In your 30's ...

SkinnyBitchMode19

I am finding out that the saying of "it gets harder to lose weight in your 30s" is very much true for me. I am 34 and I'm learning that I need to really switch up my habits in order to see results. I exercise about 3 days a week (OrangeTheory) but I wanted to get some thoughts and/or ideas from people who saw this problem and got through it.

What did you change? Eating? Exercise? Combo of both?

Thanks!!

duddysdad

I am 35 and lost 150 pounds last year in 9 months. This was the easiest and quickest I've ever lost weight. No exercise, just a deficit. I must say that I was on a 1300 calorie diet and was supervised by my doctor. I didn't change anything about eating, just ate less. No magic pills, no magic foods, just whatever I wanted but less.

VintageFeline

I'm 34 and find it as straightforward as it would have been had I taken the same approach when I was 24. Things haven't gone downhill that drastically since you hit 30 to make a huge impact. I was a full-time dance student when I was in my early 20s and I wasn't skinny because I ate too much. I'm on track to be smaller than I was at that time and I expend far fewer calories now.

So, I log everything, I eat to goal, I weigh solids and measure liquids where possible. I exercise so I can eat more and get a sexy bod.

Jonna13

I'm 33yrs old and have been consistently losing 1.5lbs per week. I'm actually finding it fairly easy, eating 1400-1500 calories per day, exercise when possible (eat those calories back too!), I'm only 9lbs away from my goal weight, tbh, I thought it would be a lot harder. Calories in vs calories out-that's it!

jemhh

I started losing at age 37 and found it no more difficult/easy than when I was in my 20s.

nordlead2005

I'm 31, and the process was simple. Eat less than I need in a given day. I did that for 239 days (ok, subtract ~30 days due to vacation, holidays, birthdays). I'm down from 220 to 174lb. I did the same exact thing over 6 years ago when I dropped from ~210 to 185.

While I exercised, it wasn't to lose weight, but to get in better shape. I lift 3x/week and I sometimes do some cardio.

And, every time I failed to lose weight it was because I either didn't count calories or had too extreme of a deficit. I really don't know why I "forgot" (or at least ignored) what I knew and followed 2 stupid diets on and off a while back. The calorie deficit was too large (1200, 1500, or 1700 depending on where you were in the cycle, 1700 was the only one that wasn't murder). When I started with MFP I ate 1760 + exercise calories to lose 2lb/week so it was actually sustainable.

strong_curves

I'm 45 and losing weight just fine, but I don't have an aggressive deficit going on. I set my goal at .5 lbs a week and meet it easily when I'm on track. By on track I mean logging all foods, logging as accurate as I can using a food scale, being consistent with my exercise and intake, having realistic weight loss expectations, understanding weight loss isn't linear. If I do all that, this shiz is easy!

Lourdesong

Not for me. Even if my BMR/RMR is lower or age has worn away at my stamina or structural integrity, I am not nearly as impatient or as dramatic or as lacking in foresight as I was in my 20's all of which certainly hindered my ability to focus or be disciplined in my 20's.

Trust the process, and change things up if it helps to keep thing interesting. If you're really not getting results you expect, reevaluate what you're doing and see if anything can be tightened up before completely changing course.

SkinnyBitchMode19

Thanks for the comments everyone! I'm starting to wonder if I'm not eating enough (I currently eat between 1200-1300 a day). I lost 40lbs in my later 20's (gained 30 of it back) and it's just not coming off as easily this time around. I refuse to give up though! Thanks again everyone

malibu927

I'm 34 and it seems easy to me

kcm105

I'll back you up. I definitely noticed it being quite a bit harder to lose once I was in my 30s. I'm basically a professional (yo-yo) dieter, always doing basic calorie counting. In my 20s I found it much easier to lose without having to make exercise a focus as well, but now, for me, they really go hand in hand.

I want to add though - I had my first (and only) child at 30, and that could definitely have something to do with it. I also carry more weight now than when I was in my 20s, it's like after a baby my "set point" was about 20 pounds higher. Lastly, I think it was also just generally easier to eat less for periods of time in my 20s. I'm older and busier and it's harder to focus so much. I think it's a combination of age, having a baby, and a change in attitude in general. Not just one thing.

ew_david

Well, it wasn't until I was 34 that I got educated and resigned myself to the fact that there are no shortcuts. I started counting calories and found my deficit. Lo and behold it worked. I lost more weight counting calories while feeling like I wasn't starving at 34-35 than I ever did in my 20s when I was starving myself and running myself into the pavement.

azulvioleta6

SkinnyBitchMode19 wrote: »

I am finding out that the saying of "it gets harder to lose weight in your 30s" is very much true for me. I am 34 and I'm learning that I need to really switch up my habits in order to see results. I exercise about 3 days a week (OrangeTheory) but I wanted to get some thoughts and/or ideas from people who saw this problem and got through it.

What did you change? Eating? Exercise? Combo of both?

Thanks!!

Why are you taking FOUR rest days per week? How active are you outside of gym workouts? How many steps do you get per day?

It kind of sounds like you might not be getting enough exercise even for basic health, much less weight loss.

jeepinshawn

39 here and once I dedicated myself to the MFP program I lost weight just as easy as in my 20's. This itme however I'm still following the program and maintaining!

ew_david

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

SkinnyBitchMode19 wrote: »

I am finding out that the saying of "it gets harder to lose weight in your 30s" is very much true for me. I am 34 and I'm learning that I need to really switch up my habits in order to see results. I exercise about 3 days a week (OrangeTheory) but I wanted to get some thoughts and/or ideas from people who saw this problem and got through it.

What did you change? Eating? Exercise? Combo of both?

Thanks!!

Why are you taking FOUR rest days per week? How active are you outside of gym workouts? How many steps do you get per day?

