Turning 50 and feeling miserable....

thedecorativedreamer

Aww! I can sympathize, turning 50 next year and now weigh almost as much as I did with my pregnancys. I just got started and would love to add you and any other friends for support. I have been shocked at how hard it is to loose weight after turning 40, even more so after a hysterectomy in 2006. I know it's hard for you because of battling depression too but remember you are not alone as we all have our battles. I am not giving up and neither should you, we can do this!

V0lver

What you need right now is emotional arousal something that hits you deep and shakes you up from the inside. Motivational Movies are one of the best ways to trigger emotions or a candid chat with someone you deeply care about it is the way to go imo.

MyChocolateDiet

sunday monday tuesday wednesday.

so you are working out 4 days a week, and if you restrict your cals enough on those days they can average out with your quit days to be the amount you want..

I think you just invented the "Quit Diet".

You can make this work, I beleive in you!:flowerforyou:

Mau_Hutch

Hi there,
Exercise really is hardest in the beginning. After about 3 months it becomes a habit that you simply don't want to break. My thoughts are that you should just do it whether you feel like it or not and think about how proud you will be after it gets easier.

I would suggest 6 days a week. Don't always take the path of least resistance. About 2 days a week you should do something hard - definitely sweating, red-faced and possibly gasping for air - for example running 3 minutes and walking 1, with extending the run time each week. And if you can, do a couple of medium days a week - sweaty and red-faced - for example weight-lifting like at a Curves? And 2 easy days - sweating, not red-faced - something like a long walk at a quick march? If you can't manage that, then at least try for one hard day a week.
I also agree with those who said to get your depression meds checked out. And make sure you are getting enough sleep. It's the foundation of everything that's good in your life.
I turned 50 this December. I had dreaded it for years! Planned to be the best me, like some others have said. Blah blah blah. You know what? It's no big deal! People told me that, and I didn't believe them, but they were right. I'm actually relieved that it came and went. Stop dreading it and just live your life!

lots of love,
Maureen

delamorajc

I am also turning 50 this year and have also let myself go and am looking to change my eating habits. I hope you stick with it and continue to lead and live a healthy life.

cgarand

I am not far behind you. And, I have considered just giving up. But, I owe it to myself to take care of me, and you do to. It's never too late to set new goals and reach for them. We can't stop the clock, we are all getting older. But, if we take care of ourselves we can be fit at 50 and beyond! Focus on little changes you can make every day. Move your body, nourish your body, try new things. Forget about the calendar, take care of yourself today.

gdog2022

I'm in the same boat you are. I have taken small steps like little changes to meals. Then I started making a few better choices when eating out. The hardest thing I've done so far is to drop the soft drinks though I have one from time to time. The next thing I knew, (Like it was over night) I dropped 2 pants sizes. It's the little things that do mean a lot. Don't try to change all at once and if you have a set back, see it for what it is and move forward again. Don't stop. I wish you the best of luck.:happy:

SunofaBeach14

sunday monday tuesday wednesday.

so you are working out 4 days a week, and if you restrict your cals enough on those days they can average out with your quit days to be the amount you want..

I think you just invented the "Quit Diet".

You can make this work, I beleive in you!:flowerforyou:

^ Exactly this

clareyoung80

I agree with others who say, make sure you're OK medically. I.e. you're on the right meds etc...

For me, I found focusing on action more beneficial than the results.

Meaning, I have a calendar on my wall. And for every day I exercise, eat well and don't smoke I get a sticker (one for each of those goals). My end goal is to have an entire month filled with stickers! Even if I fall down a few times, I still have a visual reminder of just exactly how many times I did work out a month.

And, start small. Getting back into exercise (after a good 6 month flop) I just focus on actually doing exercise. So, if I can only do 5 minutes, it still counts. Again, it's the doing that's important, especially when trying to change habits. With my 'eating well' sticker - I get a sticker if I either hit my calorie goal OR I eat a good range of mostly non-processed foods. Most days I try to do both.

It's the teeny-tiny changes, done on a regular basis, that add up. Even if diet-wise all you do for this week is say, switch from soda to water. Get a sticker for every day you didn't drink soda. Or whatever. Have your exercise goal this week as doing 5 jumping jacks a day - no excuses, try to schedule your 5 jumping jacks. Wake up - breakfast - 5 jumping jacks. Sticker. Job done for the day. After a while of this, the consistent habit of just turning up with start to grow.

Also, you can start any day of the week, you can start right now!

Also, remove your attachment to time. Yes, it's good to have a time-based goal, but stressing because you have x amount of months before you turn 50 and you want to turn 50 looking like [insert your ideal celeb here] isn't going to help. Just focus on daily actions, no matter how small.

laurie04427

Depression alone will make it hard to kick start things. Just try to make little healthy changes, maybe food wise first so you start to feel better physically and maybe that will start to give you some momentum.

blackcloud13

Lots of great advice here; your big key seems to be to deal with any medical depression, and then fight on from there.

