55-65 year old women's success?

pstegman888

ReginaPats wrote: »

I am about to turn 76 in January, 2016. Have to loose 40 pounds. Just visited my Heart Doctor. At my age it is not easy. I have high blood pressure, high sugar. Tired all the time. Can not exercise. It is not going to be easy. Need new members, to help me along. Have to get off sweets. At one time walked 18 to 30 miles a day, miss that.

Set a small goal, like 10 pounds, to start with. Make small changes to your diet so it's not so stressful. Save a few small treats to look forward to. I am doing most of my weight loss with very little exercise due to health problems. Losing weight and doing just a little walking each day should hopefully help a lot toward getting the high blood pressure and blood sugar under control. You can do it! Take it one meal at a time. Everybody is here to help and encourage!

SbetaK

ReginaPats: Your town looks to be a good sized town. Have you looked into maybe going to a swim pool when that has senior programs (like water aerobics) and just moving? You could probably go and not exercise with the class, but stay to the side and just start by trying to swing your limbs, move your legs like walking. The water causes a resistance to your movements that can benefit your muscles. And the best part is being in the water is easier on your joints. Does not feel like gravity is weighing you down. Quite a few public pools have sessions where seniors and disabled people can use them without competition or crowding by the general population. At any rate, somehow if you can find a way to add movement to your day, it would greatly benefit you. Instead of accepting what you can't do, look at things you CAN try to do. Just a little bit each day, and longer if you feel better. Because you are here on this site, you have already taken a step towards better health! Good luck

Artemis2121

ReginaPats wrote: »

I am about to turn 76 in January, 2016. Have to loose 40 pounds. Just visited my Heart Doctor. At my age it is not easy. I have high blood pressure, high sugar. Tired all the time. Can not exercise. It is not going to be easy. Need new members, to help me along. Have to get off sweets. At one time walked 18 to 30 miles a day, miss that.

Regina are you getting good nutrition and enough protein? As we age, we don't absorb our nutrients as well, leaving our bodies still hungry. Sweets can also wreak havoc on blood sugar levels. Cooking or using a blender can make vegetables easier to digest. Staying hydrated plus balancing carbs, protein and fat (macros) helps keep my own carb cravings in check. Ask your doctor about recommended exercise for your condition. I use small dumbbells or youtube zumba videos. I have a favorite water bottle I carry around so much, I miss its cheerful red lid when it's in the dishwasher.
I saw anotherMFP users post, he used a picture of himself with a bag of potatoesweighing the amount of lbs he lost. That visual stuck with me. Would I now pick up and carry or exercise with that much of potatoes (my 30 lb)? Maybe for 30 minutes, LOL. All day? No way!

Good luck on your path to good health. You will find many helpful individuals. groups and forums here to help you.

DancesWithDogz

I am so happy to have found this thread. I'm 55, and always looking for success stories from middle aged folks like me. They always say it's harder, but it can be done...I want proof it can be done. I see from this thread..that it can. I hope to be one of the success stories on here, that helps even just one person push through and reach their goals. Please add me as a friend - I have a little group going right now called "The Road to ONEderland" if anyone would like to join me on that road trip. I blog at "My Big Fat Weight Loss Journey"

mk2fit

This
This is me weighing in at 190.

This is me at 130ish. What a difference hard work and a few months make.
Avatar is me at 118. If I can do it, so can you. Am 57 yrs. old.

AnnPT77

Wow, @mk2loser! You look like an entirely different person. Congrats!

trina1049

@mk2loser you look awesome! You do look like an entirely different person, happy and healthy!

krenwren

WOW, so inspired. Need will power!!!! Need that ah hah moment! Thanks for sharing!!

vicky1947mfp

This 68 year old just finished week3day1 of C25K. Invigorating!! Made it all the way without stopping.

HSDramamom

Ditto to what krenwren said

krenwren wrote: »

Can your doc recommend an exercise program for you? Cardiac rehab perhaps. Does your community have classes for older adults that you could try? Food is the biggest factor but exercise will help you feel less tired and more empowered. Does your doc have an nurse practitioner or nurse that can help you with your goals???

