55-65 year old women's success?

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Replies

  • JanetMMcC
    JanetMMcC Posts: 410 Member
    Question - Fit Bit - Pro or Con?

    I love my Fitbit. If I did much swimming, I'd want something waterproof, but it does fine for me. I wear it on one wrist and my watch on the other. Yeah, it has a watch, but not the watch's other functions. So I look silly. I also make fish-faces to entertain kids in supermarkets. :)

    What I like best is that I don't have to time my walks and runs. The gizmo does it for me. Hitting the timer on my watch when I start and stop, or when I walk up 10 flights of stairs, and logging each in a notebook -- that was intrusive. The Fitbit just hangs out on my wrist and keeps track of that stuff for me. (Mind you, it's truly weird about stairs, crediting me with lots of flights I've never climbed. 7 today, when I never climbed one. But it doesn't add exercise calorie credit for stairs, so I don't worry about that.)

    It also motivates me to use standing time to walk in place. Heck, I put it into a zip-lock bag and rubber-band it around my ankle and get in 1200-1700 steps in the shower and while brushing my teeth. It motivates me to take the stairs instead of the elevator.


  • calmandpeaceful
    calmandpeaceful Posts: 95 Member
    Janet - that is a real visual - walking in the shower! Great! I just put in a standing desk at work yesterday, and will try walking a little as I work. My colleagues already think I am wacky with the standing desk...so why not!

    I did not log Wednesday nor Thursday - but will log today and all weekend. Just sayin' - to keep myself accountable.

    You women seriously motivate me!! Thanks!
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    Janet - that is a real visual - walking in the shower! Great! I just put in a standing desk at work yesterday, and will try walking a little as I work. My colleagues already think I am wacky with the standing desk...so why not!

    I did not log Wednesday nor Thursday - but will log today and all weekend. Just sayin' - to keep myself accountable.

    You women seriously motivate me!! Thanks!

    Our employer put in standing desks for some of us last year.
    My fellow employees think I am nuts because, while I am standing, I march in place.
    I just laugh because those steps add up. My fit bit & I manage to get in a lot of steps everyday, so that is all that counts.

  • Triplestep
    Triplestep Posts: 239 Member
    Ladies, any advice for sore knees? I'm in bad shape after each session with my trainer. All those squats and lunges have me hobling around for at least a day afterwards. I wonder if I should just put myself on naproxen sodium twice a day.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,222 Member
    edited January 2016
    Triplestep wrote: »
    Ladies, any advice for sore knees? I'm in bad shape after each session with my trainer. All those squats and lunges have me hobling around for at least a day afterwards. I wonder if I should just put myself on naproxen sodium twice a day.

    Is it muscle problems, or joint?

    If muscle, then stretch, foam-roll (quads, IT bands, hamstrings, calves), ice soon after the workout for a few minutes, stretch again later in the day, warm bath (epsom salt) or other moist heat that night, movement (like an easy walk or bike) the next day.

    If joint, ice for sure, but if you don't know what the problem is, I'd get a diagnosis before making something worse (which is what I did . . . sigh).
  • Triplestep
    Triplestep Posts: 239 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Is it muscle problems, or joint?

    Joint pain. That's what made me think of the naproxen sodium - like "Aleve"

  • mk2fit
    mk2fit Posts: 730 Member
    @Triplestep again I will push jessicasmithtv. She has some workouts for "bad" knees. Talk to your trainer, you should not have sore knees. Dang, girl, is your trainer working for you or against you? I choose to go medicine free, except maybe vodka!
  • Triplestep
    Triplestep Posts: 239 Member
    Haha! Yes, I have done one of the "bad" knee workouts from Jessica Smith. My trainer is a good guy; he has modified many exercises because I complain about my knees, but he's changed a few things up recently; made things more challenging to align with my progress and I am feeling it.

