55-65 year old women's success?
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I should have added that you should put yourself in the second row so you can see what the instructor is doing. Also let the instructor know you are new. Usually they do more explaining of steps if they know someone new is in the class.1
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Thanks for the advice mnsadaras and bos10fit. I might give it a try. I didn't think about letting the instructor know that I am new! Great idea!0
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I am 57, almost 5' 3" and thankfully post-menopausal. I remember the first time I went to WW--I was 19 and weighed 140 pounds! I'd kill for that now. At my heaviest I weighed 266, but about 12 years ago I decided to get healthy once and for all. I lost almost 100 pounds on WW, began exercising extensively and was in the best shape of my life. Then I had an Achilles tendon injury which required surgery and 6 weeks recovery in a wheelchair. During physical therapy, my knees rebelled after a lifetime of too much weight and I was basically crippled for the next two years. I believe now that I was depressed--who wouldn't be!--and the weight came crashing back, all but 6 pounds!
I had my first knee replacement in Dec 2013, immediately got back to the gym and had the second knee replacement in July 2014. I went back to WW in March and started losing but did a lot of yo-yoing. In October I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes so am doing low-carb to try to lower my A1C. Although WW always worked for me (when I followed the program!) I realize that I won't be able to use it again for low-carb.
I've been so angry and so discouraged about this because I've tried so hard to do the right thing for my health and it just seemed as if the universe was against me. I had my pity party and then a friend told me about MFP. It took 6 weeks of counting calories and carbs to lose 3 pounds, which was discouraging, but finally the weight has begun to come off. I've lost 13 pounds since the beginning of November (a total of 25 since last March). I have about 85 more to go, but I'm feeling much better about the whole thing. I'm hoping my labs will show improvement, too, when I have them redone in a month or two.
I do weight training 3 or 3 days a week with a personal trainer, in addition to cardio--bike riding, etc. I used to take belly dancing, which I thoroughly enjoyed but didn't think I'd ever be able to do again. After reading some of the comments, though, maybe I can get back into it some day.
I'm not a big poster, even on Facebook, but reading the comments has given me a boost, so I'll try to post occasionally and let you know how it's going. We never know who we will touch by our own journey!6 -
@bonniepwest, so very true (we never know who we'll touch by our own journey)! When I started MFP and was reading everything I could find on the forums, there was a member whose posts really inspired me. I mentioned it in one of my replies on a subject she posted on and she was really shocked, and pleasantly surprised. She said she never dreamed she would be an inspiration to anyone because she felt she was kind of "short" in her answers and afraid she was often misunderstood.
I've noticed that at this point in my weight loss process, where I've been eating much less for the past (almost) year than I did for decades, that when I decide to enjoy a few hundred to 500 calories more a day (in other words maintenance) I very often show a couple pound gain the next day or two. It can take a number of days for that water weight gain to leave. Its kind of frustrating because its not like I am frequently over-eating, but then again, I like having a little 'reminder' that I pay the price when I stray. Its really no wonder at all why I was so fat for so long!
Another thing I'm becoming very aware of this cold winter is how little I move if I don't make an effort, when I can't go outside without planning and bundling up. I know weight loss happens mostly in the kitchen, but it really does help to move at lease "some"!
--Kathy
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Datarn, there is Zumba Gold for us not so young ones, well really it suits anyone starting on fitness. It is a little slower, and very low impact. Still a good workout though.
Being the uncoordinated soul that I am, I found it a great starting point, I can actually follow most of the steps, still go left instead of right a lot of the time though. The classes are lots of fun and people are very friendly. A new session has just started for me ( my 2nd) and it was really nice walking in the studio, and being greatest by lots of friendly faces.
There is also Zumba & Zumba Gold toning where you do the class with hand weights, I really like that one.
Bonniepwest, congratulations, you got back in the groove!
25lb is nothing to sneeze at, the good thing is it has gone off not on, hooray.
I am a belly dance lover too, as bad at that as I am at Zumba, no coordination, and am amazed at how many of us have done it. My friends thought I was weird when I started doing it, didn't care, it is fun.
