Success after 50? Please share!
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I am 52, I've gone up and down for the last 26 years to a high of 315#. I am down to 245# and still going... I am comfortably wearing a pair of (admittedly relaxed fit) 34/34 Wranglers with a shirt tucked into them down from a topend of 42/34s (that amounts to an 8 inch drop at the waist). I haven't been in that size since I got married (26 years)... and while it was somewhat obscene, I was able to put on and button a pair of relaxed fit 32/34 Wranglers... something I don't think I've been able to do since middle school (40ish years ago). Before someone asks or comments...Yes, I measure my success by Wrangler BlueJean size! NO Judging!
This is a lifestyle thing. MEASURE EVERYTHING and LOG EVERTHING. If possible, use known sizes and volumes, and eat predetermined quantities as often as possible. The Healthy Choice frozen meals have made this easier for me, and they are far cheaper and easier to come by than a meal delivery service. There are plenty of other options in the freezer section and don't be afraid to add seasoning and spice for better flavor. Meal prep is your friend, it can be a fun activity as well. Mostly, I eat lean meats, vegetables, and fruits like apples and bananas. Carbs are limited to ~100g/day. I have had 3 pieces of bread or bread-like things since November and one of those was a 2oz slice of KingCake. Every once in a while I narf on too much of something but keep inside my caloric goals and exercise aggressively for an hour daily if possible. The bottom line is it can be done. Stick with it, keep trying.15 -
I am really glad I found this post. I needed this inspiration and encouragment.
Sometimes I feel really ashamed. I am a Registered Dietitian, about to turn 52 years old and am 40 pounds overweight the highest weight I have ever been. The old methods of maintaining and losing weight are not working. I could eat 1200 calories a day for a week and the scale does not budge. I am realizing I need to encorporate some strength building and calorie burning excercise if anything is going to work.
Now that I am an empty nester, I have removed all of the tempting foods out of the nest and I need to find an excercise that I enjoy and look forward to doing.
I am going to refocus on myself, keep on logging and keep reading these inspirational posts16 -
Maybe this is off-track, but I'm going to risk throwing it out there, not so much about weight loss, but about fit-spiration and fun-spiration, for fitness accomplishments later in life.
The photo below is one of my boats, back at the start of the pandemic. That lineup, from left to right, is:
* F, age 73, inactive until she was in her 60s, cancer survivor;
* F, age 74, smart woman who started strength training at age 39 (when few women did!) and has been generally active since, cancer survivor;
* M, age 29 (new rower, almost-credentialed medical doctor, infectious disease specialist, PhD completed besides DO in process!) - not our ringer, in fact probably the least-strong rower in the bunch;
* me, then age 65, started being active in mid/late 40s after cancer treatment, lost 50+ pounds at 59-60.
You know how the boat gets to the water? We four take it off a rack in a boathouse, carry it down to the water, put it in, row, pick it out of the water again, carry it back up the riverbank and put it away.
Normally, I wouldn't share photos of other people without asking them, but I think they're far enough away to be anonymous, especially with the masks (we'd just left the boathouse, where they were required at the time).
I help with our learn-to-row class every summer. Routinely, age 50+ people - some who've not be very active for quite a while! - take that class, do fine. You, too, can do more things than you think, when you're just starting out. Work up to them sensibly, and you'll surprise yourself.35 -
52 years old
Started calorie counting and 18 hour daily fast and lots of time on treadmill.
I have lost 65+ pounds during omicron.
Consitency is my secret I guess, I log everything no matter what, even cheat days, keeps me honest. I like to work based on numbers and adjust accordingly.
Good luck you can do this.11 -
These success stories are amazing, and if all of you can do it so can I. I am 61 and have struggled with my weight for a long time, i managed to lose 10kgs, but then with the Pandemic, lockdown and family trauma I managed to gain it all back on, so now I am on the journey again to find myself, revamp my eating and exercise regime and lose the 30kgs I need to lose, seems a lot but going by 5% at a time.8
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Age 56:
Age 59:
I was headed the way of my parents- multiple issues, ultimately bedridden. A thyroid prescription with a biblical side effects pamphlet flipped my switch.
I counted calories, exercised, discovered I loved moving and seldom stop now.
