55-65 year old women's success?

bedwellchris

I turn 65 next month and have the most weight to lose that I have ever had. I was suppose to start on MFP in January but it took me 10 weeks to finally get going. I am really good with excuses. After the first day of logging all of my food, I was once again shocked at how much I was eating. This is my husband's and my 4th time to use MFP. I haven't even been exercising because I am afraid that I will hurt myself because of my size. Teaching school does keep me on my feet but it is not enough to help my body. There is 50 excess pounds that I need to get rid of and I am so glad that I am finally on my journey. I am 5'9" and weighing in at 190 pounds. I know that I can do this!

AnnPT77

bedwellchris wrote: »

I turn 65 next month and have the most weight to lose that I have ever had. I was suppose to start on MFP in January but it took me 10 weeks to finally get going. I am really good with excuses. After the first day of logging all of my food, I was once again shocked at how much I was eating. This is my husband's and my 4th time to use MFP. I haven't even been exercising because I am afraid that I will hurt myself because of my size. Teaching school does keep me on my feet but it is not enough to help my body. There is 50 excess pounds that I need to get rid of and I am so glad that I am finally on my journey. I am 5'9" and weighing in at 190 pounds. I know that I can do this!

Starting with gentle exercise and increasing gradually can be an effective strategy, even while carrying extra weight. At 5'5", weight in 180s, at age 45 & just post cancer treatment, I went from weak and sedentary to a competitive athlete (rower) over about a 2-3 year period, while remaining obese.

What was key was to start with something safe and achievable, yet slightly challenging. For me, the first step was gentle yoga classes, leading later to a well-supervised group weight training class for women, and still later to rowing. But I've seen others do well starting with water walking, or chair fitness videos, and other things. There are lots of options!

Weight loss can happen via eating changes alone, but exercise has many benefits. With careful progression, and patient consistency, you could surprise yourself.

Welcome, and best wishes!

NewBetterBest18

I just measured my height for the first time in years! At 60 yrs old. I've shrunk from 5ft/6in. down to 5ft/5in . So now when I input that info into MFP I've gone from 1390 cals/day down to 1210 cals/day. Maybe that's why I was on a plateau for the past few months. So far I've lost 54 lbs. I still have 18 more to go. You ladies are correct. The less you weigh, the less calories we need. I've also started with weights on top of my 3X a week zumba classes.

griffinca2

NewBetter, The weights will help; although they may slow the weight loss progress slightly. With weights you will be replacing fat with muscle (which takes up less space), so your measurements will probably change while your weight may not change. But, you will be getting smaller. Also, your form with the weights is more important than how much you are lifting. Keep up the good work and good luck on your journey.

53elliebell

new member to mfp; have just 'graduated' on c25k and started 5k210k

Have lost nearly 2 stone (22lbs) since august 17, using the 5:2 diet and the c25k, but hit the pause button December and have only just gone back to a stricter routine.

Am starting back on the 5:2 on April 1st

posts I've been reading are very inspiring! I'm in !!

Gained 4 stone after a hysterectomy at 49, now 56 and starting to take control again.

Want to be a slim 60, instead of a fat 50!

griffinca2

53elliebell, You'll make it! Remember it is a journey, not a "diet" w/an end date; you'll have bumps along the way (just get back on track). We are all here for each other! Good luck on your journey!

SalinitySally

marjtrewin wrote: »

Hello ladies, how many calories do you allow yourselves per day. I tried restricting to 1200, not always doable.

I'm 5'6" and 61. I've set 1300 calories as my daily goal. My starting/highest weight was 235. Two years ago I had decided I had to get my weight down and lost ten pounds before I got sick and couldn't take any nutrition through my digestive system for four months. (IV only.) I got used to always being hungry plus rapidly dropped 40 pounds. I gained 30 back (15 of them since 11/17, after a job change, my sister and my favorite aunt each died unexpectedly and I found a close family member who'd attempted suicide--I'm a stress eater) so this time around I'm starting at 215 with a goal of 150. After two weeks I'm at 209.

I lift free weights (heavy, often with hubby, have been since 1979) on a schedule: Day 1, chest and arms; Day 2, shoulders and back; Day 3, legs.; day off. I hate running (big boobs), so I do an hour of incline treadmill five days a week. I don't eat the calories I burn unless I'm feeling terrible by 7 pm. Then I check my macros and usually eat a high protein snack. Many days I barely hit my calorie goal. Staying busy and drinking a lot of water distracts me and I'm rarely hungry.

I'll let you know in a few months how this works long term.

javacreek

With a new month ready to begin. It would be great to resurrect this thread!!

motivatedmartha

spande345 wrote: »

I am amazed by all your stories. I can't seem to lose a single ounce of weight even with deliberate tracking.
I think it is the home made Indian food which contains 15 ingredients and I am not sure the food entries I make are accurate. Help!!

