55-65 year old women's success?

Igilchrist

I'm Irene 66 years old. I've tried numerous diets but truly need to be part of a group which are motivated. I'm probably at my heaviest weight. Have lost so much energy. And was stuck on protein and veggies on my last attempt at dropping the extra weight. My goals are to be stronger, more flexible and definitely healthier.

Antmaril

My name is Marilyn and I will be 65 next month. I started on MFP on January 26, 2016 and as of this morning I am down 19 pounds. It doesn't seem like much, but that is huge for me. I am retired and don't get much exercise, but little by little, pound by pound, it is finally coming off. I have tried so many diets in the past. Then, I found MFP and read so many posts by people who had lost weight by counting calories, I decided to jump in. I feel like the switch has finally flipped in my brain. It is not an all or nothing deal. I was widowed either years ago (my husband was only 55) and I do believe that life is short and should be enjoyed -- and for me, that includes food. So, I enjoy family celebrations, a night out with the gals, etc. If I have a day that is over my calorie limit, I just move on to the next day. No feeling guilty. Just keep moving forward.

SugarDarlin1959

Igilchrist wrote: »

I'm Irene 66 years old. I've tried numerous diets but truly need to be part of a group which are motivated. I'm probably at my heaviest weight. Have lost so much energy. And was stuck on protein and veggies on my last attempt at dropping the extra weight. My goals are to be stronger, more flexible and definitely healthier.

I am 57 and have the same goals as you. I have really been enjoying MFP especially since I found out that my Fitbit syncs with it. My life has been crazy the past week but hoping to get back on track by Tuesday.

SugarDarlin1959

My diet and exercise kinda got derailed this week. I have been keeping my 2yr old grandson while his mom had his baby sister. I have really enjoyed him but am ready to get back on course. She weighed 7lbs, 17 1/2" long.

marjtrewin

I am always interrested how many calories people aim for. Mine is 1200 - 1400. I wonder if this is too low. Was over this evening as needed "bulk" . Had a peanut butter sandwich after supper. I think we have to listen to our bodies. So long as we don't totally derail

marjtrewin

Sugardarlin - your grandchild is so very cute - congratulations

retirehappy

marjtrewin wrote: »

I am always interrested how many calories people aim for. Mine is 1200 - 1400. I wonder if this is too low. Was over this evening as needed "bulk" . Had a peanut butter sandwich after supper. I think we have to listen to our bodies. So long as we don't totally derail

I set my mfp to 1200, sedentary and let my fitbit adjust for exercise calories, I end up anywhere from 1600-2100 cals. I try to get in 10K steps, I do cardio-strength training 2x a week and live in a house with 3 flights of stairs. I do spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen during the day as well. This has worked for me. Currently I have just moved back into 1200 mode, I had been at 1600+exercise and not gaining nor losing, I did that on purpose, I am now starting a cut. So cals are set lower but I always eat above that starting point, and NEVER below it. NO one should be eating less than 1200 cal. unless they are doing with doctor supervision for a health issue. It takes that many calories to just lay in bed and do nothing all day. If you do anything, you will need more than 1200 cals.

Keep in mind some don't really track that well and think they only eat 1200 but they forgot that cookie they finished for the kiddos, the tasting of the gravy for the chicken, that sort of thing and they don't read the label portion sizes, they may have 3 serves according to the label but only mark down one. Everyone does it to some extent, it is almost impossible to be right on a certain number.

Enjoy the Journey.

AnnPT77

marjtrewin wrote: »

I am always interrested how many calories people aim for. Mine is 1200 - 1400. I wonder if this is too low. Was over this evening as needed "bulk" . Had a peanut butter sandwich after supper. I think we have to listen to our bodies. So long as we don't totally derail

I did most of my losing at 1400-1600 (net - eating back all (carefully estimated) exercise). 1200 was too low for me: I got fatigued. But that will vary by person.

I'm in maintenance now, and it turned out that the calorie-needs calculators estimate too low for me. I'm eating at 1800 most days, but lots more than that once a week or so, trying to average out around 2000-2200 per day overall, which I think is my approximate maintenance calories now (still net calories - my exercise includes a lot of outdoor stuff that's weather-dependent, thus unpredictable, so I don't try to estimate a TDEE, just a NEAT, then add exercise). I'm 60 y/o, 5'5", around 120 pounds, and quite active, BTW.

If you stick close to your calorie goal for a couple of weeks, or at least carefully log everything you actually eat/drink, you can figure out your true calorie deficit & loss rate, which may be higher or lower than MFP guesses. (It's right on for many people, of course.)

