit and humor. After all, laughing is better than crying--unless it makes you pee! Whether you're in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or more, this book is full of helpful information to embrace--or at least prepare for--the inevitable. Funny, captivating, and raw, no topic is off limits. Lunden goes where others fear to tread, openly talking about wrinkles and age spots (which Lunden insists are sunspots), expanding waistlines (no, you didn't shrink your jeans), diminished energy (my get-up-and-go got up and went), weak pelvic floors (yes, we're talking about leaking), hot flashes (they suck), disrupted sleep (the morning host is an expert on lack of sleep), changes in sex drive (oh yeah, she goes there), ageism (it exists and it pisses us off), and yes, the real reasons we suddenly find ourselves always searching for those car keys! Through her poignant and often laugh out loud funny personal experiences, Lunden candidly shares her anxieties and breakthroughs and how she's coping with the realities of aging. She's talking about the good, the bad and the ugly, elevating the conversation on topics often considered "taboo." Why Did I Come into This Room? also explores the science of aging, including how it impacts the body and brain, while dispelling myths and revealing useful options to stave off the aging process as long as possible. Even more importantly, Lunden goes beyond the physical aspects of aging by closely examining the mental and emotional minefields that come with our advancing years. As she explores the value of asking ourselves important questions including, "Am I still relevant?", "Do I have meaningful friendships?", and "Am I leaving an impactful legacy?" Lunden also examines the freedom in "letting go," the importance of managing stress, and how joy and a sense of purpose all play an impactful role in slowing the aging process. In a society where youth is revered and aging feared, Why Did I Come into This Room? is the long-awaited tell-it-like-it-is guide for women of all ages. As Lunden says, "Aging ain't for sissies...you better be prepared.""--

Lunden delves into the various phases of aging that leave many feeling uncomfortable, confused, and on edge-- and does it by taking the dull and depressing out of aging, replacing it with wit and humor. After all, laughing is better than crying-- unless it makes you pee! She explores the science of aging, including how it affects the body and brain, while dispelling myths. Her helpful information will help you embrace-- or at least prepare for-- the inevitable. -- adapted from back cover