Losing weight when over 40yrs old

keenacece

I counted calories and was HIT training 2 yrs ago and I lose 12# in a month. I have a partial tear in the tendon that attaches to the shin bone so can't do that cardio anymore. I would like to start lifting again but I never have the energy. Any suggestions?

PennWalker

Swimming is good for people recovering from injuries and burns a lot of calories.

Elise4270

Agree, swimming is a good choice. How about cycling?

Weights are beneficial. I was reluctant to do weights, (currently on surgery recovery), but I found I really enjoy it. You don't have to be there for hours, I started off with 20 minutes. Now we're there 60-90. I do a lot of standing around encouraging my boys, 21 and 24.

WendyLaubach

I'm 59 and no athlete. I've lost 89 pounds since last November logging here every day and staying within my calorie budget. It's always easier when you can burn a bunch of calories exercising, but if you eat at the right level you'll lose weight steadily with or without exercise, at any age.

Spliner1969

I'm 47, and it took me about a year to lose 115 lbs. I'm at 1.5 years now and have a total loss of around 122lbs. I've been at maintenance for quite a while and seem to be able to maintain my weight. I also have degenerative disc disease, and bad knees. I lost the majority of my weight walking at first (first 60 lbs or so) then I added in cardio on a Bowflex M5 which is a cross between a stair stepper and an elliptical which also has almost 0 impact on the joints/knees/back. The last few months of my loss I added in my own version of cross training/body weight training which allowed me to start building back up my muscle. The Bowflex M5 also does HIIT, but I used it more often for steady state cardio for about 30 minutes at a time.

I guess my point is this, it's completely possible after 40 to lose the weight, even do cardio. I managed last year to herniate three of my lumbar discs again, and was down and out for around 3 weeks total but I got back on the horse, learned some yoga to go with my body weight training which helped my back, and I made my goal. I still walk, jog when my body allows it (not very often), body weight train, and do my yoga daily. Where there is a will there is a way.

As far as your injury, you're just going to have to nurse it until it heals. I'll heal if you stay off it. Until then try laying on your back and do leg lifts, ab work, lifting on a bench that doesn't require you to be on your feet, etc. If you drop the weight and do more reps you can do lifting in place of cardio. Just don't give up! I don't have a good place to swim, and can't afford my own pool so swimming was out for me, at least on a regular basis. But I managed without it.

StealthHealth

keenacece wrote: »

I would like to start lifting again but I never have the energy. Any suggestions?

Sleep, then a kitten load of coffee, then lift.

Spliner1969

keenacece wrote: »

I would like to start lifting again but I never have the energy. Any suggestions?

Oh.. "Pre-Workout". Look for one that is made out of natural stuff, mostly vitamins, some caffeine, etc. I use one by Muscletech easily found at Wal-Mart called "Pre-Workout Explosion". The Beta Alanine will make you tingle but I find I can take this stuff six days a week without issues. Honestly without it I dunno how I'd get going most days at 5am to work out. If you have cardiac issues consult a doctor first, and start with a 1/4 or 1/2 scoop dose for the first week and work your way up. Took me about a month to work up to 2 scoops at a time. Other pre-workouts might work a bit better but some, like C4 I believe, require you to cycle them because they have some nasty stuff in them which can be detrimental long term. In the absence of a pre-workout you can also use a good Vitamin C suppliment (like those "Emergen-C" packets and a good dose of coffee to get going.