Older women success stories please!

RiverDancer68

:flowerforyou: I'm 44 and in the best shape of my life! I came here in May of 2010, with the intent to lose weight and get in shape :drinker: I actually lost too much weight, I was at 155ish and got down to 126ish...now I am at a healthy 135-140. I do yoga and dance 5-6 days a week. I also have had 3 kids, so other than the loose skin that I have on my belly from pregnancy, I am pretty firm (and happy!). All and all I sometimes get a little nostalgic for my 20's and 30's, but really, happiness is only in the Now, not holding onto the past!

amflautist

Age 71. Lost 55 pounds so far. More to go.
It's not the age. It's the attitude.

mgalsf12

I am a 52 year old women and have been active all my life. Three years ago I put on 30 pounds and at 5'-3" 160 pounds was just too much. Fortunately I am muscular and I gain weight proportionately, so I didn't look too bad. BUT I felt huge! I dropped the first 20 pounds pretty easily once I started going back to the gym. The last 10 lbs. was possible by adding weight training and logging into myfitnesspal.

My weight has remained about 128 the past year and a half. Now with the holidays upon us, I have decided to login again just to keep myself in check.

Exercise, weights, friends, sleep, water and a healthy diet have been the key to my success.

SoopraBint

I'm 45 and just starting my journey.

My inspiration is Laura London www.lauralondonfitness.com

She's 46 and she looks amazing!!

Lyssa62

probably posted before but I'll post again...

I'm 50 now and in the best shape I've ever been. I was a heavy kid, middle schooler, thin high schooler and college kid (smoking and not eating)..then gained it all till I was close to 200 lbs ...had babies and now I am at 135....in a size 8 jean (never not even the thin high schooler)...and just bought my first pair of zumba pants that I wear to class.

anything is doable if you put your mind to it! feel free to add me

Ge0rgiana

Don't know if anyone's mentioned it (this thread is LONG), but one of the best favors you can do yourself is PICKING UP HEAVY WEIGHTS. Look up LorinaLynn's profile. Yeah, I'm a young'un still, but listen to me. :flowerforyou:

lynheff

I am on older woman ( 64!) and 4 years ago I lost 150 pounds. I can walk 2 miles on the treadmill--instead of spending my days sitting in a wheelchair. I sometimes misplace my walker when I walk off and leave it in another room--instead of not being able to take a single step without it. My hours in the gym have paid off in increased strength and decreased arthritis pain. And, oh yeah, people who knew me "before" tell me I look amazing. Go for it ladies. I promise it is work it!!!

Kismet_35

I am 47 and have battled with weight issues most of my adult life but I have recenly lost 27 and hope to lose about 35 more. It doesn't come quickly, that is for sure, but I feel like I am on a path and that path will eventually lead me to a place where I want to be...fit and healthy. I will never look like a 20 year old but I am okay with that. I just want to be the best 47 year old I can be. If you want to add me as a friend please feel free. We fierce women in our 40's need to stick together

LeslieC1970

Funny that I just posted a note to my MFP friends about being frustrated with this. I am finding that losing weight in my 40s is brutal. It used to come off so easily and now I am working out with a trainer, doing extra cardio sessions, and counting calories and I can still go weeks without seeing the scale move. I have 60lbs more to go so it gets a little overwhelming at times. What is good is that my size is changing so hopefully the scale will catch up with it.

