55-65 year old women's success?

krenwren

ha I'm back. turning 60 on August 25. Just read the Time magazine article on why diets don't work. pretty interesting stuff. Stuff I already am aware of but need to incorporate into my life. I gained 10 pounds since last year mostly from wine and eating out. I have picked up my activity and will once again start watching what I eat!!!

griffinca2

@krenwren Welcome back!!

mk2fit

wb @krenwren

krenwren

Thanks everyone. 1200 calories isn't very much food! I'm not as active as I want to be. I am not planning to "eat" back my activity calories unless I feel hungry. I can't see myself burning more than 200-300 per day with activity. We'll see!!

1Nana2many

You know you can do it Krenwren!

griffinca2

Agree w/Nana.

mk2fit

Yep, me, too!

skinnylady2014

Hi, glad I found this group at 63 years young with our unique situations! I lost 35 lbs on MFP in 2013-14, but then let health issues and life itself overwhelm me. Returned here two months ago and also rejoined TOPS a couple weeks ago for in-person accountability. (Was involved in TOPS 20-21 years ago.) Have lost 14 lbs. For me logging all foods is so important!!!

jwcanfield

krenwren wrote: »

Thanks everyone. 1200 calories isn't very much food! I'm not as active as I want to be. I am not planning to "eat" back my activity calories unless I feel hungry. I can't see myself burning more than 200-300 per day with activity. We'll see!!

I don't lose on 1200 healthy calories per day - and that just makes me crazy! That seems to be my maintenance point, no matter what the charts imply. I stay hungry. But at least not gaining. Dance classes 2 evenings per week, 2 miles walk every other day, yard work. Not exactly high energy but not sedentary either. At 66 wish it were easier. It's not so that's that. Absolutely REFUSE to be a fat old woman who looks like grandmothers did in the 1950s!

1Nana2many

@skinnylady2014 we're glad you found us too! The key is to just keep on keeping on. You know what you need to do. Lots of good support here.

griffinca2

@jwcanfield, Welcome; agree w/Nana!! BTW, have you tried lifting weights?? I'm the same age you are and I do it; I eat close to 1700 cals a day--have to eat that much to keep from losing any more weight. Start out w/light weights and build up to heavier ones. Helps build some of your muscle back (which allows you to eat more).

19331953

Hopeful..
I'm so glad to see all the comments. Please add me on. I'm almost 64 years old and determined to loose weight. I joined this app six months ago and have lost 19lbs so, far, though I also oattend weight watchers for a year now. I need to loose 33 Ibs more if l can. Just following the 1200 calories. It's not bad but sometimes real tough but I must loose. I have knee pains due to artritis and so can't walk as I use to because that was my main exercise that don't hurt my knees. Now I do abit of yoga, exercise with 6lbs on each arm for 10 min. It's not enough but I'm trying. Just want to know what food or meal plan that worked for all of you. Congratulations to all. Keep the inspiration going & keep trying.

griffinca2

@19331953, welcome to our group!! I really don't follow a "meal plan." I eat pretty much anything; just watch the portion sizes. Put together something that works for you with the foods you like to eat; if you don't like something why try to eat if just because some "diet" says too, and remember that it is a lifestyle not a "diet" with an end date. Also, if you fall off (and you will); dust yourself off and start over. Good luck on your journey and remember we are here for you.

spikeyhair

19331953 wrote: »

Hopeful..
I'm so glad to see all the comments. Please add me on. I'm almost 64 years old and determined to loose weight. I joined this app six months ago and have lost 19lbs so, far, though I also oattend weight watchers for a year now. I need to loose 33 Ibs more if l can. Just following the 1200 calories. It's not bad but sometimes real tough but I must loose. I have knee pains due to artritis and so can't walk as I use to because that was my main exercise that don't hurt my knees. Now I do abit of yoga, exercise with 6lbs on each arm for 10 min. It's not enough but I'm trying. Just want to know what food or meal plan that worked for all of you. Congratulations to all. Keep the inspiration going & keep trying.

Hi I'm 72 and have lost nearly 42 pounds with logging food and exercise on MFP I have osteoarthritis in my knees so can't run or jog but can walk I do some weights at home and gym and I have found that strenghthening the leg muscles help support the joints and I can do a lot more. There are lots of videos on youtube, if you have internet, for low impact exercise. Don't forget you can lose weight without exercising but it is harder and I do it to ensure I am flexible and my bones are strong. I no longer have to take meds for HBP

Should have said I eat what I like but try to eat healthy most of the time, do fall off the wagon now and again but just pick myself up and start again. It's not a diet it's a way of life and that's a hard thing to accept

Good luck

mamainthekitchen

Nice active group here, I've enjoyed reading all the posts. I may have even commented way back, but with this not being a forum, I forgot about this group. I've bookmarked it now so I'll need to remember to check that star button!

