My daughter scoffed at...

2

Replies

  • Rocknut53
    Rocknut53 Posts: 1,794 Member
    It is totally possible. I've been at this since early January of this year. I've gone from 180 to 130-132. I've lost weight in the past but this time I was determined to not only lose it, but to not gain it back. My initial goal was 145 and that was so easy I kept going. I'd like to see 125 (I'm 5'4" as well) and will get serious about dropping that last 7 pounds right after the holidays. I just turned 63 and have not been this light for over 35 years. I owe my success to my determination to not fail and all the advise I've received on MFP from the many knowledgeable people who are willing to help.
  • Rocknut53
    Rocknut53 Posts: 1,794 Member
    Check out this success story. This woman is amazing and inspiring.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10488151/before-and-after-same-outfit/p2
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Oh man I couldn't think of any better motivation!

    That's a totally reasonable goal, and you can really do it!
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    leanjogreen18 wrote: »
    my 125 lb goal weight.

    I'm 5'4" 50 and I have 75 lbs to still lose. She seemed to indicate that my goal weight was way too low for me. It's in the middle of the bmi chart and I haven't weighed that since I was in my early 30s. She thinks at my age I would have trouble getting down that low and suggested I set it closer to the upper bmi her recommendation was 140.

    If it matters my daughter is 5'5 approx 120 and a marathoner and does crossfit. She doesn't count calories just watches her weight with a 5 lb range.

    Is she right is 125 an unrealistic goal for my age?

    ETA - she wasn't mean about it just sincerely concerned that I have my expectations up too high.

    I am also 5'4", am 42 years old and my goal is 125-145 lbs. I don't know if I will get to 125. That is about 34 more pounds for me. I can try.
    You can set whatever goal you want right now. It is going to take awhile to lose the weight no matter what. As you get closer you can judge for yourself if you want to stop at 140ish or not.
  • HappyGrape
    HappyGrape Posts: 436 Member
    I think if you figure out how to live healthy and happy the actual goal may change, or not but the way of living is great focus instead of specific number.

    Why don't you try to calculate your calorie maintenance at your goal weight and try to stick to it for a month. Would you be happy with that level of intake long term? You probably will loose weight too

    Heading in the right direction is more important than the specific numbers at the final destination in weight loss in my opinion. If you feel good in your skin, if you are happy with your exercise, energy, how you look, how you eat, if you wake up full of energy, if you find it easy and fun to live like this - you nailed it!
  • HappyGrape
    HappyGrape Posts: 436 Member
    also, you can only loose pound at a time. Focusing on smaller goal as the first 5 pounds and having a very long term vision in mind of what is your life like can make the journey easier

  • myfitnesspale3
    myfitnesspale3 Posts: 276 Member
    edited December 2016
    Dramatic weight change is upsetting to people that think they know you completely. It rattles their cage/foundation thought.

    After they see you for 2 years at your low weight then that becomes the new normal. Perhaps they will be inspired.

    Remember 125 is just a number to start you - there may be a better maintenance weight for you.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited December 2016
    Just watch the sunken face look, at our age this seems to be a bigger deal the lower in weight we go. I don't look the same at a weight that looked great on me when i was in my 20's and 30's.
    Last year i got down to a lowish weight, and a few people mentioned i had that sallow sunken look in my face, haggard even :( Something i did not notice, but apparently everyone else did!

    I'm 5'8 and anything under 143ishlbs does not look great on me.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,600 Member
    edited December 2016
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Just watch the sunken face look, at our age this seems to be a bigger deal the lower in weight we go. I don't look the same at a weight that looked great on me when i was in my 20's and 30's.
    Last year i got down to a lowish weight, and a few people mentioned i had that sallow sunken look in my face, haggard even :( Something i did not notice, but apparently everyone else did!

    I'm 5'8 and anything under 143ishlbs does not look great on me.

    I had this effect, but FWIW it didn't last. I observed it, and its reversal, as did friends. I don't know whether it had to do with the weight loss process itself (i.e., physical stresses, though I lost at a reasonable rate & very slowly at the last), or glycogen replenishment/skin shrinkage/?? later, or what. This was at 5'5", around 120 pounds (boyish build), age 60, quite active exerciser. Took maybe 2-3 months for face improvements? (Don't recall for sure.)
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Just watch the sunken face look, at our age this seems to be a bigger deal the lower in weight we go. I don't look the same at a weight that looked great on me when i was in my 20's and 30's.
    Last year i got down to a lowish weight, and a few people mentioned i had that sallow sunken look in my face, haggard even :( Something i did not notice, but apparently everyone else did!

    I'm 5'8 and anything under 143ishlbs does not look great on me.

