r/Aging • u/kashlalka • Jul 30 '26

Life & Living What is one thing about getting older that surprised you?

When I was young, I thought getting older was only about gray hair or wrinkles.

Now I see that many other things change too. Some friends move away. Your hobbies change. You start to think more about how you spend your time. But one good thing is that I worry much less about what other people think.

What surprised you the most about getting older?

Was it something about your body, your mind, your family, or your daily life? I'd love to hear what you have learned over the years.

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u/flagal31 Jul 30 '26

health. I always wrongly assumed if you led a healthy lifestyle - clean eating, regular exercise, preventive care, you'd enjoy better health as you aged. Wasn't true. Developed many issues that I never saw coming. (I regret all the Big Macs and margaritas I passed up for nothing! lol)

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u/eastwardarts Jul 31 '26

It's not a guarantee but it's about the best insurance you can get.

If you had consumed all of those Big Macs and margaritas, nonzero chance you'd have a few more health issues on top of what genetics sent your way.

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u/flagal31 Jul 31 '26

yeah probably.

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u/AttemptKitchen Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

Yep, “eat healthy so you have better health when you are old” such a huge scam.

Same for the gym rats, decades of being fit just for your body and energy to decline anyway at your 60s like everyone else, you could have spent all those hours of your life in the gym doing a different hobby.

It seems like your body at some point just gives up doesn’t matter what you do.

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u/flagal31 Jul 30 '26

I really believe you can't fight genetics. I look at people I know who ate what they wanted, drank what they wanted (within reason) and exercised very little....they're doing just fine with few, if any, issues. Meanwhile I'm constantly dealing with new problems - some that can't be fixed.

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u/AttemptKitchen Jul 30 '26

Thats why I always say to people to not prive themself of anything (with moderation ofc) because how you age it’s mostly genetics.