I use the recipe builder with great success. I have also uploaded recipes from the internet, lots of them upload easily and you can then ensure ingredients are matched correctly, adjust amounts etc if you have tweaked the recipe.

Trina2040

javacreek wrote: »

With a new month ready to begin. It would be great to resurrect this thread!!

I concur! I'll do a catch up post. Still in maintenance, successful, and still over 55-65 years old. Maybe more people will check in.

Hey, everybody -- where are you? Piano Run (the original poster), I forget your new name; are you still out there?

motivatedmartha

62 year old lady here - lost 46lbs and now approaching a normal BMI (I am actually at 25.9) and now planning a transition into maintenance. I have been in this position 3 times in the last 15 years or so and am determinged not to repeat past mistakes - although fortunately each period of weigh gain has been slow and stopped at a lower weight than the previous one. I reckon another 6 or 7 lbs will see me happy. Walking, gardeining and swimming when I can are my chief forms of exercise. My philosophy is simple - 'eat a bit less and move a bit more' Happy August everyone

tammierlewis

I will check in and update too. Have been maintaining for a year now with a 45 pound loss. (60 pounds from my highest). Will be 60 in a couple months. Have been running 5k & 10k on a regular schedule every couple days.

Just completed my yearly health assessment and my cholesterol is a little high. Will concentrate on more fiber and red 🍷 to try an get it down.

bikecheryl

Hi everyone..... I'm down another 15 from last post.......... 115 in total..... about to turn 59 and looking forward to losing these last 20 lbs or so.

k80flec

motivatedmartha wrote: »

I use the recipe builder with great success. I have also uploaded recipes from the internet, lots of them upload easily and you can then ensure ingredients are matched correctly, adjust amounts etc if you have tweaked the recipe.

I too use the recipe builder all the time - weighing the total product in grams to measure to number of servings (so 100 grams equals 100 servings). It’s helped me lose 40+ lbs and maintain for 5 years. 63 and 7/12’s, galloping towards my 64th Birthday!!
ETA - it has meant I’ve been able to continue to enjoy all my favourite foods, in moderation. I also run, do Pilates, Yoga and Body Pump.
This is one of my favourite threads ...

allisonlane161

Never saw this thread before so thanks for the resurrection. I'm 56 and have been post-menopause for 7 years. Lost 71 pounds after that, 26 pounds before it for a total of 97. I lift weights, run, spin class, and take a few different HIIT classes. I lifted heavier when I was a younger person in shape, but as an adult, I'm the strongest I've ever been. I run all of my recipes through the recipe builder and carefully figure out how many servings. I'm not a food stickler though and really haven't sacrificed too much, hence the heavy gym and fitness routine.

debtay123

i am so glad we resurrected this post. I am still here and still losing slowly. I set myself to lose 1/2 pound a week which is around 1300 calories with mfp. When I exercise which is usually walking each day- I eat back about half the calories so far I do fairly well. I love it because this makes me accountable.so far i mainly walk or do youtube videos for exercise.

ecrosby512

I’m 62, down 25, 10 more to go until “normal” BMI. A bean, a green, and a grain strategy for meal planning. I feel so much more like myself lately, it’s hard to explain, but a pretty great feeling. Glad to have company here, fight firrcely ladies! Keep after it, it’ll happen.

luluinca

I'm still here at MFP as well. Haven't checked into this group in quite awhile but it's nice to see everyone still working toward their goals and/or maintaining. I've maintained about a 70 lb weight loss for over a year. Still hit the gym lifting weights and swim/run/walk on other days. I honestly think I'm in better shape now than I was in my 40's.

Keep striving and reaching for your optimal fitness level. I think we're more capable of reaching it than either we realize, or others give us credit for. Even some doctors are sometimes not that encouraging in my experience.

I lost my sister several months ago to throat cancer and so I'm even more aware now than I ever was how important our health is..............it's really everything.

Trina2040

Health issues are always a concern for us oldies. We want to feel better and live our lives to the fullest. I turn 69 in a couple of months and I'm still logging every bite. I weigh in every morning and follow my trend, up or down. I've been in maintenance after a 47-49 lb loss (fluctuations) for 3 years. Still hitting 20,000 steps per day which includes the gym 3 days a week. I work 12 hours a day at retirement then settle in for a good read or a bit of TV before bedtime. It's exhausting having this much fun.

Let's hear from more of you successful 55 - 65s and beyond.


@luluinca so sorry for your loss.

AnnPT77

Still here, too, now age 62, heading into year 3 of maintenance, 50-some pounds down from SW. Up a few pounds from initial goal weight, but holding pretty steady in the low 130s at 5'5".

It's summer, so I'm rowing (on water, usually in a double) 4 days a week and spinning 2, plus a little random bike riding, off/on again weight training, stretching/yoga.

No major problems, but soon to start physical therapy for a shoulder impingement that showed up when doing dumbbell pullovers and lateral raises. Hope it can be improved, but since it hasn't interfered with the rowing, I'm not too stressed about it. Other than that blip, all is well.