I agree with the whole matronly comment...sometimes, I look at pictures of myself and I feel so bloated and like someone's grandmother.
I don't mind looking like a grandmother when I am one, but right now, I want to be looked at like a potential mate, and not like someone to just see through.
katehsparow---you may be more mature because of whatever life circumstances or just because of maturity levels, but, don't worry, you don't look older. I say this as someone who is literally almost 2x your age (yikes!).
Personally, if I can look like I am under 30, then I think I would be happy with that. I think that before the weight gain, even when i was overweight, I looked much younger, and it just seems that getting over 280lbs was more than my body felt was ok.