Do we look as old as them?

Y'know what hurts? Looking up your celebrity crushes (Cheryl Tiegs, Linda Evans, Jill Ireland, et. al.) and seeing what they look like today. You tend to freeze them in time and then....
 
I am old. My mirror surprises me everyday. I have signed a wait list for independent living-step one in the slide.
I remember people from my volksmarche days that I thought were mid 70's and feel like I let myself down. So I expect that I look like others my age.
 
disneysteve said:
I mentioned sun back in post 4. That definitely contributes to looking old.
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Genes play a part. Mom spent her entire life sunbathing and getting as tan as possible. She even had a rotating platform for her chair that would automatically keep the sun in direct line so that she didn't have to get up and move (and possibly spill her martini)

When she was 40, people would tell her that by the time she'd be 60 that she would look like a prune. Never happened. By the time she died at 93, she could easily pass for 70-75 and strangers would confuse her as my wife when we'd be together. Her brother was pretty much the same.
 
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I notice how we have slowed down in doing things. The yard work takes a lot longer to complete, even when I go shopping, I can't sustain it like I did in my 30s. We are mid-upper 60s and are mistaken for being much younger, so that feels good. We still walk, bike, hike, etc., though there's a difference in gait, timing, stamina. I suppose it's suppose to happen during various later chapters in our life. I have come across people from high school and many look pretty good, but other look like they are approaching 75+. I chalk it up to good/bad genes, and how we live life in many aspects.
 
DH at 77, fell down the stairs (backwards 6 steps on hardwood flooring) and fractured 3 bones in April of this year. spent 4 days in the hospital and another 2.5 weeks in a rehab facility. I can't count how many people, doctors, nurses, PTs, remarked on how well and quickly his recovery was going compared to most others his age. They all attribute it to the fact that he was active and not a couch potato. It makes a huge difference. It's much easier to get up an go to the gym now than before the accident as we directly experienced the health advantages to being active.
 
I've noticed it is a long ways down there to put on my support socks. I have short legs but they seem to be getting out of reach.
On the other side of the coin, I have climbed to the top of this scaffolding (~20') a few times in the last few days. It is not a ladder LOL.
PXL_20241004_155544701.jpg


7 years ago February of 17, I climbed this 100' ladder several times in the course of getting tower crane certified. I don't know if I'd do that again.
IMG-20170208-124441.jpg

It is more daunting looking down.

IMG-20170213-154215.jpg
 
Deej said:
I have come across people from high school and many look pretty good, but other look like they are approaching 75+. I chalk it up to good/bad genes, and how we live life in many aspects.
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That’s what I’m asking about. I think there are many more who look older than their age and to me it is striking! Yes, many factors that impact appearance but I think some have just given up caring about how they appear.
 
marko said:
Genes play a part. Mom spent her entire life sunbathing and getting as tan as possible. She even had a rotating platform for her chair that would automatically keep the sun in direct line so that she didn't have to get up and move (and possibly spill her martini)

When she was 40, people would tell her that by the time she'd be 60 that she would look like a prune. Never happened. By the time she died at 93, she could easily pass for 70-75 and strangers would confuse her as my wife when we'd be together. Her brother was pretty much the same.
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DW and I had a similar problem that people thought I was her son. THAT was not a pleasant conversation going forward. The real difference was (is) that she is all silver hair and I'm still (for the most part) Ronald Reagan brown.

I once accompanied DW to a biopsy procedure and the doctor came out to tell me that "your mom is just fine." I didn't tell DW about that until we were well clear of the surgery center. :cool:
 
Koolau said:
DW and I had a similar problem that people thought I was her son. THAT was not a pleasant conversation going forward. The real difference was (is) that she is all silver hair and I'm still (for the most part) Ronald Reagan brown.

I once accompanied DW to a biopsy procedure and the doctor came out to tell me that "your mom is just fine." I didn't tell DW about that until we were well clear of the surgery center. :cool:
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Ha! Funny. Same here. I look 10 years younger, DW 10 years older with her silver hair. So 20 year difference, same age. Her personality is far more appealing than mine though. If given the chance to talk to either of us, people choose DW every time. She has that spark.
 
I was put in my place in Croatia with our hiking group. Five men in the group I figured to younger than myself. Turned out all were older than me with a retired cop 7 years older. I guess walking does a body good.
 

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That kind of surprise is very cool. While on a Grand Canyon rafting/hiking trip some years ago, one of our group was just amazing in his stamina. First up the trail every time, even on the steepest climbs, never seemed to tire. That's pretty good on its own, but later in the trip our guides made him a cake one evening to celebrate his 75th birthday!
 
I think it is down to how often you see people, slow change can fool you. What I mean is, with somebody that you see every day or every couple of days, you will not notice a gradual change although it may be happening. (This especially applies to yourself as you check the mirror.) When you go a few months or years between sightings, the change is much more obvious.
 
skyking1 said:
I've noticed it is a long ways down there to put on my support socks. I have short legs but they seem to be getting out of reach.
On the other side of the coin, I have climbed to the top of this scaffolding (~20') a few times in the last few days. It is not a ladder LOL.
View attachment 52606

7 years ago February of 17, I climbed this 100' ladder several times in the course of getting tower crane certified. I don't know if I'd do that again.
IMG-20170208-124441.jpg

It is more daunting looking down.

IMG-20170213-154215.jpg
Click to expand...
Be careful up there. I had a friend's dad die from cleaning his gutters a couple of years ago. Doesn't take much at 71...
 
Friends from college and I get together every 3 months for ROMEO dinner. We run the gamut of looking - and feeling - younger to older than our age. Where do I fit in? To me, I look younger. To others? I prefer not to know.
 
I recently climbed on top of our motorhome multiple times to install solar panels and vent covers. I was very careful and slow. Luck was with me as I had no problems being 70.
 
Mom will be 80 this year. Never smoked (aside from being couped up in a smokers house all her life) , drinks wine for fun, walks 5-10 miles per day to "keep busy" ..does her errands and goes to church on foot, takes no pills. She wears thru sneakers in 6 months lol.

Energetic, sharp and hard to keep up with. You don't need specialized equipment or a team of doctors prescribing you crap...you just need to keep moving !

I'll probably be gone before she is :)

PWF
 
Chuckanut said:
I heard Peter Attia recently list his top four things to help the 50+ crowd limit the negative effects of aging:

  1. Regular exercise
  2. Healthy diet
  3. 7+ hours of sleep daily
  4. Proper use of supplements and pharmaceuticals.
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This!
 
^^^^^^^^^^^


Heh, heh, don't lose weight!

Since I've lost weight, my wrinkles show quite a bit more. Oh, well. Healthier inside beats healthier look outside, I guess.
 
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