55-65 year old women's success?

PianoRun

Looking for some inspiration. I lost my "chronic" 40 lbs of overweight with reasonable ease at age 45, and maintained for a couple of years. However, my motivation at this age is different, and is my ability to exercise with the same intensity has also decreased. Now, i don't want to hear all that stuff about how "age is just a number" -- There are many physical and emotional differences between women who have passed through menopause and those who are in their youth or who are pre-menopausal.... perhaps as many as between girls before menarche and teenagers who are growing into women. Anyway, I would be really interested in hearing from post-menopausal women who have lost significant weight and their experiences with that. Congratulations and high-fives to you all and your efforts!

luluinca

I'm 64 and started here in Sept of 2013 with 70 lbs to lose, still recovering from a back injury (which really piled on the pounds), and have so far lost 56 lbs. I won't pretend it's been easy but I've been pretty determined. The difference for me was really exercising my little heart out. I go to the gym at least 4 days a week, right now I'm going 5 days to see how that goes, where I do strength training/weight lifting, lots of calisthenic and circuit type workouts, swim, and generally work my butt off for 90 minutes or more. The other two or sometime three days I walk the dogs between 3 and 4 miles each day.

I've found that my metabolism isn't as slow now as it was when I started so I'm actually eating more than I was and still losing weight, albeit a little slowly. I'm enjoying myself though and I'm certainly not starving to death or anything on an average of 1650-1750 calories a day.

Good luck with your goals.

teeseeytopcat

Hello PianoRun! I'll be turning 60 in a few months & have lost 30 pounds since joining MFP in April. Slow but steady & even though I see lots of folks reporting incredible amounts of weight loss in short periods of time, I believe us more mature gals experience weight loss at a slower rate & that's perfectly fine with me.

Add me as a friend if you'd like!

All the best.

kathygolean

Hi PianoRun (I'm guessing you play piano I'm female, 56 and post menopausal. Last year I lost 30 lbs between January and September. I tried to be faithful to log my caloric intake on MFP and workout out on my eliptical trainer while watching a show on Netflix - approximately 45 minutes. (A distraction is a MUST!) I'm 5'1" and have to stay at or below 1200 calories to lose. It's hard, but it can be done! I gained back 20 between mid September and the end of December ... how is that possible!!!???? So....gotta keep at it or it does return AND IN A HURRY! I had gotten lazy and wasn't logging. I've taken off 5 of that already, and plan to get the rest off and not gain it back AGAIN....UGH! Hangeth thou in there! You can do it...just takes discipline and the realization that its just the way it is at this stage of life. Stinks huh? Be thankful for the wisdom we have now, but miss the bodies and metabolism we once had. The tradeoff I guess!

debneeds2beskinny

Hi - (I am 62) it is hard at our age to loose, everything sure slows down, but it can be done. My goal is 40 lbs and I've lost 15. (some of which I have lost several times) I belong to this group:
60 years old and over

60 years old or older
Let's get together and work on this. Just because we are in our 60's doesn't mean we are OLD.

They are a great group and we have regular chat sessions going on and weekly weigh in reporting if you want. It is nice to have others your age going through the same struggles. Friend me if you like and check out the group!

patty1138

Can I plz join your grp?

dejavuohlala

Hello, I have been on mfp for about 15 months, lost 34lbs but still have a long way to go.

Anyone is welcome to friend me but the following are MUSTS for me.
1. You log onto mfp regularly
2. You comment on post and not just use the like button.
3. The support is two way and you give support to me in return for the support I give to you.

I do delete those that do not support and comment as I want to be a supportive friend on this journey.
Good Luck to you all.

jdmart7

I will be 60 in a few short months. I too am looking for motivation and support from this age group. I would like to lose between 50 and 60 lbs. by mid May. Yikes! I know it's a lofty goal but really want to do this! Please help!!! My plan is through diet and exercise. (AGAIN)

PianoRun

Wow! Seems like I'm in great company!

