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I look older than I feel

(87 Posts)
inishowen Fri 19-Feb-16 11:32:55

My son is always snapping pictures of his children, and often I'm caught unawares in the background. I look awful! I'm 63 and feel like I have aged a lot in the last few years. My hair is thin and white. Yes I will dye it this weekend. I've put on weight all around my stomach. My eyelashes have almost disappeared. I've done Pilates for the last 20 years, yet my posture is bad when caught on photographs. I need a boost, a bit of advice how not to look older than I am.

Galen Sun 21-Feb-16 18:48:11

Here's the latest and newest photos of me I have on my pad.

Galen Sun 21-Feb-16 18:49:17

The first was in 2004 with my daughter, the other recently

annsixty Sun 21-Feb-16 18:53:46

I also don't have any hang ups about my age. I am 78 and a half and very happy to have got here.

Greymary Sun 21-Feb-16 18:55:11

That is a lovely photo Galen. I don't have the confidence to post any of me smile/

Looking back on old photos I think the pics of me with a big grin come out best. (I still look odd)

Falconbird Sun 21-Feb-16 19:21:33

As we're being brave here's a recent selfie of me.

Love your photo Galen.

thatbags Sun 21-Feb-16 19:25:43

Thank you, bnonna. Actually I did write a post earlier saying that I thought I felt as old as I look but I deleted it as not being in the spirit of the thread. People have often told me that I look younger than I am but Minibags says that isn't the case any more now that my hair (well everything really!) is fading fast.

And you're right insofar as I don't give a damn how old anyone else thinks I am.

When it comes to the feeling part, I often feel older than I am if other people, who say they feel younger than they are, are to be believed.

I'm 60, which is older than I've ever been before and I feel older than I've ever felt before so I reckon actuality and feelings about actuality are in sync.

thatbags Sun 21-Feb-16 19:33:45

What distinguishes my attitude from many (most?) others is that I don't have any negative feelings about being old or about being thought old. There's absolutely nothing wrong with either and it baffles me why people are so resistant to the idea of elderliness and oldness. Old people are still people worthy of all the important things that young people are worthy of.

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 19:44:57

Great post tb. I knew you'd put things into perspective !

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 19:48:15

Falcon bird, that's a lovely picture. You look very kind and selfies don't usually turn out so well.
Galen you look positively regal - must be those pearls !

Judthepud2 Sun 21-Feb-16 19:52:57

Oh me too! Never was photogenic but now ... shock I really am a tatty wee specimen of granhood. Needless to say, I don't do selfies! My Instagram page is full of the dog, not me. Never quite got this selfie business. I mean, why do people do that?

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 19:55:17

They're egotists ?

annsixty Sun 21-Feb-16 19:58:39

Rather unkind when people have posted them.

Falconbird Sun 21-Feb-16 21:05:40

Hopefully not an egotist, just practicing with my new phone.

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 21:15:16

Oh falconbird I'm sorry I didn't mean you. Jud just asked why people took selfies as they seem often to do. You just took one to post on here. Not egotistical at all. My apols blush

Falconbird Sun 21-Feb-16 21:23:16

No offence taken Bellanonna. smile

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 21:24:47

FB smile

Galen Sun 21-Feb-16 22:06:39

Mine
Was for a profile picture as well! I doubt if over the last 20 years I have more than a dozen photos of me!
I have a lot more of ancient ruins! ( probemly the same thing) to quote 4 year old dgd " when I'm REALLY old like Graggy, I'll take up archery!"

Matella Mon 22-Feb-16 00:48:28

I showed two photos of me to dgs. On the first one I was younger and slimmer.
"Which one do you think I look nicer on?" I asked.
Pointing to the second he said "this one because you are smiling".
Out of the mouths of babes..........

F27ytc Mon 22-Feb-16 03:06:28

It's sooo nice to read what everyone says. I feel exactly the same !

How can I have a forum on something that's worrying me loads. I'm probably going to have total knee ops. Has anyone had them and how have you faired. I swim a lot will I still be able to do that.

Anya Mon 22-Feb-16 10:46:45

My son recently commented 'why can't we get a decent photo of you?' which I found reassuring - surely that means I can't look as gruesome in RL as I do in photos hmm

inishowen Sat 27-Feb-16 09:54:31

Thanks everyone for responding to my original post. Lots of good ideas here. I found out a few years ago that I was lacking in B12 and have been on injections for this. I feel that might have contributed to my very fine hair. I have hardly any body hair now. Yesterday I spent the morning trying on all my trousers and sweaters. I filled a charity bag with the unflattering ones. Short sweaters just show off my tummy so I've just kept the long ones. Onwards and upwards!

Blinko Sun 28-Feb-16 11:25:00

The OH took some holiday pics recently and I came out looking like one or other of my grandmothers, and in one shot, my dear Dad. Although all my life it's only been by chance that the occasional 'good' mugshot of me has materialised. Hey ho, that's life, I suppose.

grannyinmypocket Sun 28-Feb-16 12:05:32

I look awful in photos, I hate getting my photo taken , I'm 60 this year, and I look much older, I seem to look like , the cake that was left out in the rain, every thing is sliding down! All I have left that's ok are my teeth, never mind it's better than the alternative .

rosesarered Sun 28-Feb-16 12:22:13

The fact is ,none of us have ever been old before, so it's a learning curve.
It always comes as a surprise to us, this ageing thing.Well, here it is in all it's -- glory-- unpleasantness, and we have no choice but to deal with it.So we may as well try and be upbeat about it.Once we have done all we can sensibly to make ourselves presentable, then perhaps we should just relax.
Regards photo's, I find it's better if I don't know a pic is being taken (relaxed you see.)Unfortunately, with phones, a pic is never far away.

Victoria08 Sun 28-Feb-16 15:01:09

Yes. At the age of 70, I can't stand having my photo taken and will avoid anyone with a camera. Ditto, mirrors too .

My hair is thinning and grey but I have lost the will to keep,on dying it.
It has always been black, but now it looks too false and harsh if dyed.

Lots more wrinkles on face and body now.

All,in all, don't like the way I look. Much more of an effort to look human I feel. Can empathise with most of the comments.