Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Do I save my face or my figure?

119 replies

Thecatsbutler · 19/10/2021 21:39

I lost a good bit of weight last year, which I was really happy about. I was back in my old clothes, looked and felt good (in clothes) My skin didn't do well with the weight loss though, I had turkey neck, jowls, looked older too. My body was very saggy but at least you can cover that up.
I have slowly gained some weight back which is not ideal, but something I'm confident I can get in top of again.
My face and neck look much better though with the extra weight. So I thinking, do I stay overweight to save my face or lose the weight for a better figure.
I'm postmenopausal so I know my skin will never bounce back. A
size 12-14= nice figure, saggy face/size 16=chubby,better face
If it was all going down, what would you save😱😁

OP posts:
PandoraP · 21/10/2021 13:16

How can you tone that area with swimming?

XingMing · 21/10/2021 13:19

Turkey neck is just ageing, sadly...

BuckEmOrf · 21/10/2021 15:04

In what way are these Ulrika comments any different to what the radio guy said yesterday about Tilly Ramsey? I started reporting but there are 14 of them.

inmyslippers · 21/10/2021 15:09

I've got a friend In her 50s who looks shit hot. Could easily pass for 30s she is a larger lady so helps plump out her beautiful face. Could you go down the filler Botox route to even things out? Amazing what they can do these days

Cameleongirl · 21/10/2021 15:10

@BuckEmOrf I think it's slightly different as people are trying to figure out what it is that's aged her...I have to be honest, she looks older than many of my friends (who don't have boxtox and fillers) in their early-mid 50's, and I'm not being bitchy.

I think it's the combination of being very thin and sun damage. Most of my friends have plumper faces and smoother skin - not wrinkle-free, obviously, but less sun damage.

Cameleongirl · 21/10/2021 15:13

*Botox , not Boxtox Grin

BuckEmOrf · 21/10/2021 15:14

[quote Cameleongirl]@BuckEmOrf I think it's slightly different as people are trying to figure out what it is that's aged her...I have to be honest, she looks older than many of my friends (who don't have boxtox and fillers) in their early-mid 50's, and I'm not being bitchy.

I think it's the combination of being very thin and sun damage. Most of my friends have plumper faces and smoother skin - not wrinkle-free, obviously, but less sun damage.[/quote]
Hmm. Not convinced, sorry.

HeadNorth · 21/10/2021 15:16

Ulrika looks fantastic - I'm the same age as her and I think she looks great. Lithe, happy and natural - oh to be as beautiful as her.

Anyway, I love exercise and am slim (BMI around 20/21ish). I also have wrinkles but come one, I'm in my 50s! Because I exercise I am fit and limber and move like a young women - no strange noises when I get up off a chair for me. I am protecting my heart, bones and joints with regular exercise and I feel great.

If some posters want to be catty about wrinkles that is on them. I'd rather be healthy than attempt to eat away my wrinkles with a layer of fat - that is just crazy.

Campfirewood · 21/10/2021 15:18

I don’t think it’s either or. I have a low bmi and I’ve never looked gaunt!
There are other parts of my appearance I’m not happy with, but not an ageing face in particular.
I think toning up is important, as we get older it’s so important to do some resistance/strength training. I think it helps keeps the gaunt at bay. I also use a sun cream on my face every day. That seems to have helped!

MapleMay11 · 21/10/2021 15:20

@BuckEmOrf

In what way are these Ulrika comments any different to what the radio guy said yesterday about Tilly Ramsey? I started reporting but there are 14 of them.
We should all be talking about Ulrika as an opportunity to raise awareness of the huge risk of excessive sun exposure. It's not just about appearance, it's about a significantly increased cancer risk.
Cameleongirl · 21/10/2021 15:24

@BuckEmOrf So you don't think she's prematurely aged then?

We'll agree to differ.

HeadNorth · 21/10/2021 15:28

[quote Cameleongirl]@BuckEmOrf So you don't think she's prematurely aged then?

We'll agree to differ.[/quote]
What is 'prematurely aged'? She is in her 50s, of course she has aged. There is no right or wrong way to age, you just age. Ulrika hasn't chosen to go down the treatement route of most women in the public eye, but that doesn't mean she is aging wrong - she is just living in the way that is right for her. And I still tink she is beautiful.

SmileyClare · 21/10/2021 15:34

@HeadNorth

Ulrika looks fantastic - I'm the same age as her and I think she looks great. Lithe, happy and natural - oh to be as beautiful as her.