MsDover

I was average weight most of my life but in my 40's it started to creep up. By age 53 I reached my top weight of 185 (I'm almost 5'1"). I developed Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint issues, breathing issues... you name it. I felt horrible, I looked horrible and I resigned myself that this was going to be my lot in life. Well.... it wasn't! One day I woke up and said ENOUGH! It took me over a year once I really put my mind to it, but by age 55 I was down to 118! I remarried on the first day of spring (Spring Equinox) in 2011 and with the happiness of my new relationship came the food celebrations and 17 pounds came back. There was no way I was going to continue down that road again, so I joined MFP, started logging and seeing what I was REALLY eating (makes a huge difference when you see it in black and white) and I have lost 12 of those 17 pounds. Age has nothing to do with it! Is it harder to lose weight as you get older? Only if you're moving less.... I have a bad hip (being replaced in January) and that HAS slowed me down, but I've made adjustments and I'm doing well. I'm losing around 1 1/2 to 2 pounds a week and I feel like a curtain has been lifted! I am 60 years old and I feel awesome! Don't give up! No excuses!!!

kscharsu

How wonderful of you to share!!! I am just getting started and have approx 60 pounds to loose. Having never been heavy until my mid-40's and having struggled ever since...I am so encouraged by your story. Thank you once again!!!

LisaLouisiana

I'm 49 and doing well on my journey. I went back to eating healthy and I exercise some and the weight is coming off. I'm not menopausal yet, though, so that may influence it some, but I think the main two things are that I figured out how to eat and I'm consistent with it.

WillowWindow

Thanks for great inspiration everyone!

gabriellejayde

I'm 45. Not close to menopause yet.
I've lost around 60 pounds in the last 7 months on 1200 cals per day. Only exercise is walking.

Before:


After (from last week's vacation)

cindiva65

Im going to be 48 this year.....I plan on being fierce!!!!! LOL :glasses:

skinnyinnotime

I'm 44...I don't call myself an 'older lady'....actually I'm still a girl!! :bigsmile:

You can do it, just keep at it! :flowerforyou:

d3gus

46 with 47 around the immediate corner lol... not found it too much of a struggle so far ( 23lb lost since 9th Jan ) but a long way to go till i'm the same weight as on my wedding day 140lb ! but i'm more confident that this is my time I will reach that magical number, and each day will bring me closer to it.

It's funny because at 140lb i was in a uk size 10 wedding dress, yet with the math i was still technically overweight! not entirely convinced about these bmi numbers!! unfortunately my doctor is!!

mumtoonegirl

I'm 40, in the last year I have lost 64lbs and gone from a size 16 to a size 8 - don't give up my dear you can do it!!!!!!

fit4lifeUcan2

I'm 46 years old and lost 65 pounds in the first 7 months. The only exercise I did during that time was walking and riding my bike. I have 10 more to go that seem to be hanging on. With the winter months I didn't get out much for walks. Full time college course load has kept me extremely busy plus my 3 kids. I was able to get back out and walk the past couple of days but the weather has turned on me again. I do have a weight lifting set now and have used it but lifting has set off my MS and Fibro pains and spasms so one day of lifting for even 10 minutes has me in severe pain and spasms for over a week. For me its just not worth it. I do lift up to 80lbs but can't go above that. Still working on that last 10 pounds and not about to give up! I went from a size 14 jeans to an 8.

Just set small goals and don't look too far ahead. Once I meet those goals I award myself with something like a day at the hair dressers, shopping for new clothes, see a new movie etc. DON"T reward yourself with food...your not a dog. Do something nice for yourself.

Eatkansasbeef

Bump

annlsinger

I'm 54, and post-menopausal. I started on October 15 in a study at UCSF. It is a pre-diabetes prevention study and the there are three components: walk 12,000 steps per day (they do a baseline assessment of your average daily steps for two weeks at the beginning and you start at that level and increase by 20% each week), count and log calories (mine were to be between 1500 and 2000), and answer a phone ap twice per day. The goal is to reduce your body weight by 10% and reduce your fasting glucose level.

It is March 12 (jus 3 days short of 5 months). I've lost 56 pounds, about 18% of my body weight, and am walking 12,000 steps (about 6 miles--takes me a bit over two hours) every day that I can. I always get the steps done on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I get alot of steps (about 9,000-10,000) in on Tuesdays and Fridays. For various reasons having to do with work and child....Wednesdays and Thursdays are a bit of a challenge, but I do as much as I can.

