Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you age, the weight you gain isn't always proportionate as it might be in an infant or child. Those 10-15 lbs you gain may be in your stomach, calves, or butt. It's kind of silly to think the extra weight is going to fill in the wrinkles on your face.

OP here...yes, this is true. If I gained 10-15 lbs it would all go to my hips/belly - since having kids, that's where I gain. My arms and legs would stay skinny. Not a good look for me!

Goes for me too! I'm so annoyed with my "last 10lbs" that hang out for dear life in my belly and love handles. 10-15 extra lbs is NOT a good look for me and does nothing to improve my face or crows feet. All it does it make me look like a dumpy frump.

Anonymous wrote:As you age, the weight you gain isn't always proportionate as it might be in an infant or child. Those 10-15 lbs you gain may be in your stomach, calves, or butt. It's kind of silly to think the extra weight is going to fill in the wrinkles on your face.

OP here...yes, this is true. If I gained 10-15 lbs it would all go to my hips/belly - since having kids, that's where I gain. My arms and legs would stay skinny. Not a good look for me!

You have to be pretty fat to fill in the wrinkles when you are older. We're not talking 15 pounds, but more like 50 pounds for the fat to make a difference in the face. I have been fat and I have been thin (as I am now), and I like being thin better. So I have no plans to gain weight just to fill in my face. Anyone who says thin people have wrinkly faces has a bad case of sour grapes.

As you age, the weight you gain isn't always proportionate as it might be in an infant or child. Those 10-15 lbs you gain may be in your stomach, calves, or butt. It's kind of silly to think the extra weight is going to fill in the wrinkles on your face.

I do think that very thin women's faces look crappier with age. There's an frailty and gauntness there, and it seems like more wrinkles.

I think those who say that gaining 10 to 15 pounds is natural and healthy are just trying to rationalize their weight gain as something good. There is no good reason to gain weight with age. There's no health reason to do it. And it is stupid to gain weight just to "save" the appearance of your face.

I am 46 and 5'4" and still at the 120 pounds that I have weighed since college. I see no reason to gain weight in the coming years.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure but aging seems harder on people who look really young and cute into their late 30s. They often start to look tired and like really old kids (boys or girls) rather than adults.

It works both ways though. Overweight women can start looking frumpy and weight can really age you too. Best to just eat healthy and move a bit and your natural weight may make you a bit heavier or a bit thinner but at least it will be natural and healthy.

Anonymous wrote:I'll choose my face.

I'm a size 4, late twenties. I plan to gain 10-15 lbs over the next 10-15 years for that reason. I think it's a healthy, natural weight gain thats also good for my skin/overall look.

I see women in their late 40s+ who are trying so hard to stay skinny. They'll order half a sandwich and salad (or just salad) and barely eat. They look like they're trying to be their 20 yo selves and it doesn't look good.

Did you take ANY science course in college?

I'm choosing my girlish figure. I'm not overly thin to begin with -- 120 lbs and 5'4" -- but I refuse to gain the usual 10 to 15 pounds that old people put on.

I do think that there is difference between women who are fighting tooth and nail to be thin, vs. naturally thin women. Women who are trying too hard are likely depriving their body of needed nutrients and possibly over-exercising. That is going to be tough on an aging body and show up in ways it won't on a teen or someone in their 20s.

I'm naturally thin. I can see how the skin issue may be a problem as I age, but I eat really healthy and get quite a few calories, healthy fats, carbs, etc., get a moderate amount of exercise. I'm not going to force feed myself - that seems unhealthy too.

It's all about energy and health for me. My boobs will sag whatever I do, I'm not going to risk plastic surgery, so I'm just going to try to age gracefully. The good news is, I really enjoyed my youth and it's not like I missed out on anything - everyone ages, no one gets a pass.

Anonymous wrote:I'll choose my face.

I'm a size 4, late twenties. I plan to gain 10-15 lbs over the next 10-15 years for that reason. I think it's a healthy, natural weight gain thats also good for my skin/overall look.

I see women in their late 40s+ who are trying so hard to stay skinny. They'll order half a sandwich and salad (or just salad) and barely eat. They look like they're trying to be their 20 yo selves and it doesn't look good.

Why would gaining 10-15 pounds be healthy? If its healthier to weigh 15 ponds more, why don't you do it right now in your twenties?

I'll choose my face.

I'm a size 4, late twenties. I plan to gain 10-15 lbs over the next 10-15 years for that reason. I think it's a healthy, natural weight gain thats also good for my skin/overall look.

I see women in their late 40s+ who are trying so hard to stay skinny. They'll order half a sandwich and salad (or just salad) and barely eat. They look like they're trying to be their 20 yo selves and it doesn't look good.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, if you do your research very thin women tend to look older than their more plump (not fat) counterparts once you reach a certain age. The face naturally looses fat (and it shifts downward) as we age and a very thin woman can look quite gaunt. As far as your skin texture, it is a combination of prior sun exposure, genetics and diet.

I have a more common expression for this:

In your 30s, you choose between your face and your butt. And, it's true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Lena Horne, Raquel Welch, and Sophia Loren age much better than those with more fair, thin skin. Even among my friends, I can see the difference as early as 40's, 50's, and 60's.


I'm certain that all three women you listed had plastic surgery, specifically face lifts. Raquel Welch for sure.

That's not the point. The relevant common denominator among those three women is that they all have relatively dark skin, ranging from deep olive to black.

Bottom line? Black don't crack.

The more melanin and oil in the skin, the more supple.

- - - -

Seriously, you know who doesn't age well? Brits and the Irish. It has nothing to do with face lifts, or not.

I really have to agree with "Black don't crack". I'm Chilean about the same skin color as Raquel Welch who is half Bolivian I really don't have any wrinkles. Also, my Mother who is going to be 71 in a few days still has beautiful skin yes she has wrinkles but most people ask her if she's about 63ish. The best skin advice she gave me was "such lovely women, but why do they strip all the moisture from their skin, all that peeling, exfoliating, their skin is going to catch up to them once they get older. Don't be a weona (dumbass) hydrate your skin and keep it supple and see what your skin will look like by the time your 40."

I'm Italian, and I can tell you that the Italians would agree, too - Black don't crack.

Is this why Angelina Jolie's arms look the way they do? Scary veiny (although I'd still love to look like that!).