I'm back....

MaryQueena

Tried this before I turned 40, and before 50... and here I am again. Hoping this time is different!

AnnPT77

Welcome back!

In a sense, you now have an advantage: You know some things that don't work for you. What did you learn from your previous attempts that will help you find a different, more successful approach this time?

Personalizing the tactics can be a really useful path to success. If we understand our own preferences, strengths, and limitations, we can use that knowledge in making a workable plan.

Generically, watching folks here in the MFP Community, it seems like a common scenario that doesn't end well is some combination of picking an aggressive calorie goal (trying to lose weight fast), simultaneously trying to stop eating all "bad foods" (whatever the heck those are), eat only "good foods", and add some punitively intense unenjoyed exercise alongside. Bonus points if there's a fancy named diet and a particular exercise routine that are super-touted in the blogosphere, picked because "everyone says" they're the best "diet hack" or "fitness hack" ever.

That pretty much never ends well. But maybe that's not similar to what you've done in the past - I hope not! 😆

I've been hanging around here through a year of weight loss (50+ pounds, obese to healthy weight, at age 59-60), and 6+ years of maintaining a healthy weight since. Watching others, it seems like those who last and ultimately succeed generally take a more moderate approach, find a way to revamp their eating habits in manageable ways, maybe gradually add in then ramp up some exercise routine they enjoy (or at least tolerate).

Losing any meaningful amount of weight is realistically going to take a long time, weeks to months and maybe even multiple years in some cases. IMO, that puts a premium on figuring out how to make the process relatively easy and very sustainable, rather than fast and brutal.

Regardless of how you decide to work the process this time, I wish you much success: I wish I'd started earlier myself, because the quality of life improvement is pretty remarkable.

MaryQueena

Hello Ann, thank you for sharing your insights. I really appreciate hearing from folks who have started, and succeeded, a bit later in life. My many attempts have been plain unsuccessful, but I am trying to do two big things this time...commit to just staying on a path, tracking and making better choices everyday, AND learn to be more accepting of myself as I am. I hear myself telling my children that they are perfect as they are, and what's important is to take care of themselves, be happy, accept that people of all sizes and shapes are loveable, worthy, valuable.. and yet i don't apply the same to myself. So silly... I am not into brutal or punishing methods, so I hope this time I can stay on a reasonable, likely slow, plan that allows me to eat and be satisfied, yet challenges me to take stock and pay attention to when and why I don't put myself first. Now, at 55 and newly 'on my own' in life, I'm re-learning how to care for myself as i rebuild my life. I think I can do it this time...

annliz23

Good luck