HSDramamom

Ya'll are really inspiring! I'm almost 52. I lost 10 pounds on WW at the beginning of this year and had hoped to have another 15 off by now, but with summer busyness, a jam-packed fall schedule, and a slipped disc, I haven't reached that goal and gained back a few pounds. I have gotten discouraged and wanted to nearly give up, but then I get frustrated with how I look in my clothes and the desire is renewed, though the discipline has been inconsistent. I want to chalk it up to slow metabolism, but then know that's the fallback excuse. (huge sigh)

I was regularly exercising quite hard on a recumbent elliptical at the Y for a while, but began gaining weight. I don't know what that was about--inflammation or what. I really like the recumbent elliptical because I get a good workout with no pain, unlike other forms of exercise. I know I should try to walk every day, but carving out that time is challenging and there is some pain involved, though I can push through it. The whole heart rate/fat burn zone thing has me confused. I do enjoy Pilates and my chiropractor encouraged me to do that to strengthen my core, which is key for my slipped disc, but I know that doesn't burn a whole lot of calories--not like the elliptical or walking.

Anyway, I'm glad I found this thread. Hopefully I'll continue to gain inspiration here!

Christina

HSDramamom

What kind of exercise have you done?

mk2loser wrote: »

This
This is me weighing in at 190.

This is me at 130ish. What a difference hard work and a few months make.
Avatar is me at 118. If I can do it, so can you. Am 57 yrs. old.

griffinca2

Wow; what a transformation!! Congrats!

DancesWithDogz

have you tried urban poling (Nordic walking)

HSDramamom wrote: »

Ya'll are really inspiring! I'm almost 52. I lost 10 pounds on WW at the beginning of this year and had hoped to have another 15 off by now, but with summer busyness, a jam-packed fall schedule, and a slipped disc, I haven't reached that goal and gained back a few pounds. I have gotten discouraged and wanted to nearly give up, but then I get frustrated with how I look in my clothes and the desire is renewed, though the discipline has been inconsistent. I want to chalk it up to slow metabolism, but then know that's the fallback excuse. (huge sigh)

I was regularly exercising quite hard on a recumbent elliptical at the Y for a while, but began gaining weight. I don't know what that was about--inflammation or what. I really like the recumbent elliptical because I get a good workout with no pain, unlike other forms of exercise. I know I should try to walk every day, but carving out that time is challenging and there is some pain involved, though I can push through it. The whole heart rate/fat burn zone thing has me confused. I do enjoy Pilates and my chiropractor encouraged me to do that to strengthen my core, which is key for my slipped disc, but I know that doesn't burn a whole lot of calories--not like the elliptical or walking.

Anyway, I'm glad I found this thread. Hopefully I'll continue to gain inspiration here!

Christina

DancesWithDogz

mk2loser wrote: »

This
This is me weighing in at 190.

This is me at 130ish. What a difference hard work and a few months make.
Avatar is me at 118. If I can do it, so can you. Am 57 yrs. old.

Wow...i am inspired and impressed. ..thank you for sharing

krenwren

@vicky1947mfp Way to go! I love the C@5k program. I have used it before to prepare for runs, it's great. 2016 my goal is to walk/run a half marathon with my twin. I'll be using the same type of program. good luck!

mk2fit

As to exercise, I started out walking. When the weather got cold, my husband bought me a combination elliptical/stationary bike. Cheap at Walmart. I use that bad boy every day. I discovered jessicasmithtv on youtube for walking and strength videos. I discovered in the last few months that I love running! Try what you can and stick with what you like/love.

LaceyBirds

mk2loser wrote: »

As to exercise, I started out walking. When the weather got cold, my husband bought me a combination elliptical/stationary bike. Cheap at Walmart. I use that bad boy every day. I discovered jessicasmithtv on youtube for walking and strength videos. I discovered in the last few months that I love running! Try what you can and stick with what you like/love.

What brand/model elliptical did you buy? Thanks in advance.

krenwren

hoo boy another pound down. love to be under 170 by XMAS. we'll see!

griffinca2

krenwren, you'll make it!!

SharonDenzien

Hi. I'm 61 and lost 134 lbs 21 years ago. Back injury and just getting lazy about watching portions added 60 back on. Since January 1st I've lost 69 pounds. It can be done but takes great motivation. I only started MFP recently and love the tracking of calories carbs and fat grams. I weigh in daily and generally eat between 750-850 calories. I struggle to eat my 1000 calories a day! I only do walking for exercise due to back injury but it works for me. 11 more to my goal. Slow and steady is the best.

mk2fit

Welcome Sharon. I only walked for quite some time. It works!!! I have added other exersizes but walking is the best fallback!

frankiesgirlie

NextPage wrote: »

