Middle aged, only 5.1' and struggling

Cattwalk

OK, It grew on me. It started at age 40. I grew to 140lb that wouldn't budge. I struggled with weight watchers, some exercise, some food watching. Then I turned 50, got a hysterectomy, grew another 20 lbs. I sit at a desk all day, though I make efforts to walk a half hour on my lunch, but I make it perhaps every other day. I've cut my morning and lunch foods to yogurt and maybe soup at lunch. This doesn't always work. I can get my weight down to maybe 154lbs but it creeps up and down and is always a struggle. The evenings are the hardest, with my family eating junk food and big dinners. I'm slowly working on cutting down the food on my plate. But its a struggle. I know much of the junk food will disappear once my kids move out. I see the light at the end of the tunnel with that. By the way, the pic shows the dress I'm wearing for my daughters wedding in October.
But the hard thing is exercising without hurting myself. Just walking on the treadmill I hurt my hip, sometimes my knees hurt. I love dancing and got the Dance3 for Wii for Christmas and hurt my hip again. I'm hoping the hip things continues to heal as it seems to be and I can find some way to enjoy my dance without hurting myself.
Oh...and my cholesterol is borderline and my doctor says I shouldn't eat more than 1500 calories a day, this isn't easy. I'm sure if I could do this, I know I'd lose weight easily. I average around 1,800 to 2,000 calories a day, myFitnesspal tells me to do 1350 cal. a day.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

pupcamper

The junk food probably needs to go especially if you can 'work it off'! You can eat lots of food for 1500 calories a day if you eat the right things! It's not always easy to find the balance! Good luck with your journey! :drinker:

myjourney2

Welcome to MFP! There is lots of support and motivation here1

My suggestion would be to limit your junk food to once a week if you cant eliminate it completely. Remember you are doing this for yourself and you are important. .

Dont let others dictate what you eat. If your family is eating junk at night, find something suitable for youself to eat like popcorn or a healthy smoothie so you are eating with them and wont feel deprived. There are tons of healthy alternatives out there. Check out the recipes on this site.

I wish you lots of luck on your journey and feel free to add me as a friend!

Cattwalk

Thank you for those tips. Where do I find the recipes?

Katwilkins

Try cutting your calories down a little each day until you get to 1200, and going high protein high vegetables. Other stuff is OK too, but those two things will help you feel full. Try to eat a high protein breakfast that is no more than 200 calories eat a low calorie protein snack at 1030am and 330pm, I like 1 ounce of jerky that is 60 calories or a cup of skim milk, or 60 calorie cheese stick. Keep lunch calories around 400 or less, then have a dinner that is less than 450 calories. Make sure and have a big glass of water with each meal and snack. I try to exercise on my days off just 30 minutes on an elliptical and that helps, but I have read many times that diet is 90% of loosing weight, and sometimes I will skip a whole week of exercise because I am busy. If you really count ever single bite that goes in your mouth, I know you can do it! I am the same height as you and about the same age, when I started a couple months ago on MFP I started at 1200 but soon realized the weight was coming off too slow so I cut my calories to 1000 and my average weight loss is 1.6 pounds a week. I had a few bad weeks where I tried to be careful, but gained 2 pounds this was due to vacation, but I got right back on it, and my average still never changed. But count as Weight Watchers says every BLT. Bites, Licks and Tastes. So even if you eat a lifesaver add in the calories to truly count what they are.

But I am firm believer that some junk food is OK in moderation, Taco Bell Fresco tacos only 150 calories. KFC grilled chicken breast 220 calories or original recipe chicken leg 120 calories. A teaspoon of Nutella is 33 calories, a tablespoon is about 85 calories. Sometimes I need a peanut butter sandwich with jam, 1 slice of Sara Lee 45 calorie bread 1 TBL of Peanut butter and 85 calories and 1 tablespoon of jam 50 calories, sometimes I substitute the jam for nutella adding about 50 more calories.. Godiva milk chocolate pearls are 8 pearls for I think 25 calories. Baby treats are yummy too, try the the fruit and berry melts, I love the yogurt ones for 1/4 cup for 30 calories or the Gerber Graduates lil crunchies 19 pieces are 35 calories they are like cheetos. Don't deny yourself, just think about portion, I have been eating very healthy, but sometimes I have a 100 calorie cookie, when people say "Is that on your diet?" I say anything I want is as long as I count the calories.