Looking Younger Than Your Age

[Vulcan]

I've always joked that my youthful appearance is due to my intake of good drugs, but it's genes and not anything to do with how I've treated this body. I was late maturing and was about the size of kids three years younger than me. It caused me to get into a lot of fights because bullies thought to their regret, that I was an easy target. It's been kind of a curse because when young, women I'd been interested in wouldn't give me the time of day, so I was stuck with feeling I was robbing the cradle. As soon as I could, I grew a full beard and I've had it most of my life and don't really know what I look like underneath anymore.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Buff

I used to look a lot younger than I am, which is 36. Growing a goatee made me look closer to my age. However, I've lost 55 lbs now, and I think that lost weight makes me look older too.

So you've become Buff, or were you always buff? I don't understand.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm 27, but usually get mistaken for a 13 year old. My 12 year old gf thinks it's cute, but it doesn't really bother me.

[Caged Great]

When I shave my beard, I look like I'm 20-22, with beard I look 30-35. I keep the beard all of the time just for that reason.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I'm 27, but usually get mistaken for a 13 year old. My 12 year old gf thinks it's cute, but it doesn't really bother me.

It's as they say....you're only as old as the women you feel.

[darklord700]

Is the 40s really the new 30s? Ladies here, if any, are encouraged to answer.

[Muta]

I'm 28, but I've been mistaken for 18 before. Me personally, I actually like getting ID'd at liquor stores and bars.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I'm 21 and look like I'm 15. That's why I grow out my terrible facial hair. If I shave completely I look like a Jr. High reject.

I don't know why but I picture you in my head as being about 6'3" and 150 lbs.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I'm 43 but most people would peg me at 35 at the most. I find this really annoying in the work place so much so that I'm often embarrassed when I reveal my real age to my colleagues.

A few years ago at a corporate function, a secretary who didn't know better put me together with a bunch of summer students because she though I was one of them.

Today we talked about age with some colleagues and when they heard that I'm 43 they made some comments of how they would never peg me at 43. The whole thing was innocuous but I was just embarrassed. Maybe I was really embarrassed at being 43 than anything.

I think it's better for a guy to look older than his age than younger. Women are different of course.

Start drinking and smoking heavily.
You'll look older in no time

[Regular_John]

I find the amount of times I get ID'd directly correlates with the length of my hair. If I've got a freshly buzzed head I never seem to get ID'd, if I grow it out a bit to the point that I need to style it a bit I start getting ID'd again.

I turn 30 this year, but I can probably pass for 25, I have no issues with either.

[troutman]

I'm 494, but get mistaken for 45.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

Yeah, I'm the opposite. I'm 23, and constantly get mistaken for being in my mid-30s. My brother is 10 years older than me, and most people think he's my younger brother!

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Start drinking and smoking heavily.
You'll look older in no time

Run, bike and hike lots, particularly longer distances and you'll look ten years younger. Stop doing that every once in a while and you'll start looking exactly your age. Motivation.

I know the OP thinks he's got a problem but he really doesn't. If people think you are younger than you are, just take it as a compliment, unless you think image is directly related to the quality of your work.

It'll fade soon enough and you'll wish you had'nt poo-poohed those comments.

Cowperson

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Komskies

I don't know why but I picture you in my head as being about 6'3" and 150 lbs.

Because I am. Haha /sigh

[peter12]

I started balding at 17, and was soon there-after often mistaken for a 35 year-old accountant.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I'm 28 and I'm commonly mistaken for being in my mid 30s.

The social norm says I should react negatively to that, but I don't.

I know what you mean, I've been mistaken for 28-32 since I was in my early 20s.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Yep I have the same "problem" as the OP. It's actually not a problem at all. I think a lot of mine is driven by personality as well. I am 31 look like I am 25 and act like I am 18. Most people assume I am around 23-25. It's quite the terrible problem to have, sometimes I wonder how my 22 year old girlfriend deals with it. Oh and I have a beard, it adds the 5 years that makes me look 23-25 instead of 18-20.

Also, at 43 you aren't supposed to be embarassed about anything, that's roughly about the time you are supposed to start hanging out in locker rooms at the gym fully naked talking to strangers with no concern that your wang is flailing about.

[Hack&Lube]

I'm 28, have been told I look like an 18 year old Korean pop star, and I can't even grow facial hair to make up for it. Makes talking to 18-22 year old girls easier though because I'm not automatically "creepy old guy" and then later when they find out my real age, it's an extra bonus because I'm more mature or successful than guys their own age.

Or that's the evil plan at least. I caught myself almost lying about my age to an 18 year old girl once. I was about to tell her I was 27 instead of 28 so I wouldn't be a full 10 years older. Pathetic.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

So you've become Buff, or were you always buff? I don't understand.

Think I found a pic of Buff.

Originally Posted by darklord700

Is the 40s really the new 30s? Ladies here, if any, are encouraged to answer.

Being nearly 50 and married to a 40 year old, I would say yes.
I could be bias though.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

So you've become Buff, or were you always buff? I don't understand.

I was once Buff, then I became Puff and now I'm really a lot less Puff.