Acheleus

Well 13 days sober today, and I just looked at myself in the mirror..

28 and look 40...year old man.

DAMN!

No wonder I ain't got a woman.

Wondering if I should just keep smoking and drinking and finish me old ass off. Gray hairs too.. I am actually 27, be 28 in 9 days.

I just look like a damn ravaged man, I ain't had no good sleep in months. Myeyes are red.

And I have to go teach..

Anybody start looking better after sobriety?

Olive1

Hi Acheleus,
Quitting is like living the picture of Dorian Gray. I slowly lost my aged look the more time I was sober. I eventually hit the look I am apparently supposed to look like now. And now I will just do the whole normal, everyday forward aging.
I like to think I look much better now than I did many years ago.
Keep up the good work!

Bird615

Of course.

For starters, you can take care of that body you've been abusing the **** out of all these years.

Good fresh food and fresh air, lots of sleep and some exercise will all help. What you do today will affect your tomorrows.

james872

Many things are reversible if you stay sober. Combined with a healthy diet and proper exercises it happens even better and faster.

I've started to look younger. I have more and better looking hair. My skin looks smoother and healthier. Eyes clearer. Many things are improving.

I'm only on day 37 and I already notice a huge difference. And I know it will get better as time goes on.

So give it some time and focus on the improvements.

FeenixxRising

I had grey hairs in my mid-20's, and I had a receding hairline. I often felt like you did, too old for my age. In my late 20's I looked older than my peers. Now I'm in my early 50's I now look younger than my peers (mostly because I've maintained my weight). Despite my drinking, I managed to take reasonably good care of myself.

The point is this: you don't know what the future will hold for you. Quit the booze, quit the cigarettes, eat well and exercise and you will see a difference. But ultimately, you will have to stop comparing yourself to others. Learn to accept and like yourself.

james872

I'm going for de-aging until I'm 23 again. Aging is too much trouble. I'm going for getting younger, at least that's like riding downhill.

ScottFromWI

Are you suggesting 40 is old? I think there are many here who would love to look 40 again ;-)

I noticed a big difference in my appearance after being sober for a while. Less puffy, baggy face and eyes, my complexion got better, I lost weight, etc.

But remember - you are just under 2 weeks sober. That is very, very early - and it will take time for things to get better - including your appearance. Rest and eating well will help, and so will exercise and of course not drinking. But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day - and you have to be realistic about giving it time.

FeenixxRising

At 28, I thought 40 was old. Little did I know how young 40 really was. Now I tell myself that 50 is young--at least compared to an 85 year old it is

Olive1

50 is the new 30?

Bird615

Haha! That's what I've been doing and 40 is a distant stranger to me!

(meaning I'm on the far side of it)

aasharon90

Absolutely. I would hear often to watch
the faces of those living in recovery. Watch
for the transformation that comes over their
faces.

I'd see worn down, beat down, the I can't
go any more look when they came to meetings.
Then, as time went on and as they began to
grasp recovery, then I could see slowly a
smooth, serene, grateful peace come over
their faces.

I had to see that miracle happen before my
eyes in order to believe that recovery did
indeed actually worked if they as well as myself
worked it.

Im mid fifties and feel like im in my late
20's, early 30's as I continue to grow and
mature in sobriety.

I'm very much a lady still prime and
proper, yet, im strong physically, love
my pretty feminine tattoos and ride
passenger with my spouse on our
motorcycle enjoying trips here and
there.

Today, im more, mentally, physically,
emotionally, spiritually stronger each day
I remain sober.

You can too.

Acheleus

Thanks guys. I need to relax.

I didn't mean to insult anyone, I always thought I would be dead by 30. Kind of planned it that way..

But now I realize I can have a good laugh. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Acheleus

Living in Florida for years, and the south...I think most of it is sun damage to be honest. I never wore sunscreen.

aasharon90

In sobriety while learning not to drink
each day, we can also pamper ourselves.
There's lots of moisturizers out there for
men to use and they also smell nice.

Many of us have spent many days in the
sun, soaking it in, getting burnt and our
skin often feel leathery or rough like those
cute large alligators down here in the south. lol

With continuous use of lotions, even the
roughs skin can become as soft as a babies
butt... lol

Lyoness

Yes! I looked terrible, too, at the end of my addiction. People kept asking me what was wrong and I kept brushing them off, annoyed at their intrusion. Because I looked like what I was, a needle addict. Bad coloring, wicked thin, and all the rest.

When I started recovery I started looking better quickly. I started eating more, well at all really, putting back on weight, my face started clearing and I can't tell you how many people have commented on how good I look, my "coloring," etc. (Which does make me wonder exactly what shade I was!)

Now, except for my track marks which will never go away, you cannot tell I was ever a junkie. So stick with it, it's very early days yet. Keep taking the best care of yourself you can, eat, drink tons of water, get as much rest/sleep as you can and whatever exercise and outdoors time you can get and you will see yourself improving and coming back every day.

jaynie04

Ach...you didn't insult anyone...it was funny. I'm 48, a 27 year old kid in my group in rehab was telling a story about rescuing a "little old lady" who was being mugged one night when he was drunk. He was a great story teller and he said "so this lady, I mean, she must have been about 45 or something"....I was howling.

It's all in the eyes of the beholder....

Mountainmanbob

most after a year or two of sobriety look much better
I'm 62 and yet again today someone told me that "I look good for my age"
sober now for almost 6 years

for the ones who don't get sober
yes many will age way before their time

sound like if you don't die first
if you keep doing what you are doing to yourself
when you are 40 you may look to be 60 ???

that's just the looks part
not to mention every thing else that falls apart or never attained

Mountainman

Lyoness

I sure hope so! Rounding the bend quickly to 50! I laughed to hear some teenagers comparing who looked the oldest, I remember that well. I told one of them wait til you're my age and you'll be grateful every time someone tells you look young for your age.

dwtbd

The Howard Family Foundation has done wonderful work in laying the groundwork in reversing the aging process.


Long Live Lazarus!

Mountainmanbob

that's true
plus
I'm just grateful to be alive after all the things I did to myself

it isn't pretty out there in the heavy party world

I used her she used me and neither one cared
working on some night moves

Mountainman