    Honestly, I have really taxed my 52 year old knees the last decade or so by making them support all this extra weight. (My doctor even said the knees go first). I guess I figure some of the things I'm doing to reduce the impact on them may not feel so great while I'm going through it. But I just have to power through.
  • mk2fit
    mk2fit Posts: 730 Member
    Lol, then I will smile and wish you happiness and good knees!
  • lisapierce5277
    lisapierce5277 Posts: 15 Member
    I am new to all this. I am 51years old. I have been losing 2 pounds a week for 4weeks. I really thought at my age it would be the hardest thing ever to lose 60pounds. But I found a way to trick my body and turning loose of that fat, for the first time in my life I am eating every three hours. I eat scrambled eggs when I get up, three hours later I eat cottage cheese with pineapples, every three hours I eat protein. I eat 1290 calories a day. Exercise 4 times a week and am faithfully losing two pounds a week. Thought this may help someone. I am.post menopausal and have coronary artery disease with fibromyalgia and arthritis. I.am just excited to lose the weight. Add me as a.friend so we can support each other.
  • trina1049
    trina1049 Posts: 593 Member
    Hi, @Triplestep, I too have to be careful of my knees -- they're often sore. I use knee pads that I bought at the drug store for extra support on gym days. They seem to help with the lunges, and squats. Also, don't lunge or squat as deeply as the young folks, we can't do that anymore, ha, ha. I use Tylenol and a heating pad and the soreness usually goes away after a bit.

    And that's why I admire @mk2loser because she can run like the wind!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,222 Member
    trina1049 wrote: »
    Hi, @Triplestep, I too have to be careful of my knees -- they're often sore. I use knee pads that I bought at the drug store for extra support on gym days. They seem to help with the lunges, and squats. Also, don't lunge or squat as deeply as the young folks, we can't do that anymore, ha, ha. I use Tylenol and a heating pad and the soreness usually goes away after a bit.

    And that's why I admire @mk2loser because she can run like the wind!

    That's a good point: Those tendon straps for the knee help with some problems, too - which things work best depend on one's specific issue. Worth a try!
  • Cheryl7777
    Cheryl7777 Posts: 258 Member
    Ladies don't ever think you can't do this. I'm 64 and will be 65 next month. I have a bad hip that keeps me from doing much exercise. I started out at 390 and this morning I weighed in at 310 and a half. I started in the fall of 214 and then fell off the wagon for several months. Luckily I didn't gain back the 50 or so pounds I took off. So I started again in Sept of 2015 and have gone from 344 to 310 and a half. It's certainly not the fastest weight loss on record, but I'm making great changes and I am losing the weight. If I can do this, any one can do this. Good luck and stay the course.
  • griffinca2
    griffinca2 Posts: 672 Member
    But hey, it's a start! Rome wasn't built in a day. It's better to take it off slowly anyway. Make changes you can live with, and if you mess up forget about it. It's a journey, not a project. We're her for you!! B)
  • Flagal8
    Flagal8 Posts: 9 Member
    Hello! I just joined mfp and am so happy to find this link! My plan of attack is to record everything I eat and much to my surprise, by dinner time I had used all of my daily calories. It was quite an eye opener will most likely make me feel accountable to myself. This tool will make me understand how much I really am eating. As a side note, I went to the gym for a second day, with the bad knee and I made it through. Here's my post from yesterday.

    "Hi, I am 75lbs overweight and just signed up at Planet Fitness. I am 63, have not been on a diet nor have I exercised on a regular basis. Over the years I have steadily gained weight and now I have some health issues,ie. high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a knee I hyper-extended. Any suggestions about how to start the weight loss journey? Which diet plans helped you get started? "
  • griffinca2
    griffinca2 Posts: 672 Member
    Welcome aboard!! We're for you (either to let in on your progress). I don't really follow any given diet plan; I watched my cals, cut back on sugars (mostly added, but some natural), switched from canned veggies to plain frozen & added my own seasonings. I also upped my protein and changed powdered creamer for regular half & half (non-fat half & half has corn syrup added). I still enjoy treats and eat things like chicken fingers, but only occasionally. Main thing to watch are your white starchy carbs. I was exercising (weights & cardio) until I broke my wrist back in Dec; it's going to be a while until I can get back. Good luck & keep us up dated. B)
  • Triplestep
    Triplestep Posts: 239 Member
    trina1049 wrote: »
    Hi, @Triplestep, I too have to be careful of my knees -- they're often sore. I use knee pads that I bought at the drug store for extra support on gym days. They seem to help with the lunges, and squats. Also, don't lunge or squat as deeply as the young folks, we can't do that anymore, ha, ha. I use Tylenol and a heating pad and the soreness usually goes away after a bit.