It’s my firm belief that this age is the cusp. You can either chose to do nothing and be and act old. Or, you can choose to be youthful and active.
One of the gyms I work out at is associated with a hospital and has a lot of rehab clients as well as older members like me. I see them watching me and wishing they were like me. I don’t mean to sound like I think I’m “all that”, but I want to show them my photo album, shake them and slap some sense into their heads and tell them it’s not too late. It breaks my heart. Why should the last third or half of our lives suck?
It still shocks me to meet greyheaded men and women who shuffle (a sign of low activity and poor health) and moan and learn many of them are only four or five years older than me.
I’m not giving up on life. I’m in the best shape ever, and the happiest I’ve ever been. My husband has joined me, too. That bit of his gray gut you see in the first photo is gone, he’s counting and exercising, too, and he has more energy than I’ve seen him show in years. I’m so proud of him!40 -
springlering62 wrote: »Age ....
It’s my firm belief that this age is the cusp. You can either chose to do nothing and be and act old. Or, you can choose to be youthful and active.
Lots of wisdom in your post, but I really love this....
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John772016 wrote: »springlering62 wrote: »Age ....
It’s my firm belief that this age is the cusp. You can either chose to do nothing and be and act old. Or, you can choose to be youthful and active.
Lots of wisdom in your post, but I really love this....
One of my favorite couples here “on the Square” is a retired airline pilot and his wife, both in their 80’s. I see them walking our city trail all the time, and they volunteer all over the place. He runs the local tree planting and park cleanup group. The day I saw she’d dyed her hair neon pink I nearly hit the sidewalk laughing (she liked mine and kept saying she was gonna do it) and congratulating her on her new look.
My trainer is 73 and could kick my *kitten*. With one hand and one leg tied behind her back. She’s like 5’ tall and got pissed off when she overheard some young guy questioning the legends he’d heard about her. She raised the garage door to the gym (her gym btw) and went outside and started casually flipping the 500 pound tire til he ate his words.
I want to have that zest and that interest in everything at “that age”.
I’ve got wonderful role models, now, after three decades of obesity. The old saying “you are who you hang out with” applies to health and happiness, too. Other people are only too happy to hold you down to their level, and it’s too easy to get comfortable there. Living proof, right here.13 -
I am really glad I found this post. I needed this inspiration and encouragment.
Sometimes I feel really ashamed. I am a Registered Dietitian, about to turn 52 years old and am 40 pounds overweight the highest weight I have ever been. The old methods of maintaining and losing weight are not working. I could eat 1200 calories a day for a week and the scale does not budge. I am realizing I need to encorporate some strength building and calorie burning excercise if anything is going to work.
Now that I am an empty nester, I have removed all of the tempting foods out of the nest and I need to find an excercise that I enjoy and look forward to doing.
I am going to refocus on myself, keep on logging and keep reading these inspirational posts
I'm 42. The first time I lost a lot of weight at 32, the scale moved every week like clockwork. Over the last few years, I've found that I see very little (if any) movement on the scale for several weeks at a time. Don't know if it's just me or getting older, but you may want to give yourself a month or so before you decide that something isn't working.6 -
springlering62 wrote: »Age 56:
Age 59:
I was headed the way of my parents- multiple issues, ultimately bedridden. A thyroid prescription with a biblical side effects pamphlet flipped my switch.
I counted calories, exercised, discovered I loved moving and seldom stop now.
It’s my firm belief that this age is the cusp. You can either chose to do nothing and be and act old. Or, you can choose to be youthful and active.
One of the gyms I work out at is associated with a hospital and has a lot of rehab clients as well as older members like me. I see them watching me and wishing they were like me. I don’t mean to sound like I think I’m “all that”, but I want to show them my photo album, shake them and slap some sense into their heads and tell them it’s not too late. It breaks my heart. Why should the last third or half of our lives suck?
It still shocks me to meet greyheaded men and women who shuffle (a sign of low activity and poor health) and moan and learn many of them are only four or five years older than me.
I’m not giving up on life. I’m in the best shape ever, and the happiest I’ve ever been. My husband has joined me, too. That bit of his gray gut you see in the first photo is gone, he’s counting and exercising, too, and he has more energy than I’ve seen him show in years. I’m so proud of him!