If you're losing no more than about 1% of your body weight weekly, and feeling healthy & energetic, your 1200-1400 is probably just fine. (It can be OK to lose more than 1% at first, if one is quite obese, or when under medical supervision, of course.)

JanetMMcC

Igilchrist wrote: »

I'm Irene 66 years old. I've tried numerous diets but truly need to be part of a group which are motivated. I'm probably at my heaviest weight. Have lost so much energy. And was stuck on protein and veggies on my last attempt at dropping the extra weight. My goals are to be stronger, more flexible and definitely healthier.

Welcome, Irene! I'm 64 and, after losing about 70 pounds, am definitely more flexible _ I can once more not just cross my legs, but twine them, with the ankle of my "over" leg behind the other calf. I can also squat or kneel to take a photograph without needing to lean on a cane or some other support to get back up.

You might also check out this thread,
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10381931/women-ages-50-for-may-2016
which will soon be switching to a new thread for June (there will be a link at the end of the May discussion thread).

It's a terrific group, with lots of enthusiastic, supportive members.

solieco1

You guys just made my day Happy to have found this group!

lynty2

marjtrewin wrote: »

I am always interrested how many calories people aim for. Mine is 1200 - 1400. I wonder if this is too low. Was over this evening as needed "bulk" . Had a peanut butter sandwich after supper. I think we have to listen to our bodies. So long as we don't totally derail

My daily limit is 1440 and I sometimes eat up to 50 cals more or less. I don't feel deprived and am loosing steadily (am 57 yr old female). It's a great feeling to finally have control over my weight.

lynty2

1Nana2many wrote: »

nowine4me wrote: »

I'm 51, but would like to toss out a question if this group doesn't mind. I have not started menopause, but am really anxious about it. It seems like something no one talks about (not even my mom). I have lost 40 pounds with 40 to go to hit 135, which seems about right for my 5'7" frame, but am wondering if it really is significantly harder to lose/maintain once you hit menopause, and what to expect.

Like Trina and Luluinca, I do not really believe that being past menopause has much to do with weight loss. I retired October 1, 2014 from a small town post office job where I was on my feet for the first three hours and very active for much of the day, up and down from desk to window to come home and sit much of my day. I went through a short depression because I really didn't realize how much I associated who I was with what I did for a living. I snacked A LOT out of boredom. Not a good thing. I managed to gain 25 more pounds on top of already being 50 pounds overweight. I finally had had enough about holiday time last December and found MFP. I made the mental commitment to log every bite every day on January 4th of this year. Because I REALLY made that commitment, I am succeeding. I struggle with valuing myself enough as I believe many of us do. I don't trust myself enough yet to input my physical activities because I would give myself permission to overeat and end up back where I started. The hardest thing for me is breaking the habits of saying yes when offered food and not eating when bored.

My advice to you is get a handle on your calories now, where ever you are at in life and stick with it. When you mess up, put it behind you and get back on track. I think if you took a poll of people who have managed to lose the weight, you will find more people who wish they'd done it sooner rather than later. I really do believe it is a simple matter of eating fewer calories than you burn every day. It's ok to taste every food you love at the pot luck, but make it a teaspoon serving, not a cup and be prepared to log it...when you're honest with yourself on how much you really ate, it makes you think twice about whether or not you really need to eat some things. My most needed mantra: "YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!"

Totally agree with your comments

1Nana2many

@lynty2 I love your smiley sunflower! I am totally prejudiced, being from the sunflower state!

heybales

There are some differences when the hormones change - obviously more when they are in full swing.

Some pointers that are probably some obvious, some interesting, some disbelief.

Video in this link.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10381497/why-so-hard-for-women-to-lose-fat-weight-great-video#latest

griffinca2

Partially agree with lynty2; it's true that you need to watch the calories and take smaller portions of foods you love at pot lucks (where it's easy to over indulge). But, we still need to enjoy the occasional treat (ice cream, cake, pizza, etc.); it helps to keep us from binging on the item if we know we'll have it (and not totally deny ourselves of it). That's where so many make a mistake; they say "I'm on a diet and can't have ____ (fill in the blank)." We need to remember it is a process, not a "diet" or "project" with an end date. I enjoy cake, ice cream, etc. just not all the time and if I gain a pound or two back I cut back a little till it's gone. I'm 65 and have lost 11 lbs by cutting back on overly processed food (re: canned veggies, frozen veggies w/butter sauce, etc.), quit putting powdered creamer in my coffee (I now use regular half & half).

