Older and struggling to lose

lmkuhn596

I am 45 and have to work everyday to control the weight gain!! Looking for others in the same boat....if you are over 40 you know what I am talking about. Also this time of year is extremely hard - cold and nasty out and hard to get motivated to move.

Looking for anyone living in the cold north and over 40 trying to stay in control.

Hoping to beable to add a few friends for moral support!

tutti777

I am 60 and started the program on Jan. 3rd. Due to chronic pain/health issues, my exercise is limited. I do walk 45 minutes on days I can get outside. Just had surgery on both knees in Nov. & Dec. so I'm slowly working my back to more walking. The scales are going in the wrong direction. I do not know what I'm doing wrong. I know I'm getting frustrated but trying real hard not to be. I am on the 1200 calorie program (I'm 5' 3"). Maybe some of the other members can give us some pointers. Some people say 2 or 3 weeks is not enough time but I do know I should have dropped a pound or two by now....not gained. Good luck!

SpiritRockBernie

i'm 42 and have never felt better. I've struggled being chubby my whole life, but in the last 4 months, i've managed to lose the most weight since high school and college. It takes time and patience, but you'll get there. I'd first start off by analyzing what foods you're eating that make it so hard to lose/maintain weight. Look in the nutrition section. Then you can analyze your workout and see what needs improvement there. good luck!

tisha_rae

I"m not over 40 (33) but feel free to add if you'd like - we can all use the motivation

Good Luck on your Journey!

sevsmom

41. . .started in '11 @ 39. Northeast Ohio. . .it's chilly here!!! No real experience with post surgery fitness, but do know that weight loss can take awhile. When I started in Mar 11, I was 168 (5'5") and extremely motivated. Revamped the diet. . .working out 5 days a week. . logging my food. . .the scale did not budge for over a month!!! Even when it did, it was slower than I wanted. My goal of 140 by 40 did not happen. It took 6 months longer to drop a full 28 lbs. Some folks do drop weight fast. I prefer making changes that take longer, but are more reasonable for my lifestyle and demands to maintain. Hope your knees are getting stronger and are pain free! Hopefully you'll be able to get out there and get some strong exercise going soon and see that scale move in a healthy direction soon!!

stephfranke

HI I am in my mid forties, and struggle daily... it's been a slow walk since July, but am losing and feeling better. Feel free to add me, but do send a bit of a message, so i know why you are adding. thanks,

UticaBoy51

Almost 45, you are more than welcome to add. Good luck, I have been on for a year and I have learned a ton. Especially from the people on here.

mfdl1

Hi,i am fourty this year and struggling with my weight,i started dec last year and have not lost a pound,so hope we can be friends and help each other along.

wisconsinboogie

I know what you mean, Im just 52, but strugged most my life, though the last 12 yrs its more of a struggle and I keep getting heavier, Having a low throid doesnt help one bit, even on medication, I live in northern Wi.so Iknow about cold, I go to the gym 3 days/wk work out at home, and when its above 20 degrees walk or snowshoe, the key is to mix it up. Dont give up! Friend me if you would like.

dave4d

I'm 43, and I gained about 40 + lbs in less than 2 years. It has taken me about 5 months to lose it, again. It is very hard to keep myself disciplined. I understand what you are going through.

Absaluteme

I'm 54 and there really are only three things to say. 1 Hang in there and no cheating. 2 Be sure that the weights and calories are accurate.I bought a little set of scales and was amazed at how little constitutes 100 grams. 3 Exercise, exercise, exercise. Doesn't matter what and you don't need to run a marathon but you do need to keep it moving. I was stuck on a weight for three weeks and found that very depressing but I hung in there. I've lost 25 lbs since the start of October 2012 and it never feels enough. I sometimes think that feeling like a failure is what motivates us. Best of luck.

trchristy

I was typing and lost it.. I live in Vermont hate the cold especially when its -2 I want to stay in, I feel your pain I can relate, turned 40 this year and the weight is just not coming off like before. Doing a lot of exercise hopefully its turning to muscle I don't know... this is a awesome site very supportive and knowledgeable people on here. You will get what you need from all of us.

