Lose weight = looking older??
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I look dramatically older but feel dramatically younger after losing over 70 lb. At 71, I'm happy to choose function over form.21
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spinnerdell wrote: »I look dramatically older but feel dramatically younger after losing over 70 lb. At 71, I'm happy to choose function over form.
Feeling younger is definately an added bonus
and you're right, function over form wins for me too. 7 -
even with a 20 lbs weight loss i KNOW i look older. and it doesn't matter to me anyway because i AM old!
my friends who smoke *ugh* look way older than me tho...9 -
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This is the main thing that worries me about losing weight. I really, really don't want to look older. I don't have lines, I don't have wrinkles, and I like it that way.
You know what I've noticed, though? The people I know who have lost a huge amount of weight, the vast majority of them don't look older for it. They look younger. If I were to get out a magnifying glass and search for lines and wrinkles, maybe they do have more - but I don't notice them, because the *overall* person looks younger.
I only know one exception, and she lost weight VERY quickly by basically not eating, which is all sorts of bad and not just for your face. So I'd say overall, most people probably look younger at the end of things.
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I think when we see a slim person, we see them as a whole, not just the face and the overall image is youthful because we equate being young with being healthy, fit and trim.
@Floatingpencil noone wants wrinkles, they have a way of sneaking up on us. I think genetics also play a part in how our faces age, you might be one of the lucky ones . 5 -
I've always thought most people look a bit younger after losing weight because they look more energetic and happy. People often update their clothes or hairstyle after weight loss which probably helps them look a bit younger too.12
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It really depends on the person. If you have a naturally full/chubby face then losing weight will probably make you look younger... I think because most people gain weight as they age so if you see someone thin their body looks more like a younger person's. People with naturally thin face can get craggy/wrinkly/too pointy when they lose weight.
Sometimes a few pounds makes a big difference. My younger sister has always been at a pretty good/healthy weight. A few years ago she lost about 10 pounds and looked much older. She gained the weight back and looked younger again.7 -
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A few years ago I dropped from size 18 to size 12 and at 45 I do think I looked older than before I lost the weight by quite a lot. Going for it again and now that I'm 50 I'm sure it will be true again. That's ok.4
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I look younger. I recently got together with a whole bunch of guys from high school and most were overweight and looked at least their age or older...myself and one other guy were the only ones that looked fit and healthy. I'm 43 and most people think I'm in my early to maybe mid 30s. Healthy and fit and better muscular development when I compare myself to most people my age.7
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I think it's probably different for each individual. I know that I've looked through lots of before/after photos on the success section of the forum, and most I think look younger in their after photos.
However I can see how losing weight could also make someone look older as well. Having a rounder face could lead to a younger look. It probably depends how much fat is carried in your neck/face as well.
I've only ever been slightly overweight and all my excess fat is carried in my lower half, so losing or gaining weight has never affected my appearance in that way.2 -
I keep thinking this over and wondering: Why is it a problem to look older, especially when the concommitant effects are feeling younger, being healthier, creating a higher likelihood of living longer in independence and good health, being a better example of health and agency for those we love, and so many more positive things? (Rhetorical question, BTW, no need to answer.)
I understand that youthful appearance is a goal for many, but for myself I don't really get it. People say older women are more likely to be ignored, get worse service in businesses, etc. I very rarely see this . . . and believe me, when I do, I know how to make myself un-ignored pretty darned quickly.
Yeah, much-younger guys don't hit on me. I think it would be icky if they did, speaking only for myself. Guys my own age don't hit on me much, either, but that's fine: If a few wrinkles put them off, I don't need them in my life, because they're *baby-feline*heads. (IRL, I think my personality puts off more people than my appearance, actually.
).
I'd also add this, to people worrying about loose facial/neck skin at goal weight: Keep in mind that it can keep shrinking for a long time in maintenance, if it's true loose skin (thin wrinkles, not residual squish-y fat areas). Also, glycogen replenishment will create appearance improvements as well. I think my face/neck look better in year 3 of maintenance than they did in the first weeks at goal.
The youth-glorifying and youth-seeking in our culture really annoys me sometimes. Aging is good. Consider the actual alternative.
JMO.24 -
ssssanaaaa wrote: »I always thought it was the opposite! Also, realize that we all see 'flaws' in ourselves that are literally invisible to other (not that age is a flaw at all!). I'd bet anything that other people think you look younger now and not older!
I think this is true. When I look in the mirror I think I look much older than when I was heavy (I'm 55 years old, down about 45 pounds from my heaviest).
But the number one comment I've heard from friends and neighbours is that I look so much younger now that I've lost weight. In fact, I can't count the number of times I've been told that! I absolutely can't see it, but I'll take their word for it!6 -
Depends on how much weight you lose and your age. The older we get the elasticity of the skin lessons so if you lose a great deal of weight in a relatively short time, skin will sag more making people look older. I like the earlier comment from the guy who said, "i choose function over form."4
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I keep thinking this over and wondering: Why is it a problem to look older, especially when the concommitant effects are feeling younger, being healthier, creating a higher likelihood of living longer in independence and good health, being a better example of health and agency for those we love, and so many more positive things? (Rhetorical question, BTW, no need to answer.)