Hi, luluinca and thanks for your reply – especially good to know you have improved your metabolism! Also thanks for describing your workouts. I am considering joining a gym, but for now $ is a factor. Still, I have yet to activate a trial membership, which could open new doors. Otherwise, I run (jog!) and do gentle yoga for exercise, and just am trying to get off my butt more!

Hi, Teeseeytopcat Thanks ! I think it is incredible success to have lost 30 lbs since April. WTG!

Kathygolean – Good guess about the piano – I began learning to play piano about 5 years back, and I ‘run’ for exercise. Thanks for sharing your successes, as well as the ups and downs. I know what you mean about how hard it can be to have a low caloric intake. I’m taller, but at first on MFP I could not manage on the 1310 calories recommended, and added 200 to my calorie goal. Still took discipline, but was manageable. Alas, I did not keep that up, and now I’m back here with a little extra weight as well. Thanks for mentioning the elliptical – sounds like you’ve got some boredom prevention in place!

debneeds2beskinny –Thanks for letting me know about the group, and losing 15 pounds is a big deal. My goal, too, is to lose about 40 lbs, but even when I get a few pounds down I do feel better. It’s been a long time since I’ve lost as much as 15, so I hope to see what that feels like in a few months.

Hi, patty I don’t know much about the group, yet, but seems like a good one for us!

Hi, cadownham Good work on the 34lbs. I’m probably not the most reliable one for regular support, so I’m glad you laid out these stipulations. I’m on very shaky ground (could it be I’m too heavy, lol?) here on MFP, and this is the first time I’ve tried posting. I don’t even know how to “like” here, and only see like buttons on FB or other online networks. Nonetheless, I remember at WW many years ago, the leader pointed out that “everyone wants you to be successful” and I’m definitely rootin’ for you, too.

Jdmart – I just turned 60 in September – really seems like a good time to get serious, huh? Good for you on your goal to lose the weight. You said you want to achieve through diet and exercise. How could that possibly work , lol?

teeseeytopcat

Hello ladies! We can do this, right & we'll all support each other through the good & perhaps some "off" days. Let's go!!!

rosebette

I'm 56 and lost 6-7 lbs. on MFP since last year, then gained it back over the holidays. Shorter smaller women really need to be religious about tracking. Age is not just a number -- our metabolisms are lower than younger folks', and many of us can't workout at the same intensity as we could when we were younger. Also, being careless with form or overdoing it results in injury more easily. All it takes is a few weeks of lapses with eating and tracking, and the pounds pile on. I also have had some issues with working out due to a shoulder injury. The combination of lower intensity strength workouts plus eating a few hundred calories more basically resulted in undoing all my progress. Now I'm back on track and looking to give and get support!.

sodakat

I'm 64 and have been using MFP since February of 2014. So far I'm down 54 pounds, plus a few I lost before finding MFP. A bit more than half way to my goal so I'll be here a long time.

I just eat normal food, but a bit less of it obviously! I'm not much of a cheerleader so probably not the best "friend" to have on MFP, but I definitely wish everyone well!

I like the spreadsheet challenges and have participated in quite a few. Its interesting/motivating to me to see how much I've progressed over the course of the challenge. Right now I'm involved with 3 (Biggest Loser Team Challenge, 100 Days of 2015 Challenge. : the Sequel and Something to Celebrate: New Years Challenge). The 100 Days of 2015 Challenge begins on January 11th, btw (we just finished a 100 day 2014 challenge). The second two are self-tracking challenges where you enter your weight in the spreadsheet weekly and are groups you can join just by clicking on the button; the Biggest Loser Team Challenge is more structured where you have to report your weekly weight on a group thread and the moderator adds it to the spreadsheet -- but the spreadsheet is viewable to all.

I've really only tried hard to lose weight once before in my life (always was overweight) and honestly I cannot say it has been more difficult to lose now than that time in my 30s. My body doesn't look quite as good after the weight loss now, at this age though!!

