Wow! Losing is tough when you're 50+ years young!

mikesmom1983

CMNVA wrote: »

I'm 53 and have never really had significant weight issues most of my life. In fact, when I was younger I was one of those skinny people that was kind of made fun of. I could and did eat anything I wanted. It was probably my 30s (and 2 children) that got the weight gain going. I've always hovered between being the right weight and being up to 20 lbs higher than I wanted. That 20 lb mark definitely hit me around the menopause time.

I did MFP last year and lost most of it. I also did C25K. Then winter came and I couldn't go outside anymore, then I got stressed over some health issues and started eating again. Gained most of it back in what seemed like a very short time. Then at the end of May, I thought, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I went back on MFP but at a more reasonable calorie deficit. I have managed some, very slowly, but I'm feeling better about it.

My problem is: exercise. I just can't get going. Here's my excuses:

1. It's so freaking hot outside.
2. I'm tired of trying to take my life in my hands and cross the busy road to get me to the "walkable" area.
3. My commute is 1 hour each way.
4. I'm the cook in the house so I'm preparing meals when I get home.
5. I get up at 4AM.
6. If I join a gym or something, I lose my entire evening getting there, working out, and getting home.
7. Absolutely NO motivation for it.

But I need to do something. While I've lost weight and I'm a good size, I don't like the way I look anymore. I need a good weight program. But I need to do it at home. Getting out is just not going to happen because of my job.

I know that no one can give me the magic words. I just wanted to whine.

Try KettleBell exercises at home, small monetary and time investment. Tightens and tones. I frequently work 95 hours per week and still find 10-15 minutes 5-7 times/ week for a quick workout.

7sorok

I'm 67 and feel like maybe 35. 11 years ago I lost 70 lbs. It took me a year, but it was easy to lose. I have gained everything back and some. The reason? I didn't and I don't know how to maintain. At that time I had tried to join WW, just to learn to maintain. Now I don't want to loose 70 lbs, I want to get to weight I'll be comfortable with - I don't have a set number. I'm obese, but thank G-d my health is OK - no high blood pressure, no diabetes.

Since April I lost 17.5 lbs and today I crossed 200 lbs mark, so this is encouraging. Sometimes I lose my cool and I eat everything in sight, but I make a point to get back to better eating the very next day.

If you'll calm down your internal angst and will accept that if you will not lose weight tomorrow, you'll die, than it gets easier and monotonous, and that's what you want in weight loss - monotony, nice and easy, nice and steady..

My motto: ONE DAY AT THE TIME, ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, AND TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY

Good luck!

purplefibermom

I'm 57 and starting over again. I've been slowly inching up in pounds over the years and I'm not happy with what I'm seeing in the mirror. I know it is in my hands - need to make changes slowly. When I try to go all in I succeed for a little while and then burn out. This time I'm trying to add one or two changes at a time so hopefully they will stick.

I had lost almost 25 pounds over a year ago as my son was getting married and I wanted to look a bit better in my dress. I was eating more veggies, had banished sugar totally from my life and was exercising regularly. I'm still eating more veggies but sugar has crept its way back in and my exercise habits have dwindled down to every once in a while.

Time to get back on track and be willing to forgive myself when I'm not so perfect.

Agree with Mikesmom re: kettlebells - when I was using them regularly the fat seemed to melt away. Need to pull them out and start swinging them again

Grnhouse

sjack44 wrote: »

I'd love some more support! I've just turned 50 and am finding it slow going

Stay with it. It gets better each day.

Sabinecolada

Thanks for the feed back guys.
Coue Coue: I have read a lot of conflicting reports on walking, mostly good but some articles suggest it can be a waste of time. I however am going to go with your take on it, loving the "feel good" component and like they say if it "feels good" you are more likely to keep doing it. It's got to be better than sitting around. Having said that it's winter here and freezing. We still try and walk but give it a miss when it is raining. I have also started walking faster and added weights to a back pack to make up for the time we don't walk. Also the weights are helping me to condition myself for when Bear and I go hiking in the hills.

Jerome: Wow you're good at this, your comment "You're using food and alcohol as a social cement rather than as a fuel" hit the nail on the head. Ouch! And yes I have started becoming more aware of what I am putting into my body and doing a little less 'mindless' eating. It also helps that I have a lovely little skirt (that is a little too tight, alright a lot too tight) hanging on the pantry door. As for eating out, we have slowed down on that a little as it's too cold to venture out. But yes I do need to put more thought into it, less dressing will be a good start.

Nowine4me: Thanks so much for your input. A new relationship sure does feel like you are on a non-stop party merry-go-round or in our case a roller-coaster! Great advice only problem 1 glass of wine easily becomes 2 and then before I know it we have ordered a bottle. Well that use to be the case. As I mentioned earlier I am now becoming more aware and less mindless of what I am putting in my mouth. Practicing self awareness with wine as well as food, not easy I can tell you, as we live in a wine region. But yes I am now just having one glass with my meal and I have taken it a step further and have limited myself to one glass per day. One for Friday and one for Saturday. There I said it, now I have to commit. Except for Friday as we are having our "Christmas in July" party for Cellar Door. Did I mention I work in a Winery.
Thanks guys,
Sabine

Machka9

Sabinecolada wrote: »

Thanks for the feed back guys.
Coue Coue: I have read a lot of conflicting reports on walking, mostly good but some articles suggest it can be a waste of time. I however am going to go with your take on it, loving the "feel good" component and like they say if it "feels good" you are more likely to keep doing it. It's got to be better than sitting around. Having said that it's winter here and freezing. We still try and walk but give it a miss when it is raining. I have also started walking faster and added weights to a back pack to make up for the time we don't walk. Also the weights are helping me to condition myself for when Bear and I go hiking in the hills.

Jerome: Wow you're good at this, your comment "You're using food and alcohol as a social cement rather than as a fuel" hit the nail on the head. Ouch! And yes I have started becoming more aware of what I am putting into my body and doing a little less 'mindless' eating. It also helps that I have a lovely little skirt (that is a little too tight, alright a lot too tight) hanging on the pantry door. As for eating out, we have slowed down on that a little as it's too cold to venture out. But yes I do need to put more thought into it, less dressing will be a good start.

Nowine4me: Thanks so much for your input. A new relationship sure does feel like you are on a non-stop party merry-go-round or in our case a roller-coaster! Great advice only problem 1 glass of wine easily becomes 2 and then before I know it we have ordered a bottle. Well that use to be the case. As I mentioned earlier I am now becoming more aware and less mindless of what I am putting in my mouth. Practicing self awareness with wine as well as food, not easy I can tell you, as we live in a wine region. But yes I am now just having one glass with my meal and I have taken it a step further and have limited myself to one glass per day. One for Friday and one for Saturday. There I said it, now I have to commit. Except for Friday as we are having our "Christmas in July" party for Cellar Door. Did I mention I work in a Winery.
Thanks guys,
Sabine

Nothing wrong with walking! At the very least, it feels good and offers a contribution toward bone density. It also helps burn calories.

My husband and I walk several evenings each week ... that's our "date". It's a time when we can get away from the TV, computers, etc. and just talk to each other. In addition, we've built our relationship around cycling. We don't talk much doing that, but it is a shared experience.

pessxx

I'll be 50 next month, feeling old and slow going with the weightloss , pessimistic , please feel free to add me!