losing weight will make me look old???

stellabest99
stellabest99 Posts: 44 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, this probably sounds weird, but someone mentioned the other day that when I lose all the weight I can expect to look old, as the fat is helping make me look younger! This is a scary idea coz I look a LOT younger than my actual 42yrs, as you can see from my photo. It was taken last year after a really nice haircut, on a rather nice, flattering angle (and I have lost some weight since then). I'm not particularly vain but I do like the confidence boost of being mistaken for up to 10 years younger brings me!

Please share your thoughts and experiences with this...
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    My (limited) experience as someone who gets mistaken for being younger sometimes: Yes, I do look older when I'm heavier. But it isn't a dramatic difference.

    I *am* vain and I prefer the confidence boost of being thinner and maybe having people think I look closer to my actual age.
  • blknred28
    blknred28 Posts: 9 Member
    I don't know if it's true, but I've heard losing weight actually makes you look younger or I've actually seen it myself. My sister is only 25 and she had packed a lot of weight and it made her look older and now that she's losing weight she's looking younger.
  • Equus5374
    Equus5374 Posts: 462 Member
    You have a very young-looking face; I think weight loss will only enhance that. Personally I think I look younger thinner. I think excess weight makes people look older.
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Maybe. You won't really know until you get there. My experience around that age was that the vertical folds/creases on the side of my mouth multiplied and looked deeper. However that was 100 pound weight loss. Regained, currently about 30 pounds above that low weight and the lines are just starting to show back up when I smile.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2016
    Well they do say you have to choose between your *kitten* and your face

    Personally I didn't think I look any older after losing weight ...and my *kitten* certainly looks fine now ;)
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    I'm not sure about it making you look old but I can say that if I were to get back down to my early 20's weight, I would not like the look of my face. I wish my midsection was smaller but to do that I'd have to lose more weight all over and I feel my face looks better with a little extra weight, so I just deal with it. I'm about 12 lbs heavier than I was at 23 and I think it's more flattering at my age now. I wouldn't let what that person said stop you from your goals. Your end goal just may change a bit as you get closer to it and actually see the results. I wanted to get back down to under 130 lbs (125 ideally) but when I got to 132 I realized that it wasn't ideal anymore and now I maintain comfortably at around 135.
  • missblondi2u
    missblondi2u Posts: 851 Member
    I haven't found this to be the case. Everyone keeps telling me I look younger! I do think that if someone goes too low, or if they happen to lose a lot in their face, they may look a little older, but I wouldn't worry about that. Was the person who said this trying to discourage you for some reason?
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I've seen so many people that look so much younger when they lose weight. I guess it just depends on the individual.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I've always thought that people who are at a healthy weight usually look younger than when they are overweight.
    How much weight do you plan to lose?
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited February 2016
    It will vary from person to person. Losing weight in your face could show wrinkles more, especially if you lose a lot or lose it quickly. But being thin and fit almost always make your body look younger.

    The good news is that almost everyone will say they get told they look younger than they are and you likely still will too, whether it's true or not.
  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
    It depends on the person, but I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. For those of us with round faces, weight loss actually helps more than it hurts in my opinion. I'm one of those moon-faced people who has chubby cheeks and somewhat of a double chin no matter what weight they are. I'm 111 pounds, my lowest weight since I was 12, and I still have chin pudge but my face has slimmed out. Oh, and people still assume I'm younger.
  • stellabest99
    stellabest99 Posts: 44 Member
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I've always thought that people who are at a healthy weight usually look younger than when they are overweight.
    How much weight do you plan to lose?

    I'm trying to lose around 30kgs (um, ~66lbs I think is about the conversion rate). Currently at 84.4kg (186-ish). According to the BMI thing I should be around 60-64kg (133-141lbs) since I'm 160cm (5'3")
  • stellabest99
    stellabest99 Posts: 44 Member
    missblondi2u wrote: »
    I haven't found this to be the case. Everyone keeps telling me I look younger! I do think that if someone goes too low, or if they happen to lose a lot in their face, they may look a little older, but I wouldn't worry about that. Was the person who said this trying to discourage you for some reason?

    No, actually it was just an off-hand comment. My colleague is being very supportive of me going through this, but it just made me think...
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Try it out. The good news is that if it does make you look older than you like, getting fat again is easy. (sadly)
  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    I actually look younger as I'm losing. Genetics and taking care of my skin. My family gets wrinkles later than most. I saw my first in early 40s (and I wasn't very heavy like I am currently).

    I agree going too low in weight makes anyone look old and gaunt.

    You look great. Maybe they were jealous? Lol
  • DYELB
    DYELB Posts: 7,407 Member
    stellabest99 wrote: »
    This is a scary idea coz I look a LOT younger than my actual 42yrs, as you can see from my photo.

