Anyone find their looks/health had a dramatic cliff drop at 40?

[pastabest]

A few weeks ago I was 39, but could pass for 28 on a good day, 35 on a bad day. People frequently expressed surprise when I told them my actual age.

I expected this to continue for a few more years and a gradual ageing process to occur, but pretty much in the weeks since I've turned 40 wrinkles have appeared from nowhere, my grey sprinkles are now proper grey roots and things ache. My eyesight has gone a bit funny and my hearing has become... problematic and when I'm staring back and myself on Microsoft teams I suddenly look drawn and lined.

I've had my 40 NHS health check and in theory I'm in tip top condition for my age, but I've visually aged about 10 years in less than 2 months.

Is this a thing!?

32!! In the softest, kindest most well meaning way - get the hell outta here 😬

I think it's all about genetic as I've heard that looks drastically fade at 30s, at 40s and at 50s, all from different people. Your lifestyle, activity levels and what you eat impacts a lot as well, there is no particular number that would be true for all, I think, it depends on a large combination of factors.

I swear by fasting at the keto diet. I look and feel better than ever before. Its even changed my skin (for the better!).

Ffs! I’m 50 in January. I used to get told I looked younger for my age. I turned 40, apart from not giving a fuck anymore, I aged 😭 it doesn’t help that I have arthritis and other various ailments.

seconded; lift weights and eat appropriately for gaining muscle mass. Which is noting how much protein you’re eating and when. Especially breakfast for women.

I noticed it hugely early/ mid 40s. Hrt did nowt. Had to come off due to breast cancer which is how I found weight lifting. The extra muscle tone does a lot - including in my face. More muscles help to metabolise carbs better.

diet (gut health) and exercise snd sleep.

swimming is good for lymph cardio and relaxation, but resistance training and sprint intervals are more beneficial at this age. (Stacy sims is really helpful on this) obviously you can do sprints in the pool.

After 40 mitochondria aren’t as happy. Have a read of Professor glen Jeffrey’s work. It’s fascinating, especially the bees! (I have red light glasses as macular degeneration is in the family)

sprints help mitochondria too I believe.

I’m taking creatine which really helped my ligaments/ joints alongside a specific resistance programme. Started collagen more for bones and gut. No idea if will help skin but that’s been better since my gut health protein kick anyway

It’s 44 and 60 to be precise, so op is slightly ahead of the game.

As I hit my 50s and meno, my body seemed to lose all interest in keeping me alive or viable or happy in my skin... 'Done with you,' said Mother Nature...

Cancer (so can't take HRT), Graves disease, autoimmune shizzle... metabolism gave up and gifted me a thick waist and boobs that went from 'sexy' to 'matronly' with some strange shift of distribution... oh, and gluten sensitivity, and I stopped drinking for five years and need to again really...

Worst, I got anxious and fearful and just less robust somehow... at 60, things seem more overwhelming these days, like I'm aware of my reduced capacity... other people in the shops and on the roads seem like such roughshod, unbearable and ill-mannered bastards... Looks are the least of it...

haha - don't make me laugh. 50 was sobering but ok .

60 is when you really start aging and fight back hard

When I turned 40 I looked bloody brilliant - not so much now 😂

@Gribouille I hear you!

I had a burst at around 44 and was quite surprised to read that it was the average age for aging acceleration, as it was spot on. It seems to be less noticeable now a couple of years on. Probably because I have accepted the older version of me. I look really good for my age anyway and on days I don’t, remind myself that it’s a privilege to grow old. Obviously, It’s nice to look good though - sleep makes the world of difference

No I still looked youthful until early 50’s, I’m seeing changes now. But relatively speaking I still look okay at nearly 60.

Keep your weight stable , weight train , use moisturiser and sunscreen, drink enough water. These things really help.

I look back at 40 and think what was I worried about then.

44-47 was like I'd died. Clearly a little hyperbolic, but jesus was there a difference.

Yes me. I look like i have an aging filter on :(

Have lost weight and think thats caused a lot of it.

