40 year old women and older who has lost 40 or more lbs - HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO IT???

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Replies

  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    I decide on grocery day what I'll eat for the week so I have an idea what's going to go on during the week as far as my food. I pre-log my food each morning. When I was doing my best, if I went off track, I would go back in and log what I ate when I got off track. I also logged my weight in each morning. That was giving me good feedback on what I was eating and weighing and the consequences of my eating actions.

    I eat a lot of steamed vegetables with nothing on them, which I happen to like. Super low in calories, like for zucchini and broccoli. You can eat big servings for low calories to get full for snacks.

    I stocked up once during the week so I always had the food I needed on hand and wasn't tempted to order out.

    I drank a lot of water.

    I learned what real portion sizes were and learned to like them and be satisfied by them.

    Just some quick things I did.

    @msmith404040 They wouldn't let me check, like, inspiring and insightful! Great tips. Thanks!
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    44 yrs old, morbidly obese with hypothyroidism...so far 34lbs gone since June 18 this year. My first time losing weight consistently without all the BS that is planted in our heads about how it "should" be hard and full of deprivation...

    MFP set to 1 lb per week loss, 30 min. cardio or walking 3 to 5 days, resistance training 2 to 3 days a week. Sometimes I eat all the exercise calories back some times I don't.

    Doing 16:8 IF. Most days I am a bit under my goal, a few days I've gone over. I look at the weekly total. I am lising weight eating around 1700 average cals per day most weeks..

    I always overestimate portions when I am left guessing and unable to measure. Then I always underestimate exercise calorie burns. Good luck!

    Great job!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,052 Member
    sgriska wrote: »
    I am 52 and I have been heavy all my life, have lost 100+ lbs twice before through dieting but gained it all back within a couple years each time. Last October my mom had offered to pay for bariatric surgery because I was at 285 lbs (I’m 5’4”) and I started looking into it but was concerned about the long-term risks of nutritional deficiency and complications like intestinal blockages that wouldn’t be covered by insurance. My partner concurred, and said “Why don’t you give it one more try and just see where you can get with dieting by your birthday in March?” So I did, and I managed to lose ~60 lbs in five months with the help of My Fitness Pal.

    Now it’s the end of August, and I’ve lost 124 lbs, down to 161. I figure I have between 20 and 35 lbs to go, but no idea because the last time I weighed in the zone the charts say I should I was pre-pubescent. But I do honestly have big bones and plenty of muscle, so the top of the normal range of ~140 should be good.

    Wow - congrats: You're looking great! Nice work!
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    sgriska wrote: »
    I am 52 and I have been heavy all my life, have lost 100+ lbs twice before through dieting but gained it all back within a couple years each time. Last October my mom had offered to pay for bariatric surgery because I was at 285 lbs (I’m 5’4”) and I started looking into it but was concerned about the long-term risks of nutritional deficiency and complications like intestinal blockages that wouldn’t be covered by insurance. My partner concurred, and said “Why don’t you give it one more try and just see where you can get with dieting by your birthday in March?” So I did, and I managed to lose ~60 lbs in five months with the help of My Fitness Pal.

    Now it’s the end of August, and I’ve lost 124 lbs, down to 161. I figure I have between 20 and 35 lbs to go, but no idea because the last time I weighed in the zone the charts say I should I was pre-pubescent. But I do honestly have big bones and plenty of muscle, so the top of the normal range of ~140 should be good.

    As for how I do it, I keep my daily calories around 1200, and I go walking every lunch for an hour if it’s not raining. And I budget for 50 calories worth of chocolate every night as a treat — just enough to look forward to and savor but not enough to cause me to binge. I find that now that my meal planning and tracking have become habitual, I don’t get cravings as bad. Eyes on the prize. And once I hit goal, I’ll switch to maintenance and keep right on tracking with MFP to keep me honest because I never wanna go back again.

    This is a pretty good testimony! Hard work and dedication pays off.
  • MsBaz2018
    MsBaz2018 Posts: 384 Member
    edited September 2018
    Very motivating. Recently turned 42
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    MsBaz2018 wrote: »
    Very motivating. Recently turned 42

    You can do it!
  • HDBKLM
    HDBKLM Posts: 466 Member
    bump
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    Was down 3 lbs last week and another 1.5 this week. Would have had a better scale week, if I didn't down all the crab legs and shrimp that was doused in butter this week for my cheat meal. LOL
  • HDBKLM
    HDBKLM Posts: 466 Member
    Nice work being nearly 5 pounds down! Those crab legs and shrimp sound amazing, to be fair ...
  • LRLemon
    LRLemon Posts: 51 Member
    edited November 2018
    I'm 65 and have lost 55 pounds since June 26, 2018 following a LOW CARB (15-30 gm/day) diet. I graph my weight day to day. Interesting thing is that I followed a CALORIES IN CALORIES OUT diet in 2014 (BTW: I gained the weight back over 4 years) and comparing my weight loss from that diet with the weight loss from this LoCarb diet I weigh 13 pounds LESS than I did at the same week of the CICO diet.

    WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Lo Carb is the way to go for life. No hunger pangs (fat and protein is very satisfying). Craving for sugar is totally gone (and this from a person who LOVED bread and sweets). Don't feel deprived (fat, protein, veggies very satisfying). Food tastes better (notice the natural sweetness much more). Weight comes off faster. Blood glucose level is now normal: came down from 5.8 to 5.3 in three months (for reference ≤5.6 is considered normal; 5.8 is in the pre-diabetic range).
  • palmuphandopen
    palmuphandopen Posts: 30 Member
    I am 41 and have lost 70 lbs this year... how? tracking my food every day and going to the gym 6 days a week. 3 days are weight training (lifting heavy weights) and 2 days are cardio - either running or some type of cross-fit workout.
  • Steph1015
    Steph1015 Posts: 119 Member
    Thank you for everyone who has shared on this post. Very inspiring!
  • zvk915
    zvk915 Posts: 1 Member
    this is quite remarkable! you look so healthy now. I am the same age so your accomplishment is very inspiring.
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    I am 41 and have lost 70 lbs this year... how? tracking my food every day and going to the gym 6 days a week. 3 days are weight training (lifting heavy weights) and 2 days are cardio - either running or some type of cross-fit workout.

    I know I need to get to the gym more often AND log daily. I'm going 4 days a week. But i have a 5 y.o. and I'm in school. Sometimes when I get to the gym I'm only able to do 30 mins and that's including lifting and cardio. I need to balance my schedule so I can have quality gym time.
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    I’m 54. I’ve lost 44lb since 27th May this year.

    My food plan is 1500 to 1700 cals a day with a minimum of 100g protein and no more than 125g carbs. I plan all my meals but I rarely food prep, preferring to make time in the kitchen something to enjoy.

    I do 2 weight sessions and 3 aerobic training sessions each week

    clo106sc9qxk.jpeg


    Wow, WOW, WOW! This is great inspiration!!!!
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    @making_tracks You look like you lost more than 44lbs. You look awesome and kudos to you!!!

    Thanks for sharing your progress. You are such inspiration!
  • jmf286
    jmf286 Posts: 32 Member
    STLBADGIRL wrote: »
    I am 41 and have lost 70 lbs this year... how? tracking my food every day and going to the gym 6 days a week. 3 days are weight training (lifting heavy weights) and 2 days are cardio - either running or some type of cross-fit workout.

    I know I need to get to the gym more often AND log daily. I'm going 4 days a week. But i have a 5 y.o. and I'm in school. Sometimes when I get to the gym I'm only able to do 30 mins and that's including lifting and cardio. I need to balance my schedule so I can have quality gym time.

    But you don't need to go to the gym. Maybe you are pressuring yourself with too many shoulds. If you keep your calorie intake at the level suggested for weight loss for you, you will lose weight without exercise. Just go tothe gym when you have time and can get there (or do stuff at home, or go for a walk or whatever is fun for you). Giving yourself the extra mental load of guilt over not going to the gym probably isn't helping you right now. Exercise is obviously great for you health and will change your body but it is not essential for weight loss.
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    jmf286 wrote: »
    STLBADGIRL wrote: »
    I am 41 and have lost 70 lbs this year... how? tracking my food every day and going to the gym 6 days a week. 3 days are weight training (lifting heavy weights) and 2 days are cardio - either running or some type of cross-fit workout.

    I know I need to get to the gym more often AND log daily. I'm going 4 days a week. But i have a 5 y.o. and I'm in school. Sometimes when I get to the gym I'm only able to do 30 mins and that's including lifting and cardio. I need to balance my schedule so I can have quality gym time.

    But you don't need to go to the gym. Maybe you are pressuring yourself with too many shoulds. If you keep your calorie intake at the level suggested for weight loss for you, you will lose weight without exercise. Just go tothe gym when you have time and can get there (or do stuff at home, or go for a walk or whatever is fun for you). Giving yourself the extra mental load of guilt over not going to the gym probably isn't helping you right now. Exercise is obviously great for you health and will change your body but it is not essential for weight loss.

    @jmf286 - you are correct. The mental load is heavy. Thanks for the reminder!!!
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
    malika1976 wrote: »
    Hi, I'm 42. I've lost 44.3 kg (98.7 lbs) this year. I just stick to the calorie count, and walk/run as I feel like it (which I do most days). I started morbidly obese and now I'm 4 kg from a healthy BMI. My age isn't really a factor I worry about. I can run a lot further now than I could as a teenager. I've lost another 5 kg since the bottom photo.

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    a5qz2bdujrdc.jpg

    @malika1976 - YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And your weight loss shedded years off of you! Great job!!!!

  • rmcswain9372
    rmcswain9372 Posts: 6 Member
    I’m 46, and started this journey Dec 2016. Im down 37 lbs as of today. I’ve fluctuated about 5-10 lbs here and there. When my diet is 80% on (I do mostly low carb, moderate protein and fat) and I’m consistently in the gym (5 days/week), I stay on track. Diet is most definitely the most important part of it. You cannot out exercise a bad diet, any day of the week. And being in the gym, and seeing how long it takes to burn off 100 calories definitely keeps me motivated and on track. I want to lose between 10-15 more lbs to be at my ideal. Good luck to you!
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