It kind of sounds like you might not be getting enough exercise even for basic health, much less weight loss.

Four rest days is not unheard of. I lost the bulk of my weight lifting only 3 days a week, giving me FOUR rest days.

puffbrat

I'm 31. In my 20s I could lose weight just by reducing the amount of dessert or sodas I drank in a week and moving a little more. Now I have to really pay attention to eating habits and be more deliberate. That said, the calories in/calories out approach on this site is working well for me. I have just learned not to cut out any foods I enjoy and give in to cravings, just in smaller amounts that work in allotted calories for the day.

prettysoul1908

SkinnyBitchMode19 wrote: »

I am finding out that the saying of "it gets harder to lose weight in your 30s" is very much true for me. I am 34 and I'm learning that I need to really switch up my habits in order to see results. I exercise about 3 days a week (OrangeTheory) but I wanted to get some thoughts and/or ideas from people who saw this problem and got through it.

What did you change? Eating? Exercise? Combo of both?

Thanks!!

It hit me around 35. NOT because I was in my 30s but because my lifestyle changed. I was moving a LOT less and eating the same... Then eventually more. Then I gained more.

When I joined MFP then got a fitbit I got to see the direct correlation of CICO and instead of guessing like I had been before... I can have a more measured approach to keeping my weight in check.

At 38... I weigh less than I did at 28. And the best part... It isn't hard!!

Francl27

Yeah I suppose that I stopped maintaining my 200 pounds when I got over 30... but losing really wasn't hard at all. I can't really compare to how it was to lose before though, as I never really tried (I lost some weight at 20 but with a very restrictive diet, and gained it back plus more once I started eating regular food again).

mom2my4boys

I can't comment on loosing better in my 20's because i spent my 20's having kids and gaining 100+lbs. However since getting my fitbit and almost doubling my calories (for 6 months or so, i was eating 1300/daily for 1lb/month loss) I've started loosing 2-3lbs/week. I'm 33yrs old. Shrugs* I'm not sure if this would apply to you and your situation tho. Good luck to you!

mom2my4boys

I forgot to mention, i'm a runner.

niniundlapin

I'm about to be 31 and am in my best shape compared to any time in the past 10 years. Can't say my metabolism was better or worse in my 20's (although my knowledge & habit weren't as good as now), but I don't feel entering 30's an obstacle or something that slows me down.

That quote is certainly not true... at least from my experience, I've only heard it as a complaint from someone who was actually fortunate enough not to put much effort (changing habit) to get to their expected weight when they're younger but have not developed the "right habit" on time before turing 30.

callsitlikeiseeit

im 38 and lost 70 something pounds last year.

all i did in my 20s was gain so...... yeah. much easier to lose now than then lolol

and oh i count every calorie and workout 7 days week (5 at gym and i jog every day)

SkinnyBitchMode19

Thanks again everyone, all your comments are super helpful and I'm going to take a sharper look at cals in vs cals out. I just got a Fitbit hr so I'm looking forward to that extra push as well.

PaulaWallaDingDong

I've tried numerous times in my late teens/early twenties, but never succeeded. When I started on MFP a year ago (age 31), I was the heaviest I've ever been. I'm now down to the weight I was 9 years ago and it's been easy peasy. 70 pounds down, 40 to go.

Sued0nim

SkinnyBitchMode19 wrote: »

Thanks for the comments everyone! I'm starting to wonder if I'm not eating enough (I currently eat between 1200-1300 a day). I lost 40lbs in my later 20's (gained 30 of it back) and it's just not coming off as easily this time around. I refuse to give up though! Thanks again everyone

I found that I could never successfully lose weight the same way twice because I started out knowing the "cheats" and having bad habits

At 47 I lost 53lbs throwing everything I thought I knew away and just focusing on the umbrella of calories in vs calories out and then gradually learning from the source science about macros and nutrients and what works for me. After 30 years of yo yo dieting it is refreshing to be in maintenance with a lifestyle that won't "end"cos I'm at a goal weight

DawnieB1977

I'm 38 and losing weight. I only have a few lbs to go now so it's taking a bit longer, but the last bit always does. I'm losing after having my 3rd baby, so I think having had 3 children relatively close together has made it a bit harder, and the fact that my 20 month old doesn't sleep all night has made a difference, but not my age.

I was 33 when I had my 2nd baby and I lost 66lbs after her.

I'm a lot healthier now than when I was in my 20s. Back then I did loads of cardio, and ate under 1200 calories. So no wonder I was thin! Now I eat 1600 and do weight training. Plus having 3 kids, and working as a teacher, means I'm naturally more active. I suppose if you don't have kids and you do a desk job you might be less active in your 30s.

Good luck!

janejellyroll

I'm 36 and I lost my weight over the last year. It was much easier than it was in my 20s or earlier 30s because I finally understood how to do it and (more importantly) how to maintain it.

Did it take longer than it would have if I had done the same things in my 20s? I honestly don't know. What I know is that I saw consistent losses and I'm finding it easy to maintain.

NealNH

So I'm in my 30s for the second time (64) and I think the important thing is that harder refers to the fact that a persons metabolism slows with age, they tend to be more sedentary and have probably had their bad habits longer. I'm one of those who has been fat all my life and have lost lots of weight on many occasions. I can tell you that for me when I was younger all I had to do was cut back on my eating and I could generally drop 10 pounds a month. Now I have to restrict my calories and set aside time to exercise. I put into MFP that I am sedentary (office worker) and wanted to lose 1.5 pounds per week. I struggle to average 1 pound even though I logged everything every day, exercised 5 days a week and never ate back any exercise calories. I realize that everyone is different but this is my experience. I believe that it only gets harder with age so sooner is better than later.