Fed up every time i see myself. I don't recognise her in the mirror.

@DelphineDuck Well done and keep going with strength training. I wish more women were actively encouraged to take up at least two days strength training a week and associated increased protein dietary intake. I see few women in their 40s and 50s coming to my gym to do strength training. There are misconceptions in society that building muscles is just about looking "jacked" like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Muscles make up nearly 30% of our bodys weight and the more you can increase the muscle mass the better. The health and wellbeing benefits are unbelievable e.g. lower risk of major diseases, improves body composition - muscles burn calories at rest meaning better weight management with age, better posture and metabolism, strengthens bones reducing fracture risk with age, improves mental health etc. How do they do that? Well muscles release hundreds of molecules that act like hormones to manage inflammation, bone and brain function. Crucial in this case it can also modestly improve skin health and make you look younger.

@Brightbluesomething @TeenLifeMum which collagen do you take? I want to start, but there are so many options.

OP, I know how you feel, except mine was in my 50’s. When I smile all I see are the wrinkles, I’m sure they didn’t come on overnight but in the last few months I feel I look older.

best mn post all year 💪

I tried a gym but was put off by all the overly muscle bound men hogging the machines. More female gyms needed.
I got myself a kettle bell and do a routine at home.

Yes it started around 38/39. I went from looking around 32/33 to looking like I’m in my mid forties. Mh declined and aches/pains started.
HRT, therapy, weight lifting, swimming and pilates have helped but this is how I envisioned my seventies not my forties

Yes. I was the same, fairly smug about looking the same as I always had, lots of comments about you can't be 40 etc. It happened to me over about a month when I was 42, so quick and so definite.

Now I don't recognise myself sometimes when I look in the mirror. I still wouldn't say I look old old yet - but I very definitely look different and no longer youthful.

No I’m 41 and look slightly older than I did 2 years ago. I also doubt you looked 28 then.

It's been 50 for me. Had my 50th birthday and felt and looked great (I thought) but 6 months later and ongoing I seem to have aged rapidly looks and health wise. Still no menopause so expecting it to get worse too!

Hair got very thin and dry. When I have a trim now I have to have more cut off than I would like and I'm struggling to get used to shorter hair which I don't think suits me.
Fairly rapid weight gain but mostly around the waist and abdomen so I now seem to be a big round tree trunk instead of having a "figure".
Boobs have expanded rapidly into a matronly bosom.
Skin on my body has gone all crepey and baggy and doesn't seem to fit properly any more!
I have sort-of planned for a face-lift in the next 2-5 years and had thought until recently "oh well I won't need to have my neck done as it looks fine" then last week on teams i realised the turkey neck has in fact started.
Saw myself recently walking along, in shop window reflection and was shocked to see how stiffly I was walking, like an old person - all my bouncy spring has gone.

That's before I get to the health issues. Waiting to hear if I'm suitable for a knee replacement. Regular reviews for pre-glaucoma. Two lumps removed in the last few weeks (one just a cyst, waiting on the other). Memory definitely losing its sharpness.

I know getting older is a privilege and natural, but i wasnt prepared for the sudden burst. I hope it slows down a bit soon! Have largely given up alcohol, hopefully that will help.

53 was when I started to notice myself ageing physically and looks wise.

I'm 55 now.

At 40 I still looked youthful and not much different to how I looked in my late 20's. Even at 50 I had people expressing surprise when they discovered my age. I still look young for 55 but the ageing process has definitely accelerated over the past two years.

Looks wise its area around my eyes are where it's hitting me hardest. No amount of make up can hide it. In fact less make up is better.

Poor eyesight, random aches and pans and stiffness in joints is a new thing for me.

Scientists say we don’t age gradually but in jumps, the first occurring at around 44 and affecting mobility and looks and the second at about 64 affecting the immune system. It was the same for me OP, I hit 42 and pretty much overnight the injuries mounted up, looks changing and just not being as bouncy and training as hard as I used to. Can’t lift as heavy as I used to, either. Hips and shoulders ache. It sucks.