49, female, tried everything
Replies
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I'm age 59 and have lost over 50 pounds this past year (43 on MFP). Yes, it is harder to lose when you get older, but don't allow yourself to fall into that mindset. People can lose weight at any age.
I tell myself I can choose to be positive. New food and exercise add quality to my life.
Choose an exercise you enjoy and that doesn't hurt your body, otherwise you aren't likely to stick with it. It could be anything. You might enjoy swimming.
99 percent of my exercise is walking -- mostly at a regular pace. I love walking outside, which is why I chose it. I live in a historic area with good sidewalks, so I decided to leave my car at home and walk 1/2 mile to work. I also walk to stores and local errands and hike on the weekend in the nearby national park. If I suddenly want something from the grocery store (a 15 minute walk away), I walk to get it instead of jumping in the car. The hardest thing about this is mental. We live in a car culture and most people don't walk for daily errands. If this type of thing doesn't work for you, maybe you could walk on a treadmill. Walking is low impact and easy on the body. But choose something you really like.0 -
If one is working out and eating healthy, the changes occur on the inside before one ever sees them on the outside. Like the excess fat we carry on the outside, we have it on the inside, and our bodies start losing it where we gained it last and on the inside, clearing up the fat and building muscles on the inside, and muscle weighs more than fat so there may be a gain of muscle at the same time one is losing fat. Try taking your measurements and re-take measurements at a weekly or monthly pattern, and muscles take up less space. The loss in measurements would be motivating and you could balance that with the loss or gain of the weight scale.
Have you seen beef or pork with the fat running through the meat? That is similar to how the fat runs through our muscles. So when your scale says the same thing, it might simply be muscle replacing that fat.
Good points. Just want to add that I believe muscle doesn't replace fat. We lose the fat from inside our fat cells. We have to grow muscle. It's a different process.0 -
Exercising in a social way (enjoying the company of other people, shooting the breeze, while doing it) will make a massive difference - as opposed to punishing oneself with regimes. You can make it a regular part of life. eg walking, running, cycling with other people, lunch-time walks with co-workers... If it's something you look forward to doing on the weekend, it will happen.0
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Hello! Feel free to send me a friend request if you like. Using this site is the first thing to work for me in twenty years. I am 51. Some people may come off as blunt on here, but their right. You need to eat at a calorie deficit. Figure out how much you should be eating and track your calories. If you want to exercsie too, thats great for your health, and allowsyou to eat more, but weight loss happens in the kitchen, healthy toned bodies in the gym.0
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Have you checked your thyroid? If you are basically healthy and no issues prevent you from losing weight, I can recommend a diet or the healthy way of eating with some restrictions for fat and carbs. It has always helped me to lose 2 lbs a week and everybody of my real friends who really tried it lost no less that 1 lbs per week. It's in my blog if you want to look at it.0
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I'm 55, post-menopausal, and recently reached my goal of 51 pounds down after working at it for 15 months.
Yes, losing weight takes longer at our age, but it is possible. My method in a nutshell:
1. I made it easy on myself. I set my goal at a half-pound loss per week (my average weekly loss was about three-quarters of a pound). I found food substitutions I enjoyed and that are sustainable. The same goes for exercise.
2. Patience and consistency are key. My longest plateau lasted for 48 days, with scale fluctuations up-down-up-down-up-down. I felt impatient at times but never discouraged. I knew I was doing the right things and I knew I was in better shape than when I started. I set no deadlines, but instead said I'll get there when I get there.
3. I logged everything and measured to the best of my ability.
For more details on method, I posted this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1095703-mfp-1-year-anniversary
Here's a follow-up:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1153938-next-stop-maintenance0 -
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Hi there! Don't be discouraged, you can do this!
I am 58, post-menopausal and have hypothyroidism. I have spent about twelve years losing 10lb and putting on twelve. I was convinced that a combination of age and hypothyroidism made it impossible for me to lose weight. :sad:
Then I joined this site, I saw how so many people had lost HUGE amounts of weight and I decided that I would take everyone's advice. Don't set your weight loss goals too high, try 1/2 or 1lb a week, this is a long term process.
1. Weigh your solid food with a scale that weighs in grams. You'll get some surprises in portion size if you're used to using spoons and cups!