I was not thrilled at reaching 50 either - but one of my ever blunt friends told me the only actual alternative I had to turning 50 was being dead, that made me feel a bit less bad.

Start simple and small to get some momentum and think long term. Also, ask yourself - in what state do you want to be at 55? And what do you need to do to get there.

I've been through similar myself (except the actual depression) so happy to chat :-)

bcattoes

I start every darn Sunday and quit by Wednesday and I don't know why. :embarassed:

Maybe you are trying to change too much at once. Try taking baby steps toward your goal. Walking is great exercise and IMO is the "gateway drug" of the exercise world. You can greatly improve fitness and stamina with walking and it often spurs the desire to do more.

Set mini-goals and meet them, then set another. You can get back to fit and bubbly, but don't expect to get there overnight.

Best of luck to you. :flowerforyou:

softblondechick

I will be turning 50 in six months. I had a dream of going on a diet, and losing weight, it was a fantasy, that I kept thinking, but no really doing, because I was exhausted, depressed, and just overwhelmed. Well, I half heartedly attempted a diet in February, lost nothing in a month. That made me really confront myself, and my habits.

I am a food addict. I love food. I hate exercise. That is me. Always has been.

But, now, at my age, I am taking a critical look at my health, this is serious. People my age get diabetes, other health problems, that can for the most part, be avoided by diet and exercise. I have knee problems, and additional weight does not help.

So, you and I have a few months to make some changes, for our health. I have made three changes.

1. Take a walk at lunch
2. No more bread, pasta, or pizza.
3. Meat, once a week.

I have also increased vegetables and fruit. In addition, to exercising.

I have purchased plane tickets, for my dream vacation, in six months, now, it is real...and every day, I just want to be down 25 pounds for that vacation. I think sometimes, we set ourselves up for failure, by expecting to lose a lot of weight, in a short time. 25 pounds, six months. I think that is something I can do, with just a few conscious choices.

You are not alone...

Deipneus

If it makes you feel better, I was in exactly the same place when I turned 50. I'm 61, 50 pounds lighter and coud easily kick my 50 year old self's *kitten*.

I knew that better nutrition and exercise would help my body. What I didn't realize is what it would do for my brain. Exercise isn't a cure-all for depression, but it helps.

Hang in there. You can do this. Don't overwhelm yourself. Start small. Good luck!

D_squareG

I know what it is like to be 50. I wish I was 50 again. I wish I had done then what I'm doing now. Make the change. Make the biggest, most bold, drastic change in your life and do it now. Make a commitment. Make it publicly.

1. Set a realistic goal. Calculate your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) and subtract 20%. Don't aim for a ridiculously low number or you will fail.

2. Weigh, measure everything. If you don't have one, get a food scale immediately and use it for EVERYTHING!

3. Log your food religiously. All of it. Good, Bad or Ugly.

4. Get off your couch. Even if it means just putting on your shoes. I know what you are going through. I was on medication for years. I didn't just sit on the couch, I laid on the couch for two years. Start moving. You won't want to but think of it as medication for depression (which it is). Just do it.

5. Repeat

Before you know it, this will be the best year of your life. Good luck. Get going. Start right now!

StraubreyR

I'm 10 years behind you (turned 40) this year, but I understand what you're going through. I also struggle with anxiety and depression. Some others have posted about starting small. Some days I tell myself - "just go to the gym for 10 minutes" or "just walk around the block." Usually when I get started I feel better and can do more than I thought.

This. I have trouble getting starting with things, but once I start, I find out it's not so bad! I have to tell myself just start, if it's too much you can stop. Once I get moving, I am fine. Also I work out at home, I got a bike trainer. That way when I can exercise whenever the mood hits me, whatever the time or the weather.

Best of luck to you!

WorkInProgress323

I wish I could thank you individually for your wonderful responses (even the tough love one).

As for my depression. I am being treated. I am taking Wellbutrin 300XL and something new called Brintellix. I am also seeing a counselor as well as a Psychiatrist.

My depression actually began in 2010 when my sister was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I believe the stress of that, my crappy relationship and my new position at work brought on the colitis. It's a different form of colitis, not nearly as severe as Crohn's or Ulcerative but can be disabling at times... usually in the evening it becomes worse so that is why I plan my exercise in the morning.

When I started feeling better in the early part of 2013, I lost my 18 year old nephew and I haven't been the same since, that is when I was put on Wellbutrin and now Brintellix. Prozac wasn't working. Cymbalta worked with the Wellbutrin but I could no longer afford it this year with my high deductible. The Affordable Care Act isn't so affordable for me.

Anyway, I don't want to ramble on. I feel really good being here in this community and I am so thankful for such wonderful and supportive people.