45 and getting depressed

benaddict

There will always be a million reasons not to exercise. Find the one reason that makes you do it. Until then, you're not ready. Good luck.

knitapeace

I'm 45 as well and have spent the past 2 years making changes to get to my goal. It wasn't always easy and I often had to do things I didn't want to do. But my desire to get fit and healthy outweighed all my excuses. I don't think permanent change can come without that mindset.

One of the things I had to do was become a morning person. Getting up at 5am to exercise is now a deeply ingrained habit. I sleep hard and wake up naturally at that time. I see you saying "I don't get up early enough to exercise" but what I hear is "I don't want to get up any earlier than I already do." I get that, you're tired. But exercise can help you sleep better. Getting the weight off gradually helps with things like snoring and apnea, which can prevent you from your full rest. Getting up earlier and getting in a half hour walk or cardio video might make other things easier too. You've already started your day with a healthy activity so you won't want to eat too much and negate all that work you did.

Look at the areas of your life where you're really successful. Your work, your parenting, how you keep your home, a hobby. Look at the way you justify doing those things, how you make sure you schedule time to do them correctly, the way you feel when you've done a good job with those activities. Then apply those feelings to your exercise time. Find your motivation. Then set an appointment with yourself to get the work done. Because you have to keep your promises to yourself just as much as to other people.

Sorry. Too wordy. Short version: just do it. Sorry, Nike.

becky10rp

Wow - there's a lot of good advice here - and not a lot of negativity - which is nice!

As someone else said - you have to WANT this.

You have to want to change your live - really, really want it - because it means you will have to make changes.

Change - of any sort - is difficult - we all know that.

But - this is for YOU - for your health - for your family - so it IS worth it.

I look at it this way - MILLIONS of people spend HOURS watching TV every night - take ONE of those hours and be active - start small - walk - even if it's around your block a few times.

Next - look at what you're eating. Is it a lot of fast food and/or junk food? Are you eating chips, candy, junk like that? None of that food is good for you OR for your family - so start cutting back on it. buy fruit for snacks - grapes, mellon - so you can grab that instead of the chips, candy, etc.

LOG everything you're eating so you can see where your calories are going - this is an eye opener - and why I love MFP.

Once you start doing these thing - on a daily basis - you'll slowly start to see results - and you'll see that it's worth it to keep going -

That YOU'RE worth it!

Jodsmission

I am 44 and used to say the same thing. I just don't have time. BUT here's the thing...if anyone treated your child or your grandchildren the way you are treating yourself you would come at them with both barrels.
If what you say is true then you seem to give away a lot of your life to other people. Time to take back. Take the time you need to do some exercise that you like. It may take a while to find it. Don't buy the food you can't eat. Its not gonna kill everyone around you to eat healthy.And say no to other people. Treat yourself the way you treat everyone else because this is it. One chance and at 44/45 the window for getting where we want to be is closing quickly.It gets harder every minute you wait.

Happyirisheyes

I'm 47 and although I have a `BMI of 24 and am 5 ft 8 inches I still have a waist measurement of 38 inches. It's very depressing and as I've had early menopause (40) this hasn't helped. It's tough but persevere and you'll get there. I'm in a slump at the moment but it will get better. Please add me.

meparker757

Most of the advice given so are is good.

Just want to add that I didn't get motivated to lose weight until my doctor showed me my lab results. The result were not good. At that point, I knew if I didn't turn it around I'll be just another statistic. Whatever advice you take to heart, stick with it 100%. Good luck

fercar3000

I'm 45 as well , take baby steps if you don't feel like working out well ... don't !! but make a commitment to just walk for 30-45 EVERYDAY , and keep close track of what you eat and I promise you you will see the good changes in your mind and body
Once you feel ready get on one of those 30 mns workout ( they are plenty out there )

you need to want this !! you need to start somewhere !!

perseverance14

All your posts are great. Thank you for all of them. No offense taken at all. I am reading and re-reading, even though I am at work. I'm a perfectionist and i know I expect a lot out of myself and when I don't do what I expect it really makes me mad; just not enough to do something about it. Thank you Thank you Thank you

I am 52 and was 0.5 lbs. away from 200 lbs. in January. I didn't want to join the 200 lb. club so I started logging my food and working out. When I got out of obese range I started lifting weights, I am now 12 lbs. away from my goal. Coming up with reasons why you can't won't get you anywhere, and your health is in jeopardy.

Here are 3 simple things you can do and start losing:

1. Log/measure/weigh your food, no way to know what you are eating if you don't.

2. Don't eat full TDEE, that is the calories needed to maintain not lose, you must eat TDEE minus a deficit, without the deficit you are not going to lose any weight. It should be TDEE -20%, but you can't know if you are really eating TDEE -20% unless you do step 1.

3. Get up and more around more, all the time, wherever you are.

BabyRoseJeans

I too have been with MFP on and off. Now I hit a high weight and have gained 25 pounds back and here it is swim suit weather. I am trying to do more walking, watching what I eat and logging again, I have written off fast food since that has been my weakness. Find your weakness and write yourself a goal. Just one. Also maybe you could go for walks with the grandchildren, I bet they would love it! Just don't sit down, that seems to be my downfall, I sit I eat, probably what I should not be eating. Good luck and stay on top of it for yourself, you deserve it and so do your kids and grand kids , they will be so proud of you! DIN DIN Club, do it now, do it now.

eddiesmith1

Once you make a commitment I think you'll be able to count on support here - but the core of it originates with you not anyone else. Either you decide it's time and you get dedicated or you don't and you make excuses (been there done that myself)
Exercise will help, but you don't need to make it crazy, or even go to a gym. You need to be serious about eating at a deficit. that means weighing all solids/ measuring all liquids that pass your lips. you can start out with a pretty high daily goal due to your size and lose just doing this. Exercise can just be walking more than you are currently. I am down 40 pounds since January, all I've done is eat at a deficit and walk. I walk a lot. as in 6-10 km a day. My pace is much faster now than when i started
Every day that goes by and every pound that comes off/inch that disappears will be more motivation to keep going. . It doesn't need to be complicated because it isn't. It just takes time. You didn't get to this weight overnight and it won't go away over night