Being older and losing weight

Blythmag

Is it harder?
Im 50 and feel like im trying to use it as an excuse but is it actually true? Is it/should it be harder at my age, im doing well so far but have 15 lbs to go to get to my target but keeping it going is proving tough, marraige next year is giving me inspiration.

GOT_Obsessed

I am 47 and just lost 63 lbs. (So I am close to 50) To me it's been way easier this attempt because I have had less distractions with social outings and peer pressures like I had in my 30s.

Plus I have more money and could afford a gym membership, an air fryer, Halo Top, some kettlebells and other things to help keep me on track. It can be done at any age if you stay focused and consistent.

Good luck.

2baninja

I'm 49, I started with my weight loss last Sept. I've lost 35#, and that included being (unintentionally and unplanned) on maintenance for the summer. I've lost weight before a couple of times, this 35# is the most I've ever lost at once, I don't find it any harder then I have in the past, if I eat how I should, it comes off. period. I know easier said them done, but that is really all it boils down to.
But to answer your question, I don't find it harder this time then when I was younger.

AnnPT77

I'm 62. I lost 50+ pounds at age 59-60 in just less than a year, and didn't find it too hard.

Most people seem to find the last 10-15 pounds the hardest. It's a good plan to set yourself to lose 0.5 pounds a week at that stage (to minimize health risk), and that's a small enough calorie deficit that it takes pretty meticulous calorie tracking to pull off.

Personally, I don't think age has per se anything to do with it, other than because we tend to be less active, and consequently have decreased muscle mass, as we age. Fortunately, both of those are things we have influence over.

Best wishes!

jhilkene

I don't think age makes a bit of difference!
The only thing that can make it difficult, is injuries, health issues, etc., and even then, logging the food you eat is something all of us can do!
Getting married sounds like a great motivator to get started!
Congrats and good luck!

karenlong7

I'm 51 and have lost 136 pounds in the last 9 months. Even post-menopausal, it can be done.

vanityy99

Thats normal when you don’t have much more weight to lose. I’m way younger with at least 15 pounds to lose and the scale is fighting me, it hasn’t been easy! Keep going don’t get discouraged.

lorrpb

I lost 150 lbs at age 59. It doesn't matter if it's easier or harder than someone else or at some other point in your life. It is what it is. Obviously for me I was more successful at 59 than any other point in my life. I wanted it badly enough. I also believe that we have the maturity and life experience to tackle hard tasks and reach a goal. Let your young age be a tool and a strength not an excuse.

spiriteagle99

Unless you have health issues (i.e. undiagnosed thyroid) getting older shouldn't make it more difficult. Many people gain weight as they get older, not because of slower metabolism, but simply because they move less.

DoubleUbea

Here is a success story for you.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10683218/my-weight-loss-journey/

UncaToddly

I turned 50 in November. In 2015 I was 387 pounds (6'0") and eating whatever I wanted and in huge quantities. Working on portion control got me to 356 which is when my doctor referred me to my hospitals bariatric clinic to go the non-surgical route. With insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome, they put me on a program of low carb(85g)/high protein (160g), eat 6 times a day, 2200 calories and told me to start with walking.

I did that, felt like I was eating all the time just not the stuff I wanted and was doing 2-4 mile walks around the neighborhood 4-5 days a week. I got down to 295 and then slowly started creeping back up eventually hitting where I started...356.

That was in March of this year. I got back on the same thing originally, then after looking into the health benefits of intermittent fasting (most specifically the effects of lowered insulin levels for longer periods of time) I started doing 20:4 IF in June. I also could see how the ketogenic eating worked so well with IF so I spent about a month transitioning to that mainly because we had just bought groceries that were more LCHP friendly.

I am currently at 249 and have gone from a 52" waist in pants to the current 42" that were really too big when I bought them (I never even tried the 40" because I couldn't imagine they would fit).

Thursday I had my first followup DEXAscan done.

Body Fat % went down from 34.6% to 28.1% for a 6.5% decrease in body fat. Pounds-wise it went from 97.4 to 68.7 for 28.7 pounds of pure body fat.

Lean Muscle dropped from 176.3 to 168 but as a percentage of body mass it is actually about a 6% increase.

Other than how and when I eat, I typically do 35 minutes walking on a treadmill at a good incline (9 of 15) and a pace of 3.0-3.3 mph at Planet Fitness 3 times a well. I think I have done minor strength training about 6 times during that period and I eat anywhere between 1800-2400 calories a day, some days as much as 3000 or more if we go to someplace special to eat.

Unlike past attempts where I felt deprived all the time, I feel like I could do this forever. I don't have the cravings for the cakes and cookies and pizza and such I used to have all the time and on the odd occasion I do eat carb/sugar laden treats I certainly enjoy them more but I don't need to have a ton of them anymore.

So yeah, you can change things at 50. And the last part is always the toughest because you wanna be there.

I wish you luck.

vanmep

If it does get harder as you get older, then you better get started this very minute!

Machka9

holycrosser wrote: »

Is it harder?
Im 50 and feel like im trying to use it as an excuse but is it actually true? Is it/should it be harder at my age, im doing well so far but have 15 lbs to go to get to my target but keeping it going is proving tough, marraige next year is giving me inspiration.

When I was 47, I thought age was a good excuse ... but at 48 I decided to lose the weight and dropped 25 kg.

kgirlhart

I started on mfp at age 47. I am now 50 and have lost ~78 pounds. I have been in maintenance for almost a year. I honestly found it easier to use mfp and count calories than all the "diets" I tried in my 20's and 30's.

nowine4me

I’ve done this a few times, but my current (and last) attempt has been the most successful. I started at 50 and am now 53. I’ve lost 85# and have maintained (for the most part) for two years. I’d say it was easier than past attempts (despite being in the middle of menopause) because my head was in the right place. I took it slow and learned a lot along the way.

Of note....in addition to overhauling my diet, I also worked hard on improving my sleep and reducing stress. I think it made a huge difference.

OldAssDude

I did it at 57. I lost 57 lbs. in 52 weeks, but I did it mainly from power walking every day. I did roughly count my calories until I learned how to eat better. Then I stopped counting. I went from a 40 waist to a 32 waist.

I still power walk a lot, but now I also run, cycle, do interval runs, kayak, and occasional strength training. I do at least 1 activity per day 7 days a week, even if it's a quick 3 mile walk. I figure that I eat every day, I sleep every day, I should do an activity every day.

I have been maintaining my weight ever since, and I don't even log food. I'm 61 now.

sgt1372

68 here. Lost 46# in the past 2 yrs.

Daily weigh-ins, sticking to calorie limit by logging all food eaten and exercising daily was what it took for me to achieve it.

Didn't find it difficult to do but others may not feel likewise.

JRSINAZ

I lost 100 pounds in 8 months at 62 years old.

Blythmag

Some fantastic stories thank you.im with yous on the distractions of youth, less partying is helping, my journey is 6 weeks old and im down 6lb so its a great start, 15lb to go before June next year and the big day.Seems age is no barrier if you want it.

Mishilovescolours

I am post menapausal and losing weight is easy enough for me. As long as I eat sensibly. I have a long way to go, but I don’t think she is s barrier.

nexangelus

No, age does not make a difference, being more sedentary does, though...I am 44, post menopausal, training for a strongman competition and eating at a deficit. I have never been as strong, fit or feeling as great as I do right now...still losing a few pounds to reach weight class...I have lost 31.2lbs over the last 16months (I also did a deliberate bulk when I was still not lean at 167lbs to overcome some ED stuff and it worked)...if you want to achieve something, you will do it!