I'm 57, full menopause now and I'm not sure how much I've lost in terms of weight (don't own a scale and dr respects that) but I do measure. I started MFP Oct '15 with a 37" waist and by Oct '16 I was down to 29 1/2"! I followed 5:2 way of eating (1400cals 5 days & 500 cals 2 non consecutive days) and just by entering daily foods here made me aware of how much I was eating. I also do a lot of walking. Now I'm up to 30 1/2" waist, due to my lack of proper logging and too many sweets, thinking "I can eat that I'm skinny" which has increased my weight. So I'm trying to just regain a little control. I agree with @spikeyhair above.... strengthening your leg muscles supports the knee joints!! An aha moment for me a year ago! Cheers everyone! I'll be checking back here... wish this was a separate forum, interesting group!

Evamutt

I haven't see the pics talked about but if it's about aging everyone will get there

mk2fit

Welcome new peeps! We are a bunch of ladies who have been there and done that. There are times when you will think all is lost...it is NOT! Find what exercise, if any, works for you. Some of us swear by cardio, others weights. Some of us do both. Like to swim? Excellent. Walk? Great! There is no wrong way to get in shape/lose weight. Menopause means nothing to us. We are strong!

luluinca

mk2fit wrote: »

Welcome new peeps! We are a bunch of ladies who have been there and done that. There are times when you will think all is lost...it is NOT! Find what exercise, if any, works for you. Some of us swear by cardio, others weights. Some of us do both. Like to swim? Excellent. Walk? Great! There is no wrong way to get in shape/lose weight. Menopause means nothing to us. We are strong!

Exactly, find something you enjoy and do it. There are even chair exercises you can do if you're somewhat immobile due to knees or other issues. You can also lose weight just watching calories but a little movement is good for the soul, the body and your heart and lungs.

Everyone here who has been successful has done it their own way and I think we all prove that improving health and fitness is possible at any age with almost any limitation. Aging is a fact of life but how we age is up to us!

I also welcome all the new girls! Stay consistent and honest with your logging, stick to your calorie goal but don't make it so low that you can't adhere to it because you're over restricting, try to move a little more, and understand that it's a process with ups and downs, no end date, and there will be both good days and bad days. Stay Strong!

1Nana2many

Welcome newbies! It is good to see new faces here! As Luluinca said, we all have our own way of doing this. One thing I do most mornings before I even get out of bed is do a few leg lifts. I also try to stretch my back muscles standing next to the bed by bending over and gently trying to touch my toes and kind of walk my hands to each side. It helps keep me limber and hopefully keeps me from causing any injuries when I do things like lifting. My mother who was about three inches taller than me, could place her hands flat on the floor with her knees straight! I cannot do that but it does give me a goal and an inspiration!

I also agree with Luluinca that eating within your calorie range, logging every bite and sip in your log and being honest with yourself is the real key to success. If you are lying to yourself, who are you kidding? It is hard at first because you are learning a new way to eat, but it gets easier with every meal you log because MFP learns your frequently eaten foods and you can pick them out more quickly. You also are learning what a real serving size is, which will make a huge difference. You will also learn which foods you normally eat are higher in calories and may need to be limited ed. For me, pasta is no longer a frequent flier on our menu, bread is a lower calorie version that tastes just as good. Get a food scale, weigh and measure everything until you can see how much a serving size really is. The first couple weeks are the hardest. If you find yourself wanting to go get a snack, drink some water and try waiting thirty minutes before you eat it, then if you REALLY want it, eat a proper serving of whatever it is you think you need. Do a Google search on the 8 Traits of Emotional Hunger, it can be very helpful, if like me, you are an emotional eater. Be thoughtful about what you are actually eating. Clear the counters! Don't leave food out so you see it every single time you walk by.

Remember these things: It is not too late and you are not too old! As for those muscles and body strength you may or may not now have: Use it or lose it definitely applies! Ask any physical therapist any health professional, they will tell you the best way to age is to be active. The more you do, the more you will be able to do! If you know anyone who has had a joint replacement, you may notice the people who have the best success are the ones who do the therapy and keep doing the exercises to regain the movement they once enjoyed. That's what we're all here for, to regain or retain our range of motion and ability to live an independent life. Don't kill yourself. Don't risk injury, but don't just sit in a chair and wait to die. Move a little more today than you did yesterday. Repeat tomorrow and the next day. And in my own humble opinion, the most important thing to remember is this: You are worth it! You CAN do it!

griffinca2

All the above are right! And the aging process you can't stop; getting old you can. Good luck and welcome to all the newbies!!