can a 46 year old, with health issues, trim down inches

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Replies

  • SASSYnCHICago
    SASSYnCHICago Posts: 98 Member
    Having health issues should give you all the motivation to make changes to live a more healthy lifestyle to avoid further complications.
    I'm 44 1/2, and really have no health issues, but I come from a family of 10 (4 sisters) and my mother. All I can say is that the health issues my mother and sisters have are not only genetic, but many are avoidable. What's genetic is thyroid hypo 7 hyper. - so I get screen for that year, nothing yet- thank goodness (as all 4 sister & mother have various issues). My mother also has high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, and high cholesterol and she is considered obese and has been for 50 years due to bearing 10 children, and not being health conscience. Some of my sisters are older than me by 7-11 years so they are in their low to mid 50's and they are starting to have the same health concerns. The sister that is only 13 months, yes - just only 1 year older than I - has all those issues as she is not active, doesn't watch her diet and they has caused the health issues.
    My point is, I don't know what your health issues are but by making improvements to your life style now, you will see a better improved healthier life!!
    My motivation is to avoid those health issues, and if I do come down with them then at least I know I've made the effort to reduce the impact and will moderate them first by diet & exercise.

    Best wishes for you and I hope you can find it within yourself to stay motivated and focus so you can be the best person you are able to be in regard to your health. Take Care.

    p.s. - and YES would have been the simple answer to your question: Can a 46 year old with health issues, trim down inches. I've lost 25 lbs and 18 inches in the last 1.5 years and I'm in the best shape of my life. Done by exercising and making better eating choices - not always the best choices 100% of the time, but I'm knowable what foods are healthy and I do my best to eat those 80% of the time.
  • SASSYnCHICago
    SASSYnCHICago Posts: 98 Member
    after a certain point in age, women have greater difficulty losing due to the change of life (which i haven't yet started) and a slower metabolism. if you have health issues, it makes it even more difficult. thanks.

    More difficult? Maybe
    More important? Definitely

    I'm 45, with diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, degenerative disc disease and OA in my wrists, fingers, ankles and back. To keep going, all I have to do is think back to how I felt 2 years ago

    Wanted to send a shout out to you: YOU ARE AMAZING!!
  • takumaku
    takumaku Posts: 352 Member
    Yes. Don't let your health issues be an end-all-be-all downfall to your weight lost. A lot of us on this forum have health issues. We have learned how to work through our health issues to reach our goals. I personally wouldn't have lost over a 100 lbs and been maintaining at my current weight if I didn't take accountability for my health issues and worked around them.
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    Feel free to add me. I'm 45, have/had health issues and I'm doing it! I started the "change" yet either but I feel like if I'm healthy before it starts it can only make things easier!
  • Giggleegoos
    Giggleegoos Posts: 2
    I'm inspired by your post. I had knee surgery a few months ago and developed complications afterwards...I'm finally starting to feel as though I'm able to move without discomfort. I've been tracking my food for a couple of weeks and the weight isn't decreasing, actually increased by three pounds. Ready to get moving today. Thanks.
  • ktsmom430
    ktsmom430 Posts: 1,100 Member
    I will be 62 in September.
    I did not even begin any kind of exercise until I had been on MFP for 6 months and had lost 90 pounds. My knees were rebelling and when I began exercising it helped to strengthen my knees. I went from only being able to take one step at a time to where I am now, exercising almost 2 hours every day, mostly on an elliptical and walking. I am a changed woman! Most anyone can do it, if I can! I started eating back some of my exercise calories about 2 months ago. Tomorrow is my first official weigh in since then, but I cheated and weighed myself. I have gone from 290 to 134.5 in the past 15 - 1/2 months and am in the best shape I have been in in decades.
    Best of luck to you!
  • gigglybeth
    gigglybeth Posts: 365 Member
    These posts are incredibly inspiring!
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    I am absolutely inspired and impressed by the people responding here. Seriously.

    I'm in my late 40's and have survived (for now anyway!) breast cancer. I can't even remember how many surgeries I had last year. 4 I think? Each one was harder than the last to get back into shape, but I never ever gave up, and I never let age or anything deter me. The minute the surgeon cleared me to lift again, I would pick up the 3 pound dumbbells. Oh that was hard. I felt so degraded shaking with those little weights.

    I didn't know my then 12 year old was watching me. This year he picked up the weights. He told me I inspired him. He said if I could keep coming back after all that, he could manage to do it 3x/week. I've got my strength back (mostly), and I'm back in sz 6. But most of all, seeing that kid doing chest presses is the proudest I've ever felt.
  • waskier
    waskier Posts: 254 Member
    Absolutely! Anything is possible if you commit and stay focused.

    I am yet another example like the people above. When I was 38 my doctors told me they thought they could get me walking again after severe knee injuries. I spent 6 years in extreme pain and gained a lot of weight. I developed a number of serious health issues including fatty liver and was diagnosed pre-diabetic. 2 years ago the pain in my knees began to diminish. I started my new journey by simply walking on a treadmill and lifting some weights. In less than 6 months I lost almost 60 lbs. Once I got the weight off I started running, which my doctors said would NEVER happen again.

