Newbie here

vlassosjan

hi y’all. I’m starting my journey tomorrow and I’m going to try my fitness pal after trying so many other things. I’m 64 years old but feel young at heart. I would appreciate any help or tips to be successful. Trying to lose 80 pounds by spring without the help of any shots or medications. In pretty good health and currently take no meds. I want to get this weight off that I have struggled with my entire adult life and be able to enjoy life more. so any tips, tricks, things to stay away from, things to try, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

AnnPT77

Hello and welcome!

I'm 70 come Monday, don't know that I feel young at heart . . . I actually like and appreciate being old. Age is undervalued. For sure, I'm fitter than I was at 45, and nearly 30% lighter in weight than I was at 55. Progress is possible at any age. I definitely enjoy life more when reasonably fit and at a healthy weight.

One caveat: 80 pounds by Spring - around 6 months? - seems very aggressive as a goal. That would be over 3 pounds a week, more or less? That would be OK for someone severely obese - well over 350 pounds, probably, and under close medical supervision for nutritional deficiencies or health complications. If losing 80 pounds would take you to a healthy goal weight, a more gradual plan would probably be healthier and more achievable. One of the common ways people fail at weight loss is having a "lose weight fast" mindset, rather than a "lose weight permanently and healthfully" one.

It took me a little under a year to lose from class 1 obese to a healthy weight, which for me was about 50 pounds loss. I averaged abou a pound a week, but it was intentionally faster at first, then very slow as I got close to a healthy weight. In fact, I lost a little too fast by accident when I first joined MFP. Even though I corrected as soon as I realized, I got weak and fatigued, took multiple weeks to recover . . . no one needs that.

My best and most recommended tip is to make an easy-to-follow a plan that gradually leads to a healthy weight. A slow and steady plan can actually take less calendar time than an extreme "lose weight fast" plan that results in bouts of deprivation-triggered over-eating, breaks in the action, or even giving up altogether.

Things to stay away from? Extremes. Trendy diets from the internet. Supplements or diet/exercise programs that promise quick, magical results but cost $$$. Punitively intense, miserable exercise.

Things to try? Logging what you eat now, noticing things that have relatively many calories but aren't very important to you at their current portions/frequency for nutrition, feeling full most of the time, affordability, or general happiness. Those are easy calorie reductions. Most of us notice some quite quickly when we started logging.

Reaching a healthy weight was a huge quality of life improvement for me, and improved my blood tests, blood pressure, etc. besides. It was more than worth the effort. I'm cheering for you to find the same.

Best wishes!

SilverWraith332

Hi! I'm a bit younger, but have health issues that hinder me unfortunately. I'd love to add you and walk this journey together! I'm female, 29 years old and looking to lose 250lbs. I've severely taken my heath for granted and would appreciate like minded folks that want to do this the old fashioned way and not with "miracle shots".

AnnPT77

Y'all who are 60 and over, or even close to it, might like this long-running thread:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10718336/60-yrs-and-up

When you open it up, don't be worried if you see old posts. Like any long-running thread here on MFP, the new posts are at the end, on the high-numbered pages. You can jump straight there with the number/arrow links at the top and bottom of each page of the thread.

It's mostly just chat amoung some of the 60ish-plus people here, but that's a good way to meet people, figure out who might be on a similar wavelength, without risking the scam/spam that can be part of private messages after becoming MFP "friends". If you interact with people out in the open, you'll get a feel for whether they're decent regular humans first.

That thread is also a good place to ask questions or get tips from similar-age people. There are folks active on the thread from quite new MFP-ers to long-time maintainers like me, so a diversity of views.

I do think that posting in the Community in general is good/useful - has been for me, I've learned a lot and gotten good advice and support over the years I've been here. In my experience, people of all ages aiming to lose weight or keep it off have more in common than different. I'd say the same of fitness improvement, too, except for a higher probability of maybe having pre-existing physical limitations we need to work around at 60+. (Of course, some younger people have such limitations, too.)

Don't be afraid to read and post in the Community. It can be very helpful, IME.

trishsloan1971

Hey I'm new and joining in the middle of my fitness journey.

I've lost a million lbs or the same 100+over and over and over.

I want so badly for this to be the last time! I have 50lbs to lose. 6 months ago it was 30. Joined here for some accountability. Looking forward to doing this together! I'm Trish. 56 year old chef

carmichealdeb

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48909638#Comment_48909638

Hi Trishsloan! I'm 64 years old and started this diet in the middle of October, so far I've lost 20+ pounds. Just got put on Topamax pills, Sunday will be a week. I'm trying to get more protein in my diet and ugh it just isn't working it seems like. I can't stand cottage cheese, now if I liked that , it would solve alot of my issues for protein. Guess it's high in proteins.