Hi, I'm 51 and post-menopausal and I can't say that losing weight is harder now since I always found it challenging. I think the biggest adjustment for me was the "shape shift" and lose of muscle tone issues that go with aging. It was odd to look at myself and see that my waist was disappearing. I also decided "batwings" were something I could not live with and I have shifted my focus to lifting while still doing a fair bit of cardio (mainly spinning). On the less vain side I looked around and saw that some of my only slightly older friends were starting to complain about bad knees, poor flexibility etc. and I didn't want to follow in their foot steps. At the end of day the tools for losing weight don't change much as we age but the need for exercise to keep our metabolism fired up and our muscle tone and flexibility maintained/increased becomes paramount. Our quality of life is dependent on fitness as much (perhaps more) than maintaining a healthy weight. Few of us aspire to be thin and frail - we want to be strong and powerful. Personally I want to spend the next ten years working toward looking as hot and sexy as middlehaitch does in her photo standing next to the Christmas tree - in my mind I already have my own little black dress picked out for the occasion!

Yes. Middlehaitch. She is totally amazing.

krenwren

just checking in with everyone! no progress but feeling OK. exercising a lot so even without weight loss, I feel good!

Eleted

Back on track after Thanksgiving weekend. Mild temps in the Midwest has allowed me to continue my outdoor hikes Holding at my 30 lb weight loss. Hoping to lose a few more before the holidays That may be a fantasy.

vicky1947mfp

Eleted wrote: »

Back on track after Thanksgiving weekend. Mild temps in the Midwest has allowed me to continue my outdoor hikes Holding at my 30 lb weight loss. Hoping to lose a few more before the holidays That may be a fantasy.

Great loss. Maintenance will be a win for December but a loss will be wonderful too.

Triplestep

mk2loser wrote: »

As to exercise, I started out walking. When the weather got cold, my husband bought me a combination elliptical/stationary bike. Cheap at Walmart. I use that bad boy every day. I discovered jessicasmithtv on youtube for walking and strength videos. I discovered in the last few months that I love running! Try what you can and stick with what you like/love.

I went over to youtube and checked out JessicaSmithTV after reading this; the Walk On 21 Day Plan seems like something I'm looking for - have you tried this?

One of my legs has been bothering me from the knee down after doing C25K on my treadmill back on Thanksgiving; I've been looking for some fill-in aerobic activity. This morning I got out an aerobics DVD, but the moves were hard to do on carpet. Her moves look more "knee-lifty" than "pivoty" or "grape-viney"

trina1049

Hi, everyone! Also checking in. I've lost about 2 lbs over the last 2 1/2 months -- so close to maintenance so that's the reason for slow loss; down 51 lbs so far. Probably won't lose much, if anything, until after the 1st of the year. It's all good. Taking a diet break (no gym, eating at maintenance but still walking, etc.) for the 1st week of January, 16. Then back to a slight deficit for another 3 - 4 lb loss.

@Triplestep - I haven't tried the Walk On 21 Day Plan but I only do low impact cardio because of age and knees. Let us know how you like the Walk On thing.

LaceyBirds

Howdy do, all of you. I think I've only contributed to this thread once or twice, but I read it faithfully and it always inspires me.

I'm so glad today to see some of you kind of "accepting" no or little loss for the holidays, and just maintaining if possible. I turned 60 in early November, and I have kind of changed my attitude a little bit since then, kind of along those same lines. I think this has to do with the fact that I have been doing this now for over a year, almost eight months on MFP, and have seen slow but fairly steady progress (with a few stalls), so that, even when I get frustrated, I know that what I am doing is actually working. So I decided to lighten up on myself a bit, and went on a four-day mini-vacation for my birthday, eating whatever I wanted, while still watching my intake a little. I accepted that I would gain some weight then, and just got right back on my program after.

On Thanksgiving morning, I hit another "decade" victory - down from 230 pounds to 170 pounds. I then decided to do the same "acceptance" thing with Thanksgiving, and now, a week later, I am back at the same weight I was that morning. I am going to "relax" for the holidays too - I'll follow my plan as usual, as well as I can, but I will also let myself enjoy the holidays the same way I have done for the last two, and I have the confidence that I will continue on my merry MFP way after they are over.

I guess that's the important part to me - that I have gained confidence in my ability to stick to this process or program, whatever you want to call it, and, even with setbacks and stalls, I have no doubts in my ability to lose the next 35 or so pounds.

Thanks to all of you who contribute to this thread, it is very helpful and inspirational. Happy holidays!

freechewy

Struggling to lose 25 pounds for the past year, I am getting depressed at times about it as I exercise, spin, run and walk 5 - 6 days a week. I had my uterus removed at the age of 47 and that's when my metabolism slowed to a crawl and now menopause.

I am so glad I found this forum for women in my age group!!! I am hoping to gain some inspiration by reading these posts! Happy Holidays everyone.