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

dorisj717 · August 2016

I'm 49 I started my journey in January of this year and I am down 48lbs. I have a way to go but I'm happy with were I am now.

RredSonja · August 2016

I am 48, menopausal, and when I started on 5/4/16 I was morbidly obese; 300 pounds at 5'9". On 8/21/16 I weight 258.5.

I had been on MFP before, had at one time actually weighed 315. I just got sick of my own bullsh*t and wouldn't accept it anymore.

Weight training upper body 3x week, lower body 2x week and 35 to 45 minutes of cardio 6x week. I use dumbells and do compound movements, heavy as I can, for four sets eight reps. Started out with three pound weights, now up to 17 pounds. My favorite website for diet planning and information is Leangains.com, which is also the site that got me interested in using heavy weights. There is a lot to read a leangains, but that guy knows what he's talking about. I really like that he bases his opinions on hard cold facts from peer-reviewed research on PubMed. Athleanx on Youtube is really good for learning correct form with weight lifting, the guy who runs that is a lifting coach and a physical therapist.

I eat a LOT of protein. I suck at getting vegis and fruits in my diet, but even so, my diet is waaaaaay better than it was four months ago. I found some things I like, and eat a lot of them repeatedly, and try to focus on the other pleasures in life. My diary is open, so take a look.

I feel like I am just starting to hit my stride. Dieting and exercise aren't even hard anymore. When I first started using weights and walking on a treadmill it was really awful, I hated it the first two weeks or so, but I committed to doing it anyway, not matter how much it blew. It was only a small part of my day. Then, I started to enjoy it more. It's meditative to me now, and I look forward to it. I have to psych myself up to do squats with 30+ pounds in my hands, but I feel awesome after.

Do your research. If it works for you, keep doing it, if it doesn't find something that does. Don't take any bullsh*t excuses from your self anymore.

TheBuffster40 · August 2016

41 tried several times to lose just counting calories and couldn't. Well I couldn't stick to the limits without feeling hungry and ending up bingeing. So I was just losing and regaining dnd slowly creeping towards obese over 8 months despite exercise lots of veg etc. Very depressing

Last 3 months I switched to a low carb high fat diet. Much easier. The weightloss itself comes from a csl deficit but without carbs I don't get the hunger sense as my blood sugar drops so I don't struggle so much. No real exercise bar walking but I'm almost 20 lbs down. Another 20 to go but confident I will do it. I keep to less than 20g carbs a day. Dont really need to track or weigh my food much as I can judge my portions well enough and with the fat when I'm full I'm just full. When I do track i find I eat around 1000 - 1500 cals a day hence the weightloss. Meal planning takes a bit of time to get used to. But very happy like this

countrcowgirl · August 2016

I am 49 and just posted my success story with pics in this same forum (one year, 115lbs) for me it was eating clean and exercise but the biggest thing with the exercise was lifting heavy weights - builds lean muscle which increases metabolic rate and also helps with bone density as we get older

STLBADGIRL · August 2016

youdoyou2016 wrote: »

46 yrs old. 5'1" started at 220s lbs. Now 140, with about 15 more to go.

I weighed, measured, and counted everything for years with no weight loss. Did low carb, no carb, calorie counting, even HGC -- nothing happened. Had every kind of medical test imaginable -- no results that indicated anything was amiss, no medical intervention. Have tried every kind of non-"traditional" thing you can imagine: acupuncture, naturopaths, cleanses, meditation, etc. No results. Every day -- throughout the day -- I worked on losing weight and had not results.

Earlier this year I started reading about gut bacteria, the mircobiome, and stumbled across the concept of leaky gut syndrome and found a book by Dr. Raphael Kellman entitled, The Microbiome Diet -- it states what leaky gut is and how to heal it. I cried reading it: it was like he followed me around and wrote about me. I was doing 90% of what he was suggesting already, added in the missing 10% (which was easy and simple).

Results: lost over 80 lbs so far. I have about 15 more to go. If CICO works for you, you are very very lucky. If it doesn't or seems slow going ... check out this area of research. It might help. For me, it's a miracle. Good luck!

THANK YOU! I'm going to check it out!

STLBADGIRL · August 2016

dorisj717 wrote: »

I'm 49 I started my journey in January of this year and I am down 48lbs. I have a way to go but I'm happy with were I am now.

Great job! YOu are doing fab! Thanks for the visual! Keep up the good work!!!!

STLBADGIRL · August 2016

julierockhead wrote: »

I am 48, menopausal, and when I started on 5/4/16 I was morbidly obese; 300 pounds at 5'9". On 8/21/16 I weight 258.5.

I had been on MFP before, had at one time actually weighed 315. I just got sick of my own bullsh*t and wouldn't accept it anymore.

