46 and weight won't budge!

lotz4less4u

It is so discouraging to once have been able to drop weight but after age 40 it is true...it gets much harder!! Anyone else having this problem?? Am 46 year old female...very frustrated and needing encouragement!

lisawmi

I am 48 and have been up and down. I just joined a challenge at the gym, I think this is about my fourth go around. I can lose the weight but I have trouble keeping my focus to keep it off. Remember- calories in vs calories out is what it is all about. How many calories are you eating? Are you tracking faithfully?

Lovestoscrapbook

Having the same issue. Lost the first 24 (being with recording calories is the most important thing) with no problem but now stuck in a plateau for 2 months and need to lost 10-15 more. I decided that I am going to try cutting out all junk food (including my beloved soda) for one month and see if that can jump start my loss again. Limit processed foods as much as possible.

Heard on here that losing weight is 90% diet, 10% exercise and so far that appears to be true...

WAHMto5

I am 42 and was having the same problem before joining MFP. Just stick with it and it WILL work, so worth it!

beachbums6

I have the same problem. I lost about 20 lbs and gained some back. I've been trying to workout more and track my calories. I am trying to cut out the junk food and the sodas. Sometimes it is hard when everyone else brings in the stuff. I try to put it away so that I don't see it. I don't eat fast food as much anymore and that has helped. I try eating more fruits and vegetables too.

Charbonie1

I am 48 and lost 35 pounds 4 years ago, gained back 10 and am now trying to lose another 30. Exercise, just 30 minutes a day is what makes a huge difference for me. Otherwise I stay the same weight or even gain. You don't have to kill yourself, but something that gets your heart rate up like snowshoeing, dancing, a light jog or very brisk walk up and own a few hills. That extra 200 cals off per day seems to do it for me

RobynMWilson

I am 48 and have been up and down. I just joined a challenge at the gym, I think this is about my fourth go around. I can lose the weight but I have trouble keeping my focus to keep it off. Remember- calories in vs calories out is what it is all about. How many calories are you eating? Are you tracking faithfully?

^^ what she said. And once you take it off this time, KEEP it off so you don't have to do this again! I've kept my weight off for 20 yrs because I'm diligent. Once I lost my weight, it became my PRIORITY to keep it off as much as it was my priority to take it off to begin with!

I'm sending a FR now

bearwith

You just need to exercise every day to the point where you are sweaty and out of breath. You cannot rely on cutting the calories as the only way to reduce your weight because your body gets used to fewer calories

tbetts23

I'm 47 and have lost 50lbs. It can be done. I'm still shooting for another 15. For the first 40 my exercise was walking 3 to 5 days a week. I bought an elliptical at Xmas time because I'm a weenie and hate the cold. It's taken 11 months but I'm planning on keeping it off

sherrycf

ugh, totally feel your pain! I am 51 and it is very difficult to drop the weight, which before 50 I never really had a problem with. I have found that excercise is the key!! The accountability of MFP is a blessing but unfortunatelt when the hormones start working against us we have to step it up to lose or even maintain. I use an eliptical and walk briskly outside when the weather permits (after 50 I started having problems with my knee so no more jogging ) getting older sucks, but as they say...it's better than the alternative
Hang in there, and good luck Oh and one more thing I just started doing beginners yoga (I am the most unflexible person on the planet!! ) and it is an awesome workout that is also relaxing and amazing, you can buy a vidio if you can't find a class but I recomend both

LisaGirlfriend

I hear you. I'm 42 and it's a struggle. Make sure you're eating enough! If you are eating the 'magic' number of 1200 calories and working out, it's not good. Adjust your weekly goal to 1 1b loss a week, exercise, and eat back some of those exercise calories. Try to move as much as possible. Track everything - every food, every exercise, and make sure you're eating enough and balanced. I'm still trying to find the magic number that works for me but I KNOW without a doubt 1200 is not for me. Jillian's 30 Day Shred DVD is fantastic and only 20 minutes a day. I highly recommend it, plus walk walk walk, and drink water.

LIswimmer51

That happened to me for a few months, I recently broke it by going onto keto, you have to make a really drastic change to get the scale to move usually.

ravenchick

I'm 47 and I've lost 120 pounds in ten months on calorie intake alone. I think it's challenging, but it can be done. Everyone is different. Switch some things up until you figure out what works for you. Good luck!

suesuew62

All I can say is KEEP GOING! I am 50 and have the same problem - I even put weight on some weeks which is really disheartening when I've behaved all week. Your efforts will eventually show on the scales,

UticaBoy51

I am on the verge of 45 and more or less have the same issue. Keep going and change your routine a bit. That may help.

patentguru

Not an age thing. I am 51 and still can build muscle, lose fat. Do not concentrate on weight loss, especially if you are working out. For example, over the last three months I lost 3 pounds total, but extensive measurements and mirror show that about 10 pounds of fat gone and about 7 pounds of muscle gained.

The fat loss shows very slowly. In general, fat is lost all over the body at the same time. Thus, you will not notice a change in the gut for a long time. Look to the joints, shoulder caps, upper back, front thighs where you will notice reductions in fat more readily.

The mirror, tape measure and calipers are a far more accurate indication of fat loss than the scale.

Calorie deficit (eat less calories than burn) will work 100% of time. It has too. You cannot make fat from water and air.

It is so discouraging to once have been able to drop weight but after age 40 it is true...it gets much harder!! Anyone else having this problem?? Am 46 year old female...very frustrated and needing encouragement!

housemouse66

Hi Totally with you.

