Aged 15 years in last 4 years

[AlertPlayer]

feeling 😞
after a traumatic event I comfort ate and drank and have put on nearly 4.5 stone. My face looks so old.
I had lovely long thick hair but had some damage to it so it’s like a long bob now which I hate but it will not grow.
whenever highlights pop up on my phone I cannot believe the change in such a short space of time - my friends look pretty much the same I look like a different person.
I am starting to make positive changes and have lost 7 pounds but I look like an old woman I’m 42 but look closer to 50 now.
its such a shame

Enjoy life. Good walk, healthy food, sleep, take vitamins, have high hopes. You will resettle

Meant to say I am doing a skin care routine but I’ve not had any Botox or filler etc but would be open to it

Would you perhaps benefit from eating healthier and going for some walks outside to lose weight and get fitter?

Not trying to fat-shame @AlertPlayer Just you said you put 4,5 stone on and that seems to be the reason (reading between the lines) for how you feel.

You haven't read the opening post to the end, have you?

I'm sorry you feel like this. I feel like I aged 10 years over Covid. I look at photos from 2019 and it's like a different person.

All we can do is try to live as healthy a life as possible in the here and now. Try not to live in the past.

I know what you mean, I've had a really stressful 4 years and look much older now. Jowls have dropped, put on weight, just look and feel much older. On HRT but have CFS which doesn't help.

@AlertPlayer

I look like an old woman I’m 42 but look closer to 50 now.
all the 50+ women thinking 'thanks very much'

But they probably wouldn’t have wanted to look 50+ when they were 42 either.
OP it sounds like you need to look after yourself! Eat well, rest as much as you can, exercise, take some time to do things you enjoy. You will feel a million times better, regardless of what you look like! You’re way more than your looks and you deserve to feel good.

Huge hugs op, I’m the same, saw happy, healthy me on a Fb memory just a few years ago and was shocked. Not a weight thing really, although that’s a factor too, I just didn’t have the problems I have now (db whose autism has reached another level, mum elderly, a few deaths and myself and dh are at a crossroads and might break up).

Have started watching things that used to give me comfort, listening to music I loved, crying more (away from dc of course!!), phoning friends more (this was the hardest habit to start), sitting with dog more, going for walks more, visiting local stables just to be in the vicinity of horses(used to love horses) and am going to start swimming classes. Need to get back to more water, less eating after 8 and cutting down on bread, cereals and fizzy drinks. Huge huge hugs and best of luck in meeting your former self xxxx

edited to add went out for a fun alone day- gallery, window shopping, trying on flattering clothes (can’t afford but they’re on a list!!) and it was a game changer! Also back to enjoying skincare!!