Finally found my motivation.

mmoore0824

Greetings,

Age 66 retiree 6'2". In 2019 I went from 250 lbs down to 200lbs with weight watchers. Weight is slowly creeping up, 215 lbs now. Have tried to diet, but love to eat and don't like to deprive myself. Retirement is like a long vacation and everyone overeats on vacation, right? Anyway, I've scheduled a physical 10/1 about six weeks from now. So, I can find the discipline to diet and eat healthy until then so I'll have good numbers on all my tests. I already exercise a lot. Go to the golf course when weather is good, to the gym when weather is bad.

Hope this is helpful to others. Some people (like me) need to have a goal in order to stick to a diet. Look around and find the goal in your life.

Mike

ReenieHJ

Having a goal has always been a catalyst for change for me!! Only problem is when I reach that goal, I need another one to strive for and sometimes I forget that, so end up moving back up the scale.

Stay strong and keep remembering your goal!! You can do this for 6 weeks!! Then you'll have some confidence in staying strong, and better numbers, so increased motivation to stick to it!

lgfrie

I spent a lot of years in precisely this "crunch time leading up to my annual exam" diet mode. I'd gain 30 ish pounds during the year, then panic 2-3 months before my annual exam and diet like a fiend. Sometimes I'd get back to even, more often not. Then the minute I got out of the annual exam, I'd celebrate with a massive binge, which'd continue with fits and starts for the next 7-10 months LOL

It's good to have a goal and sometimes a deadline works for people, but sustainable eating habits you can live with, with or without a doctor appointment prodding you into dieting, is generally better.

NovusDies

This might work for you. I cannot afford to treat a normal day like a vacation day anymore. I did that far too much and my life became an anti-vacation.

kshama2001

lgfrie wrote: »

I spent a lot of years in precisely this "crunch time leading up to my annual exam" diet mode. I'd gain 30 ish pounds during the year, then panic 2-3 months before my annual exam and diet like a fiend. Sometimes I'd get back to even, more often not. Then the minute I got out of the annual exam, I'd celebrate with a massive binge, which'd continue with fits and starts for the next 7-10 months LOL

It's good to have a goal and sometimes a deadline works for people, but sustainable eating habits you can live with, with or without a doctor appointment prodding you into dieting, is generally better.

Yes, this was me when I was in the military and had annual weigh-ins, lol.

Hi Mike - welcome! I love to eat too and manage this with 1. smaller portions of calorie dense foods, 2. larger portions of veggies, and 3. more exercise.

AnnPT77

Hi, there!

I'm a retiree, too (kind of long term one by now 😉), age 64. And I, too, like eating . . . as a special case of liking pleasurable things generally. That hedonistic streak is a factor in my getting fat, then obese, and staying obese for several decades, including staying obese for over a decade after becoming very active with exercise, even competing athletically.

For me, what finally flipped the switch in my brain was realizing that I wanted to live in a generally pleasureable way for (I hope) another couple of decades. For future Ann to be healthy, happy, and strong enough to enjoy her life, current Ann needs to show that future woman a little love right now, and learn to balance current pleasure with future pleasure. That requires achieving and sustaining a healthy body weight, staying active, getting good overall nutrition . . . while still eating tasty foods (and drinks) I love.

Part of this realization was that I was immersed in two very different social circles, one of athletes (rowers), and one of recreational mixed-media artists (who are often fully sedentary and overweight). As those friends reached 50s and beyond, let alone 70s and beyond, it was blindingly obvious which were most likely to have enjoyable lives.

For as long as possible, I want to continue being able to live independently (not depend so much on others), eat in a way I enjoy (not be limited by health conditions and drug interactions from essential medications), and enjoy activities that involve extensive walking/stairs (festivals, museums, stadium events, outdoor activities). Getting some moderation in current behavior, in smart ways, is compatible with happy life now, and paves the way toward a happier future life.

Clearly, there are no guarantees in life, but there is an opportunity to shift one's personal odds. That's my intention.

In 2015, when I was age 59-60, I lost from my obese starting weight (just over the line into class 1 obese), to the low-mid range of the normal BMI range, a weight I hadn't been since my 20s. The loss was in the 50-pound range (exact amount depends on the current daily weight - it's 54 pounds, today. 😆) I've stayed at a healthy weight for 4+ years since, without a sense of extreme self-denial or sacrifice of happiness. Though initial loss was quite rapid, most recently, I've been losing a few vanity pounds ultra-slowly (like a pound a month or thereabouts), which has been remarkably painless.

Everyone's best route is different. Wishing you all the best as you seek yours!

age_is_just_a_number

It’s a lifestyle not a diet to go on and off.
Remember eating well is respecting yourself; not a punishment.
Take care

lorrpb

Is making retirement last as long and healthful as possible a motivation for you?