Kathy

keana55

I'm 65 and have lost 72 pounds since April, 2013. I did it mostly through diet alone, since I had a broken leg and a complication that I am still struggling with--a broken titanium rod--so believe me it can be done!! I stay around 1400 calories a day but go higher if I'm traveling. Even then I always aim to stay at maintenance or below. Key for me is consistent logging, substituting good food for bad, and learning portion control. I eat enough calories so my body won't revolt, and don't restrict any foods except fast food and soda.

Not high tech but it really works!

barby6011

Hi Girls, I'm 67 so far I have lost 9lbs. Glad to find this group, because it is a challenge to lose at this age. I have a lot of physical challenges. Hip and valve replacement plus a pace maker. Pretty much chronic bionic. Lol good luck all

Doublemeasure

Hi, Ladies. I am 56 years old and have been overweight most of my adult life. Since September I have lost 17.3kg/38lbs. MFP has been am inspiration to me to lose weight by logging my calorie intake and looking at the success stories on here. I have another 43kgc/95lbs to go! But I am nearly a third of the way to my target. Good luck to us all.

KimofTas

I'm 40 so I don't totally understand your position however wouldn't you just eat at a deficit if you have more weight to lose? You don't necessarily need to exercise in large amounts to lose weight is what I understand from tracking cals and all of the info on forum here.

joann

Hi I will be 57 this month, I have been on mfp for years but I really have been logging everyday since March, so far I have lost 61 pounds and I have to admit I did little exercise. I have my calories set at 1200 and try most of the time to do low carbs, anyone can add me as a friend if you want.

middlehaitch

Ooh, aren't we all doing well!
I would love to join the over 60 group mentioned above. Could you post a link please?

My Story.
I haven't had a lot to lose, but I have maintained my loss, 30lb for 6 years ( I never realised it was that long until I found the original of my wake-up call pic)
I was 130 Christmas 2008 and 105 by Christmas 2009.

I am 5'1, 61yo, small boned, apple shaped, and try to maintain between 102-105. I say try because I dipped down to 100 at the end of the year when I changed my exercise routine. That is why I am tracking right now.
My BF is about 20,5% according to my measurements and the USMC calculations on the web.

I was eating at MFP low activity maintenance 1200 and eating back half by calories, but because I started losing on that I have changed to TDEE and upped that from maintenance x5 to maintenance x5 intense = 1480 cal.

I do aqua fit x3 and, at the moment Zumba x2, with swimming, x1, rowing machine intermittently, and the Nerd Fitness body weight programme x2.
I do change my routine every 4 months or so to keep me interested- I loath exercise.

Here I am Christmas 2008, 5'1, 55yo and a menopausal 130lb



And this is me this Christmas 5'1, 61yo, and a post menopausal 100lb.



Sorry if it is sideways, click and it will open correctly, something to do with uploading from iPhone.

I am 105lb in my avitar. That is my lilac haired 60th birthday pic.
We can lose it, it just takes commitment.

Cheers, h.

sweetestmommy

I am 59 years old and a few years into menopause. I have recently joined MFP after months of binging on high sugar and carbs. As a recovering alcoholic (for 21 years) I recognize this addictive behavior know where it is going. After just 5 days on MFP, staying in the correct caloric intake and exercising almost daily, I FEEL so much better! I have been achy and tired for months; Sugar is an inflammatory and I think it has been terrorizing my joints and arthritis. I've been using my old Nordictrack in the basement and watching TV series videos, giving me about 43 mintues of exercise per episode. I love Castle and Studio 60 these days. I am looking forward to my Sunday weigh in. I find putting it off for a week helps me keep to the routine.

My motivation is slower if not my metabolism; It has been a huge struggle to stop eating mindlessly while reading or watching TV. But, day 6 begins today! This has been very helpful to read and I will look forward to participating with this sincere group of women.