    Good point. At least fir the first set (while I'm still warming up) I could lunge less deeply.
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    That's a good point: Those tendon straps for the knee help with some problems, too - which things work best depend on one's specific issue. Worth a try!

    My trainer recommended the same thing. Maybe I'll give them a try. I have always had large legs, even at my lightest weights. So I just always assume those kinds of things are not for me, and I dismiss them. I'll have to see how the sizes run.

    Flagal, recording everything to start is a great idea. It's very enlightening. For example, it's 3:30, and I have 583 calories left, and I'm thinking I might spend them on Skinny Margaritas when the wind is howling later!
  • barbwatson1
    barbwatson1 Posts: 3 Member
    zebszee wrote: »
    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

  • barbwatson1
    barbwatson1 Posts: 3 Member
    I have just started on MFP and would like to hear from some people re meal planning. Am working with a trainer who is helping with nutrition as well. Trying to figure out how to get the calories in while following the recommendations for the macros. I am 64, retired and anxious to get healthier and get the weight off the time for good. Have 50 lb to lose . Suggestions??
  • Triplestep
    Triplestep Posts: 239 Member
    edited January 2016
    Barb - if you are easily overwhelmed, I would not try to learn and internalize all this at once. Work with your trainer on exercise, use MFP to count calories in and calories out, and make gradual changes.

    I started with a trainer, then added my own exercise in between visits to him. I am counting calorie expenditure with a heart rate monitor and logging everything. I have lost almost 20 lbs, but I made these changes one at a time. If I had to learn all these new things at once, I'd have quit. And I am still not really counting macros, but I do take note if a day looks too high in carbs or too low in protein.

    Good luck!
  • lovesretirement
    lovesretirement Posts: 2,661 Member
    edited January 2016
    @Triplestep I was hardheaded in the beginning with exercise and learned a huge lesson. I was working with a trainer 2 days a week, body pump classes 1 time a week, and Aquafit/Aquazumba thrown in, too. Waaaay too much and not enough recovery thrown in. My knees hurt after workouts, but I kept going. The result was tears in my meniscus in one knee. I already had some arthritis but nothing too serious. Now I cannot do anything that puts pressure on that knee...no squats, lunges, leg presses, etc. The surgeon wants to repair, but is not sure that will get me back to a 100% pain free knee at my age so that is not an option I want to consider.

    I manage the pain/inflammation through eating very low carb/high fat/moderate protein. When I cut the starchy carbs, all swelling and pain left that knee. My trainer has modified my workouts and we do full body rather than one day upper, one day lower. Some days, I still have to do the Tylenol, but I strive not to take the prescribed meloxicam, and I don't have to ice or use a heating pad on workout days anymore. I ditched the body pump, kept the pool, and walk every day. I make sure I rest in between workouts and no longer feel the need to exercise 5 days a week. Weight loss begins in the kitchen and you cannot out exercise a bad diet. I finally get it. By the way, when I was doing all that exercise, and had shaved my eating down between 1200-1400 calories, I was not losing any weight. Now that I am doing what is right for my body in terms of exercise and food, I have started losing...not at the rate I would like, but slowly but surely,it is whittling down, I feel good, and have dropped a couple of sizes.

    It was a hard lesson to learn, and at my age I should have known better..but I wanted the weight off fast, and at that time, I still bought into the myth that I should exercise 5 days a week and eat 1200 calories a day. What a crock!! ;)

    Good luck!

