Any 40 year Olds out there?

rodeothedog

I have lost and gained 50 pounds twice. I am not at my heaviest or my unheathliest but I am NOT were I want to be.
I am a 40 year old female that works 13 hour shifts full time as a nurse. I have 4 children from college on down to 6 years old.
I need more people that have noticed that losing any weight isuch harder when you are older.
I have been working/running for 6 weeks, no diet and haven't lost a pound. I just started dieting and tracking again.
Oh yea I am 5 ft 6 in and 209 lbs

gothchiq

I'm 48. You will def have to run a calorie deficit to lose weight.... no fun I know.

gothchiq

I'm in the process of menopause. You wanna talk about a struggle losing the weight lol. I eat 1200 calories and work out like a maniac and I lose a pound every 2-3 weeks.

Michele7091

Does almost 40 count? I'm 39 but will turn 40 in November. I have noticed that it's harder for me to lose weight now than it was 4-5 years ago.

Lounmoun

rodeothedog wrote: »

I have lost and gained 50 pounds twice. I am not at my heaviest or my unheathliest but I am NOT were I want to be.
I am a 40 year old female that works 13 hour shifts full time as a nurse. I have 4 children from college on down to 6 years old.
I need more people that have noticed that losing any weight isuch harder when you are older.
I have been working/running for 6 weeks, no diet and haven't lost a pound. I just started dieting and tracking again.
Oh yea I am 5 ft 6 in and 209 lbs

I am female, 5'4" and was 40 years old and 180 lbs when I started losing with MFP. I'm 42 now and down about 28 lbs.
I was trying to lose weight for 15 years and it has been the easiest and most consistent loss I've ever had just tracking my calorie intake and sticking to a deficit. Tracking made all the difference for me.
Being 40 didn't really make it harder for me to lose weight. I struggled more when I was younger even though I had some faster losses. They were not consistant or sustainable because I wasn't tracking calories.
This time I ate normal food, didn't exercise super hard- just watched the calories. Now that I am getting closer to a healthy weight it is slower and more difficult because I just don't have as much room for error. I'm happy with my progress and will keep at it.

You can do it!

shelshel77

I am six months away from 40- it is definitely harder to lose weight than it was four years ago. My metabolism has slowed down dramatically and I don't take artificial hormones at all so that doesn't help. I have a hormonal imbalance already which slowed things down and now age is rearing it's ugly head. I eat 1200 calories a day and workout all the time. I lose one pound a week if I'm lucky. I think I might have to do some sort of cleanse to shock my system.

MindyBruno

I'm 47 and started May 2015 at 224. I'm currently fluctuating between 154-157. It is totally a struggle. I have a full time job and a part time job, I usually work 6 or 7 days a week.I log all my food and walk every day. I try to get to the gym 1 or 2 times a week to lift.

Kmywalker3

I'm a 42 year old Mom of a 7 year old and a 5 year old. I'm also a teacher. I've struggled with my weight since I was a child and I'm definitely a stress eater! I would love to encourage and be encouraged!

SW: 224
CW: 198.6
GW: 135

TammysFinallyDoingIt

I am 40.

annoid11

I am 44---inconsistent with healthier foods--exercise regularly.

Sillybee727

I'll be 40 in February and have my birthday in min for motivation, I really want to hit that day feeling healthy and being lighter than I am now, even though I don't realistically expect to drop all forty lbs by then.

Likeyou I've lost 30-40 a couple of times in the past, but not more than 20 now for close to eight years. It's harder for sure but feels like the clock is ticking. When I look at people who are in their fifties and sixties it's like they were at a crossroads at around forty and those who were healthy still look and feel pretty good at sixty but the ones who didn't take care of themselves really start going downhill after forty.

shadowfax_c11

I'm 46. I have not found losing weight any harder. If anything it is easier than it was when I was younger. Not saying it is fast but it isn't really that hard. Once I quit buying into all of the nonsense and BS that is being thrown around out there about weight loss, the fad diets and pseudoscience, and just started paying attention to how much I actually eat vs how much my body really does need for day to day function.