I am also 46 and would like to lose 2 stone.

I have Pernicious Aneamia and Arthritis, so in constant pain, so moving is not always so easy. I did 1200 cals for 8 weeks end of last year and lost 1lb, due to meds etc. Am at the end of my 2nd week of 1200 cals and have lost nothing, despite no longer being on the meds.

Keeping motivation is so difficult when the scales don't move, but as I am at the moment overweight, I need to stop the gain before I become even more overweight.

Keep going.

Dx

Fingers crossed we can do it.

pjrbs

Keep at it. Read many of these forums and get ideas. Experiment and find what works for you. For example, I track weekly calories so if something special comes up ( fat Fridays, birthday , I can partake and I'll eat less on other days.).

Good luck.

blu_meanie_ca

Try adjusting your macros. As women near the end of childbearing years they often deveolp a degree of insulin resistance. Try eating 40% carbs (with more protiens/fats). Try at mix of 40% carbs, 35% protien, and 35% fat. It may be hard if you are trying to be low cal at the same time, but, you may find that you don't need to. And, it can be much nicer this way. Full fat cream in your coffee (the higher the fat content of cream, the lower the carbs), full fat yogurt, full fat cheese, nuts, seeds.... meat. Just make sure to keep your fibers high too... or all that fun protien and fat will stay with you for days.

LisaO85

I'm 45 and soon to have another birthday. I feel your pain. After 40 the weight doesn't budge, I have been carrying around the same 10-15 lbs. for years now. I work out fairly regularly but my eating is what I have a problem with.

I just joined this website in Jan. and have already noticed that I am starting to think a little harder about what I am going to put in my mouth. I know there have been a lot of discussions about the calorie counts and should you eat your exercise calories or not, but for me right now just having that base number and not wanting to go over it is really making me think. I'm still not hitting my goal every day, but I do know that I am a lot closer than I was before I started this.

kknfyd

I agree with patent guru! I joined a gym in August 2012 and have gone faithfully since then. I also like to swim so exercise for me is a routine.
Weight loss though is very slow.... I think I have lost 3 lbs at the most, however, I am now buying a smaller size pant. I tried on my work pants yesterday, and they are all to big.
I know the weight will come off eventually, however, I am thinking positive and using the way my clothes fit as a gauge.

Hang in there!

janietonipreston

Same ere, almost 46 too, been dieting fr 4wks now and lost 1.2lb in 1st wk and nowt since, despite trying soooo hard . But...lots o good encouragement on here r I wd have given up by nw don't lose heart x

WinnerVictorious

You just need to exercise every day to the point where you are sweaty and out of breath. You cannot rely on cutting the calories as the only way to reduce your weight because your body gets used to fewer calories

not true.

i walk 6 miles most days and that gives me a calorie burn between 800 and 900 calories each time i do it. i never get sweaty or out of breath doing it. i walk at a comfortable pace of about 3 mph.

karibj2010

I'm 41, and I have lost just under 42lbs since September. It's a slow and steady process with some ups and downs but in the end has been so worth it. I still have a bit over 50lbs more that I would like to loose and I will keep going slow and steady. It takes patience for sure, and some tweaking here and there. This week for example, all I have been doing is watching my calories in and walking. Today I will be going back to the gym. I adjust my calorie goal to see what is working best. It is not easy, but nothing easy sticks.

Feel free (anyone here) to add me...I'm here everyday and provide motivation and encouragement to my MFP friends and can always use the inspiration and motivation myself. Good luck!!

lotz4less4u

Thank you all for the encouragement. 4 years ago I hit my goal of 155 pound but have since gained back 20 pounds. I am fairly tall, 5ft 9in so as they say....I carry it well...but that isn't good enough for me. As for my routine....I either walk/ recumbent bike/ swim or work on the eliptical 4 to 5 times per week. I have been watching my calories and sugar and I have lost 4 pounds....but....haven't budged in 2 weeks. I want to be back in the 150's and not ever gain it back again. I'm sure hormones may play a part....my thyroid is normal so that isn't the problem. I do suffer from plantar fasciatis in my right foot so I have to be careful about the intensity of the walk. Just don't know how to bump up the metabolism burn.

lotz4less4u

lotz4less4u

Tracking to a point...but am trying to watch portion control too. I exercise 4 -5 times per week also....just stubborn fat I guess.

lotz4less4u

Thanks!

lotz4less4u

We will do it!

Chula1962

I joined about a month ago, but I have not been diligent about logging anything. I am 50 and it is so hard to get the first 5 pounds off. I have at least 60 pounds to lose. But I had a revelation this weekend and I am more determined than EVER to get rid of the weight. My first step was to give up soda ! I am looking for like minded friends for support and encouragement.......I live in WI.

Marilyn2303

Same age as me.
I found before I hit 35 I could eat anything and stay slim. After that I swear I could feel fat pumping on my body. I was totally fed up in Oct and joined WW, then started with MFP again in January. I knew what my triggers were. Basically starches. I haven't had a sandwich or any kind of bread since end Sep. I've also cut out most other starches. No more potatoes, they've been switched to sweet potatoes. You know I really don't miss them either.
I still get my fiber, eating oatmeal every morning along with lots of fruit, vegs and water. For my dinner meal I am limiting anything like chili, stew, beans, or soup to 1 cup servings. I bought an electronic scale as well for weighing my food. Metabolism has slowed down and no more "children" style eating, that's what I'm doing. Also tracking everything that I eat whether it be one candy or a full meal. If you are diligent in your tracking you should do great.