2. Log everything, really everything. Stay inside your calorie limits.
3 Add some exercise into every day. Leave the car at home or park further away, take a walk at lunchtime, use the stairs. Wear a pedometer and set yourself challenges. Exercise was the magic bullet for me, I joined a gym and did light cardio, ate back half the calories, didn't feel as though I was "on a diet" and still lost a pound a week. I then did the C25K programme and found that I like running - who'd have known??
You can do this, it's not easy but it can be done! (But I'd probably start after the holidays!)
Good luck.0 -
I'm 54. Menopausal and MOTIVATED. Motivation is everything.
My L knee reminds me everyday to be motivated.
I weigh and log every thing. Cause I just don't know how much I need or how much something weighs unless I weigh it.
I can't exercise too much because of my knee but I am losing.
Weigh and log everything. It works.0 -
You are eating too much.
Someone will always say this, and it is often a man
Whatever the question, the answer is "eat less". Obviously, if you are not losing weight, there is a calories in/calories out problem. But the answer isn't simply to eat less.
When you hit (peri-)menopause, your metabolism slows down. Some studies ascribe this to the loss of lean body mass (LBM). The NIH says, "Menopause is associated with a gain in fat mass and a loss of lean body mass." I have seen suggestions that women who start menopause may lose LBM at double the rate they did before (haven't seen this proven).
So you can follow Mr Knight's advice and simply eat less, and eat even less next year as you lose more LBM, and eat still less the following year, until you eat like a bird. Or you can do something to reduce the loss of LBM, so you can eat more normally. Hence the advice from women who have been there - try strength training.
Well I will say Mr Knight was correct, and Menopausal. If you do not accurately log your intake you have no idea what you are consuming. Log everything, do resistance or strength training, and sorry but quit using it as a crutch.
In one year I've lost 93 lbs, and thanks to some serious medical conditions I went through menopause very early.0 -
Maybe try low carb diet here is some good places to read on scientific studies...
http://www.dietdoctor.com/science0 -
OP these two threads might help.
They are a good starting point
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
You are eating too much.
Someone will always say this, and it is often a man Whatever the question, the answer is "eat less". Obviously, if you are not losing weight, there is a calories in/calories out problem. But the answer isn't simply to eat less.
When you hit (peri-)menopause, your metabolism slows down. Some studies ascribe this to the loss of lean body mass (LBM). The NIH says, "Menopause is associated with a gain in fat mass and a loss of lean body mass." I have seen suggestions that women who start menopause may lose LBM at double the rate they did before (haven't seen this proven).
So you can follow Mr Knight's advice and simply eat less, and eat even less next year as you lose more LBM, and eat still less the following year, until you eat like a bird. Or you can do something to reduce the loss of LBM, so you can eat more normally. Hence the advice from women who have been there - try strength training.
Umm...how would you lose weight then?
I am 46 years old...and a women. To lose weight, you need to create a deficit. You should resistance train also, but if you are not losing weight over the long term, you will either need to eat less, move more, or do both.
Eek, I didn't choose my words terribly well. There are two sides to the equation - calories in and calories out. I was trying to say that you need not focus on only one side of it, only reducing calories in. You can also try to raise calories out. So I agree with you. I also understand that there are limits to the extent to which you can raise calories out.
When I first joined MFP, someone posted a study that compared weight loss in men and women, and divided the women into pre-menopausal and menopausal groups. It controlled for the usual variables, but still found statistically significant differences in weight loss between menopausal and pre-menopausal women. Once it controlled for LBM, the differences disappeared.
The implication was that the reason menopausal women find it harder to lose weight was lower LBM. I stupidly didn't bookmark it, so I will have to spend days to find it, but the findings really made a difference for me.
I don't know whether you can completely overcome the loss of LBM by weight training, so you may in any event need to eat less over time. But you can at least make a difference in how much less.
(Edited to fix typo.)0 -
I'll put my 2 pence worth in since lots of people start thinking about making health and fitness changes this time of year. I started out about 3 years ago weighing at my highest point 15 stone or more. Same age as the OP now.
What have I learned in the last 3 years?