Bos10ft, please invite your client to join us, the more inspiration the better.0 -
Middlehaitch, is there any DVD's you can recommend for Zumba? I have always wanted to try Zumba, but I do not belong to a gym (I am thinking about joining one). My company has a gym on the premises, and we can use it for free. I am pretty cheap, so I get up very early and go in to work out in the morning before I begin work. We do get a discount on a gym membership through our insurance, so that is why I am considering joining one. I love to walk and hike too. We live in the country on 10 acres of rolling hills. I try to walk after work with my dog during daylight savings months, but it is too dark right now. I do get out on Saturdays and Sundays, in spite of the cold and snow. (I live in Minnesota).0
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I really recommend belly dancing -- it has done wonders for my core strength. BUT -- you have to really really really not mind looking stupid. what with thrusting out your chest and gyrating your hips, you just cant be self-conscious about it or you will be paralyzed. i don't think i could have done it when i was younger, so i guess that is another advantage that has come to me with age -- the capacity to dance as if no one is watching.0
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cathy120861 wrote: »I really recommend belly dancing -- it has done wonders for my core strength. BUT -- you have to really really really not mind looking stupid. what with thrusting out your chest and gyrating your hips, you just cant be self-conscious about it or you will be paralyzed. i don't think i could have done it when i was younger, so i guess that is another advantage that has come to me with age -- the capacity to dance as if no one is watching.
^^LOL Cathy.
I guess I do have a problem with looking stupid......of course I wouldn't even have considered it 3 years ago and over double the size I am now. I am just afraid that @ my age I would do some serious damage and throw something out of whack. Belly dancing looks really hard. I would really like to try a Zumba Gold class with some other older people, maybe I wouldn't feel so self conscious.0 -
middlehaitch and cathy120861, I so totally identify! Although I could do each belly dance move separately, I cannot learn choreography and am extremely uncoordinated. I've never been able to do aerobics and Zumba scares me to death! Fortunately, I don't mind looking silly. Since my Achilles and knee replacement surgeries, however, my body has forgotten how to do the moves. Can't for the life of me remember how to do a hip drop!0
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I just bought a 2nd hand Zumba fitness DVD set on ebay - havn't received it yet, so cannot comment on how fast the speed is, but home alone I can do my best without looking like a turkey! Might be a solution for you.I am so glad I found this thread! You all inspire me - I have been working since July - and lost 20 lbs. I have another 20 to go - and have been thinking about Zumba - is it hard to start doing? I don't know how coordinated I am in that and the classes I have seen seem to go at a RAPID speed- so I have not been brave enough to try it. I belong to a local YMCA and their classes are during the day - and I work full time. Any ideas??
- Thanks for inspiring me!
Well done on your weight loss. I just started, such a long way to go so have to make it interesting and diverse
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Middlehatch, I will see if our Y has the Zumba gold. Snowflake930 I definitely know I would not be good at belly dancing.
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12dream Thanks for the encouragement. I might check out some websites that have fitness DVD's - maybe there will be a Zumba Gold!! Great idea. Starting is a great place to be - you will make great progress!!0
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I am 58 (59 in March) and have lost and gained weight over the last 10 years. In 2014 I reached my highest weight ever at 182 and decided I needed to get serious. Well all I did was check in here on MFP, logged in food occasionally and exercise more often. During 2014 which was quite an emotional year for me and I just couldn't wrap my head around fitness I slacked off. I have done sprint triathlons in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and some half marathons in 2011, 2012 and 2013. I now concentrate on century bike rides for charity since 2013. This year I am also doing two half marathons with my niece, she's 27. We started training in November and I contribut that to my not gaining weight over the holidays, but I did not lose. Like I stated earlier, I only occasionally logged my food. I am trying to be more diligent about logging my food and have started to see a little bit of weight loss since the first of the year.
I know for myself when I previously did WW and kept track of each item that passed my lips and all my exercise (10 years ago) I lost 30+ pounds and felt fantastic! Of course, I then knew it all and did not need to track or maintain a continued exercise regimen. A few years ago I found MFP and used it, lost a bit of weight and then again went back to hold habits. I know that I MUST weigh and measure my servings for me to lose weight. I also know that I must keep active to lose the weight as well.
My family has a health history of heart disease and diabetes. I want to outlive my mother who passed away just one week shy of her 68th birthday. My dad lived to be 90. I firmly believe that I can do this as long as I remain committed to weighing and measuring my food and remaining active.
The only problem is that work gets in my way of being as active as I would like! That's my excuse and am sticking to it! Seriously, I wish I could work part-time and workout to my heart's desire. I currently run, as slow as a herd of turtles moving through peanut butter - but I'm moving!, ride my bike on the trainer until spring, elliptical, workout DVDs (calisthenics) and some hand weights. I also enjoy knitting and work gets in the way of that as well!