I am also menopausal. Not finding that to be a hinderance either.

Matt200goal

44 here

chandraminick

I think after 40, we need to stop all the cardio and eating processed foods, and replace that with greener foods and HIIT ifwe are going to be successful and keep it off. I think women diet too much and workout incorrectly. I think weight training is the key.

IzzyBooNZ1

chandraminick wrote: »

I think after 40, we need to stop all the cardio and eating processed foods, and replace that with greener foods and HIIT ifwe are going to be successful and keep it off. I think women diet too much and workout incorrectly. I think weight training is the key.

Can someone confirm this? why stop cardio ?

I'm 41 btw

MsRuffBuffNStuff

I'm 42. Try excellent nutrition in a slight calorie deficit, and lifting weights.... a little cardio (HIIT is best), but concentrate on building muscle. I would like to add that when I was 39 years old, I weighed 250. I'm now 145 and in better shape than i was in my 20's...

emdeesea

I'll be 45 in about two weeks. I do almost exclusively weight lifting and here's why:

As women, we naturally have less muscle than men. And as we age, we lose that muscle. Losing that muscle can result in more brittle bones and bone loss.

You lose fat by watching your calories. You get fit by exercising. I mostly lift weights and have lost 60 pounds since I started this at about age 40. I'm the smallest and fittest I've ever been and I have more strength and energy than some women half my age at the gym.

Cardio is nice and something fun to do but you will never need to outrun a cheetah on the savannah. But you will need muscle as you age. So I'm planning ahead.

oceandaisies

I am 40. I am also a nurse and work 12 hour + shifts.

I honestly have never tried to lose weight before now. I gained weight over the last 20ish years and finally decided this year that it was time to get healthy! I have lost 25 lbs since June 1st by eating at a deficit with the occasional day of splurging. I have been increasing my physical activity - walking, calisthenics, yoga, gardening (lots as we have a 1/2 acre garden). I am being careful with building up my strength as I have a chronic back problem with daily pain that I do not want to aggravate. I have found yoga to be very helpful at stretching things out in my back. I just requested a book at my library on women and weight lifting. I am looking forward to it and starting a weight lifting regime of some sort at home, there are no gyms near me as I live in the middle of nowhere

Cahgetsfit

Just turned 40 in July. Losing weight is harder yes! In my youth I would simply eat slightly less for a week and off if would come... not such luck anymore!

Therealobi1

chandraminick wrote: »

I think after 40, we need to stop all the cardio and eating processed foods, and replace that with greener foods and HIIT ifwe are going to be successful and keep it off. I think women diet too much and workout incorrectly. I think weight training is the key.

What's wrong with cardio. Would weight training help me run for the train without me feeling I am going to keel over
What do you mean by working out incorrectly. So many people don't even bother to work out at all so surely some type of movement is better than none

Therealobi1

45 here. Started in my 40's. I think if you stick to it and keep the process simple age doesn't get in the way. Once you lose weight need to still stay focused otherwise it just all goes back on. This applies to all ages

Cahgetsfit

Therealobi1 wrote: »

chandraminick wrote: »

I think after 40, we need to stop all the cardio and eating processed foods, and replace that with greener foods and HIIT ifwe are going to be successful and keep it off. I think women diet too much and workout incorrectly. I think weight training is the key.

What's wrong with cardio. Would weight training help me run for the train without me feeling I am going to keel over
What do you mean by working out incorrectly. So many people don't even bother to work out at all so surely some type of movement is better than none

Nothing wrong with cardio IMO, but no need to do excessive cardio. As for helping you run for the bus - weights will help with this too. I know for a fact because after I started lifting one day I had to sprint for the bus and I got there without even puffing, whereas before I would have had a heart attack by the time I reached the bus.

Weight training helps with us old lady bones and muscle tone to keep the bits from going south. CArdio doesn't help that.

So - be sensible and do a bit of both.