    I had this effect, but FWIW it didn't last. I observed it, and its reversal, as did friends. I don't know whether it had to do with the weight loss process itself (i.e., physical stresses, though I lost at a reasonable rate & very slowly at the last), or glycogen replenishment/skin shrinkage/?? later, or what. This was at 5'5", around 120 pounds (boyish build), age 60, quite active exerciser. Took maybe 2-3 months for face improvements? (Don't recall for sure.)

    This has been my experience as well. That look definitely improves.

    First thing in the morning is still a little rough, though!

    I'm 5'1" and down to 116 pounds and want to get to 110. I passed that look around 125, and I've taken maintenance breaks for a while to work on my running. My face has adjusted over that time.

    Now, I'm not going to lie. I look older than I did before I lost weight, but that's because I don't have fat giving my face a youthful roundness. But I don't look sunken.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,185 Member
    I sometimes worry that I look older since I lost weight. But it took me over 10 months so I am older than when I started. I am 48 and the last time I was this weight I was 27 so I am going to look older than people remember me at this weight. Not being obese is worth it.
  • suziecue20
    suziecue20 Posts: 567 Member
    I'm 68, 5ft and lost 52lbs, taking me to my goal weight of 110lbs which I am now happily maintaining - of course you can get down to 125lbs aged 'only' 50 lol, ....go for it if its what you want [you can always put back a few pounds if 125lbs makes you look gaunt] and take no notice of your daughter because she views you in a different way to the rest of society...like my daughters do. When I started to lose weight they were rather patronising and I could tell they didn't think I could do it. Halfway to my goal and it changed to 'what do you eat, lettuce and dust'? and admonishments to be careful not to lose too much. When I reached my goal they said they now remembered the size I used to be and were very proud of me....daughters, bless 'em ;)
  • CaptainJoy
    CaptainJoy Posts: 257 Member
    Your goal is not unrealistic. Age has nothing to do with the ability to lose weight. Your daughter seems genuinely concerned and worried that you will be crushed because she thinks you've set your goals too high. Reassure her that fitness and a healthy weight are more important as we age and you will stay flexible in your goals. That should calm her fears.

    I'm 57 and my original goal was 148 because I am muscular. I actually prefer 140 because I'm so much lighter on my feet. Having started at over 245, I know my original goal was a bit unrealistic albeit healthy. I surpassed that goal in a healthy way and am happy where I'm currently at.
  • elsesvan
    elsesvan Posts: 16 Member
    If it feels ok for you,you absolutely can do it. Maybe you feel diffrently after a while. I'm 52 yrs old, 5'3 (160 cm) and now 143lb(65 kg) I am at maintance and do heavy strengthlifting 3-4 times a week. I don't want to be skinny,but fit. That's a big difference for me. Good luck with your loss :)
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I don't know whether I look older or not - I asked one (frank) friend that, and she didn't think it made a difference either way.

    However, I know I move younger: I'd gotten to the point where I kind of lumbered along, shifting my weight from side to side to walk. With something like 11-12" less fat around my hips, I have a lot more mobility and walk more normally, plus have more spring in my step. While I can't see myself while walking (except reflected in the occasional store window), I'm quite confident it has a less "elderly" look.

    Well, I walked with a cane before I lost weight. If that wasn't aging, I don't know what was!

    My hips are 14 inches smaller, so I am indeed moving younger and much more quickly than before.

    I used to dye my hair funky colors, and I think that was an effort to distract from my weight. I've let it grow out to its natural salt and pepper color now. It's funny, I get a lot of compliments on it from young kids. Apparently, gray is "in" now? Who knew?

    I pretend my grey streaks are highlights. :)

    And yes, I walked with a cane, too, before losing the weight. Granted, part of that was due to a severe ankle fracture 5 years ago, but once I dropped the weight, the cane went into the back corner of my closet and is now collecting dust.

    Does my face look "shrunken," though?

    Don't know, don't care. I'm waaaaaaay healthier and a lot more mobile than I was with 75 additional pounds on me. :)
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    snickerscharlie wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I don't know whether I look older or not - I asked one (frank) friend that, and she didn't think it made a difference either way.

    However, I know I move younger: I'd gotten to the point where I kind of lumbered along, shifting my weight from side to side to walk. With something like 11-12" less fat around my hips, I have a lot more mobility and walk more normally, plus have more spring in my step. While I can't see myself while walking (except reflected in the occasional store window), I'm quite confident it has a less "elderly" look.

    Well, I walked with a cane before I lost weight. If that wasn't aging, I don't know what was!

    My hips are 14 inches smaller, so I am indeed moving younger and much more quickly than before.

    I used to dye my hair funky colors, and I think that was an effort to distract from my weight. I've let it grow out to its natural salt and pepper color now. It's funny, I get a lot of compliments on it from young kids. Apparently, gray is "in" now? Who knew?

