Weight gain = looking older?

vallemic

Funny how almost everyone who loses weight looks younger! The opposite also seems to be true! Why do you think this is so?

urasweethart

I wonder if we associate weight with age because they its harder to lose weight as you get older and when you think of a younger person you assume they have all this energy and are out burning everycalorie they eat,drink or Smell lol. i know I have been over weight for the last 8-9 yrs and Im only 28 and ppl always assume Im way older. Ive been told its because of the way I carry myself but I honestly think I carry myself & act different when I lose and gain weight.

Deltabigboy

You would think it would be the opposite. All that extra fat should push those wrinkles away!

kittenkris

I'm actually nervous about looking older as I loose. I'm afraid my face will be super wrinkly. I'm 48 but look much younger. I'm also worried about having a waddle under my chin. When I was thin 22 years ago I had a chiseled jawline and great cheekbones. I guess I shouldn't worry about it must just live with whatever happens. Wrinkles don't give you diabetes or heart problems!

joshuamhort

Well, if people look younger as they lose weight, I am in trouble! I already look like I am (maybe) barely out of high school. I am going to have people trying to throw me back in!

Natihilator

some people look younger as they lose weight, and some look older. I think it really depends on every person's face and skin.

2muchsauce

I would say I think it has made me look older unfortunately

BandedTriaRN

I think that carrying around all that weight made me more tired and when you are tired you can look a lot older?

misskatibear

I most definitely look older when I lose weight on my face. When my face is a bit rounder, looks like I have baby fat or something :P
But I know last year when I was quite a good healthy size, I looked like a more 'mature' woman :P

Dani_wants_to_be_fit

I think it really depends on the individual. My 'aunty' (those close family friends you are forced to call aunty) is a pretty large and cheerful women who looks about late 40's early 50's and is actually 62... surprised me =/ But I have also seen some over weight people look older with weight. All depends on the individual.

PrayerofAmity

I've actually found the opposite. I know one woman who was a beautiful heavy woman, then she lost 100+ pounds and she looked so much older. I'm extremely obese and told I look much younger than I am. I'm still going to lose to be healthy but I do worry what I will look like afterwards.

Dauntlessness

I think its true either way. I have seen my fair share of before and after pics and some people look 10+ years younger. I have also seen some people that get more wrinkles because their face droops.
I think it depends on genetics but either way, its not a good excuse to not lose weight.

You are unique, just like everyone else. :laugh:

Ma_Vie

For those of us who are older, sometimes the weight loss leaves us with wrinkles because our skin is thinner and once the fat is gone, skin settles and voila! Wrinkles! I have lost 52 lbs, and now have wrinkles on my forehead of all places, where I did not have them before...oh, well...

I also have crow's feet around the corners of my eyes and had none before.


I like 'em all! They show all my hard work! (That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it, as the saying goes).

vegasmari

I've noticed this when people lose weight too quickly. Almost as if our faces need a gradual weight loss to look firm and tight, so it doesn't keep up with our bodies. Just my opinion

danilee1020

I'm scared of looking older, but that is why I am trying to lose at a good pace, not too fast. I notice people who get lap band and drop weight quickly look older, jmho.

LizHowerton

I look younger slimmer than I did heavier. Many people have told me so. I'm almost 50

vallemic

I also wonder if it's about clothing. When one loses weight, he/she may be apt to wearing more stylish clothing that makes them look younger. With that also comes confidence, your posture changes and your head is held higher

litatura

Thankfully, I look younger now that I've lost weight. Most of the people that I know who ended up looking older after losing weight is because they went a little too excessive in weight loss department and their face ended up really gaunt.

Aljn27

I believe this is true. I was about 45 pounds heavier this time last year when my father passed away and someone thought that my younger cousin was my daughter. We do look alike but I did look much older then. I guess stress and weight gain can make a person look older because we are using so much more of our energy to function. I look this site and I am and so glad I decided to take my health into a more positive direction

jenjersnapco

I am developing a turkey wattle as the weight comes off. Horrified. Haven't lost too quickly - 30 lbs in 16 weeks. I hope with time it tightens up a little.

PunkyRachel

I know right! It's crazy, my husband could easily pass as 35 or even 40(he's 28).Last week he bought alcohol they didn't even card him! I blame the full beard and long unkept curly hair, but he's put on weight too, he's only 5'4 and about 250 lbs now. Being healthy and losing weight does make you look way younger. I just found out how old my zumba instructors are. One's 35, she looks younger than me (I'm 27) the other is 48, but she looks about 30-35 tops. It shocked me, I would have never guessed that!

CStone17

Yeah, it definitely varies. I think people who become really heavy and then lose when they're still relatively young are often the ones who end up looking younger because of the skin elasticity that you lose as you age, as someone else mentioned. And it definitely helps that when people lose weight they tend to gain confidence in their posture and clothing, and have often healthier skin (wrinkles or no).

But hey, if you look wrinkly now from getting fit, just remember the person with fit muscles and less fat is the one who maintains independence the longest into old age (barring disease), not to mention they're the ones who have a longer and less injury-prone old age. I've got to find an MRI I saw of the muscle content of a standard 70-something's leg and a 70-something who had remained well and truly active (a runner!)... it was amazing.

ETA: I forgot it also had a 40yo's legs. AWESOME. http://www.adventure-journal.com/2012/01/finding-inspiration-in-an-mri/

Meg_78

Weight gain = looking older?

Well considering its my goal I damn well hope not! LOL

But I think in the case of extremes then yes weight can be aging, the same way it can be when one loses and unhealthy amount of weight (anorexia can be very aging on the body). I think the concept that people look younger then they lose is probably more based on the fact that they may have more confidence and are possibly paying more attention to themselves with clothing and such so they just look better all round, which is interpreted as looking younger and fresher.

fteale

I look 10 years older since losing weight.

hapoo100

I seriously look waaay younger. Dont know why, but its what happened

jillianlovesyarn

I have noticed that in a lot of pictures posted on here but I don't know that it's universally true. How one chooses to present oneself definitely factors into perception and a lot of people who have gone on to lose weight obviously didn't feel particularly good about themselves before the loss. People post pictures of themselves confident, thinner, made up, smiling and wearing nice clothing and it's easy to perceive them as younger.

MLgarcia3

I don't know if I look older or younger now, but I look way better lol! I don't miss my chubby face. at. all.