Your post is fabulous, with so much wisdom from experience. Wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing your story here.5 -
springlering62 wrote: »John772016 wrote: »springlering62 wrote: »Age ....
It’s my firm belief that this age is the cusp. You can either chose to do nothing and be and act old. Or, you can choose to be youthful and active.
Lots of wisdom in your post, but I really love this....
One of my favorite couples here “on the Square” is a retired airline pilot and his wife, both in their 80’s. I see them walking our city trail all the time, and they volunteer all over the place. He runs the local tree planting and park cleanup group. The day I saw she’d dyed her hair neon pink I nearly hit the sidewalk laughing (she liked mine and kept saying she was gonna do it) and congratulating her on her new look.
My trainer is 73 and could kick my *kitten*. With one hand and one leg tied behind her back. She’s like 5’ tall and got pissed off when she overheard some young guy questioning the legends he’d heard about her. She raised the garage door to the gym (her gym btw) and went outside and started casually flipping the 500 pound tire til he ate his words.
I want to have that zest and that interest in everything at “that age”.
I’ve got wonderful role models, now, after three decades of obesity. The old saying “you are who you hang out with” applies to health and happiness, too. Other people are only too happy to hold you down to their level, and it’s too easy to get comfortable there. Living proof, right here.
Every word of this.
The 2nd from left woman in the boat photo I posted above is one of my inspirations: She started strength training at age 39, when that was not a thing women did. (She was a hair stylist pre-retirement: She told me she didn't tell her customers she lifted back in the day, because they would've shied away from patronizing her.) She can do things around the rowing club that some of our 30-40s age members can't. She carries her own single shell (26 foot long boat) by herself to the water, for example, a thing that quite a few of the younger women and a few men can't do.
At one point, she was having some hip pain, and they discovered she'd cracked a bone (and was walking around on it, doing normal things!). She needed hip replacement. Literally one month to the day after hip replacement surgery, she was back rowing a boat (and rowing is a leg sport!), never looked back.
By contrast, some of my other friends who are overweight/out of shape have had similar surgeries, literally never properly recovered. One still needs a cane to walk. Sure, there are lots of factors . . . but I don't think an having an athletic, strong, capable body is irrelevant in that situation.
We had one guy who took our learn-to-row class at age 81. He did fine. Why did he decide to do that? His girlfriend (same age) was a rower and club member, had started rowing when she was around 70, wanted him to row with her. There's a different 80+ year old guy who rows nearly every day in summer, when he's not taking multi-hour bike rides, also carries his own boats.
I could rant in detail about the quality of life differences between my athletic older friends and same-age (or younger) inactive/overweight ones, but I won't. Sure, sometimes people become inactive and overweight because of health problems, and that's unfortunate and understandable. But, looking at people I know well, it's been more common for the causation to run in the other direction: They've become inactive and overweight, and that caused quality of life to decline.
Personal choices aren't the only factor, but they're a big, big factor in quality of life as we age, IMO, IME.13 -
I'll be 70 in July. I read "Atomic Habits" and realized I didn't need to change everything all at once. I started to make small changes, such as avoiding salty foods, and stuck with them. Then, I read the "Seven-Day Rescue Diet" and watched "The Game Changers" (full movie free on youtube) and went plant strong. Instead of struggling to limit what I eat, I can't eat everything I plan each day. I feel much better, have more energy and my blood pressure and cholesterol have dropped dramatically. I still have a few pounds to lose, but have confidence now that it can be easy. Some days I struggle and take a step back (like those four chocolate birthday cupcakes I ate last Sunday). Then, I remind myself of something a meditation teacher said to me about forty years ago: continuity of practice is the secret of success.4
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I like hearing the stories of others who are not letting their age define them! I hired a swim coach for a few lessons per month and I am now having a little Walter Mitty moment. The coach is trying to convince me to join the Master's Team despite the fact my strokes need a lot of work. Then a gal on the team (age 69) came up to me and tried to convince me to join. She is fast enough to qualify for the Senior Games and is saying I could do it too. Her 100 freestyle (short course) is about 1 minute 13 seconds. Amazing! I clocked myself at 2:15, so I guess not horrible but not good enough to qualify for the Senior Games in Pennsylvania next year. It is kind of fun to daydream that I could actually be on a team! I told my neighbor about it and she says, "it is like high school" again!8
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albamarie61 wrote: »I like hearing the stories of others who are not letting their age define them! I hired a swim coach for a few lessons per month and I am now having a little Walter Mitty moment. The coach is trying to convince me to join the Master's Team despite the fact my strokes need a lot of work. Then a gal on the team (age 69) came up to me and tried to convince me to join. She is fast enough to qualify for the Senior Games and is saying I could do it too. Her 100 freestyle (short course) is about 1 minute 13 seconds. Amazing! I clocked myself at 2:15, so I guess not horrible but not good enough to qualify for the Senior Games in Pennsylvania next year. It is kind of fun to daydream that I could actually be on a team! I told my neighbor about it and she says, "it is like high school" again!