Weight training upper body 3x week, lower body 2x week and 35 to 45 minutes of cardio 6x week. I use dumbells and do compound movements, heavy as I can, for four sets eight reps. Started out with three pound weights, now up to 17 pounds. My favorite website for diet planning and information is Leangains.com, which is also the site that got me interested in using heavy weights. There is a lot to read a leangains, but that guy knows what he's talking about. I really like that he bases his opinions on hard cold facts from peer-reviewed research on PubMed. Athleanx on Youtube is really good for learning correct form with weight lifting, the guy who runs that is a lifting coach and a physical therapist.

I eat a LOT of protein. I suck at getting vegis and fruits in my diet, but even so, my diet is waaaaaay better than it was four months ago. I found some things I like, and eat a lot of them repeatedly, and try to focus on the other pleasures in life. My diary is open, so take a look.

I feel like I am just starting to hit my stride. Dieting and exercise aren't even hard anymore. When I first started using weights and walking on a treadmill it was really awful, I hated it the first two weeks or so, but I committed to doing it anyway, not matter how much it blew. It was only a small part of my day. Then, I started to enjoy it more. It's meditative to me now, and I look forward to it. I have to psych myself up to do squats with 30+ pounds in my hands, but I feel awesome after.

Do your research. If it works for you, keep doing it, if it doesn't find something that does. Don't take any bullsh*t excuses from your self anymore.

I LOVE THIS POST...THANKS FOR THE INFO AND KEEPING IT REAL ABOUT THE BS EXCUSES!

cross2bear · August 2016

I turned 60 yesterday. Since October last year, I have lost 102lbs with MFP, calorie counting and protion control. I have not set foot in a gym, I dont work out and the most extreme exercise I can do is walking, as I have bad knees. this summer I started to swim a bit, but other than that, my losses have been accomplished by what I prepare in the kitchen.

I met my original goal, and now have lowered it by 20 more pounds. Life is good, because I feel so much better, and I seem to be just a bit more naturally active because I dont carry that 100lb person on my back anymore.

I love my new wardrobe, and the fact that now people think I am 10 years younger than I am.

I really owe my new life to MFP, the wonderful support I got here by reading about everyones experience, and having old diet myths corrected. The success stories were so inspiring, the recipes were great to try, and just the whole logging ability really made a huge change in my lifestyle.

1crvygrl · August 2016

I'm 53 and about 60 lbs overweight. I can really relate to some of the issues some have had, but luckily no real health issues. Question, what is CICO?

myhungryjack · August 2016

I'm 69. Started MFP in October, 2014. I'm not very active. I walk or use Fit Board. Not wanting to "advertise" I'm on a diet, I don't weigh and measure. I've lost 60 pounds so far. Happy about that, of course, but weight loss has slowed down lately. Love the clothes I can wear now though.

AnnPT77 · August 2016

1crvygrl wrote: »

I'm 53 and about 60 lbs overweight. I can really relate to some of the issues some have had, but luckily no real health issues. Question, what is CICO?

Calories In < Calories Out: Calorie counting, the basic weight loss method MFP supports.

STLBADGIRL · August 2016

1crvygrl wrote: »

I'm 53 and about 60 lbs overweight. I can really relate to some of the issues some have had, but luckily no real health issues. Question, what is CICO?

CICO is Calories in vs Calories Out... You lose weight when you burn more calories than you eat - whether that is through exercise or diet alone. I hope I explained that correctly....lol

denlyons · August 2016

I'm 62 y/o female lost 52# since middle of February. I was losing consistently until this month I have 23# more to lose. I almost gave up but all of a sudden every one I know comments how much my body and face has changed this has kept me going! I walk 10000 steps every day no matter what ! I still chart everything that goes in my mouth. I am happier than ever with my body and energy. Even at the age of 62.

STLBADGIRL · August 2016

denlyons wrote: »

I'm 62 y/o female lost 52# since middle of February. I was losing consistently until this month I have 23# more to lose. I almost gave up but all of a sudden every one I know comments how much my body and face has changed this has kept me going! I walk 10000 steps every day no matter what ! I still chart everything that goes in my mouth. I am happier than ever with my body and energy. Even at the age of 62.

This is awesome....and to read that you are 62 y/o - make me even more elated!!!!

NancyYale · August 2016

1crvygrl wrote: »

I'm 53 and about 60 lbs overweight. I can really relate to some of the issues some have had, but luckily no real health issues. Question, what is CICO?

Calories in calories out

spurby123 · August 2016

I am 45 years old and since April i have lost 24lbs...with 10 more to go. I couldn't have done it without MFP and all the amazing advice posted here (i am mainly a lurker) i am so excited to post my story once i reach my goal!

Lesley2603 · August 2016

I'm 58 and have lost 50 lbs since November 2015. I log every bite of food, train with a personal trainer twice a week, cardio twice a week and Pilates once a week. Nearly at target and happy