I will try and read more of peoples posts as time goes by. It is inspiring to read about others successes and knowing that it can be done if you are willing to put in in the time and effort needed for yourself, which for myself is why I am doing this. Have a great day! The sun is shining!2 -
I am 58 (59 in March) and have lost and gained weight over the last 10 years. In 2014 I reached my highest weight ever at 182 and decided I needed to get serious. Well all I did was check in here on MFP, logged in food occasionally and exercise more often. During 2014 which was quite an emotional year for me and I just couldn't wrap my head around fitness I slacked off. I have done sprint triathlons in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and some half marathons in 2011, 2012 and 2013. I now concentrate on century bike rides for charity since 2013. This year I am also doing two half marathons with my niece, she's 27. We started training in November and I contribut that to my not gaining weight over the holidays, but I did not lose. Like I stated earlier, I only occasionally logged my food. I am trying to be more diligent about logging my food and have started to see a little bit of weight loss since the first of the year.
I know for myself when I previously did WW and kept track of each item that passed my lips and all my exercise (10 years ago) I lost 30+ pounds and felt fantastic! Of course, I then knew it all and did not need to track or maintain a continued exercise regimen. A few years ago I found MFP and used it, lost a bit of weight and then again went back to hold habits. I know that I MUST weigh and measure my servings for me to lose weight. I also know that I must keep active to lose the weight as well.
My family has a health history of heart disease and diabetes. I want to outlive my mother who passed away just one week shy of her 68th birthday. My dad lived to be 90. I firmly believe that I can do this as long as I remain committed to weighing and measuring my food and remaining active.
The only problem is that work gets in my way of being as active as I would like! That's my excuse and am sticking to it! Seriously, I wish I could work part-time and workout to my heart's desire. I currently run, as slow as a herd of turtles moving through peanut butter - but I'm moving!, ride my bike on the trainer until spring, elliptical, workout DVDs (calisthenics) and some hand weights. I also enjoy knitting and work gets in the way of that as well!
I will try and read more of peoples posts as time goes by. It is inspiring to read about others successes and knowing that it can be done if you are willing to put in in the time and effort needed for yourself, which for myself is why I am doing this. Have a great day! The sun is shining!
Thanks for posting, Jeanmk56 -- just wanted to say that it could have been me writing this! I'm slightly (less than 2 years) older.0 -
Hey, JeanMK56, I'm also a WW girl (lifetime member, LOL). WW is a great program but with counting the calories rather than points I feel like I have so much more control over what I'm eating and I now understand how it's all about the calories in calories out. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I educated myself about nutrition and that didn't happen with WW. I think I've just evolved enough to take more control over what I'm eating and understand that at my age I'm going to have to keep track of calories and exercise.
I was also thinking about how to manage the exercise as I age -- I've seen 90 year old women lifting (light) weights at the gym so I suppose that's going to be my future. It's something that I'll have to keep doing forever.
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Ditto on the WW saga for me, too. I remember having to eat liver once a week! Out of all of the times I joined and lost, I never learned how to maintain it. I think I have paid enough to own part of the business by now!
I think it's a matter of what works for you and your lifestyle. This works for me, and I like manipulating what I eat to make sure the macros are in balance. It's probably bordering on obsessive, but that's what it take for me to remain focused.0 -
I used WW in the 70s. Lost 50 pounds fairly quickly. I would say I learned quite a bit about nutrition then because they were focused on "balanced" eating and portion control. But, there were still so many restrictions, like limiting how many proteins or how many grains, etc., that I had a mindset of "when I finish losing I can eat X" and believe me when I did get to my goal weight I ate that! I wish I had stuck with it and succeeded in maintenance, but unfortunately I didn't.
When I finally made the decision a little over a year ago, to seriously lose weight, really on the second time in my life that I was determined to lose, I thought I could just use the info I still had in my brain from WW and do some portion control. I did lose a bit of weight, probably about 10 pounds in a few months, but I had no real structure and soon learned that for me, "cutting back" and "watching what I ate" was not enough to generate consistent weight loss.
By the time I heard about MFP (thank goodness for that!!!) I had gained a few pounds of the 10 or so I lost.
Counting calories works for me because I can make the decision to eat whatever food I want on any particular day, as long as its within my calorie goals. This means that when I really "need" to eat something greasy and salty, I can. Now, I don't do that very often because it uses up so many of my calories. But I *CAN*. That, along with not having to give up the flavored creamer in my coffee, has allowed me to stick with this.