    I pretend my grey streaks are highlights. :)

    And yes, I walked with a cane, too, before losing the weight. Granted, part of that was due to a severe ankle fracture 5 years ago, but once I dropped the weight, the cane went into the back corner of my closet and is now collecting dust.

    Does my face look "shrunken," though?

    Don't know, don't care. I'm waaaaaaay healthier and a lot more mobile than I was with 75 additional pounds on me. :)

    I have two very prominent gray streaks, and there have been people who have asked me where I had them "done".

    My niece got a gray streak put into her hair. She's 22. :p
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    snickerscharlie wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I don't know whether I look older or not - I asked one (frank) friend that, and she didn't think it made a difference either way.

    However, I know I move younger: I'd gotten to the point where I kind of lumbered along, shifting my weight from side to side to walk. With something like 11-12" less fat around my hips, I have a lot more mobility and walk more normally, plus have more spring in my step. While I can't see myself while walking (except reflected in the occasional store window), I'm quite confident it has a less "elderly" look.

    Well, I walked with a cane before I lost weight. If that wasn't aging, I don't know what was!

    My hips are 14 inches smaller, so I am indeed moving younger and much more quickly than before.

    I used to dye my hair funky colors, and I think that was an effort to distract from my weight. I've let it grow out to its natural salt and pepper color now. It's funny, I get a lot of compliments on it from young kids. Apparently, gray is "in" now? Who knew?

    I pretend my grey streaks are highlights. :)

    And yes, I walked with a cane, too, before losing the weight. Granted, part of that was due to a severe ankle fracture 5 years ago, but once I dropped the weight, the cane went into the back corner of my closet and is now collecting dust.

    Does my face look "shrunken," though?

    Don't know, don't care. I'm waaaaaaay healthier and a lot more mobile than I was with 75 additional pounds on me. :)

    I have two very prominent gray streaks, and there have been people who have asked me where I had them "done".

    My niece got a gray streak put into her hair. She's 22. :p

    Clearly, we are trendier than we know. ;)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    leanjogreen18 wrote: »
    my 125 lb goal weight.

    I'm 5'4" 50 and I have 75 lbs to still lose. She seemed to indicate that my goal weight was way too low for me. It's in the middle of the bmi chart and I haven't weighed that since I was in my early 30s. She thinks at my age I would have trouble getting down that low and suggested I set it closer to the upper bmi her recommendation was 140.

    If it matters my daughter is 5'5 approx 120 and a marathoner and does crossfit. She doesn't count calories just watches her weight with a 5 lb range.

    Is she right is 125 an unrealistic goal for my age?

    ETA - she wasn't mean about it just sincerely concerned that I have my expectations up too high.

    It's not necessarily unrealistic, but you should also keep an open mind. A lot is going to depend on your natural build, how much muscle mass you carry, etc.

    My wife for example is 5'2"...she has an athletic build and is fairly muscular...she's right around 20% BF sitting at the high end of BMI (130-135). At 120ish (basically the middle), she's very lean to the point where she has difficulty maintaining that level of leanness...below that, she would really start to look gaunt and sick even though she'd technically still be in a healthy BMI range.

    BMI is a range in order to accommodate for various builds, not so that one can just pick and choose some number within that range. Someone who isn't naturally of a petite build for example will likely look ill at the lower end of BMI simply because of their build.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    hapa11 wrote: »
    Is your daughter 17 like mine? If so, then disregard anything she says.

    LOL.

    Wait - what if she says she's pregnant? :#
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    I'm 62 and have probably been yoyoing the same 20 pounds for over 40 years. Age has nothing to do with it. It was hard for me at every age, but I always got back down to 120-125 at 5'2". Maybe that's "maintaining" but I'm aiming for a 3 pound swing, not 20! OP you can totally do it and once you get close to your goal, fine tune.
  • markrgeary1
    markrgeary1 Posts: 853 Member
    Wife's 59, 5'3" she went from 177 to 120 in 9 months. Her first goal was 130 and she felt like losing more.

    There's no reason you can't drop down that far. See how you feel as you lose.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Do it just to spite her.....

    :)
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    Do it just to spite her.....

    :)

    Ha!! It is extra motivation for sure!
  • lady_ghost
    lady_ghost Posts: 175 Member
    leanjogreen18 wrote: »
    JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
    At 5'4", 125 is a healthy weight. Americans tend to think that healthy is too little. Maybe it's just projection.

    She doesn't disagree its a healthy weight, she thinks as a 50 yr old with 75 more lbs to lose that its an unrealistic goal. But as some have mentioned here it is not so I'm still shooting for it:).

    You are 50 not 95. There is no problem with you loosing that much.
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