"I firmly believe that being married AGES a man prematurely."
I respectfully disagree.
I was married for a very long time...and I look very young. I won't lie and say that I look 28...but I certainly look 31. And if I truly wanted to look 28 or 27, I would simply have to change the way I carry myself and bingo. The reason, in my case is simple:
1- Genes (dark skin plus having family in both sides that age gracefully)
2- Social capability (I still went out to nightclubs -alone or with her- while I was married)
3- I am in shape (perhaps not 8 pack shape...but certainly have a slim waist)
4- I'm very fashionable (used to be called "GQ" in my prior job)
5- Diet
6- Great sense of humor
7- Lot of sex (last 18-20 years of my life I have gotten laid at least once a week - with the exception when I was away to a remote location)
Now...if a man is married and has a happy marriage (no worries about cheating wife, etc.)...that man should NOT age. In fact, he should look younger. Why? Because his mind is busy doing things he TRULY wants to do, instead of worrying about B.S. stuff.
Being single and without steady sexual partner can be more stressful and in a way make a man older (unless that man has zero interest for sex or has never tasted sex). You sleep less, because you have to go out "hunting". You don't get enough sex, because you are single (and without a steady woman or you have to deal with several drama queens). And you don't have time to stay in a steady good diet, because you are constantly on the go looking for women.
Now, if a man is married to a ***** or a slut or married to a woman that deprives him of sex...that man will age quicker.
In my case I had a good wife and mother to my kids. I just choose to leave because I reached a stage in my life in which I had to make a decision and I decided to live the second part of my life without her. It was the fair thing for her (although, she still not accepts that). Tough decision. But that's part of being a man's man; making tough decisions that regular people might never comprehend. For that reason, being a man's man (a TRUE alpha dog) is perhaps one of the loneliest positions psychologically speaking.