1Nana2many

I completely agree that you should not give up everything you love, or for that matter anything you love, but I have switched to thin crust pizza for fewer calories, eat pasta a lot less often, and definitely watch my serving sizes. I am still somewhat of a a sugaraholic so I try to keep some sweet treats that I can eat in smaller, known calorie counts so it's easy to know exactly how many calories I am consuming. I have to watch how many snacks I eat or I will eat myself out of calories for the day. I am 59, retired, 5'4" and today was my 160th logging day. I have (as of last Saturday) lost 46.2 pounds and wondered into onederland for the first time in a decade. My calorie goal is 1200 per day and I mostly stick within that limit. At the beginning I was pretty hungry on those calories, but after a couple weeks, it got better and now if I eat too much I get that over-full feeling so that tells me my stomach has adjusted to less food. Logging is easier every day, because as a creature of habit, I am getting quite a list of foods that pop up easily whenever I start typing them in. If you're just starting out, don't give up because it seems time-consuming, it gets faster as you get the foods you eat frequently into the database. REMEMBER...you are worth the effort!!!

mk2fit

Well, it has been a while since anyone posted here. I have a question that may be TMI, but here goes anyway. Does anyone else get gassy while exercising?

AnnPT77

(Oops, edited to remove duplicate post - internet issues at my house!)

AnnPT77

mk2loser wrote: »

Well, it has been a while since anyone posted here. I have a question that may be TMI, but here goes anyway. Does anyone else get gassy while exercising?

I don't have the sense that exercise causes gas for me, but if there's some in there, certain types of exercise - those that move the midsection a good bit, like yoga & rowing - will . . . um . . . help expel it.

virginislander2

Yoga does it for me.

1Nana2many

My sister swears that ice in her water causes gas!

mk2fit

Phew. I thought I was alone with this, thanks!

griffinca2

No mk, you're not alone! Don't think it is so much the exercising (or ice for that matter), just that we're making better food choices when it comes to eating and some foods have a tendency to cause gas. Some of it may be caused by moving around more (rather than sitting around on our backsides).

Eleted

Can anyone address emotional eating? I would love to hear what works for you when under stress, other than food!!

1Nana2many

Look at it this way: This is probably why you are no longer on acid reflux meds. And besides, " It's better to belch and bare the shame than not to belch and bare the pain." Don't know if that's an Irish or German saying, but it's true non the less! Insert whatever word you deem appropriate for belch...

1Nana2many

Eleted wrote: »

Can anyone address emotional eating? I would love to hear what works for you when under stress, other than food!!

Elected: This is my third try to post a reply. I keep getting too wordy. Below is what I have posted on my refrigerator. It is meant to remind me that the only thing I can actually control is ME. I am an admitted control freak, but in reality, we can only change our own reactions, not what others say or do. I have had to learn that I am worth the effort every single day. I am on this journey to good health for me and part of that journey includes teaching myself to value ME. I AM WORTH the time it takes to make good food choices and to log them every single day, even if I have to do so every day for the rest of my life. When I get angry, I have to learn to evaluate whether or not there is really anything I can actually do about the situation. I have to teach myself not to keep replaying things in my head like a broken record. I have to just let it go, and let God have it. I have to actively choose not to use food as a coping mechanism. I have to choose not to adopt the "who cares, why bother" attitude that I have in the past. It can be tough, but I really don't want to go back there.

1Nana2many

1Nana2many

Stupid auto-correct! Eleted.

griffinca2

Also, the Bible commands us to take care of our bodies; see I Cor 6:19-20, I Cor 10:31, and one I saw this morning in my Journey devotional; 3 John 1:2. I look at it this way, would you put trash in your place of worship's sanctuary?? I'm not saying giving up occasional treats (cake, ice cream, pizza, etc.); just watch your portions and don't eat it every day. I usually have dark (60% caco) chips after dinner; I measure out the portion and put the bag away. If you mess up (and you will), forget about it and start over. It's a journey!

mk2fit

@Eleted, I never have been an emotional eater, quite the opposite. BUT, I am an emotional everything elser. Is that a word? Anyway, I imagine it is like smoking, drinking and whatever else you/we/I can think of. If you are not a praying person, maybe read a book/magazine. Or take a walk, or some other exercise. Call a friend, or get on here and ask for some help. Have a drink of water or eat an apple or carrot. It does get easier as you go along your journey and we will all be here to cheer you on.