50 and older

dyeranda

I just turned 50 and I'm noticing that I'm having a harder time lose those 5 lbs that creep on when you are not paying attention. Do I need to cut even more calories as I get older? I'm very active but I'm at a lost.

LyndaBSS

I’m 61. I’m really happy with my progress so far here. I’m half way to my goal. I let mfp give me my calorie allowance and I chose a loss rate of 1 pound per week.

Trust the process. It works.

ookoolady

It's pretty common for people to feel that it's harder to lose weight as we get older. There are a lot of reasons that might explain it, but the important thing to remember is that you can still lose weight by reducing calories and/or increasing activity. Be extra careful about weighing and logging everything you eat. Good luck, you can do this!

AnnPT77

Theoretically, we burn slightly fewer calories daily per pound of bodyweight as we age, but it's a very small amount year to year. Calculators estimate my sedentary TDEE around 1500 at age 63 (which I am) vs. 1650-ish if I were 33 . . . that's only around 50 calories difference per decade.

Much of that difference is down to two things: Less active daily life (non-exercise activity), and reduced muscle mass. The good news is that both of those are things that we can individually work on changing.

Of course, you can offset some of that slow-down via exercise, but don't ignore the potential contribution of increasing daily life activity. There's a thread here where folks discuss their ideas for doing so:

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

The muscle mass issue's solution is obvious: If you're not already doing some strength-increasing exercise, it's never too late to start. There's research showing strength and muscle mass increases are possible for people into their 80s at least. If that's not something you're already doing, there's a thread about it here:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

In the short run, you may have to cut your calories a little further than someone younger, but you can still work on the above, if you wish. Since MFP uses your age as part of its calculation, its weight loss calorie goal is still the best place to start. If you only have 10 pounds or so to lose, best strategy would be to take it slowly, at 0.5 pounds a week, for best energy level and retention of current muscle mass. To feel confident that good stuff is happening, since a slow loss rate can be hard to visualize amongst normal daily weight fluctuations, a weight trending app is a good adjunct tool (Happy Scale for iOS, Libra for Android, Trendweight with a Fitbit account (which I'm told is free even if you don't have a Fitbit device), Trendweight, others).

Best wishes!

reversemigration

There's good advice in the previous posts. I would add that vigilance with weighing helps me recognize the weight creep early and intervene.

sijomial

Age alone doesn't mean you need to cut calories - if your lifestyle is becomming more sedentary as you age then it's the lifestyle not the age that is meaning you need to eat less.

Personally I found it far easier to lose weight in my 50's compared to earlier attempts as I got more "me time" and I became more active and did more exercise. Plus of course the tools available to regulate your calories are far better.

I retired at 57 and saw a noticable increase in calories required to maintain, I sit less, I drive less, I move more whether on my feet or a bicycle.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I'm in agreement with OP: it's harder to lose the weight nearing 60. Factors include being more tired when I'm cutting, yet I need to stay productive and being more inactive over all (in bed at 9).

One approach is to lose more slowly. I've been dropping since August at about .5lbs per week. I exercise about 6 days a week, ~45min per day. And do little things to stay active, like "take the stairs" and 'park on the far side of the lot."

LivingtheLeanDream

It does seem to be harder but its still doable.. I turned 50 this year too and saw weight creep happen for the first time in several years, but I'm slowly but surely getting it under control now - it turns out I had let a few activities slide yet didn't alter my calories in! go figure!

missysippy930

Gaining weight is about eating more calories than your body burns, at any age. Losing weight is about eating less calories than your body burns, at any age. I lost a lot of weight 3 times in my life. At 21, at 31, and at 60. It wasn’t any harder, or easier, at any age. I bought into the myth that it’s harder to lose after 40, so I didn’t even try too lose for years. Everyone is different, but I know a lot of people that have lost weight that are over 40. If you have no medical issues that can affect weight loss, count calories accurately, log everything you eat and drink, and stay at a calorie deficit, and you will lose weight.
Clearly, keeping the weight off, is the difficult part for me.

kds10

I am 51 and losing about a pound per week by eating less. As of today weigh in 2 lbs to goal:) I am also very active I hike and do kickboxing 3 hours a week.

JoDavo66

Hormones!! Had this conversation with more than 1 Doctor. Weight gain was gradual despite me following WW. Since joined MFP instead on advice of Personal Trainer. We are looking at increasing protein further & decreasing carbs. I'm on some prescribed higher level Vitamins & recommended OTC ones - means I rattle instead of 1 single multi-Vit & mineral!! Getting there VERY slowly

MostlyWater

It's easier after menopause is over with. Hormones are more steady then.

Luke_rabbit

The only difference I've noticed is a choice. I just don't want to put lots of time and effort into exercise, especially since my joints and connective tissue are lousy, so I just walk almost every day and do a little yoga/strength training 2-3 days a week. Therefore, I have to eat lower calories than I did when I was younger. I'm losing .5 lbs/week eating around 1350 calories (that includes exercise calories).

sgt1372

I'm 69 and had no problem losing 36# about 4 yrs ago from 196 to 160 and losing another 10# over the past yr.

It just requires discipline and persistence which is required regardless of your age to lose the wt