I understand that youthful appearance is a goal for many, but for myself I don't really get it. People say older women are more likely to be ignored, get worse service in businesses, etc. I very rarely see this . . . and believe me, when I do, I know how to make myself un-ignored pretty darned quickly.
Yeah, much-younger guys don't hit on me. I think it would be icky if they did, speaking only for myself. Guys my own age don't hit on me much, either, but that's fine: If a few wrinkles put them off, I don't need them in my life, because they're *baby-feline*heads. (IRL, I think my personality puts off more people than my appearance, actually. ).
I'd also add this, to people worrying about loose facial/neck skin at goal weight: Keep in mind that it can keep shrinking for a long time in maintenance, if it's true loose skin (thin wrinkles, not residual squish-y fat areas). Also, glycogen replenishment will create appearance improvements as well. I think my face/neck look better in year 3 of maintenance than they did in the first weeks at goal.
The youth-glorifying and youth-seeking in our culture really annoys me sometimes. Aging is good. Consider the actual alternative.
JMO.
Wise words from @AnnPT77 as always
My parents both died young (44 and 55). I've always said if I was privileged enough to get old I'd do it gracefully. Now, time will test that, I'm sure At 39, I know I don't look 25 any more but I'd say I'm far from 'old.' 10 -
Me too. I look more tired - the slightly more hollow cheeks seems to emphasize my eye bags.
That being said... I am more tired and older than I was when I started LOL7 -
I keep thinking this over and wondering: Why is it a problem to look older, especially when the concommitant effects are feeling younger, being healthier, creating a higher likelihood of living longer in independence and good health, being a better example of health and agency for those we love, and so many more positive things? (Rhetorical question, BTW, no need to answer.)
I understand that youthful appearance is a goal for many, but for myself I don't really get it. People say older women are more likely to be ignored, get worse service in businesses, etc. I very rarely see this . . . and believe me, when I do, I know how to make myself un-ignored pretty darned quickly.
Yeah, much-younger guys don't hit on me. I think it would be icky if they did, speaking only for myself. Guys my own age don't hit on me much, either, but that's fine: If a few wrinkles put them off, I don't need them in my life, because they're *baby-feline*heads. (IRL, I think my personality puts off more people than my appearance, actually. ).
I'd also add this, to people worrying about loose facial/neck skin at goal weight: Keep in mind that it can keep shrinking for a long time in maintenance, if it's true loose skin (thin wrinkles, not residual squish-y fat areas). Also, glycogen replenishment will create appearance improvements as well. I think my face/neck look better in year 3 of maintenance than they did in the first weeks at goal.
The youth-glorifying and youth-seeking in our culture really annoys me sometimes. Aging is good. Consider the actual alternative.
JMO.
Wise words from @AnnPT77 as always
My parents both died young (44 and 55). I've always said if I was privileged enough to get old I'd do it gracefully. Now, time will test that, I'm sure At 39, I know I don't look 25 any more but I'd say I'm far from 'old.'
Yes!
At 62, I'm getting kinda old, I think. As a 18-year survivor of stage III breast cancer, and 20 years a cancer widow, I think "old" is a pretty wonderful gift. Alive is such a great start on the rest of my day! (And healthy weight is a great bonus, BTW.)
ETA: Thank you for the kind compliment, Pinuplove! :flowerforyou:24 -
I keep thinking this over and wondering: Why is it a problem to look older, especially when the concommitant effects are feeling younger, being healthier, creating a higher likelihood of living longer in independence and good health, being a better example of health and agency for those we love, and so many more positive things? (Rhetorical question, BTW, no need to answer.)
I understand that youthful appearance is a goal for many, but for myself I don't really get it. People say older women are more likely to be ignored, get worse service in businesses, etc. I very rarely see this . . . and believe me, when I do, I know how to make myself un-ignored pretty darned quickly.
Yeah, much-younger guys don't hit on me. I think it would be icky if they did, speaking only for myself. Guys my own age don't hit on me much, either, but that's fine: If a few wrinkles put them off, I don't need them in my life, because they're *baby-feline*heads. (IRL, I think my personality puts off more people than my appearance, actually. ).
I'd also add this, to people worrying about loose facial/neck skin at goal weight: Keep in mind that it can keep shrinking for a long time in maintenance, if it's true loose skin (thin wrinkles, not residual squish-y fat areas). Also, glycogen replenishment will create appearance improvements as well. I think my face/neck look better in year 3 of maintenance than they did in the first weeks at goal.
The youth-glorifying and youth-seeking in our culture really annoys me sometimes. Aging is good. Consider the actual alternative.
JMO.
A big amen to all of this! Nobody ignores this old lady, either.6
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