What makes people look older than there are

Hi,
There are many possible reasons, here are some: Poor neutrition, troubles, poor medical care, hard work, poor personal care / attention, neglection, deseases, shock, hunger, hormones,...... just few to mention (and that is not the whole list).
Best regards,

Inactivity, is the big one. Weight is the next one. Laziness is the 3rd one. Improper diet the 4th one. Looking young takes work. Physical activity, staying trim and toned, taking care of your hair, teeth and skin. You can't wait till your 50's to start, you have to begin in your 20's and 30's and maintain a healthy workout routine and healthy eating habits, and a positive outlook on life. Young looking people are generally happy, athletic people and it shows.

A prime example is a man I met in a store last year. We were both standing at the counter to be waited on. The man was buying a pack of cigarettes. Joking around I said to the man, "You know those things aren't good for your health." To which he replied, "Miss at my age I'm not going to worry about it." I thought well he looks mid 60's, thin, in good shape, so who am I to argue. Mind you, the girl behind the counter is 42, I'm 60, and we're thinking ok, he looks good for his age. So then to be a smart ass, I said, "You know if you quit smoking you could probably live another 20 or 30 years in good health." The man burst out in laughter, which left us both stymied as to this reaction. He then said, "Miss I don't really know if I want to live another 20 or 30 years." And I went, "Say what?" And she said. "Are you kidding?" And we both looked at each other like, what is wrong with this man?!!!

Then he asked us to guess his age. And she goes, "Well first how old do you think I am?" He says, oh about 40, give or take a year or two. So then I asked, how old do you think I am? He goes about the same age as her. So thinking I'd show him, I said, well you are way off on my age! (I have always been taken for 15 to 20 years younger then what I actually am, so I wasn't surprized) but then we said OK, now it's your turn, HOW OLD are YOU. What he said next dropped us both in our tracks!!! The man was 93 years old!!!!!! Both of us almost dropped our teeth on the spot!!!! I of course didn't believe him and neither did she, so we made him show us his drivers license. The man was 93 years OLD, (or YOUNG, whichever you choose) 93!!!! Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!! Honestly, the man did not look a day over 65. NO JOKE!!! And he's close to 100 years OLD!!!!!

So my next question was, how???? And you smoke!! I thought smoking was suppossed to age you prematurely and cut 10 years off your life? (he said his doctor asked him to quit 30 years ago and gave up asking 10 years ago) He said he smokes in moderation, less then a pack a day and he does everything else in moderation, food, liquior, whatever. He said he has always excersized daily, and has a positive outlook on life. He said he lost his wife years eariler and almost all of his friends, and a lot of his family, (Gee at 93, was I surprized?)but has maintained a positive outlook on life. He said he ENJOYS every day he is given and has few regrets, and he doesn't look back, but forward.

I wish I would have paid more attention to his name, and asked a few more questions, but when we found out he was 93, we were too shell shocked to pay closer attention. I may not remember his name, but I will always remember meeting the man and what he said. To this day that man is my HERO, and I take to heart everything he said. He is living proof that your attitude towards life and how you want to live it make all the difference in the world. I wouldn't be surprized if he lives to be a 120, which if he lived another 20 years he'd almost make it.

The man left a positive influence on me as to why some people get old and look old, and why some seem ageless. ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE!!! And I think that's the bottom line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately some people have genetic features which make them look older but anyone who is happy in themselves will naturally look more charming and charasmatic.  The best anti-ageing advice is to stay out of the sun and don't smoke - frazzled perma tan skin and nicotine stained teeth are not attractive on anyone.  Wearing the same style of clothes, makeup and hairstyle you had at 25 when you are 50 is ageing and can add a decade or more - older people need to add warmth to their colour schemes. The best anti-ageing/looking younger advice comes from the inside out - your lifestyle - what you eat, whether you take exercise - being healthy, happy, active with positive personal relationships keeps age at bay.

Elxir, you obviously didn't read my post, did you? The man I was talking about smoked for over 70 YEARS, AND he served in ww2. I know without a doubt they didn't have any such thing as sunscreens or the slightest precautions to avoid the sun. However this man was in the best shape I have ever seen any human being, and even his gaite was that of a man in his 60's. To say that he was REMARKABLE, was an understatement. Granted genetics play a big role, (and he obviously won the genetic lottery!), but I think as well the fact that he was so optimistic about life played the biggest role of all. He'd suffered many losses throughout his MANY, MANY years and yet survived to tell the tale. If you had seen this man, in the light of day, as I had, you as well would have been amazed!! I still think attitude is the biggest portion of the over all picture. I think if you LOVE life and embrace it for everything it is worth, It's going to show over all in the long haul. If anyone was a bigger advertisement for this theory then this guy, I can't find one.

I thought I'd found the fountain of youth, looking and acting much, much younger then my actual age, but this guy put ME to shame. I doubt I'll ever make it to 93, but god after meeting this man I plan to give it everything I've got!!!!!!!!!!! Even if I don't make it, I'm going to give it my best shot for every year I live. He alone proved to me that a POSITIVE attitude, and taking care of yourself, can DEFINITELY make all the difference in the world!!!!!!!!! If this man could MAKE it to 93 looking 63 and acting 63 with a positive attitude, who am I to argue with success?