Snooozie

Hi PianoRun (and everyone else).. I'm 54 but a few years into menopause now, and agree completely it's a whole other world now in weight loss - I still believe the basics of calories in vs calories expended apply to weight loss, but there's no question raging hormones, hot flashes, emotional crazies and the myriad of other "joys" at this stage of life add a few more challenges to the basic equation!! and laughing burns calories btw... and so do hot flashes! (in my mind anyway!)
-
just thought i'd let you all know there are a couple of groups on here for menopausal women; can't remember them all offhand but if you use the search feature keywords for menopause, menopausal, etc you can find them (just change your search filter to all first).

It Can be done tho.. lots of successes and surrounding yourself with those who are doing it can be a great help on the way... made the difference for me when I started here!

(oh.. add memory challenges to that list LOL.. BUT I did find one of the groups so passing it on while I still do remember!) cheers to all!

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/506-near-or-post-menopausal-group

luluinca

KimofTas wrote: »

I'm 40 so I don't totally understand your position however wouldn't you just eat at a deficit if you have more weight to lose? You don't necessarily need to exercise in large amounts to lose weight is what I understand from tracking cals and all of the info on forum here.

It's true that as long as we are in a calorie deficit we lose weight. There are other benefits though to keeping up an exercise routine as we age. Doing even simple strength exercises increases bone density. It's much more beneficial to any drug currently on the market. And of course, stability and flexibility are bi-products of exercise which help combat injuries and falls. Throw in a little cardio for cardio-vascular health and we've added at least a few years of healthier living at the back end of our lives.

You don't have to spend hours and hours at the gym to accomplish these goals but if a little exercise solves some of the aging problems characteristic to a sedentary lifestyle and aging........I'm in.

Wishing all of you lovely ladies great success!

Lulu

lilianhill

I'm 57 and hoping to be post-menopausal soon (just a few more months without a period and I'll be there). I joined MFP in January 2014 and lost 20 pounds by May. I have regained a few through laziness. My goal for 2015 is1) to get back to where I was (145 lbs.) and perhaps go a little further (140 lbs.), and 2) increase my exercise. While I enjoy viewing before and after photos from all age groups, it is more meaningful and motivational to talk to women who share similar concerns.

PianoRun

sodakat wrote: »

I'm not much of a cheerleader so probably not the best "friend" to have on MFP, but I definitely wish everyone well!

I have never posted in the message pages before, and I thrilled that so many women (who I can identify with) have responded. To reply to everyone individually, it would take up too much space and more time than I have.

Ladies, your reading about your success -- and where you've had trouble --inspires me to keep on going. Thank you.

sodakat

Maybe we can just keep this thread going, instead of worrying about a group. I know there are several threads that continue from month to month on MFP. I joined an age specific group last year and it wasn't long before it fizzled out. I think it was because the membership was limited and quite a few people lost their drive to lose weight so stopped posting.

@middlehaitch - thanks for the great inspiration!!!
-

middlehaitch

Sodakat, I am all for keeping the thread going.
Heck, I have been on MFP since 2010 and only just discovered the forums this past September, I just used it for food and fitness tracking, so have no idea how groups work.
Just wondering, do any of us 'well experienced women' lift heavy?
I play with the idea a lot, not sure if that is just how this forum pushes it, but just can't see myself with a barbell balanced on my shoulders - the bar itself is almost half my weight so how would I ever start!
I do do body weight, hand weights, and gym machines, but barbells- just can't get there.