Anyway, I love exercise and am slim (BMI around 20/21ish). I also have wrinkles but come one, I'm in my 50s! Because I exercise I am fit and limber and move like a young women - no strange noises when I get up off a chair for me. I am protecting my heart, bones and joints with regular exercise and I feel great.

If some posters want to be catty about wrinkles that is on them. I'd rather be healthy than attempt to eat away my wrinkles with a layer of fat - that is just crazy.

I agree. I hope not to be the grandmother in her 60s or 70's who can't run after grandchildren in the park or is red faced and puffing walking round the shops. I think being healthy and fit is key to looking and feeling good in your own skin.

There is a certain beauty to an aged face. Some of that is the confidence of being older and being yourself I suppose. I think Ulrika looks very relaxed and happy in herself which is always attractive.

I think Sheila Hancock is beautiful. I don't look at this photo for example at see wrinkles and a turkey neck or whatever we're calling it.

Do I save my face or my figure?
stairway · 21/10/2021 15:35

HeadNoryh it’s hard to compare celebrities as we don’t know what work they have had done, however if you compare Ulrika’s skin to that of Melissa McCarthey’s it’s obvious what a nice layer of fat on the face can do.

Cameleongirl · 21/10/2021 15:36

@HeadNorth What I mean is that she looks older than most of the women I know in that age group - my SIL (54) and friends who are aged 54-57.

She's beautiful and as you say, she's living in the way that is right for her. It's not a criticism of her, it's an observation and this thread has been about trying to maintain a youthful face so I'm speculating, IYSWIM. I'm 47 so hardly youthful myself!

TellySavalashairbrush · 21/10/2021 15:38

From personal experience I would say face. I have put on weight after being very slim for a few years and everyone says how much better I look, particularly in the face. I did look very gaunt when very slim.

HeadNorth · 21/10/2021 15:39

@stairway

HeadNoryh it’s hard to compare celebrities as we don’t know what work they have had done, however if you compare Ulrika’s skin to that of Melissa McCarthey’s it’s obvious what a nice layer of fat on the face can do.
'A nice layer of fat'- interesting phrase. I'd prefer a nice layer of healthy toned muscle myself and anyone who prefers an unhealthy fat face can do one.
stairway · 21/10/2021 15:44

HeadNorth why do I have to do one? A fatter face just looks aesthetically nicer after a certain age most people agree. It might not be healthier. However I have to agree with other posters a compromise is needed. Not sure why you are so offended.

Cameleongirl · 21/10/2021 15:49

@stairway I know. My SIL (54) runs six days a week and competes in races year round. Still has a full face and few wrinkles. I think she eats well and looks after her skin. She definitely doesn't diet per se, she loves good food and a glass or two of wine! It's all about balance.

MapleMay11 · 21/10/2021 15:50

'A nice layer of fat'- interesting phrase. I'd prefer a nice layer of healthy toned muscle myself and anyone who prefers an unhealthy fat face can do one.

But you think sun damaged skin is considered 'healthy' or 'attractive'? To me to shows a lack of regard for your health.

Delatron · 21/10/2021 15:51

I think it’s also important to stick with your natural weight. I’ve always been skinny ( not always a good thing) but with a full face. Face less full now but can maintain figure I think without trashing my face (as long as I don’t overdo the running.

However if you lose lots of weight quickly and that not your natural ish weight then it’ll show.

HeadNorth · 21/10/2021 15:52

@stairway

HeadNorth why do I have to do one? A fatter face just looks aesthetically nicer after a certain age most people agree. It might not be healthier. However I have to agree with other posters a compromise is needed. Not sure why you are so offended.
I don't think a fat face does look aesthetically nicer, personally. I do think it is pretty offensive to encourage women to be an unhealthy weight as if wrinkles are the worst thing in the world. Far better to be fit and slim.
withlotsoflove · 21/10/2021 15:56

You can have the best of both worlds if you don’t take things to the extreme.
Sunbathing breaks down collagen. This is a fact. However with weight training and a proper skincare routine including an SPF50 - your face will age better then if you’d not bothered!
Runners my age ( 50) can look gaunt if they take this too far - so l don’t recommend long distance.

Mercurial123 · 21/10/2021 15:56

@stairway

HeadNoryh it’s hard to compare celebrities as we don’t know what work they have had done, however if you compare Ulrika’s skin to that of Melissa McCarthey’s it’s obvious what a nice layer of fat on the face can do.
A "nice layer" of fat around the liver not so much.....
withlotsoflove · 21/10/2021 15:59

When l tried intermittent fasting my face became so small. Like a dot! That wasn’t attractive ( for me) so it’s probably an individual balancing act! Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread