BACK after a long time - is a calorie a calorie?

ahoy_m8

Another comment on dietary fat: I tend to have meals that are lowish on fat so I really depend on high fat snacks in order to reach the minimum fat needed daily (~0.35g/lb body weight).

One of my kids asked me once if cheese was a healthy snack or not-- yes or no. It's impossible to answer a question like that with no context. If the rest of a person's diet is short of fat, cheese is an awesome snack, maybe the best choice possible. If the rest of a person's diet is very high fat but low on fiber, then cheese isn't the best choice. With nutrition, it's the big picture -- what you consume over the course of a whole week, not daily or hourly -- that is relevant.

Also, I'm 55 and CICO works reliably for me. The math may not always work on exactly the schedule you want, but the math always works. But you already know that! Rely on the success and knowledge you have in your past. They will serve you well. Best to you, OP!

callsitlikeiseeit

a calorie is always a calorie.

i lost the same in my 30s as i do now at 43.

kshama2001

For me it hasn't been my age that makes weight management challenging but my job. When I was in my 20s, a machine operator, and running around a machine all day - easy. Desk job - much more challenging. Would be less so if I didn't like to eat so much

As I've gotten older, desk jobs have become the norm. I've had desk jobs exclusively since @ 2006. (Not exactly sure when I stopped teaching yoga.)

FitAgainBy55

The difference in BMR between a 25 year old and a 45 year old 5'0 160 lbs women is only 100 calories.

I'm sure my comments will be disregarded by many women, but I'm 55 and I've never had trouble losing weight as long as I tracked my food and exercise -- regardless of the source of my calories. At 45 I transitioned from borderline obese to 12% body fat while eating pasta, bread, Hershey kisses (every day), pizza and drinking beer. At 55 I'm losing 1.5 lbs per week (eating fewer carbs this time because my wife prefers a lower carb diet) still drinking lots of beer but not as much pizza (only once per week or so).

If I were at the same weight at 25 my BMR would be 1,728 ... instead at 55 it is 1,578. That's only 150 calories. While you have very little control over your BMR short term, your TDEE is totally up to you. A sedentary 25 year old with my stats would have a TDEE of 2,074. I've CHOSEN a TDEE of about 2750 calories per day and thus I can eat like a 25 year old sedentary person and still lose 1.5 lbs per week at 55.

springlering62

I’m 58. Starting at 56, I lost 40% of my body weight. I am always busy, walking, working out, cleaning, moving, except when I sit down to (ahem, @sijomial ) crochet or do needlework. I maintain at an average of about 2500 or so per day.

I would give anything for the do-over to have started this at 43.

Take this as the opportunity it is, and get out there and kill it.

I just want to take all the women who come on MFP pissing and moaning about how they can’t do it because of age, or menopausal status, shake them, scream at them, and then hug them. Yes, you can. If you get off your *kitten* and do something about it!!!!