Cheers, h.
Ps. It is my before pic that inspires me- I don't ever want to look like that again, and am willing to work on it.

zebszee

Hello ladies, I have just turned sixty, passing through menopause in my mid fifties. I lost 12kg during 2013 with the aid of a trainer and MFP, have put 10kg back on through 2014 due to injuries, laziness and apathy. Weighing currently 72kg, my aim is to get back to 62kg....lovely to meet you all

bonnieh1638

kathygolean wrote: »

Hi PianoRun (I'm guessing you play piano I'm female, 56 and post menopausal. Last year I lost 30 lbs between January and September. I tried to be faithful to log my caloric intake on MFP and workout out on my eliptical trainer while watching a show on Netflix - approximately 45 minutes. (A distraction is a MUST!) I'm 5'1" and have to stay at or below 1200 calories to lose. It's hard, but it can be done! I gained back 20 between mid September and the end of December ... how is that possible!!!???? So....gotta keep at it or it does return AND IN A HURRY! I had gotten lazy and wasn't logging. I've taken off 5 of that already, and plan to get the rest off and not gain it back AGAIN....UGH! Hangeth thou in there! You can do it...just takes discipline and the realization that its just the way it is at this stage of life. Stinks huh? Be thankful for the wisdom we have now, but miss the bodies and metabolism we once had. The tradeoff I guess!

Your story could be identical to mine. I'll be 55 this month and I am 5'1" - at least that's what my drivers' license shows. From August 2013 to November 2013 I lost 17lbs by just walking each day for 45 minutes and cutting out snacks and eating healthier foods. Then came the holidays. I gained 11lbs of the 17 back and the innertube around my belly so now I am on MFP to make myself more accountable and see if I can make positive changes and stick to them!

lovesretirement

Hi there! I am 62 and have struggled a lifetime being overweight. I have lost/ gained and spent a ton of money doing it. I started MFP June 2013. I lost about 20 pounds very slowly and stopped logging June 2014. For 6 months, I ate with abandon and gained 8 pounds in the process. Had I not been going to the pool every other day, it would have been more.

Anyway, I started back tracking mid December and started strength training with a personal trainer. I'm in for the long haul...not number focused, but health focused. I will have to log food for the duration of my life if I want to remain healthy. For me, weight loss and good health begins in the kitchen...You cannot out-excercise a bad diet! I am doing the 1:1:1 strategy... one carb, one protein, and one fat at 3 meals and 2 snacks. It's working well for me so and I am not deprived of any food group.

I would love to be a part of this thread or a group. Maybe being connected to others was what was missing for me when I first started on this site.

Connie

luluinca

I've bookmarked this page so I can keep coming back here and read or participate. It's interesting so many of us have the same issues.

@ middlehaitch, I'm almost ready to begin with barbells. I've increased my squats and DL with either dumbells or Kettlebells to the point that the only thing left is the barbell. I learned bench presses the other day with just the 45 lb bar and no added weight but will probably be adding weight this coming week already as long as I have the technique down. I've been progressing slowly with strength training for quite awhile and have a trainer who's challenging me but not pushing me to do something I'm ready to do yet. We'll see how it goes.

I had a hip flexor injury last year that slowed my progression down but it's resolved now and I'm ready to go.

I weigh more than you and might be taller at 5'7" so I'm not really too worried about the bar.............YET!

JNALTBK

Hi ... I'm a little older than the rest of you (just turned 69). I originally lost 45 lbs. on MFP and then gained about 25 of it back over the last year or so. Stopped logging and got lazy with my exercising and the weight slowly started climbing back. Recently started back on MFP and am determined to lose those extra 25 lbs and then 15 more after that. Yes, it is more difficult to lose weight as you get older, but it can still be done with determination and effort. Good luck to all of you on your weight loss journey

middlehaitch

Luluinca, thank you so much for detailing your progression. Yes, you and most people are bigger than me, I must have been a pixie in my past life.
It is the size of me that worries me, my age a bit, but I think I am approaching it correctly by working up to it, while still challenging myself, I just get a bit thrown by all the lift heavy, start with SL 5x5 etc. Heavy to me is 20 lb. it's all relative I suppose, and one has to acknowledge ones starting point and limitations.

What a great group we have here!
Even though I am maintaining, I still empathize with all who are losing, and the thread will help keep me focused on the exercise side of things- I really don't want to be a 'fall and can't get up' nana.

Cheers, h.