    Last summer I ran my first half marathon. Last December I ran my first marathon. In 3 weeks I will complete my first half Ironman and at the end of August I will complete Ironman Canada.

    I went in for my first physical since my transformation a few months ago. My doctor didn't recognize me. ALL of my health issues are gone. Every single one of them. My knees still hurt but I deal with it. No excuses.

    You can change, but the key is change. Too many people want a quick weight loss fix and then want to go back to. How they were before. You have to be willing to change on a permanent basis. No quick fixes, no temporary adjustments.

    Anything is possible, but it is up to you to make it happen. There is a ton of helpful information on this site and a whole community of people willing to help. Take advantage of all of those resources and you can be anything you want!
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I'm 49 and have a variety of health issues that interfere with working out from time to time. I have been losing weight and inches, but I'm on a slow, gradual track.
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    Yeah. I'm 42 and have PCOS and am insulin resistant. I've lost about 70 lbs. in the last year by limiting my calories, dealing with food allergies, and moving around a whole lot more than I have in the last few years. You can do this as well if you've got the motivation from within to do so.
  • lizbess1
    lizbess1 Posts: 16 Member
    48, and have had health issues since I was in my early 20's, in 2001 I hurt my back and ended up with bulging discs in lower back in 05 had something drop on my head and ended up with herniated discs in my neck, by 2011 I had been in a wheelchair for approximately 3 years on and off with the last year mostly on and over 10 years with using a cane. A year after back surgery I knew I needed to do something about the weight I had gained (over 30lbs while in that chair) so I tried to start walking as much as I could. That wasn't enough I then had to learn to do the one thing I swore I never would ever do and that was to count calories and now since January I have lost another 30lbs along with the 20 that I had lost on my own before joining MFP. It has taken me a year to get this far but I have not seen this weight that I am at in almost 25 years.
  • Gwen_B
    Gwen_B Posts: 1,018 Member
    I am 41 and have really bad knees. I run withe my three kids and I can run farther and faster than they can. We do 5Ks and they give out medals by age group and they give them out to people as old as 75 years old. A couple of weeks ago I made first place in my age group and 2nd female in (1st female was way younger than me). So it is all about what you want!! Give it you all and don;t give up and in the end you may have less health issues!! Good luck :-)
  • spirit05
    spirit05 Posts: 204 Member
    That's ridiculous, the ONLY reason it gets harder as we get older is because we are more set in our unhealthy ways and tend to give up when results aren't immediate.
    I am 50 and 'handicapped', sorry I find that word limiting, I have lost 45 lb. since Feb. and am on track to lose another 45 before Christmas. It's all about setting small goals and rewarding yourself when you achieve them.
    Oh, and FYI, the secret to sustainable weight loss is 80% what you put in your mouth and 20% moving your body. No excuses, if you plan to enjoy your golden years, you need to get focused and JUST DO IT!
  • dutchk
    dutchk Posts: 121 Member
    You want a sure fire, 100% effective way to lose weight and get healthier? Stop eating garbage, get off your *kitten*, and do something! That's what my grandmother told me. Only problem is, it took me 58 years to take it to heart. Smart woman.....
  • TammyS327
    TammyS327 Posts: 134 Member
    Not only is it possible it is a GREAT idea.

    I am 46 and have RA, and Fibromyalgia. I am going through the wonderful {{insert sarcasm and eye roll here}} change and I have lost weight.
    32 pounds as of this posting. It is slow going, but that is good. I started this journey January 11, 2013.
    I feel better than I have felt in decades. My RA symptoms are gone and my fibromyalgia is no longer an issue because I am no longer in pain. I truly believe the health issues were caused by my weight and lousy diet.

    Currently I am walking 4-5 miles a day, everyday, using an elliptical machine 3 days a week for 30 minutes, crunches, squats and my newest love, shadow boxing.

    Was losing 32 pounds easy? HELL NO!
    Was it worth it? YES and I am not done. I still want to lose 20 more.

    I hear so many women say they can't lose weight because of their age and hormones. I do not believe it. If you are burning more calories than you are consuming you WILL LOSE weight.

    Also if you have health problems, move your body. Exercise has been my life saver.

    I am by no means a "clean" eater and I don't do powders or pills. I have made life style changes that I can live with. I eat what I want when I want it, within reason. I weigh and measure my foods so I don't over or underestimate the calories I am consuming.

    Anything is possible if you forget all of the excuses and just do it.
  • maca416
    maca416 Posts: 142 Member
    You want a sure fire, 100% effective way to lose weight and get healthier? Stop eating garbage, get off your *kitten*, and do something! That's what my grandmother told me. Only problem is, it took me 58 years to take it to heart. Smart woman.....

    She was a wise lady with good advise.

    It's taken me 48 years for those wise words to sink in :)

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