Everything that goes in the supermarket trolley gets the ingredient list and calories and fat content etc looked at. Wow is a piece of chicken pie really 600 calories? Are digestive biscuits really 75 cals each?
Basic physics for me - calorie deficit - weight loss, exercise means I can eat more if I want.
I have lost 2 stone, feel much better about myself, have done things I never thought possible like running several half marathons and now considering a full marathon.
This place is a great source of information, inspiration and encouragement. You can do it - with a bit of help from your friends as they say.
Another thing learnt is that rapid weight loss will return. Slow and steady seems to be the way it works for most people. Lifestyle change mentality instead of diet mentality.
I wish you and all newcomers to this journey well in their endeavours.0 -
I'm 45, and it took me a year to lose 20 pounds. But hey, I lost 20 pounds! It took several months of trial & error before everything "clicked" for me. Everybody's different, but I can share some things that worked for me, and you can see if any of them help you:
Drink plain water. (This took a lot of work for me.)
Treat your protein goal as a minimum (fiber, too). Then meet your calorie goal and ignore fat & carbs.
Look at your nutrition over the last 7 days, not just today.
Your weight will vary from day to day (and throughout the day). So give yourself a probationary period during which you get used to logging everything you eat & drink. Measure everything, learn to find accurate database entries, and work on being 100% honest with yourself. (Maybe the last one was just me? My diary was private, so I was lying to no one but myself, but it took me months!)
Look at your long-term progress (the proverbial big picture), not just whether or not the scales read less today than they did yesterday. Do your clothes fit better? Has your stamina increased? Are you eating more fruits & veg than you used to? Celebrate every NSV (non-scale victory).
don't ignore fats. dietary fats are important for health. meet or exceed your daily fat goal (it's a minimum to shoot for).
0.35g/lb of bodyweight. for example, if you weigh 150lbs then your goal should be 52g of fat per day.0 -
Bump.0
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Bumping for later, thanks!0
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I understand and can relate. Please feel free to add me to your support group. I believe we all need support.:happy:0
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I get what you're saying, but disagree. It IS harder. It's all about creating a deficit, yes, and as you said it's EASIER to do that when you're younger. That makes it easier. Add hormonal changes that come with per-menopause and that *can* make it even more challenging. When I'm "sedentary" (rest days mostly) the difference between BMR and TDEE is much smaller than it used to be. The margin of error is smaller. Of course, these numbers are all hypothetical, since I don't know my actually BMR or TDEE, I only know what the formulas tell me.First, it's not an age thing. I get so pissed off when people are like, " I'm 50, it's so hard at my age." No it's not. It's hard at any age. It's the same thing at age 5 or age 95. It's about creating a calorie deficit. That's all. It's not harder at any age. Just eat less than you burn and you'll lose fat. It helps a ton if you strength train. But, even if you don't, it's simple math. It's not harder at 49 than at 29. The equation is exactly the same.
What I think people mean is at age 20, you burn calories faster, so it's easier to create a deficit. But, the equation is still the same equation. It's not harder. It's the same amount if effort at either age.
And, yes, my hormonal levels are fluctuating daily, my sleep changes daily... all of which affects cortisol too, and that, then affects everything else. So, yeah, I'd say it *can* get harder with age. Semantics, perhaps. But I think it's harder, for me to shift weight, than it was at, say 22. It takes longer. It takes more perseverance, and the margin of error is smaller. I'd say that's harder. But, it's totally possible, as evidenced by all the fabulous ladies and men here.0 -
Me, too! I assumed it's because I'm 5'1 or 2". It never even occurred to me it could have anything to do with my age.When I'm "sedentary" (rest days mostly) the difference between BMR and TDEE is much smaller than it used to be.0 -
In your case, both. I "create" a bigger difference via 500 or so calories of exercise a day. And if you can't exercise, it's a bit more of a challenge. I just used my sister's stats (5'0", 54 and 160LBS) and IIFYM.com gave me 1249BMR and 1499TDEE. It also gave her an ABSURDLY low number of carbs. Like Keto level. So, yeah, it can be a challenge if you can't/don't work out, you're short and/or older.
Me, too! I assumed it's because I'm 5'1 or 2". It never even occurred to me it could have anything to do with my age.When I'm "sedentary" (rest days mostly) the difference between BMR and TDEE is much smaller than it used to be.0 -
You are eating too much.