    You do?

  • stellabest99
    stellabest99 Posts: 44 Member
    AmazonMayan wrote: »
    I actually look younger as I'm losing. Genetics and taking care of my skin. My family gets wrinkles later than most. I saw my first in early 40s (and I wasn't very heavy like I am currently).

    I agree going too low in weight makes anyone look old and gaunt.

    You look great. Maybe they were jealous? Lol

    Aww, can we be friends? You are definitely good for my ego! LOL. As long as I hide my "wisdom hair" (i.e. colour it to hide the grey), most people seem to think I'm in my 30s... here's hoping I look like I'm in my 20s when I'm done... heehee.. no wait, 30s is fine. Don't wanna be a cougar ;-)
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Worst case your face lines will be accentuated a bit. But if you swap out that grandma sweater you'll even out and look mid-40s again I'm guessing.
  • luckypony71
    luckypony71 Posts: 399 Member
    stellabest99 wrote: »
    Ok, this probably sounds weird, but someone mentioned the other day that when I lose all the weight I can expect to look old, as the fat is helping make me look younger! This is a scary idea coz I look a LOT younger than my actual 42yrs, as you can see from my photo. It was taken last year after a really nice haircut, on a rather nice, flattering angle (and I have lost some weight since then). I'm not particularly vain but I do like the confidence boost of being mistaken for up to 10 years younger brings me!

    Please share your thoughts and experiences with this...

    I have more lose skin around my neck and I do look gaunt. I am 44 years old, yes I think the fat made me look younger. However....I would rather look old with a healthy body than look younger with a fat body. I am having way more fun now. I can do things that being fat kept me from doing. And last year I wore a 2 piece bathing suit. Not a skimpy one but a 2 piece with tummy showing.

  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    I feel like I look a lot older since I lost weight. But I would rather be healthy and active than overweight and look young.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    Being fat made me look old. Losing weight took years off my looks.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    stellabest99 wrote: »
    Ok, this probably sounds weird, but someone mentioned the other day that when I lose all the weight I can expect to look old, as the fat is helping make me look younger! This is a scary idea coz I look a LOT younger than my actual 42yrs, as you can see from my photo. It was taken last year after a really nice haircut, on a rather nice, flattering angle (and I have lost some weight since then). I'm not particularly vain but I do like the confidence boost of being mistaken for up to 10 years younger brings me!

    Please share your thoughts and experiences with this...

    IMO the shape of your face is going to be a factor. I have a long face, and look horrible when I am "skinny." Round, heart shape, and square faces can pull this look off better.
  • kes840
    kes840 Posts: 66 Member
    I assume you mean your face, and it's true you might or might not like the look. However, there's nothing more aging than that matronly body, IMHO.
  • MorganMoreaux
    MorganMoreaux Posts: 691 Member
    I looked a lot older when I was heavier. When I first lost the weight I did look even older because it looked like someone let all the air out of my face lol. I lost over 30 pounds in a months (not intentionally) and it took a little while for my body to adjust. I now get mistaken for early to mid 20's, and I'm almost 40. Personally, I'd rather be healthy than look young.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    Most people look much older when they are heavier, I think. I don't actually know anybody who has become thin and wrinkly.

    I've lost nearly 100 pounds. I get carded constantly. Yesterday someone guessed my age as 27. Recently, someone wrote down my DOB as 1995...nope, I was in college in 1995. I am 40.

    In other words, people are extraordinarily bad at guessing the ages of others. Do what makes you healthy and happy and stop worrying about it.

  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Please don't listen to such nonsense. Weight loss does not give you grey hair! You will feel younger and stronger, especially if you're also exercising. Isn't that what matters? I feel better now than 20 years ago!!
  • soulofgrace
    soulofgrace Posts: 175 Member
    I guess you'll just have to wait and see. I don't understand what's so bad about looking older anyway. I am 48 and owning my greys and laugh lines...which did become more prominent when thy weren't filled uip with fat.
  • CollieFit
    CollieFit Posts: 1,683 Member
    Take a look at the threads in the "success stories" section of the forum. In my opinion most of the people look YEARS younger after losing weight, than they did when they were overweight/obese.
  • fatboyslimRP50
    fatboyslimRP50 Posts: 25 Member
    There are a lot of gaunt looking 45-50+ out there - very healthy but looking older and all very similar, look what my trainer and I have been doing..etc
    Do the training and weight management to suit your age - if you're over 40 try not to run/cycle so much, more yoga/pilates/strength training to maintain muscle mass and tone. The he/she must be a runner look is not so good, in my opinion,
    R
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    edited February 2016
    I have heard that running isn't good for your wrinkles, but I think I'd rather age, seeing as it's going to happen anyways, than be fat again. I'm 46, but have been told I don't look my age ;)

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