    Connie
  • trina1049
    trina1049 Posts: 593 Member
    edited January 2016
    Hi, Barb, Triplestep is right. Don't try to change too much all at once. Do you have your macros set to the default MFP settings? If you are over on one macro consistently you can always change your settings to a macro split that works better for you at any time. That's what I did. I believe that MFP's pre-set is 45% carbs and that was too high for me when I started so I changed to a 35% protein, 35% fat, and 30% carbs which I found kept more satiated. As I continued to lose weight I adjusted my macros. Right now I'm at 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fat.

    As far as meal planning, I try to pre-plan all my meals and snacks as much as possible and mostly stick to that to make sure I maintain my calorie goals and get as close as possible to my macros. Since you're just starting work on meeting your calorie goal first then tweak your macros as you move forward with your weight loss.

    Find foods that are nutritious and keep you satisfied. I eat every 3 to 4 hours so that I'm never starving. It works for me but you have to find what strategies work for you. Don't fall for all those myths about no eating after 7 PM or whatever. That's just crazy talk.

    Just a note about trainers; they have little to no training in nutrition so take what they say with caution. I'm 66 years old and have lost 52 lbs over the last 18 months by educating myself about how to safely lose weight for the long term.

    Here's some posts you should read when starting out:

    community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

    community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p1

    community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/931670/bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide#latest
  • mk2fit
    mk2fit Posts: 730 Member
    Ladies, @trina1049 is right! Find which macros work for you. Common sense works best when it comes to eating and calories in/calories out. I have never had a trainer nor have I been to a gym (since high school!). Walking, running, aerobic exercise, strength training can all be done at home for free! Check out youtube. I have gotten tons of great recipes from Hello Healthy (MFP blog) and skinnytaste.com and chocolate covered Katie. I have also learned to tailor lots of recipes to be lower fat/calories.
    PS. I have lost over 70#. If I can, you can!
  • Cheryl7777
    Cheryl7777 Posts: 258 Member
    mk2loser wrote: »
    Ladies, @trina1049 is right! Find which macros work for you. Common sense works best when it comes to eating and calories in/calories out. I have never had a trainer nor have I been to a gym (since high school!). Walking, running, aerobic exercise, strength training can all be done at home for free! Check out youtube. I have gotten tons of great recipes from Hello Healthy (MFP blog) and skinnytaste.com and chocolate covered Katie. I have also learned to tailor lots of recipes to be lower fat/calories.
    PS. I have lost over 70#. If I can, you can!

    Exactly! This can be done and you don't need to throw a bunch of money at it. I decided that when I quit going to weight watchers classes when I knew more than the leader and I was just paying to use their scale. This can be done with the resources you have at hand right now.
  • geoblewis
    geoblewis Posts: 44 Member
    New to this forum. Turning 55 in two weeks. Have been obese since I was 21. 363 was my highest. About eight years ago, with low carb diet, intermittent fasting, and working out twice a day, I got down to 308. Then an injury took me out of my workouts, and then I lost my focus with diet. Then an infection took me over the edge and I am now a type 2 diabetic on insulin. In the last year, since starting insulin use, my weight has gone up to 330. I am angry and frustrated! Also feeling tired and foggy brained all the time. Have been working on my diet again over the last six months, but not losing weight at all. Quite the opposite. I am just getting back to working out again, using isometric exercises for now. My goal is to just weigh less than 300 lbs.
  • Cheryl7777
    Cheryl7777 Posts: 258 Member
    geoblewis wrote: »
    New to this forum. Turning 55 in two weeks. Have been obese since I was 21. 363 was my highest. About eight years ago, with low carb diet, intermittent fasting, and working out twice a day, I got down to 308. Then an injury took me out of my workouts, and then I lost my focus with diet. Then an infection took me over the edge and I am now a type 2 diabetic on insulin. In the last year, since starting insulin use, my weight has gone up to 330. I am angry and frustrated! Also feeling tired and foggy brained all the time. Have been working on my diet again over the last six months, but not losing weight at all. Quite the opposite. I am just getting back to working out again, using isometric exercises for now. My goal is to just weigh less than 300 lbs.

