LF women over 40 who have lost 50+ pounds

Please, friend me! Support is so important too!! I have my calories set for 1420, but usually stay under 1400... Glad to have you as a friend!

Edit: I friended you first!!

I'm 42 and started mid January. I've lost 55 lbs. I've lost it by simple math, burn more than I take in. I do eat back at least half my exercise calories. My motto is to do what I can do forever and consider this a permanent change as opposed to a temporary one. So, some days I eat way over and some days I'm just on spot. Over all though I just try to make healthier choices and change up my exercise.

I should also add that I don't bother watching macros, only calories.

Hi, I'm turning 52 on Thursday and started using MFP seriously the first of January this year. I have lost 65 lbs since January, what has worked for me is portion control and exercise. I ate basically what I wanted just not as much and eventually started eathing healthier but still slip some junk in there sometimes. The only exercise I could do in the beginning was walking, I have added to that since the beginning, I use the elipitcal machine, ride a bike, jumping jacks, jump rope just more active. I haven't started the strength training yet but do need to start because I need a lot of toning now. My weight loss has slowed down alot but I thought it would since I am about 20 lbs from my goal. I am also perimenopausal so thought that would make it harder but honestly for me portion control and little exercise is what has worked for me. Good luck and you got this, you can do it if I can I think anyone can.
I usually eat 1200 calories but go over some days but don't mind cause I do have the exercise calories, don't always eat them back but do sometimes and actually when I do is when I see the scale move.

I chose a route quite different from most of the responders here. After struggling for decades with my weight, I watched the film "Forks Over Knives" and it changed my life instantly and permanently. I adopted a whole foods plant-based diet, nearly 80% carbs. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Starches, including potatoes, are my staples. I can eat all the potatoes I like guilt-free. I am no longer pre-diabetic. Many of the benefits were immediate and dramatic. My skin cleared up and my allergies, acid-reflux and female issues went away. No more chronic bronchitis or sinus problems. My blood pressure dropped and my cholesterol is below 150. I have more energy than ever before in my life.

Now here I am almost a year and a half later and I am down over 100 pounds at age 47. My rate of weight loss fluctuates as well as my caloric intake. I don't worry about the calories as long as I feel full and satisfied. In fact, dumping all the processed, high fat and heavy foods has left me loving the taste of real natural healthy food. I enjoy a greater variety of foods than I ever ate before. I don't have to count calories, but I try to track my food on MFP to see where I am at. Some days I eat 1800 calories and some days it's only 800, but I am never starving and I get lots of nutrients.

I try to exercise as well, usually about 120-180 minutes a week. I believe weight loss is 90% the food you eat and 10% exercise. Exercise cannot make up for a bad diet.

What thrills me most is that I now have a maintenance plan once I reach my goal. It's to just keep eating the same way forever. It's satisfying and it feels great. I no longer crave the sweets or heavy cheesy meals. No longer being a slave to temptation is a wonderful feeling.

Whatever path you choose, I wish you well. Never stop pursuing knowledge about your health and the food you eat.

I am 47 with a hypo throid and am anemic. I have lost 70.96 pounds since April 2011. When I started my journey, I told myself "what ever I do , I need to do for the rest of my life. This is a way of life not a diet", so I tired to eat in moderation. Being a binge eater, this was very hard. I also did not try to change everything all at once. I tried to get my eating in order before I added the exercise. I made the commitment to not go more than three days without exercising because once I missed that third day then the fourth and fifth days were easier to skip. I have kept that commitment. I added commitments to drink more water, eat more vegetables and so on.

When I wanted to binge, I would ask myself "Is this food worth going to the gym and getting on the elliptical for how long it took to work the calories of?" If the answer was no, then I would put the food back. If the answer was yes, then I ate it and did not feel guilty eating it. Sometimes this has worked and other times it didn't, but most of the time it did.

I only started worrying about calories and journeling my food since March 2012 when my weigh loss slowed down and I had 17 pounds more to lose.

Now that I've lost my weight, I have hired a personal trainer to work with me.

For me, little steps is what it is all about. I've gone gung ho before but it never lasted. I do eat my exercise calories back. I told my Personal Trainer that I do cardio so that I can eat chocolate if I want it. I do cardio 5-7 times a week and strength train 3 days a week. My calorie goal is 1200 but I eat between 1400 and 1650.

My big ah ha moment came when I realized that even when I hit my goal I still would need to watch what I ate. In the past I had it in my head that when I lost weight, I could eat whatever I wanted. I am where I am because I watch what I eat and exercise. This is something I will need to do everyday of my life, so just ask yourself if what you are doing if you can do for a lifetime. If not then twick it to something you can. Make it your own.

