Looking OLD...?!

april27kelli

I started losing weight in April 2012 just by walking 2 miles a day and trading all sodas for water. I still ate basically whatever I wanted, but it wasn't until I found the MFP app in July or August that I started to pay attention to calories. That's when the weight started to come off much faster and easier - and as of this morning, I've lost 56 lbs. I didn't even know that the rest of this site existed until a week or two ago, because I'd always just used the app on my phone. But now I love reading tips and seeing before & after photos. Everyone is so inspirational and even though I rarely comment, I do read several topics every night and I'm so motivated to keep going. I'm proud of y'all. Is that weird? To be proud of people I don't know and have never spoken to?

Anyway, I obviously have a tendency to ramble, so I guess I'll get on to the real reason for this post. I'm 34 and have always (happily) been mistaken for much younger. But since I started losing weight...well, I can definitely see a change in my face. I'm excited about being healthier and looking & feeling better overall, but I will admit to being (slightly) sad about the loss of my youthful face. Has this happened to most of you? Any tips for keeping my face a bit fuller? I don't tan or smoke.

I guess there's always a chance that it isn't the weight loss that's making me look older --- it could be that I'm just getting old!
"Honey, time marches on and eventually, you realize it's marchin' right across your face"
~Truvy, Steel Magnolias

777Gemma888

Well I'd just turned 36 in October and as yet, that hasn't happened to my face or body. I come from a culture where we obsess over skin quality, treatments and maintenance. Having said that, I'd started giving myself facial acupressure massages from the age of 16 and many assume I'm a teen, thinking that I am way younger than I am (highly inconvenient). For the past 2 decades, I have religiously massaged my face every night. I added the derma roller (face and body) 3 years ago, plus my usual - bio oil, emu oil, extra virgin olive oil; I make my own body butters - ilipe and tamanu, which is native to me.

To understand my approach to beauty and skin maintenance, is that where some of the Western Culture exalt the beauties in the mags and on the big screen, ours is different - it's a woman's ability no matter the age - to exude not only a youthful suppleness but to pass for an unsullied virgin. Our measure of beauty is innocence - an overused look isn't deemed attractive - head to toe. There's no emphasis on size - just the skin quality and youthfulness.

I would advise you stick to natural fruit and vegetable sugars over commercial sugars. Drink more water. Stay away from the sun. Exfoliate. Use sunscreen. Dry brush - please, for it'll do anyone a lot of good. And stay away from any treatment that encourages the use of salt. Once you hit your 20s - salt is not your friend.

Off the top of my head ... Good luck.

Edit: Light therapy and radio frequency are excellent - I've also inculcated those into my beauty regimen.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

It happens. I look back at pictures of me when I'm younger and yeah, the rounder face is the first thing I notice and maybe miss. But I'll take a smoking hot body of a round young face any day.

divacat80

You're 27, right? Do a proper skin cleanse and hydration routine every day (and exfoliate accordingly) to keep it moisturized.
That said, weight loss usually makes you lose fat from whenever the body feels like. I'm not looking older but I am losing more fat from my face than I would like. I wonder how much fat is left on my face to lose, because really, my face is constantly getting thinner. My face used to be an oval, with more tendency to round and it's become a perfect almond shape, even too pointy on the chin. My cheeks are like... GONE! XD

In my case I'm happy because I used to look way older than I am, and now I look my age (sort of). A nice toned body can make a person look years younger so regardless of what you think of your face, you might still look younger than you think. Sometimes it's just hard to keep up with the full body makeover we get from the weight loss.

jo_marnes

Yup, I hear ya. I'm 28, since I've lost weight I really have aged. It's not my skin, it's the loss of fat. I wish it hadn't changed, but I'm much healthier and am happy with my body xx

cgarand

I'm almost 46 and I'm always mistaken for younger, and I'm sure that has to do with my round face. The fat stretches out the wrinkles so they are less noticeable! But, I also use moisturizers. Oil of Olay with sunscreen for the day, and then a heavier cream for night. Also, drink lots of water. I really notice a difference if I am not well hydrated. In the past I used a home microdermabrasion thing that left my skin so smooth. I should get another one!

zombilishious

I'm 42, and I'm noticing alot of fine lines with weight loss that weren't visible before. My skin was plumper and filled them in. I'm just trying to manage damage with skin treatments and lots of moisturizer!