    I know it's frustrating and it's hard when you put the weight back on. I went on a liquid diet a few years ago and lost 100 pounds. I went from 397 to 296. Then I just lost focus and just couldn't continue the liquid diet any more. Within 6 months I was back up to 390 again. It took me a couple more years to even have the heart to try again. I'm 64 and have been obese almost my whole life. It's been one diet after the other. This time is different. I started slowly making some changes. Most importantly I started using MFP and have logged every single bite for 110 days. I have not been able to do formal exercise because I have a bad hip that needs replaced. Even though the weight loss has been somewhat slow, I am losing and I am making significant changes in the way I eat and what I eat. I think this time the changes are going to be sustainable and therefore I have a good chance at success. You can do it too. Just start making some small changes, log your food every day, and try to move your body more every day. Good luck and come back here for motivation and support.
  • krenwren
    krenwren Posts: 136 Member
    Wow, so nice to see all these new faces. Weigh in tomorrow, I have been working at working out and journaling so I am looking for a good outcome!
  • Cheryl7777
    Cheryl7777 Posts: 258 Member
    krenwren wrote: »
    Wow, so nice to see all these new faces. Weigh in tomorrow, I have been working at working out and journaling so I am looking for a good outcome!

    Good luck. I hope the scale reflects your hard work.
  • 1Nana2many
    1Nana2many Posts: 172 Member
    Triplestep wrote: »
    Ladies, any advice for sore knees? I'm in bad shape after each session with my trainer. All those squats and lunges have me hobling around for at least a day afterwards. I wonder if I should just put myself on naproxen sodium twice a day.

    My personal opinion is don't use naproxen sodium. I had a back strain a few years ago while still working at the Postal Service that was causing a lot of pain and I started using naproxen sodium twice a day to relieve the pain. I then started having a lot of stomach pain. Finally, I went to the Doc and was put on prescription pain reliever and a week off work to relieve the back injury. As soon as I stopped taking the Aleve my stomach stopped hurting. Another example: My daughter-in-law's mother was taking Aleve daily and ended up in the hospital with bleeding stomach because of the Aleve. Needless to say, I won't be taking naproxen sodium any more! When I do feel the need for pain relief, I take extended release (12 hour) Tylenol. It, at least does not cause me stomach pain. As mentioned above, I would see if there's a problem with the knee and be sure to mention to the trainer that you are experiencing the knee pain and ask if your exercise form is correct for the knee. It could be as simple as an alignment issue in how you are performing the exercises.
  • retirehappy
    retirehappy Posts: 4,757 Member
    1Nana2many wrote: »
    Triplestep wrote: »
    Ladies, any advice for sore knees? I'm in bad shape after each session with my trainer. All those squats and lunges have me hobling around for at least a day afterwards. I wonder if I should just put myself on naproxen sodium twice a day.

    My personal opinion is don't use naproxen sodium. I had a back strain a few years ago while still working at the Postal Service that was causing a lot of pain and I started using naproxen sodium twice a day to relieve the pain. I then started having a lot of stomach pain. Finally, I went to the Doc and was put on prescription pain reliever and a week off work to relieve the back injury. As soon as I stopped taking the Aleve my stomach stopped hurting. Another example: My daughter-in-law's mother was taking Aleve daily and ended up in the hospital with bleeding stomach because of the Aleve. Needless to say, I won't be taking naproxen sodium any more! When I do feel the need for pain relief, I take extended release (12 hour) Tylenol. It, at least does not cause me stomach pain. As mentioned above, I would see if there's a problem with the knee and be sure to mention to the trainer that you are experiencing the knee pain and ask if your exercise form is correct for the knee. It could be as simple as an alignment issue in how you are performing the exercises.


    I agree with no naproxen, my husband was told to use it and it caused him to have stomach issues, stopping stopped it, luckily.

    When you see the dr. ask for a referral to a physical therapist for help with the use of your knee, if your insurance company can avoid knee surgery, they will okay it. This country is just now getting a clue about good PT, other countries realized the benefits of using them ages ago.
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