Side effects of growing old?

There are disadvantages to loosing weight that I'm not sure I am ready to face just yet. In the last couple of months, probably due to all the steps and such I have been climbing every day (oh my aching knees!), I have actually lost some weight. On strict terms, it is only about 4% of my weight and no where near what various doctors have told me "I should" loose, yet there are already indications of that elderly, loose skin look.

Or perhaps it is that I am just coming to the conclusion that though the idea of growing old doesn't bother me - I've had too many examples of active elders to let me fear it - I had not really considered the "side-effects" on areas of my body other than my face. I had been hoping to develop 'character' lines, rather than wrinkles - but even then the maternal unit doesn't have that many of either yet, and has lived a goodly three score and ten so far. But what suddenly struck me this pleasant summer morning is that the backs of my hands, despite regular moisturising, are starting to develop that elderly, crêpey look.

On one side of the equation is the good feeling about gradually loosing the excess weight necessary for good health. On the other is the realisation that all the extra skin I grew to contain the extra mass is going to get all floppy and loose like that of "old" people (my mother is'not "old" yet, she is far too busy, active and intrestingly creative to ever be "old" *G*). I think it is a realisation that my body, that I have inhabited all these years with due care but not really enough care or maintenance, will one day not look like how I seem to remember it. Though aware of aging, I think this first intimation of living in an 'older model body' has come as a bit of a surprise.

At least it gives me a bit more time to come to terms with the idea of eventually looking like a "wrinkly"!