Kinda serious question... faces

DamnImASexyBitch
DamnImASexyBitch Posts: 740 Member
I was looking through a lot of fitness photos online and I've come to the realization that most of the women in them have old looking faces. Like their bodies are amazing, but their faces look so much older than they really are. Why? Is that something fitness related or just genetics or a combination of both? Maybe from the tanning the competitive fitness models do? Is it just that chubbier faces produce a more youthful look?

Replies

  • Nikki31104
    Nikki31104 Posts: 816 Member
    I do think the chubby faces fill in wrinkles. My grandmother always had a youthful appearance until she lost weight. She aged about 10 years in a year and a half. Her wrinkles were much more defined and of course her skin was saggier.
  • 00sarah
    00sarah Posts: 621 Member
    Now I wonder how old I look...

    * not that I'm a fitness model or anything!
  • DamnImASexyBitch
    DamnImASexyBitch Posts: 740 Member
    I haven't noticed it so much with men, but men are supposed to have a slightly "harsher" ( don't know if that's the word I want to use ) appearance vs women.
  • onceuponadream
    onceuponadream Posts: 13 Member
    I agree with you. Thought I was the only one who noticed that. Not just with fitness models, but also with those who have lost a considerable amount of weight too... I find they look much older after. Makes sense that a chubbier face would fill in those wrinkles so I guess that's why. Hmm
  • dovesgate
    dovesgate Posts: 894 Member
    I'm finding that I have cheek wrinkles when I smile now that I have lost some weight. I guess I stretched my facial skin too much when I gained weight.
  • 00sarah
    00sarah Posts: 621 Member
    I've lost 60lbs, mommy to 2, smoked and drank quite a bit.... But, I think the exercise makes me look younger. Maybe bc I haven't gone to extremes... But, I get what you're saying...especially as people age, the less fat they have, the less there is to fill out their faces.
  • rompers16
    rompers16 Posts: 5,404 Member
    I'd rather have a few more wrinkles than stay overweight. Great trade-off ;)
  • onceuponadream
    onceuponadream Posts: 13 Member
    I'd rather have a few more wrinkles than stay overweight. Great trade-off ;)



    Absolutely!
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    You see it more with bodybuilders than fitness models because the body composition/bf% is different. Fitness models are usually between 12 and 15 percent body fat, and builders are anywhere from 6 to 10 percent for women. All of the fat is gone from their faces, and that lifts and plumps the skin. Fitness models look better because they have more fat.
  • mredsolomon
    mredsolomon Posts: 22 Member
    Now I wonder how old I look...

    * not that I'm a fitness model or anything!

    00sarah you look 27
  • sma83
    sma83 Posts: 479 Member
    I have totally noticed that too! I worry about it a lot actually. Im 29 and have over 100 pounds to lose. I wonder sometimes if Im going to put in all that hard work and just look OLD when its all said and done.
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    This was something I worried about when I started losing weight.
  • DamnImASexyBitch
    DamnImASexyBitch Posts: 740 Member
    You see it more with bodybuilders than fitness models because the body composition/bf% is different. Fitness models are usually between 12 and 15 percent body fat, and builders are anywhere from 6 to 10 percent for women. All of the fat is gone from their faces, and that lifts and plumps the skin. Fitness models look better because they have more fat.

    I think both categories look old. Like I said their bodies are amazing. I'm totally jealous there. But their faces look gross. No jealousy there what so ever. My body fat % according to fat2fit is sitting at 30%. I'd like it to be about 20-25%. I have no intentions on going below that, and partially it's because of the face issue.
  • DamnImASexyBitch
    DamnImASexyBitch Posts: 740 Member
    Now I wonder how old I look...

    * not that I'm a fitness model or anything!

    00sarah you look 27

    I was going to say more like 33-36.
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    I'm 40, have lost over 100 pounds, and get mistaken for being in my 20s all the time now. It may just be genetics, but I think it also involves eating the right things and not starving yourself, staying hydrated, and taking care of your skin...
  • crowunruh
    crowunruh Posts: 246 Member
    You do not look 40 at all! Maybe late 20's.
  • cal_73
    cal_73 Posts: 77
    I'd like it to be about 20-25%. I have no intentions on going below that, and partially it's because of the face issue.

    You would willingly be less healthy because of your perception that lower fat makes you look older? Maybe you are just making excuses for failure? Why do you care if your wrinkles are slightly more noticeable?
  • A lot of it is genetics. Another big part is how well you take care of your skin *no matter what weight your at* moisturize, sunscreen etc.. Some of it could be the photos themselves. I know people who look older in photos then they do in person.
  • CherokeeTopaz
    CherokeeTopaz Posts: 299 Member
    Now I wonder how old I look...

    * not that I'm a fitness model or anything!

    I think 26 or 27ish
  • CherokeeTopaz
    CherokeeTopaz Posts: 299 Member
    Now yall are gonna have me looking up fitness models lol
  • DamnImASexyBitch
    DamnImASexyBitch Posts: 740 Member
    I'd like it to be about 20-25%. I have no intentions on going below that, and partially it's because of the face issue.

    You would willingly be less healthy because of your perception that lower fat makes you look older? Maybe you are just making excuses for failure? Why do you care if your wrinkles are slightly more noticeable?

    Yes I would willingly have more body fat if it meant appearing to be more youthful looking. I care because I work in that industry ( health and beauty ). It would hurt my career to be promoting youth and look old.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    it happens a lot with rapid weight loss.

    everyone i know who has lost a lot of weight quickly ends up looking 10-20 years older by the end. not just skin but also hair..

    unfortunately when they gain the weight back, they still end up looking older than when they first started.

    slow and easy weight loss. i'd personally rather it take me 2-2.5 years to lose 60-80 pounds than cramming it all into one year and still looking a different type of hot mess
  • RunIntheMud
    RunIntheMud Posts: 2,645 Member
    I'm no expert on this, but I've heard that fitness models dehydrate themselves for up to a week before shows and photo shoots as well. Supposedly to look more ripped? This would definitely have an effect on how their faces look.
  • CherokeeTopaz
    CherokeeTopaz Posts: 299 Member
    Now yall are gonna have me looking up fitness models lol

    Ok... after googling women before and after weightloss.. their faces did look younger in the before... but they still looked good in their after. Overall they still looked better :)
  • MellyGibson
    MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
    Please keep in mind that if you're looking at women that had pictures taken AT A COMPETITION there are several factors that can make their faces look older.

    They purposefully dehydrate themselves before a show to make their muscle definition more visible. This causes the body to build up toxins, which come out through the skin.

    They wear a LOT of makeup on stage for competitions. It's similar/the same to stage makeup, which can alter the appearance.

    They have very low BF% (which has been mentioned earlier).

    There are very few of us "average" women that will go to those extremes...so I doubt that we have to worry about it so much.