bcattoes

I'm 51. I think exercise becomes a more important part of weight control as we get older. The best tips I can give you are:

1. Don't use age as an excuse, even if it is a legit one.
2. Eat right. Eat for health and not for weight loss. If you eat a healthy diet and stick to your calorie goals you will get to a healthy weight.
3. Have patience. Don't get caught up in gimmicks for quick weight loss. Eat a diet that you can live with forever.
4. Exercise! Start slow if you are not used to it, but constantly push yourself to do more. Intensity matters. Include aerobic, flexibility and strength exercises. Find activities you enjoy. It shouldn't feel like work all of the time (though it probably will some of the time)
5. Don't get discouraged when you have a bad day/weekend/week. You will have them. Everyone does. Shake it off and get back on track.

naomiwaterman

Hi my name is Naomi and I live in the cold. I'm also mid. 40's. It's hard but keep up the work.. I watch what I eat everyday and this site has helped me keep on track. Good luck!

Runs4Pasta

46 years old and I noticed from 40-45 it was a little harder to maintain my weight. Then at 45, bam, here's 5 lbs. The older you get the harder it gets metabolically so hit it hard now. Strength training is key. We lose around 8% of muscle mass per decade after 30 so it's very important to lift heavy things to keep that at bay. Muscle keeps the metabolism up!

huggybear77

Well I just turned 50 and am also looking for support. I am having trouble getting going. Like you because its cold outside and I want to walk but just can't seem to get going. I just started this website this week but hoping to keep track of what I eat and make a permanent change i my life so I can lose and not gain it back. I live in Kentucky but its cold right now can't wait for the spring! Feel free to add me as a friend. I can use the support too!
Annette

action_figure

I'm 45. Started October 1 at 347 lbs and am at 291.6 today. It honestly doesn't seem that much harder to me to lose weight as an older person. Exercise was hard at first because I'd just injured my knee pretty severely and wasn't able to walk, much less work out. It was 100% diet for me for the first three months.

purplecharm

I'm in my mid-40's and live in Michigan. It's freezing here. I really hate that I didn't start my journey when it was warmer but I won't let that stop me. I am currently doing the 30 Day Shred. I am on day 10. I like the fact that I don't have to leave my house or join a gym to workout.

Try doing some video workouts and then incorporate some outdoor exercises when it warms up. I plan on walking when it warms up and then graduate to jogging and eventually running.

bbrown148

I'm 43 and live in Indiana, where it is cold as well. Feel free to add me as a friend — I have a lot to lose and have struggled to lose or maintain most of my adult life. I know I will get there eventually and I won't let myself lose this battle. We can't afford a gym membership but I have a large living room with a large TV and so I'm making the Wii and exercise DVDs work for me.

action_figure

I absolutely agree. NO CHEATING! No cheat days, no cheat meals, and weigh and measure everything. The difference in what I "think" I'm eating and what I am actually eating can be wildly off if I don't measure.

tallvesl99

I just turned 57 Jan 3rd. I have struggled with my weight on and off most of my life. After I turned 50 it really became difficult. MFP has been a huge help. My daughter in law got me started on it and I LOVE IT. It is truly motivating to know you are going to WRITE DOWN whatever you put in your mouth. I love knowing that I will get "credit" for whatever calories I expend. For once in my life I feel in "control". I have lost 13 pounds since October...I had lost a few and gained a few in December but I am very happy with this program. Stick with it and you will lose!!! Stay positive; you can do this!