Step one, start logging everything - literally everything that passes your lips. Don't worry about goals or counting, just log until you are solidly in the habit of logging.
This is probably true.......you do need to log Everything!
Exercise is important to health and wellbeing so start that....even walking daily helps. Most people overestimate the calorie burn from exercise so look at your food logging first.0 -
I'll tell you my story FWIW.
No matter what my age I was never able to get down under 128 (my set point). That weight sits on a "fine-boned" structure so most of that weight was just fat. I never was much of a one for exercise. In my early 50s I saw a lot of my contemporaries gaining weight and decided to go on a mission to change things up. I researched food and took a look at how I was eating. WAY too many carbs. I did a South Beach type change to my eating plan (for me looking at ratio of food types on my plate was easier to put into a "lifestyle" than counting calories--although I know MANY are huge proponents of the calorie counting approach so each person has to find what works for him/her). I started putting in more effort to walking...faster, more minutes/miles, more hills. But the real body changer was lifting weights. I started on the machines at the gym. After some months of doing that I can honestly tell you that I was in the best shape of my life and got down to 113 pounds (a 15 pound weight loss during menopausal time on a body that was already fairly "thin" by some standards). We live in a condo complex on a lake and I lived in a bikini those next couple of summers.
I've not been tending to business and not only are the pounds slowly creeping back but I've lost all my nice muscle tone I had.
I've just joined here and am working on getting back into better food habits and exercise. I just started Jillian Michaels "Ripped in 30" program.0 -
I get what you're saying, but disagree. It IS harder. It's all about creating a deficit, yes, and as you said it's EASIER to do that when you're younger. That makes it easier. Add hormonal changes that come with per-menopause and that *can* make it even more challenging. When I'm "sedentary" (rest days mostly) the difference between BMR and TDEE is much smaller than it used to be. The margin of error is smaller. Of course, these numbers are all hypothetical, since I don't know my actually BMR or TDEE, I only know what the formulas tell me.First, it's not an age thing. I get so pissed off when people are like, " I'm 50, it's so hard at my age." No it's not. It's hard at any age. It's the same thing at age 5 or age 95. It's about creating a calorie deficit. That's all. It's not harder at any age. Just eat less than you burn and you'll lose fat. It helps a ton if you strength train. But, even if you don't, it's simple math. It's not harder at 49 than at 29. The equation is exactly the same.
What I think people mean is at age 20, you burn calories faster, so it's easier to create a deficit. But, the equation is still the same equation. It's not harder. It's the same amount if effort at either age.
And, yes, my hormonal levels are fluctuating daily, my sleep changes daily... all of which affects cortisol too, and that, then affects everything else. So, yeah, I'd say it *can* get harder with age. Semantics, perhaps. But I think it's harder, for me to shift weight, than it was at, say 22. It takes longer. It takes more perseverance, and the margin of error is smaller. I'd say that's harder. But, it's totally possible, as evidenced by all the fabulous ladies and men here.
I'm age 59 and have lost over 50 pounds in 10 months (probably closer to 60 pounds -- I lost some before I joined MFP). I try to stay away from age related discussions because they make me cringe -- so many people saying it is so hard to lose when you are older. In my case, it just wasn't true. I ate less, cut out food that gave me cravings, and started walking to work instead of taking my car.
I don't want to judge other people. Some people really do have medical issues, especially older people. But in many cases the age thing is just an excuse. Most overweight people eat too much and don't exercise enough. The way out is to stop kidding yourself. Log everything, eat fewer calories, and get off the couch. Find an exercise you like to do and start moving. The weight will come off.0 -
I'm at maintenance. And exercise every day. But, I firmly believe it is harder than it used to be for many many women. I also believe when women who were at an ideal weight, gain 10+ during menopause they often find that very tough to lose. I've seen it time and time again. And I know for myself that if I'm not diligent the weight goes up more quickly than it used to.