All steps count. I go to Curves 4 times per week (and that counts in the step totals).

I'm feeling great. I have quite a ways to go. But, what a difference 5 months and 56 pounds can make.

The study is over in a couple of weeks, but I plan on continuing just the way I have been going.

I'd love some friends here, so send a message!

twinteensmom

I joined MFP last fall but "fell off the wagon" and didn't rejoin(if you will) until after my 49th birthday last April. I decided then and there that I would reach my 50th birthday at my goal weight or damn close! Now that I am only 28 LBS from my goal, whenever I feel like it isn't coming off fast enough, I look at all the success stories and get re-inspired! You can do this. Don't listen to any of the nay-sayers. I have tried many times before to lose weight and have even succeeded to some extent only to regain it all back and then some. I truly think that the difference this times comes from really wanting this. Therefore, it is not a diet but, a lifestyle choice. Because of a changed mindset, I am actually finding it so much easier this time. I have my weak moments to be sure but, I will make it this time!

I found my earlier post and feel the need to update it, especially for the original author. I am now 8 LBS from goal and am even contemplating lowering my goal from 150 to 145 LBS. I turn 50 on April 4. I'm still not sure I will make goal by then but I will be so close, it doesn't really even matter. The point is, anyone can do this, if they really want it. It is all in the way you think about it. If you are doing this for any other reason than for yourself, you are bound to fail. It MUST be for you and you alone.

hauer01

I'm 44. I started with MFP a little more than a year ago.

Carma0410

Please don't stop, I just started yesterday and I need some inspiration.

Carma0410

So proud of you, I hope I will be able to lose like you. I am 60 and look forward to light at the end of the tunnel.

SonyaCele

i just turned 46 and losing weight this time has been easier than any other time in my life. The excuses like menopause or slow metabolism are just that, weak lame excuses. I dropped 85 pounds in 7 months with determination and effort. Put me next to any 20 year old girl, they got nothing on me. My maturity and wisdom and experience and "older woman" finances has helped make me the healthiest and best shape i've ever been in my life.

pigote

Don't give up . . . just keep going! Between age 57 & 58 I've lost 54 pounds, it IS possible. Keep moving, keep logging, use friends for support. Remember, it's more about being healthy than looking 20. I wish I had appreciated my young skin and firmer parts back then but I'm doing what I can do for being "near" 60 . . . . yikes, how did THAT happen?!

I commend you for trying - we 40+ rock!

cindygretz

I'm 43, full menopause at 30, hypothyroid since about that time. I was up to 240 being sedentary when my son left for boot camp in June of 2011. In August of 2011 I started a job that has me walking and moving constantly. In the first year I'd lost about 60lbs without changing my diet much at all then stalled, but 6 weeks ago (started biggest loser contest at work) I decided it's time.

I want to live long enough to take my great-grandchildren fishing, and I want to look good doing it, so this Biggest Loser thing is just the catalyst for a lifestyle change. I gave up my Pepsi, started looking at nutrition labels, and found this website.

So far, according to the 'official' scales for the contest, I'm down 17 lbs in 6 weeks doing nothing different than a calorie deficit. However, tomorrow a fellow 'BL' and I are starting the Couch to 5k program together. We're planning to do a 5k together in October. She's 10 years my junior but I'll be damned if I'm going to let her show me up on this one!

ColeyBear08

195 to 150is

I have lost more since the after picture but I'm not taking a new one until May.

AmyMgetsfit

I am not a success yet, but I am working on it. I have lost 16lbs so far. Only about half way there. I am 58. It is a lot harder the older you get. It seems like everything has to be in sinc for you to lose a pound, at least for me. Obviously everyone is different when it comes to how easy/hard they lose weight. I am doing more weights than I had originally planned on doing, hoping that helps to get rid of the fatty tummy that doesn't seem to want to go away.