Looking for new ideas on weight lose

zinabennett2006

I have lost some weight since I joined, but here's my problem I have never lost a pound a week and now that I am older it's harder to get rid of the weight.

duskyjewel

Slow and steady wins the race. I'm 44 and I know what you mean, it just doesn't come off as easily as it did in my 30s. But as long as you are moving in the right direction, I would say don't meddle with success.

L1zardQueen

Start with the stickies at to the top of the boards.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300331/most-helpful-posts-getting-started-must-reads#latest

Lots of good info.

callsitlikeiseeit

Danp

Is there any evidence that losing weight gets harder when you get older?

Surely the same energy equation applies equally to anyone of any age. When I did the calculations for myself, holding all other variables constant, the difference between my TDEE at age 25 and TDEE today at age 45 is approx 120cal/day. Which is relatively insignificant for the most part.

So, I've began to suspect this idea stems from three possible sources.
1. Inactivity. When in our 20's we're more likely to be doing active things. Playing sports, going out dancing at clubs, out and about with friends, etc. As we get older we tend to do more sedentary pursuits and therefore our calories burned by 'life' diminish.
2. We care less. Or perhaps a better way to put it is we become too comfortable in our skin. What was unacceptable bulge in our 20's becomes 'charming dad bod' in our 40's. So rather than it being harder to lose weight as we get older it gets less important and therefore less of a priority as we get older
3. It's a convenient excuse. We cling to the idea that 'it gets harder when you're older' as a convenient way to absolve ourselves of responsibility for putting on weight. It's comforting to be able to lay the blame at the feet of an external factor over which we have no control.

Personally, I've think I've bought in to all 3 of the above ideas to some degree over the years. Now, I've realised that all 3 are 100% within my control. I can be chose to be more active, I can care about and expect more of myself and I can stop looking for excuses and accept that managing my weight really isn't any harder now than it was when I was younger. In fact from a certain point of view it might actually be easier. My life is less chaotic so I'm able to excerpt a level of control and influence over my routine than when I was younger and I'm a far wiser and less impulsive person than my younger self.

#perspective

lalalacroix

I agree with the above. The main reason it seems harder when we are older is because we burn less calories throughout our day.

There are some great posts here on increasing your NEAT. Maybe someone can post a link.

AnnPT77

lalalacroix wrote: »

I agree with the above. The main reason it seems harder when we are older is because we burn less calories throughout our day.

There are some great posts here on increasing your NEAT. Maybe someone can post a link.

You mean like this one, started by an actual kinda-old person (63):

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss/p1

Lower daily activity and reduced muscle mass account for the majority of lower calorie burn as we age. Isn't it handy that both are under our direct control?

Best wishes! :flowerforyou:

HoneyBadger302

Danp wrote: »

.....
So, I've began to suspect this idea stems from three possible sources.
....
#perspective

Very much this. Funny thing, I start making an effort to be more active and build more muscle, and losing weight gets a little easier. I won't say that it's as easy as it was in my 20's but here's why - I now drive a car to work, and sit at a computer all day. Going out with friends more often than not centers around a nice dinner out (food, drinks, and sitting on our bums). In my 20's, I hiked around a college campus, or had jobs that had me on my feet and moving things all day (more "manual" types of jobs), money was tighter so I didn't eat out anywhere near as much, and my friends were just as broke as me, so we did more active things together (dancing, go to a local event where we'd be walking around, etc). Bicycle was a normal form of transport. Activity after work was, well, active - not coming home and sitting on the couch to "unwind."

It IS harder, IMO, because now I have to make time for it - so, from a time and mental perspective, it IS harder. Technically/scientifically, it's not, but it requires more effort now than it did then due to overall activity diminishing. Due to overall activity diminishing, watching what I eat is FAR more of a concern than it ever was then. I can't just "trim back" anymore, and instead need to be mindful of everything I'm consuming.

The good news is, adding more activity can eventually become the norm and won't feel so much like a chore. Eating properly for your activity levels gets easier over time and more normal, and you stop feeling so deprived (plus more activity equals more food, which helps me a lot!).

Getting comfortable with the extra weight is a thing too, at least for me. While I never liked the extra weight I put on, I grew used to it, and it didn't bug me like it did when I was younger. People in my age group were often heavier too, which I think is another part of the equation - I "fit in" a little heavier as opposed to being the "skinny one" in the group (I still remember in my early 30's hanging out with a bunch of my friends and in the course of conversation made a comment about needing to lose the 5 pounds I had gained - only to have a chorus of heavier ladies telling me how I had nothing to lose, and where from, and, and, and....that was the last time I ever said anything about my weight - at least until I was firmly out of the healthy category )

Emmapatterson1729

Yes! Age affects weightloss! Women especially have a harder time losing weight as they age due to hormonal changes. Estrogen and other reproductive hormones drop, they play a major part in muscle development and weight gain/loss. Not impossible to maintain or lose weight while aging, but definitely harder and slower.

Links have information about hormones and explain hormonal changes and how they affect weight and muscle mass, and give advice and tips for staying healthy while aging.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/preserve-your-muscle-mass

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menopause-weight-gain/art-20046058

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321837.php