Mamoonie

I'm 42 and don't think it's harder to lose weight when you're over 40.
I started on MFP 3 weeks before my 40th birthday, on August 1st 2010. In January 2011 I started working out at the gym, with a personal trainer.
I know losing 56 lbs is not much for a period of over 2 years, most people on here do it much faster. But I didn't change much about my eating habits, only reduced quantities a bit. I really need to change towards healthier food.
I feel better than the last 20 years :-)

mazdauk

I'm 47 (one month off 48) and have been using this tool for 2 weeks. As others have said the main thing is exercise (although I do eat back my exercise calories I try to stay under:blushing: ). I walk to and from work (15 mins) and try to get out for 15-25 minutes during the day - just round local streets, but I try to do as much uphill as I can. I also try to do at least one 20min workout at home (Rosemary Conley is the BEST!), before breakfast works well, and if I can when I get home as well. With the walking that adds to quite a lot of exercise! And she has routines using a chair if you're less mobile. My main weakness is cheese, wine and wine . Hubby is as bad, but he works shifts so if I can keep off when he's working it reduces th number of days to fight temptation.

Feel free to add me as a friend.

bsuew

I'm almost 52 and I have a horrible time loosing! I haven't gone thru menopause yet (I know it's looming) But, I still have a horrible time trying to loose. I had a partial hysterectomy 16 years ago. I eat a low carb diet and that seems to be the only way that I am able to loose. Please feel free to add me, I log on every day and my meals are open. We can get where we want to be, just have to work a bit harder.

ggeise14

Hi, I live in MN and am barely hanging on to the 40s. I'm going into my fourth yr of a healthier lifestyle. What the others above said... feel free to add me as a friend. MFP is a good place to be for motivation. I do exercise every day (no gym membership) and some days it's a struggle to do it but I do feel better doing it. You've taken the first step now keep going -- one step at a time.

bcattoes

I absolutely agree. NO CHEATING! No cheat days, no cheat meals, and weigh and measure everything. The difference in what I "think" I'm eating and what I am actually eating can be wildly off if I don't measure.

Different things work for different people, but this ^^ (no "cheating") would never work for me. I don't consider days I eat way more than I should "cheating" but whatever you label you put on it, I need them. Family gatherings, vacation, birthdays, whatever. Having high occasional high calorie days is just part of my life. Keeping those days "occasional" is the key to maintaining a heatlhy weight for me, not thinking I can never have them.

keeponkickin

<---Soon to be 46 here. Lost 110 pounds in a year and now struggling to lose the last 10 to 15. Anyone is welcome to add me.

cindiva65

Im 29...ok...ok.....really 47....LOL. Ive been doing good since starting Jan 1. I get up super early (5:45) weekday mornings to head to the gym to put in an hour working out. Im a drill master on tracking my food. I have a dead thyroid and take meds daily but I have been doing good enough to lose 5 lbs in two weeks time. I just made up my mind that it has to get done. Im not getting younger and it is harder to lose during menopause (im in the beginnings of it). So I think consistency is the key. Keep doing what you know is good for your body and it will respond in kind.

Fit4_Life

45 here as well. I had gained 40 back. Lost 7 lbs so far. It gets cold here, in the south. I try to exercise when I can. Working 10 hrs a day are hard when finding time to get in some exercises in the evening. Take baby steps...You will get there.

Jodibear58

I am 54 and I live in Maryland and it is cold here too.

I too am struggling, but I am doing everything I am suppose to, eating in a proper calorie range, weighing and measuring food, tracking everything, cardio and light weights, walking daily and getting in 10000 steps a day....

and I am gaining...not losing.... I have been in a plateau and gaining/losing the same 3-5 pounds for months (I have lost count)

very depressing....

Add me if you'd like.

Baylorb2

I am over 50! And it gets more difficult with each passing year. I am very carb sensitive,plus type 2 diabetic. I have just finished a coprorate wellness program, where I added a lot of "healthy whole grains" to my diet, and I gained 3 lbs. and my A1c went up to a 7.4.... which is terrible. I am now on a corporate weight loss 60 day challenge... and did great as long as I just stuck with flax, and almond meal, etc. NO WHEAT.... well, I passed the first 2 weeks, really day 13, and decided that for day 13 and14 I would add just a few wheat products back into my diet. I had lost 8 lbs, but now I've only lost 3! Can you beleive that my adding baked goods back into my diet has ADDED 5 lbs. back onto me in less than 1 week? I am so frustrated... I simply must do what I know works for me! And other grains, besides wheat WORK for me. Has anyone else had to eliminate wheat?