Advice Needed

lucerorojo

I'm 52 and have lost 42 lbs. using mfp. Much easier than I expected.

Tacklewasher

AnvilHead wrote: »

Burtonwife wrote: »

Just hoping it’s not my age. I have heard it’s harder to lose weight as you get older. I can say it was much easier to lose weight in my 30’s than it now is in my 40’s but I am just going to keep going.

Age is not an excuse. There are plenty of people on MFP in their 50s, 60s and 70s who have lost appreciable amounts of weight. I lost over 70 pounds starting at age 53. Maybe @AnnPT77 could offer some insight in that regard also.

Really wonder if she minds being constantly tagged as the "old" person

Started at 51 and have lost ~130lbs in ~ 18 months.

AnnPT77

Burtonwife wrote: »

Just hoping it’s not my age. I have heard it’s harder to lose weight as you get older. I can say it was much easier to lose weight in my 30’s than it now is in my 40’s but I am just going to keep going.

40s? Hah! That's not "age". But age is no big deal. Most of us burn fewer calories as we age because we move less in daily life, and our muscle mass gradually starts to decline.

The good news is that we can change both of those things.

Exercise is just one way to move more. It's a good one, but some of us can burn more extra calories by amping up daily life than we burn via intentional exercise. Got some home improvement projects you've been putting off? Do them. Do the errands that involve walking the whole length of the mall. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Take the stairs. Don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can move around. Dance in place while you chop the dinner veggies. Fidget. Make these things a habit.

It will take time for the results to become obvious, but they'll show up. Now, don't let this extra calorie burn turn into too-fast weight loss. Eat so you lose no more than 1% of your body weight per week, and preferably less. Losing too fast just risks losing more muscle mass alongside fat, and that's counterproductive.

We're just trying to get you back to burning like you did in your 30s, when you were probably doing life at warp speed, building a household, hard-charging a career, wrangling kids, trying to keep up on weekend activities with your childless friends to prove you were still cool, etc.

On the gradual muscle loss front: Use those muscles more, on a regular basis. Challenge them. Make them a little sore.

Weight training is a wonderful, focused way to do this with minimum time investment. Quickest is to follow a good, structured, progressive program, and really challenge yourself (while still avoiding injury of course!).

But weight training is not the only way, it's just the fastest. Bicycle on routes with hills. Dig garden beds. Anything that creates a bit of routine muscle challenge will help. (Note: The major soreness and stiffness you get at first, delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS, doesn't last, as long as you keep going.. It turns into a pleasant taut feeling in the muscles, and longer term into friends saying "girl, I'd kill for those arms at our age!")

Alongside this, get enough protein. Another thing aging people often dysfunctionally do is get too little. We actually need a bit more than the kids do, because our bodies process it less efficiently. At least hit your default MFP protein goal. Better yet, get 0.6-0.8g per pound of healthy goal weight daily. And eat some fat, too - nuts, avocados, seeds, oily fish, olive oil are especially good. Cutting it all out is a bad plan.

Weight loss and physical improvement are possible at any age. Me? I lost 50+ pounds in just less than a year at age 59-60, and have stayed at a healthy weight since (I'm 62). The payoffs are enormous: Less (almost no) joint pain or stiffness, ability to do more, better mood, low cholesterol/blood pressure, and more.

Age is no barrier. You can do this: Stay the course, go gradually, but do it. You'll be glad you did.

AnnPT77

Tacklewasher wrote: »

AnvilHead wrote: »

Burtonwife wrote: »

Just hoping it’s not my age. I have heard it’s harder to lose weight as you get older. I can say it was much easier to lose weight in my 30’s than it now is in my 40’s but I am just going to keep going.

Age is not an excuse. There are plenty of people on MFP in their 50s, 60s and 70s who have lost appreciable amounts of weight. I lost over 70 pounds starting at age 53. Maybe @AnnPT77 could offer some insight in that regard also.

Really wonder if she minds being constantly tagged as the "old" person

Started at 51 and have lost ~130lbs in ~ 18 months.

Constantly? Nah, doesn't happen. But I like being one of the many poster li'l ol' ladies for weight loss and fitness improvement at any age. I hate what one of our fellow MFP-ers calls (in a different context) "the bigotry of low expectations" that permeates people's ideas about aging.

Aging isn't synonymous with weakness, disability, decline, dementia, or any other impairment or dysfunction, nor is it an infallible guarantee of those things coming. Aging is just more birthdays, and birthdays are wonderful.

Besides, think of the actual alternative. It isn't youth.

ladybug4233

Burtonwife wrote: »

Just hoping it’s not my age. I have heard it’s harder to lose weight as you get older. I can say it was much easier to lose weight in my 30’s than it now is in my 40’s but I am just going to keep going.

Being 46 I was worried about that too but I have had no problem. I am down 18.5 pounds in 12 weeks. I weigh and log every single thing that goes in my mouth. I don't limit any food or drink groups either. It is all moderation and accountability. I workout most days and wear a hear rate monitor and eat a lot of the calories.

A week ago I had sinus surgery and couldnt work out for a week and can only do light activity for a few days. It is hard being used to burning 500- 600 calories to 250-300 but I am doing it. I am still loosing weight.

angel7472

agree with AnnPT77. I'm 46 and started this journey years ago. I was around 40 when I got up to 210. I'm now down to 128. Got as low as 121. Have gained and lost the same 5-10 pounds over the last 4 years now.
I used a Fitbit for a couple months and realized it either exaggerated everything or underestimated. My step count was way off. I would do 9 miles and it would tell me I only did 5 miles some days. Grrrr. If you're relying on Fitbit for calories then you may be eating more than you should be. Or you're snacking and not logging. Try TDEE and eat the same calories everyday without cheating.
https://www.sailrabbit.com/bmr/
http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
Try both sites and take an average. Enter how much you want to lose. The problem is you have 4 weeks. Usually you'd stay on a a certain amount of calories for a couple weeks then adjust up or down based on which way the scale is going.
Also, at the beginning of any new exercise routine your muscles will retain water for repair. so you'll gain then lose all the water eventually.
Protein helps with satiety, aim for .8 per pound of body weight.
Weight loss is not linear. It fluctuates. Yesterday i was 127 this morning I was 128.4. Did I gain a 1.5 pounds overnight? I really doubt it since I know I definitely didn't eat over 4000 calories yesterday.
Technically you would lose even if you did nothing all day as long as you eat under your calories. Weight is a simple matter of CICO. Consume less than your body burns and in most cases you will lose.

Burtonwife

Oh you guys are the best!! I honestly had no idea I would get this much great advice and feedback!! Every time I get on here there are more suggestions and inspiration. It’s exactly what I needed right now!!! Thank you so much!! I have got this not only now but when I get back from vacation!!

kshama2001

Burtonwife wrote: »

Just hoping it’s not my age. I have heard it’s harder to lose weight as you get older. I can say it was much easier to lose weight in my 30’s than it now is in my 40’s but I am just going to keep going.

My mom is 80 and struggles to stay above Underweight because she is so active