55-65 year old women's success?

AnnPT77

Welcome, @beaglady!

On the stiffness/flexibility front, I found a few minutes daily of stretching/yoga to be very helpful, when done patiently over a long-ish period of time (saw results over a few weeks). For me, 5-10 minutes every day accomplished substantially more than did an hour once a week. Others' mileage may vary, though.

Finding out I was hypothyroid & getting treated helped with stiffness in a different way, but I suspect that's not as likely a common reason.

1Nana2many

Welcome beaglady! Sounds like to have a variety of things you do regularly to keep fit. I have heard that the after effects of Lyme disease can linger for a lifetime. Just keep moving forward every day! You have got this!

griffinca2

@beaglady, I used to have an office job (i.e. glued to my desk); I am now retired, but what I would do (as often as I could--once an hour or so) was to get up from my desk and take a short walk. Just around the office or to the restroom, that way you're not sitting all day. I had folks in another building and would walk over to it at least once or twice a week. It doesn't have to be a lot; every little bit helps. Good luck and welcome to the group.

BeyonkaKnows

Sweetest mommy said

sweetestmommy wrote: »

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=quote]
Yup. Right there with you. Slowly fighting the sugar ever since I dropped the booze. Worse in the six year since lat baby. I think some us are genetically predisposed to sugar addiction/alcoholism, and it's in the body chemistry. So I am cutting lower on carbs. I'm only on day 6 but committed. You're inspirational to me!

ZoneFive

Hello, I'm Ann-Marie and I'm 59. I have the old story: overweight all my life save for a couple of brief shining moments when a commitment to WW or Atkins brought the numbers down substantially. Neither one lasted because they were diets, not the lifestyle change that actually sticks.

I've been on MFP for more than a year, but only in the past month have I started to admit that the lifestyle change has got to start for real now. I have a fairly recent diabetes diagnosis that I'm resisting with all my strength (I can't even say the words "I have diabetes") and I'm on Metformin for it, plus high blood pressure that I take two more meds for. I'm a gifted couch potato, and am convinced I have a slug somewhere in my ancestry. I want OFF the meds, OFF the couch, and OUT of the dieting mindset!

HW: 334 (June 2016)
CW: 295
weight lost so far: 39 lbs.
GW: dunno. 170? I'll decide when I get closer. Haven't been there in a while.

In the past few weeks I've been logging my foods faithfully. I'm limiting my sugars and starches because of the diabetes, and keeping my calories at or below 2000. In that time I've already noticed that my arthritis pain (knee and shoulder) is almost entirely gone, my energy is significantly up, and I sleep through the night without waking up three or four times. The fact that the aches and pains are so much less is making me get out and walk more, and the fancy-schmancy bike I bought 18 months ago in an excess of optimism is in the process of being cleaned up for riding. (I've had a real fear of my right knee seizing up while riding and causing a bad accident. I don't feel that way so much any more.) There will be some weight training, and I'm starting with bodyweight exercises. I think I have enough bodyweight to make it a real challenge!

I don't just want to lose weight this time. I want to be a Success Story.

It's great to meet you all!

birgitkwood

Love your story and the way your express our, Ann-Marie. You've got this, and we're here with you!

Evamutt

wow beaglady, you sound so active. I enjoy keeping busy. I joined a HILT class this week, I wasn't sure I can do it, but with a few modifications (mostly not doing push up types cause of my wrist) I can do it! I'm so surprised, I even jumped rope! looking forward to class tonight. Plus I've been stalled in loosing for a while & this got me going again

luluinca

Welcome to all the new girls, love all your stories!

Just remember we're all different, with different limitations and strengths. Find what works for you and know, it's a life changing event as opposed to a diet. I think that really made the difference to me. I've been on diets before, and when they're over and I've lost the weight, I get a little cocky and think I'm in control, when really the food and lack of exercise are still controlling me.

I keep teasing my husband about taking all these biological age tests and some say I'll live to 114 and others to 97. Of course, it's not a given.....lol, but it's encouraged him to try to keep up with me.

One of the best aspects of this journey is that my "success", such as it is, has inspired others in some way.....it doesn't get much better than that!

jspecies19

Hi all
I'm fairly new to MFP - about 1 month and am so happy to find this string.
age: 63
SW: 145#
CW: 140#
GW: 132# ish
I have crept up from 132 to 145 over the last 3 years and am not happy with the flab and lack of tone. How did that happen? Not only to I want to feel and look better but I want to think clearer too. I work in tech with mostly young people and I want to keep my edge. Clean healthy eating helps but I have occasional run ins with my arch nemesis sugar and bread. I'm also a vegetarian and struggle at times with hitting my optimal protein intake.
I enjoy being out for walks or my bike best though I try for strength training 3x week.
Reading your posts is a great motivator for me. thanks for your posts everyone.

ZoneFive

Thank you, Birgit! It's funny, sometimes I have trouble finding my words when I speak, but I do a lot better when I write.

1Nana2many

Welcome newbies! I so agree with Luluinca! Start where you are at and just keep moving forward! Be kind to yourself! Value yourself! You are worth the effort! I recently went to the town I was the postmaster at for many years to help my former co-worker celebrate his own retirement and as I was leaving another business in town an old man that works there yelled at me and said "Hey, you've lost weight. You're looking good." It was not a come-on, it was simply a statement and boy did it make me feel good. My answer was "Yes I have. It was time. I feel better." A lot of people won't or are afraid to comment when you lose a significant amount of weight, but those simple words sure made me feel good. You can do this people! Find your motivation to be the best you can be and then be your own best project! I used to think the aches and pains were just a part of getting older, now I think I can control most of it if I just control how much I put it my mouth. I'm never going to be twenty again, but I feel a lot better than I did at forty! It's a good feeling to feel like you're doing the best for you. Today's a great day to start.

griffinca2

Agree w/Nana 100%!!

keana55

Hi All! I'm a return MFPer who lost 86 pounds in 2 years by strictly following the plan. I was maintaining for another year. Starting six months ago, a series of setbacks left me without any motivation:

--My brother and sister-in law suddenly passed away. They were in their early 60s.
--We moved to New Mexico and ate out a lot. The food in restaurants is delish, but deadly (especially if you are not tracking).
--I had serious altitude sickness for over a month because we moved from the lowlands to 6000 feet
--Buying and selling a house and downsizing and moving is really difficult at age 68!

So I left the plan. You can guess what happened. I gained back 28 lbs. Before MFP, I probably would have gained all the weight back, and more. I would not know of any plan that really worked (I've tried plenty others). Now I'm back trackin' and lost 4lbs. It truly works and it's not that hard. I CAN reach my goal!

I look forward to reading the 100s of posts I missed from this blog. Thanks for all the support.

mk2fit

Welcome back @zenny24! I am sorry for your loss and glad you had the MFP foundation and didn't go too crazy on the gain back. We've got your back!

griffinca2

Agree w/Nana; welcome!

jssue2

Hello everyone. I'm Sue, 57, and ready to get serious and add to your lists of successes!
(Giving myself a much needed pep talk here. :-). )

jspecies19

Hi @zenny24 and @jssue2 - nice to have you both here.

keana55

Thanks for the welcome!

debtay123

Hi @zenny 24 and @issue 2--- we are so glad you are here!This has helped me and I love our web page becuase we all know how it is to be "our" age and struggling with our weight-

mk2fit

Welcome @jssue2