Probably joining the team is a good route to accomplish more of the work that your strokes need? Just guessing.
I'd bet you can surprise yourself if you put in the work (which you've obviously started doing). That's how daydreams become more than daydreams, IME.
I never thought a bookish, picked-last-in-gym kid with no kinesthetic sense at all, hardly, could compete as an athlete, starting in late 40s, and even win a few age group medals. But I could, it turned out. Suspending disbelief, and doing some (fun) work, was how.
That one - by far my best/favorite - included a lot of blind luck: 2016 was the first year, so fewer high-level indoor rowing athletes participated, and by then I'd lost weight and the lightweight weight class at my age was less speedy than my former heavyweight grouping (where all the tall and super-strong women are
). Still, I was just thrilled just to place. Later years' fields, I would've been closer to mid-pack.
Do you have time to join the swim team? Do the logistics work for you to participate in it? If yes to both of those, what's the worst that could happen, if you join? The best is that you could surprise the bejeepers out of yourself, if you can make room for that idea.
A lot of women my age (now 66) missed out on team sports in youth: There just weren't many opportunities in the US before Title IX, even had we been inclined. It's not too late. And it's fun!10 -
At 48 in 54X30 size pants with a 4XL shirt.
Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s trying on a small shirt.. that fit 😳
Will be turning 52 in 3 months.
All done by tracking what goes in and paying a bit of the toll by putting in about 45-60 mins of exercise WO a day. Sundays is easy with a 30 min WO. I think those are the same shoes..32 -
I love when @mrmota70 posts.
He only comes out often enough to inspire and amaze.
He’s got some kick *kitten* running pictures around here somewhere.2 -
springlering62 wrote: »I love when @mrmota70 posts.
He only comes out often enough to inspire and amaze.
He’s got some kick *kitten* running pictures around here somewhere.
Ha ha thanks for the ego boost
Finally sprang for some actual male “meggings”.
Figure don’t want to offend any sensitive folks when I jog throughout the neighborhood
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@mrmota70
That's amazing.
I'm curious, did you also gain height?
"At 48 in 54X30 size pants"
"Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s"2 -
It's so interesting reading other people's experience with weight gain (and loss)! I am 70 and decided to do something about the pounds I had put on during menopause when I turned 50. At my biggest, I weighed 150 pounds and had a definite muffin top around my waist. Then I went through a divorce, I lost my job and my mother died so, all in all, I decided my fifties would be a turning point in my life. But my metabolism was very sluggish and I only had to eat more than 1200 calories a day to put on weight. So I tried low carb diet and started going to the gym. It worked! Within 3 months I had lost 24 pounds and felt immensely better, fitter, happier. I maintained that weight for 18 years, through carefully balancing my carb intake and exercising regularly, and then 2 years ago I decided to try and get back to my ideal weight of 114 pounds (I am 5' 2") during lockdown. I also discovered intermittent fasting, eating only in an 6-hour window, and this has helped hugely. I have lost a further 12 pounds and now weigh the same as when I was in my twenties! So, for me, the secret is low carb, intermittent fasting, and 10 hours exercise a week, when possible.8
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Retroguy2000 wrote: »@mrmota70
That's amazing.
I'm curious, did you also gain height?
"At 48 in 54X30 size pants"
"Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s"
Ha ha. Yeah it’s called “belly height”. Belly isn’t in the way so pants actually go up to where they should be. 😝
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