Growing old gracefully? ????⌛

To me there is a difference between growing old gracefully and throwing in the towel, and I think a lot of people who have stopped trying to be their best physically and mentally say they are growing with grace. To me that is throwing in the towel.

I don't understand how people wouldn't want to look their best and take care of there body. I don't think they are bad people, I just don't get it. You only get one body and one mind.

So, I would like to grow old gracefully with strength. I want to be the lady I saw out on a run there other day at 75 riding her adult tricycle with a big smile. She looked BEAUTIFUL to me.

I won't lie though. If I had an extra ten grand I would get laser bra so I would walk around bra-less at home and and the girls would walk with me again.

Agreed, but I think the vast majority of people here ARE looking to take care of their bodies, that's why we're here. I took the OP to mean the more cosmetic things (gray hair, etc.) & THAT's what a lot of us aren't concerned with. Will I look better losing weight? I certainly hope so, but I will never win any prizes for looks. The bigger thing I'm addressing with the weight loss is staying healthy - anything else is a bonus & if it doesn't work out that way, that's fine too. I take care of myself (shower, haircuts, keep the beard trimmed, clean clothes, etc.) but I'm not doing the Grecian formula thing or anything else cosmetic like that.......

I didn't read through the thread yet. I'm 35, a mother of 2, and a dancer. It is important to me to eat a nutritious diet, in moderation, exercise and be fit, maintain and build muscle. I stay out of the sun, or wear a hat and I wear spf 30 to prevent sun damage to my fair skin. I take care of my skin, but just very basic, preventing blemishes, nothing fancy. I don't think there is any way to stop the aging process. I trust in my body to age gracefully as long as I take basic, good care of it. I also use a gentle shampoo and conditioner and will put some color in my hair from vegetable dye (maybe when I'm older I won't), but I don't heat style or use anything damaging to my hair. I dress nicely. I wouldn't do anything expensive or invasive. I still get carded, and the drinking age here is 19. They really think I am under 19.

Don't care. I know too many women who are in their 40's or 50's and try so hard to look younger, it makes me feel bad for them.. They wear clothes from stores that target young adults, go out to bars full of college age kids. My mom is pre-occupied with covering her gray hair, being skinny, putting creams on age spots and wrinkles.

I find it incredibly sad.

Well, I always try my best to choose styles that are right for my age, but generally I do need to shop in stores that sell the smaller sized clothing. It's just the way it is if you are small and petite. My size isn't going to change in 10 to 15 years from now.

I live my life and enjoy it. The people in my family all look youthful, and live past the age of 100 (and even the people that abuse their bodies mostly with alcoholism). But, I'm still going to eat nutritiously, exercise, and wear hats and spf. Simple steps to prevent unnecessary early aging or health problems. The people in my family also have fair skin and have had skin cancer and lost their skin pigmentation from serious sunburns, but they still all look good (early detection and then they started wearing sunblock).

My great grandmother (my kids make her a great great grandmother) is 99, she still challenges men to arm wrestle, and she does high kicks (she was also a dancer). She still dresses fashionably and wears high heels.

I haven't thought about getting old but that's probably because anytime someone asks for my ID they have to double check to make sure its not fake because no one believes I will be 31 in December.

I will be 53 this month. Age is just a number. Not trying to look younger just want do right as far a taking care of my health. :flowerforyou:

Well, you youthful responders, I am 60 and the primary thing many (most) people my age are concerned with is lifestyle. Looks (while still not UNimportant )are more does s/he look good for his/her age. What you see at 60 is that you have probably 20ish years left and you want to be able to enjoy those to the maximum and perhaps survive healthy enough to dance at your grandchildren's weddings (or Phd hooding or whatever it is they want to celebrate). One final thought, lots of plastic surgery does not make a person look younger - it makes them look old with plastic surgery -- think Joan Rivers. :laugh:

I am sorry kcg. I really must disagree with your opinion of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery that makes someone "look old with plastic surgery" is bad plastic surgery. Probably done by a bad plastic surgeon.
There is good plastic surgery. In fact, there is very good plastic surgery. The procedure that seems to improve appearance the most is a blepharoplasty -- removing the bags under the eyes. Surveys say that something like 90 percent of people who have a bleph are extremely satisfied with it and would recommend it to others. And, if you have ever seen a good one, it can take 5 years or more off of a person's appearance.
The other procedures that really produce a bang for the buck (keep in mind that many do little or nothing) is a CO2 laser peel or a chemical peel. Those procedures can take care of a lot of sun damage and minor wrinkles. Course, they are pricey, painful and require about a week (or more) of 'down time' for recovery.
Another poster also mentioned that she does the two things that credible dermatologists recommend for skin care, the concensus practices: She uses an exfoliant and sunscreen. To that I might add: use a skin-care product with a retinoid or with a beta-hydroxy acid.
Most anti-aging creams are bogus. But those two ingredients have been proven to improve your skin's appearance and remove tiny wrinkles when used over time.
I gotta agree with another poster too. That poster, annoyed that people who were too young were voicing somewhat unsympathetic opinions, said: Yeah, when I was in my 30s, I did not think I needed anything either.

There can be great plastic surgery, however.. yes, satisfaction with blephs is high immediately, but how many 5-15 year follow ups have been done? I ask because with the older technique that involves excising (vs repositioning) the fat, many have experienced a sunken look later on. I know there are fantastic ideas now about better ways to address the facial ecosystem (if you like) over time, but most potential consumers/patients are not equipped to ask the right questions to figure out who knows what.

Add to that variability in surgical skill, patient anatomy & recovery potential.. For a control freak of modest means, like me, there are just too many variables to take the risk. I have seen beautiful work, though, for sure!

& yup yup, I alternate a retinoid with a glycolic Peels, lasers, etc, would feel much easier about those...

I just turned 40 and just started to see some fine lines appearing here and there over the last year. Looking youthful seems to run in my family, as does decent skin, so I've never been too concerned over it.

I dye my hair, but that's more because it's fun to try different colours and haircuts. I have grown it out to its natural ashy blonde, with grey "streaks" yes, and that didn't bother me either. Then I got bored after a while and dyed it again. LOL

I wear make-up because it's fun to create different looks for different occasions, but for the most part, I stick to mascara and lipgloss for every day. Going out without make up doesn't bother me either. I have always worked in an image-conscious industry, though, so I do make the effort to look polished for work.

I do use a moisturizing cream with sunscreen, because I have horribly fair skin and burn like crazy in the sun, which hurts! And I do exfoliate. That's about it.

Down the line, would I consider more drastic measures? I don't know. I've thought about it and I don't really want to look younger...just put together and good for my age. I'm not going to be 20 again. And I don't want to be. Happy where I am. It doesn't mean I'll let myself go and if the sagging gets too bad, who knows what I'll do? Never say never. LOL But for now, sunscreen, moisturizing and exfoliating are good enough for me.

All that said, the working out, the water consumption, the eating healthier have made not only a positive impact on the way I feel, but also on the way I look. I love being able to do more in life and feel good every day and see the impact on my looks as a bonus.

Believe me, when I want to work this I can. No need for creams, injections, etc. I am confident in the person who I am, I do best with what God gave me and I don't worry about the rest. Being young is a state of mind. God forbid I have injections and my face freezes up like Nicole Kidman or plump my lips and people say, ooooh look at her lips. It doesn't even remotely look natural. There is no need for me to want to stick out in a crowd because I don't have attention or self esteem issues.