I have learned so much about the science of weight loss, thanks to the MFP forums. I now understand my maintenance calories and know that if I'm super hungry I can eat at maintenance without gaining. Sure, I might not lose that particular moment in time, but at least I won't gain.
This is a really big deal to me. I have so much more to learn about my eating habits, but I am comfortable saying I think I will spend the rest of my life at a reasonable weight.
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I totally agree with you Sodakat! Really, if you think about, logging food and doing some exercise is a small price to pay for better health.0
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I think WW is an awesome program, it just didn't work for me in the long term. The points system never got to feel like a lifestyle, and i got too good at gaming the system. (i used to be a lawyer -- maybe all of that legal training was the problem).
Following up on Sodakat's post on the importance of learning the science of weight loss, I have no idea what macros are. anybody have a suggestion for a good reading that would fill me in?
Trina -- over winter break, i had an opportunity to take some lessons with a professional boxing coach. He told me that he works with a couple of women who are at least 15 years older than i am (53) who are really impressive boxers. That's gonna be all of us!0 -
I used WW in the 70s. Lost 50 pounds fairly quickly. I would say I learned quite a bit about nutrition then because they were focused on "balanced" eating and portion control. But, there were still so many restrictions, like limiting how many proteins or how many grains, etc., that I had a mindset of "when I finish losing I can eat X" and believe me when I did get to my goal weight I ate that! I wish I had stuck with it and succeeded in maintenance, but unfortunately I didn't.
When I finally made the decision a little over a year ago, to seriously lose weight, really on the second time in my life that I was determined to lose, I thought I could just use the info I still had in my brain from WW and do some portion control. I did lose a bit of weight, probably about 10 pounds in a few months, but I had no real structure and soon learned that for me, "cutting back" and "watching what I ate" was not enough to generate consistent weight loss.
By the time I heard about MFP (thank goodness for that!!!) I had gained a few pounds of the 10 or so I lost.
Counting calories works for me because I can make the decision to eat whatever food I want on any particular day, as long as its within my calorie goals. This means that when I really "need" to eat something greasy and salty, I can. Now, I don't do that very often because it uses up so many of my calories. But I *CAN*. That, along with not having to give up the flavored creamer in my coffee, has allowed me to stick with this.
I have learned so much about the science of weight loss, thanks to the MFP forums. I now understand my maintenance calories and know that if I'm super hungry I can eat at maintenance without gaining. Sure, I might not lose that particular moment in time, but at least I won't gain.
This is a really big deal to me. I have so much more to learn about my eating habits, but I am comfortable saying I think I will spend the rest of my life at a reasonable weight.
Sodakat, you are just about quoting my own story. Are you my twin, haha?
Enjoying these posts. Onward, troops!
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Since I have been on diets since I was ten years old, I have amassed a great deal of nutritional information, but the reason I am not at the best weight is not due to lack of knowledge.
My most successful weight loss (40 lbs at age 45) was with WW. I think it was called 1-2-3 Success -- a points-based system, but much simpler than now. The points were based on a calories/fibre/fat ratio, but in a pinch, you could not go far wrong by chalking up 50 calories to a point, so for me is was an easier way to count calories. There was also a requirement for 20 minutes of activity daily. WW have since promoted newer versions of the "Points" system, increasingly restrictive IMO in some respects. One time when I rejoined, I had buckled down enough to lose 10 lbs with one of the more restrictive, later versions, and then a month before Christmas, they introduced the super-complicated to calculate new one -- first of the "Points Plus" genre.
Funny thing, those who have been successful with weight loss and willing to share their experience have never attributed it to eating french fries or chocolate, drinking wine and sitting about in their spare time.0 -
cathy120861 wrote: »Trina -- over winter break, i had an opportunity to take some lessons with a professional boxing coach. He told me that he works with a couple of women who are at least 15 years older than i am (53) who are really impressive boxers. That's gonna be all of us!
Good to know! You're right, we're gonna have to do this exercise crap long term if we want to maintain. The young people will be pointing at us and whispering, "Look at those old ladies, can you believe they're in their 90s and still exercising?!"
Too funny. I was hoping I could just put on a mu-mu and eat like crazy when I'm 90. I guess that won't be happening.0 -
cathy120861 wrote: »I have no idea what macros are. anybody have a suggestion for a good reading that would fill me in?
