Even the least vain amongst us wants to do something about their appearance when they start looking old. You may not feel any different, but as soon as you get gray hair, people’s expectations of you change, whether you like it or not.

Not everyone goes as far as cosmetic surgery, but millions of women use hair dye and men cover up bald patches. And it can make a major difference to our lives in a society where youthfulness is highly valued and old people are often ignored.

While we take the time to cover up the first signs of aging, preventing them is far less popular. Like a lot of people, I didn’t do anything about it until I needed to, but I’ve got good reasons to do something now.

Apparently, we don’t just get steadily worse as we age. Unless we can do something about it, the rate of aging accelerates. So in your 40’s you might see minor changes, but in your 50’s it gets a lot tougher and the pace of deterioration continues to speed up until you reach 90. Then for some reason it seems to slow right down.

I’m sure it’s easier to take up a new sport now and continue it for many years, than it would be to start in 10 years time. Also, friends in their 50’s say it’s much harder to lose weight than it was when they were younger.

I don’t want old age creeping up on me. Tomorrow I’m taking up running!