How are you adapting to being "older?" What do you do to fight it?

[Peregrine Took]

I think its harder for women re: the whole "looks" thing. Its really hard to look in that mirror everyday (especially if its in broad daylight where mine is...) and see that face, those lines. Those furrows!! The jowls, etc.

And your hands! I haven't been as careful as I should have all these years and they look so old!! Even crepey!!

Still I'm still around - above ground - that is and that's a wonder considering all the ones I know that aren't.

Running is my only weapon plus I TRY to eat right and get some good sleep.
Stress and worry are my worst problems - hard to shake.

[Little Star]

1. I never look in the mirror...

Just kidding. Sometimes I look and wonder who that is staring back at me.

We're all gonna get old. I guess we just have to accept it gracefully.

But, I hate the saggy skin!!!

[Uben]

2. Getting old isn't so bad......

......not getting old is. I always figured if I made it to fifty I'd be lucky and everything thereafter was bonus. I'm 56 now. Coincidentally, I found out a couple of hours ago that my wife has liver and colon cancer and probably bone cancer as well, but the bone scan results are not in yet. So you see, getting old is not a problem, staying old is. We earned those wrinkles and furrows and jowls, and you should wear them as a badge of honor. You are doing good by running and eating right. Those are two things that can make sure you get even older. I have made the adjustment myself. I am exercising and trying to follow a healthier diet. Already I have dropped 20 lbs, from 195 to 175, which is my goal weight at 6 ft tall.

[quickesst]

4. First.....

I'm sorry about the news concerning your wife. I don't know if I could handle it were it my better half.
My grip on "youth" is getting out every chance I get and trying to keep up with my twelve year old grandson, and my son on our dirt bikes. Six to eight hours on the trails and in the woods is pretty good excercise. Sore as hell after, but I feel good too. I'm less than a month away from my 60th birthday, and although I smoke, and imbibe more than occasionally, I feel great, and look forward to many more miles in the woods. Thanks.
quickesst

[rocktivity]

3. I took a crack at being middle-aged, bit it just didn't work out

Last edited Mon Apr 22, 2013, 08:36 PM - Edit history (1)

so I went back to being me. Which worked until I woke up one morning to find a pair of big fat ugly strangers in my bed, which turned out to me my thighs.

I, too, now aerobicize regularly and have substituted spring water for soda. Oh, and I take a "seniors" multivitamin, but only because they stopped putting lutein in the brand I used to take.

rocktivity

[elfin]

5. Keep active!

Find something that gives you satisfaction and leads to new friendships, especially if those friends are younger.

If the activity and the people in it are of real value, no one cares what we look like - nor should we.

It is a precious stage of life where we learn what is really important, and if we're very lucky, can impart that sensibility to others.

I admit to a shock when I look in the mirror and see a geezer looking back. But then I go on about my day, taking joy in what I have learned and the wonderful people in my life.

[krucial]

6. Im Lucky

For me,i am taking getting older,one day at a time,and I guess I am lucky.

I am 63 with no wrinkles yet,though I do have some gray hair in my head and some of my facial hair,plus I have remained about the same size for the last 30 years ,a 5 ft 9 and skinny Black guyI think my waist size zoomed from 28 to 33 in those 30 years,but I still have my paper weight between 138lb and 146lbs when I am heavy.

Well I guess I got it from my Mom and Dad,bothside of my family are slim to normal
I dont stress,all my 5 kids are grown 34 to 42 and have their own families,so I just live with my wife.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I tend not to think about it

I'm focused on the current day.

The mirror and the calendar both sometimes catch me by surprise and remind me that I became an old man while I wasn't paying attention. But I would have become an old man even if I had been paying attention, so I try to continue not doing so.

[jwirr]

8. Having been around in the 60s I adopted an attitude regarding looks years ago. I do not do things

because the world tells me I should look a certain way. I was also lucky to have a Native American friend who taught me that grey hair means wisdom. I am damn smart now!!!

However, I have dry skin on my arms and that is not a looks issue but a health issue. I use moisturizers for dry skin. At 70 I do not have a lot of lines on my face and I wish I knew why - I could market it. Up until recently weight has been a big problem but I have diabetes and the doctor prescibed Victoza for me - it inhibits hunger so I have been losing almost too fast.

As to thinking I am old. I have 9 great grandchildren and DU. They all help me stay young.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

9. How? Growl at the youngsters from time to time.

[RebelOne]

10. I am learning to deal with it.

Yes, the "looks" thing is the worst. Throughout my life, I was always good looking. People would compare me with Marilyn Monroe. But alas, those days are gone. I will be 73 Jan. 18, so I just have to accept the mirror telling me that I am not the fairest of them all.