Cathy -- Click on this link; Click on page 1 then scroll down to the section on macros. Actually the whole post is excellent; it explains a lot. Message me if you need more info.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets0 -
the first time I got up the guts to join a "beginner" combo aerobic/yoga class, I almost packed it in because there were women there in their 70's and 80's who were kicking my .. posterior!! i came home humiliated, (consoled myself with a glass of wine if i recall) and then decided rather than hate them, I wanted to BE them LOL! (but i still want a muu-muu AND a LBD!! 0 -
Hi I am 54 I lost 35 lbs by logging my calories at around 1200 and max 1500 calories. I need exercise half an hour a day and got down to 10 st 7. Stopped looking at what I was eating and got back into old habits and gained 17 pounds oh dear. Now trying to re motivate myself to start the journey again. toyed with joining slimming club but will try and start the journey again. You are doing so well keep it up.0
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Senco -- good job taking action now, while you are still down 18 pounds. that is a significant amount to have lost.
I was like a feral child in the middle of the night last night -- just eating everything i could find. i am totally keeping up my exercise and i have been right on track for almost two weeks with daytime eating, but between about 11:30pm and 4:30am i just seem to lack all self-control.
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cathy120861 wrote: »Senco -- good job taking action now, while you are still down 18 pounds. that is a significant amount to have lost.
I was like a feral child in the middle of the night last night -- just eating everything i could find. i am totally keeping up my exercise and i have been right on track for almost two weeks with daytime eating, but between about 11:30pm and 4:30am i just seem to lack all self-control.
Interesting, because I've noticed if I happen to fall asleep in the living room for an hour or so instead of going right to bed when I get tired, when I wake up I might feel ravenous. I have to make an effort not to head towards the kitchen. Its odd because I never, ever wake up hungry in the morning.
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Sodakat, I've had the same experience. So when I get the sleepies I make myself go to bed even if it's early. I rather wake up early the next morning with tummy growling which has happened, then eat when that ravenous effect comes on. It is a weird thing for sure.0
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middlehaitch wrote: »Ooh, aren't we all doing well!
I would love to join the over 60 group mentioned above. Could you post a link please?
My Story.
I haven't had a lot to lose, but I have maintained my loss, 30lb for 6 years ( I never realised it was that long until I found the original of my wake-up call pic)
I was 130 Christmas 2008 and 105 by Christmas 2009.
I am 5'1, 61yo, small boned, apple shaped, and try to maintain between 102-105. I say try because I dipped down to 100 at the end of the year when I changed my exercise routine. That is why I am tracking right now.
My BF is about 20,5% according to my measurements and the USMC calculations on the web.
I was eating at MFP low activity maintenance 1200 and eating back half by calories, but because I started losing on that I have changed to TDEE and upped that from maintenance x5 to maintenance x5 intense = 1480 cal.
I do aqua fit x3 and, at the moment Zumba x2, with swimming, x1, rowing machine intermittently, and the Nerd Fitness body weight programme x2.
I do change my routine every 4 months or so to keep me interested- I loath exercise.
Here I am Christmas 2008, 5'1, 55yo and a menopausal 130lb
And this is me this Christmas 5'1, 61yo, and a post menopausal 100lb.
Sorry if it is sideways, click and it will open correctly, something to do with uploading from iPhone.
I am 105lb in my avitar. That is my lilac haired 60th birthday pic.
We can lose it, it just takes commitment.
Cheers, h.cathy120861 wrote: »oh dear. i love reading this thread, with its emphasis on success, and taking action. i am rereading some of the posts now, because i am in a whiny self-pitying mood. i am sniveling to myself because i am having one of my not-so-great lung days, when it feels like i am breathing salt water rather than air. and so, i have skipped my pilates class and eaten more than i should have -- exactly the opposite of the things that i know would be helpful. i wish one of you guys was here to shake me or something.Wow ! Thank you so much for that Trina and congratulations!... I don't belong to a gym but have a treadmill and dumb bells and I know I won't "go" to a gym but I go to my basement every morning at 5:30, is it possible to do the weight lifting at home or should I suck it up and join a gym? Thanks again for the awesome answer!
A bone density test revealed that I had osteopenia and that I needed to do resistance training. So there you go. My bones are fine now and I even have muscles showing in my arms now that most of the fat is gone. Go figure.
This gives me hope - I also have osteopenia and am counting on resistance training to prevent it from progressing to osteoporosis.
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Hi 55 and up. Thank you for the inspiration! Even though I didn't lose as much as I wanted 10 instead of 7 in two weeks I am feeling good and determined to get thin again. Goal to lose another 7 in two weeks (15 for the month). How do you all stay motivated when weight comes off slowwwwww. ?0
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