Eat at a slight deficit, lift heavy things a few times a week and do a HIIT or some steady state cardio and hey presto, everything is all good.

Along with an 80:20 approach to food - 80% good fresh "healthy" food and 20% the stuff you want to shovel in your gob like cakes and burgers. That way you don't feel deprived but you are also mostly nourishing yourself with 'good' food.

That is my 2c anyway

Therealobi1

Cahgetsfit wrote: »

Therealobi1 wrote: »

chandraminick wrote: »

I think after 40, we need to stop all the cardio and eating processed foods, and replace that with greener foods and HIIT ifwe are going to be successful and keep it off. I think women diet too much and workout incorrectly. I think weight training is the key.

What's wrong with cardio. Would weight training help me run for the train without me feeling I am going to keel over
What do you mean by working out incorrectly. So many people don't even bother to work out at all so surely some type of movement is better than none

Nothing wrong with cardio IMO, but no need to do excessive cardio. As for helping you run for the bus - weights will help with this too. I know for a fact because after I started lifting one day I had to sprint for the bus and I got there without even puffing, whereas before I would have had a heart attack by the time I reached the bus.

Weight training helps with us old lady bones and muscle tone to keep the bits from going south. CArdio doesn't help that.

So - be sensible and do a bit of both.

Eat at a slight deficit, lift heavy things a few times a week and do a HIIT or some steady state cardio and hey presto, everything is all good.

Along with an 80:20 approach to food - 80% good fresh "healthy" food and 20% the stuff you want to shovel in your gob like cakes and burgers. That way you don't feel deprived but you are also mostly nourishing yourself with 'good' food.

That is my 2c anyway

I agree with the do both. But for those who like their cardio none of my business

StillBreathingFitness

44. I lost 75 lbs between 2012-2014 but gained back 32. Now I'm back on that journey only this time I'm recovering from a wreck 6 months ago that broke my left femur in two places and both bones in my left forearm. I've only lost 16 lbs but I'm down 2 pants sizes and my shorts are looser. I lift 5 days a week with a Saturday workout on the beach. I do cardio every day.

It's not easy but we'll worth it no matter how slow the progress. Fall in love with the process.

Vaunella

41...maybe start a group for accountability? I'll definitely join in.

jennylee274

42.. Nurse with twelve hour shifts and two hour commute. What I have lost this time has only been successful because mfp makes me diet accountable. Two kids and one husband who are not willing riders on my healthy train doesn't help. I understand the frustration only too well. I think our profession doesn't help because u don't have time to go pee let alone chew a healthy salad for thirty uninterrupted minutes

charlie_fox

I'm 44 and looking to lose approx 10 lbs (gained 14 in the last year). I work, have children and dogs - so quite busy. My husband is a personal trainer so I pick his brain a lot about exercise... but it always comes back to the 80/20 rule. What we eat is 80% of the equation when determining what your body will be like.

NAbramovich

44 year old here. I'd say it's definitely harder as you get older, but doable. What worked for me was just simplifying things. Instead of going low carb, vegan, paleo or whatever (I've tried it all, lost the weight and then regained it once I stopped), I just ate what I wanted, logged the food and tried to stop at the allowance MFP set for me. I started at 10K steps a day and upped it each week when it got too easy. It's been slow, but I've managed to lose 30 lbs since November 2015. I've hit a plateau for the past month and I know I don't want to eat less, so I'm going to incorporate strength training now. Good luck, everyone!

optiman38

40 yes and are all feeling it just keep head up high, it will come off more i've just gone gluten free and it's falling off. maybe giving up the one thing i loved which was bread made a big difference to me.

Jdkbs

40 year old stay at home mom. I have more weight to lose this time. I get easily frustrated if I don't see the scale moving quickly and if I slip up and eat too many calories. I need to develop more patience and trust the process. Eat less, move more. I think its a confidence thing. I don't trust that I know what I'm doing and give up easily.

I guess this is the work I need to commit to daily.

angrydads

I'm 44 here....motivating, inspiring and sometimes push people that need that extra something....inquire within.... lol