I get what you're saying, but disagree. It IS harder. It's all about creating a deficit, yes, and as you said it's EASIER to do that when you're younger. That makes it easier. Add hormonal changes that come with per-menopause and that *can* make it even more challenging. When I'm "sedentary" (rest days mostly) the difference between BMR and TDEE is much smaller than it used to be. The margin of error is smaller. Of course, these numbers are all hypothetical, since I don't know my actually BMR or TDEE, I only know what the formulas tell me.First, it's not an age thing. I get so pissed off when people are like, " I'm 50, it's so hard at my age." No it's not. It's hard at any age. It's the same thing at age 5 or age 95. It's about creating a calorie deficit. That's all. It's not harder at any age. Just eat less than you burn and you'll lose fat. It helps a ton if you strength train. But, even if you don't, it's simple math. It's not harder at 49 than at 29. The equation is exactly the same.
What I think people mean is at age 20, you burn calories faster, so it's easier to create a deficit. But, the equation is still the same equation. It's not harder. It's the same amount if effort at either age.
And, yes, my hormonal levels are fluctuating daily, my sleep changes daily... all of which affects cortisol too, and that, then affects everything else. So, yeah, I'd say it *can* get harder with age. Semantics, perhaps. But I think it's harder, for me to shift weight, than it was at, say 22. It takes longer. It takes more perseverance, and the margin of error is smaller. I'd say that's harder. But, it's totally possible, as evidenced by all the fabulous ladies and men here.
I'm age 59 and have lost over 50 pounds in 10 months (probably closer to 60 pounds -- I lost some before I joined MFP). I try to stay away from age related discussions because they make me cringe -- so many people saying it is so hard to lose when you are older. In my case, it just wasn't true. I ate less, cut out food that gave me cravings, and started walking to work instead of taking my car.
I don't want to judge other people. Some people really do have medical issues, especially older people. But in many cases the age thing is just an excuse. Most overweight people eat too much and don't exercise enough. The way out is to stop kidding yourself. Log everything, eat fewer calories, and get off the couch. Find an exercise you like to do and start moving. The weight will come off.
Congrats on your weight loss! 50LBS in 10months is great.0 -
Cheers! I did a south beach style makeover to my diet about 12 years ago. Right before the SBD book came out, actually. I just sorta made it up. I did ultimately read the book and did tweak my own eating a bit more based on what I learned. I've been eating that way every since. I know that when I don't, unless I'm super active (like on vacation in London walking everywhere), the scale creeps up. I also know that when I return to what I know works for me, it creeps back down.I'll tell you my story FWIW.
No matter what my age I was never able to get down under 128 (my set point). That weight sits on a "fine-boned" structure so most of that weight was just fat. I never was much of a one for exercise. In my early 50s I saw a lot of my contemporaries gaining weight and decided to go on a mission to change things up. I researched food and took a look at how I was eating. WAY too many carbs. I did a South Beach type change to my eating plan (for me looking at ratio of food types on my plate was easier to put into a "lifestyle" than counting calories--although I know MANY are huge proponents of the calorie counting approach so each person has to find what works for him/her). I started putting in more effort to walking...faster, more minutes/miles, more hills. But the real body changer was lifting weights. I started on the machines at the gym. After some months of doing that I can honestly tell you that I was in the best shape of my life and got down to 113 pounds (a 15 pound weight loss during menopausal time on a body that was already fairly "thin" by some standards). We live in a condo complex on a lake and I lived in a bikini those next couple of summers.
I've not been tending to business and not only are the pounds slowly creeping back but I've lost all my nice muscle tone I had.
I've just joined here and am working on getting back into better food habits and exercise. I just started Jillian Michaels "Ripped in 30" program.0 -
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A friend introduced me to Body for Life and it's overwhelming. Most of it is EAS marketing. Best advice? Eat less, exercise more. Eating your body weight in grams of protein helps eliminate the cravings.0
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Weigh and log all your food and follow the MFP program. If you do this you will lose, there is no guess work. Doesn't matter how old you are. If you can't exercise you won't be able to eat as much. Good luck!0
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Best of luck on your journey.Medical issues aside, it is NOT harder as you get older. The equation remains the same. Yes, your metabolism slows down. That means you eat less. I think that's why people say it's harder. It's not harder, it's the same. I think if you have medical issues or hormonal issues, that changes the equation. Then, yes, it's probably more difficult because the equation is now lopsided. It's no longer calories in/out, but there's an odd factor that impacts everything.0
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