I just recently joined My Fitness Pal, too. Like you, I am finding it is increasingly difficult to lose weight. I have some issues with my knees and my back, so I'm trying walking and a self-exercise class at a nearby Y. I'd like to lose 50 lbs, but I don't think that's realistic, but I'd be happy with 25. I just don't want any further sagging of skin. At 66, it's bad enough. Thanks for starting a group for our age group.

Welcome to MFP all you new peeps. I was on MFP for three months, lost almost 30 lbs, went off for 6 months and gained 25 back, and rejoined again in June and have lost another 14 lbs. It works IF you log everything you put in your mouth. This lets you know what you are actually consuming as well as helping to keep you honest. It really helps if you are on a restricted diet as I am. You can customize your macros (fat, protein, carbs) as well as sodium, sugar, etc) to what you doctor may have set for you.

From what I understand, exercise is a lot less than 30%. Cardio is to help your heart and lungs, Weight/resistance training is for your muscles, bones and metabolism.

Eating less calories than what you have been is for losing weight.

A pound of fat is 3500 calories. If you burn 10 calories a minute/600 calories an hour, it will take 5.83 hours to lose one pound, IF you do not increase calories. That’s 1.17 hours of exercise a day, five days a week, maintaining 10 calories burned a minute, no slowing down. The average person burns between 5 and 7 calories a minute. On a good day, if I'm listening to Little Richard and trying to keep up with the beat, I can burn 10 calories per minute. Today was lower as I am on a new Beta Blocker and I seem to be more sluggish.

If you have been eating 3000 calories a day and reduce it to 1800 (I’m a guy), you are eating at a 1200 calorie a day deficit or 8400 calories a week for, potentially, 2.4 pounds of fat removed from your body, all other things being equal.

I’ve been a fat sloth for decades but now I’m trying to get healthy (The Bride just retired, 3 grandsons). I am on an 1800 calorie/day, low sodium (high blood pressure), low carb (Type 2 Diabetes) diet and do 35 minutes of cardio on a seated elliptical (knee replacement)/5 days a week, and 45 minutes of resistance training/2 days a week.

After years of trying everything else, this seems to be working for me.

Oh, I’m turning 68 in 6 days.

kaspkav,
Lose the weight, do some exercise and you will feel much better. I feel better than I have in decades, both physically and mentally, I no longer hate myself for my overindulgences, because I seldom overindulge any more, and if I do, it’s usually just eating too much healthy food. Rarely, do I eat crap anymore.

So happy to find this board. Need to lose weight but feel out of place with the younger ladies. I am 71 Y/O. Having minor problems with knees but otherwise pretty healthy. I just want to be at a healthy weight and able to do whatever I want. Have a disabled husband and know the time will come that will require some muscle to help him.

I started tracking my food yesterday and it was much easier that I thought it would be.Now, just have to figure out an exercise program (UGH) but will find something. Have about 50 pounds to lose and know I will feel so much better.

Awesome, Gagoo! I just joined myself and put out the question, "Are there any seniors out there?" and got a couple of replies, but I appreciate your starting the group. I actually won't be 65 until October, but I figured I was close enough... right?

:flowerforyou:

Hi --

Just discovered this site here at work, and it looks like a good place for me. I will be 65 in December (I'm too young to be that old). I sit at the office all day, do a 4-hour commute each work day, and do bookkeeping for our hardware store in the evening and on weekends. Exercise and motivation are a big problem for me. Maybe you can help me. I am having the usual problems due to weight gain -- aches and pains and mental pains as well.

Any good ideas for me on how to get some exercise into my schedule?

I am not quite 65, I am 63 but also was looking for a board with others my age. I have been doing WW since April and am down 26 lbs. I am finding exercise much more of a challenge and was struggling with the 26 Points they give me a day. I decided to convert to calories for a while. This is a great website and I hope to share and try to help others our age be able to succeed.

This is definitely a great web site; I'm always amazed at how many foods are listed, and putting in my own recipe for calculations is a great feature. Like so many of you, I've struggled with my weight nearly all my life, and it has taken its toll on my joints. Good health--just aches and pains in knees and back. Motivation for exercising is a constant struggle; it helps that I can do water exercises and walk on an indoor track at the Y, but it is a 25-min. drive to get there. It does help my back, however, so it is worth the time it takes to drive into town and do both. It also helps to know that there are others out there my age who are struggling, too. It does seem to be harder to lose it once we are older. It just doesn't come off as easily as it did, say 20 years ago, but it is worth it. I just want to be able to move more easily, and not feel pain each time I move. I think setting a clock for 10 min. of movement is a good idea. I believe I'll give that a try, too. Moving, whether it's walking or doing laundry or whatever, is always a good thing.

Hi Gagoo1947 - Compelled to drop by and say hello because I'm a 1947 too. My birthday is in October. Welcome to myfitnesspal. Hope you love it as much as I (I'm a newbie too). What you're doing is the best thing one can do, and here you'll find all the tools and support you could want. I wish you the best!

Hi everybody! I'm new to fitness pal, and to this group. I'm hoping to connect with people who have found ways to counteract the slowing metabolism of people of a certain age. I'm having a hard time adjusting because I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted, and now I need to lose 25 pounds. Eeeek!