I'm 51 and have lost 51 lbs in 11 months. I'm glad you started this thread, thank you! It helps me to see that there are more women in our age group on MFP than I knew and our stories are very similar. It's been a long slow process but I just keep plugging away. I try to work out at least 5-6 days a week. Started off just walking mostly and trying to jog (which I absolutely hate) and doing DVD's at home. Now I am doing Zumba, a total body class (just started) and the gym plus I continue to walk just about everyday. I wear a Fitbit to track my miles and a HRM when I do my classes to track my calorie burns. I still need to lose at least 40 more to be at a fairly decent weight.

Just stay focused and keep trying new things. Eventually you will find what works for you. And you might even find that what works for you changes from time to time. I am given 1700 calories a day by MFP and I eat less but I eat whatever I want just in moderation. I also eat back some of my exercise calories as needed.

Anyway, thanks again for this and all the best to you in your endeavors.

I am 49 and will be turning 50 in February 2013. I want to lose a total of 80 lbs. I don't think I will be able to do that by February, but if I could take off 50 by then. I would be so happy.

I don't have time for the P90X I work a full time job and a part time job. I used to do a kettlebell work out and I loved it but timing is my enemy right now. I just ordered the beachbody 10 min workouts. I was hoping I could do them 1 in am and 1 in evening.
Has anyone tried them?

I get sucked in to so many things, so I hope they work. I have messed myself up so many times trying all kinds of crazy fad diets pills drops you name it. Now I am on to eating as clean and sugar free as possible and try to do something every day even if its just walking.

Any advice anywhere would be truly appreciated.

thanks,

Hello!

I'm just about to turn 43 and have managed to lose my weight over 8 months. I joined MFP in January 2012 after losing around 14lbs already. Here's how I've done it....

Diet: I primarily eat raw foods, but whether raw or cooked, I do not touch processed foods. Anything mass made by man I avoid. Sounds extreme, but convenient foods don't have adequate nutrition and is high in sodium and sugars. I stuck with lean meats, raw nuts & seeds, fresh fruit and veggies. I enjoyed the occasional addition of short grain brown rice, but otherwise Essene bread. I continued to enjoy real butter and a bit of cheese here and there. I would also eat an avocado a day... LOVE them so much. By eating healthy, my digestive system was working beautifully and my skin complimenting my new approach to healthy eating!
I limited myself to 1500 calories per day and occasionally ate some of my exercise calories. I listened to my body and if I was hungry, I would eat the good stuff. Normally macadamia nuts or almonds.

Exercise: I joined a gym and got a personal trainer to get me on my way. I would never have worked out so hard on my own. I purchased a Heart Rate Monitor and the information from that increased my enthusiasm and drive to succeed. Simply because I could actually SEE what I was achieving.
I do various workouts at my gym. Anything from Zumba to kick boxing, aerobics, spinning, belly dancing etc.... anything that is fun and enjoyable. I have learned that I enjoy the interaction and I'm not the most trustworthy person to go around the gym on my own doing treadmill, etc.
My body has taken shape. I have toned arms and legs and finally, a waist too! It has been SUCH HARD WORK and I'm vowing never to have to do it again. Now I'm in shape, I'll stay this way.

I am a few pounds away from my goal. I am happy in my new skin and I'm delighted with my achievement. No matter what advice/motivation I was given or what I had researched , my success came from the sheer desire and drive to achieve my goal.

The only down side is that I now understand and appreciate that when we have lost a lot of weight over the age of 40 - our skin does not recover so quickly. However.... I dry skin brush, moisturise and do what I have to do to keep my skin happy. I still have a bit of a jelly belly but hey, it's not like I'm going to be modelling underwear...... YET! LOL

I can't say my experience hasn't been life changing. It has. I am either invited to parties more often, or in some cases, less often! Depends who the host(ess) is! he he he he.... I am loving being able to dress in a style that suits my personality and the confidence is amazing!
I use to feel half the height and twice the width.... Now I feel twice the height and half the width.

So all I can say is..... WELL DONE FOR JOINING MFP. It is an amazing network with an array of wonderful people, information and support!! All you have to do is to add some focus, commitment & determination! YOU WILL SUCCEED!!!

:smooched:

ps. I have kept my story reasonably short. If anyone would like detailed information, please feel free to inbox me! :flowerforyou:

I am 51 years old. I started MFP in January, weighing 207 lbs. I quit drinking pop. I get at least 30 min. of exercise every day, mainly walking, and I eat healthy foods 5 times a day--1200 calories a day. I keep my food and exercise journal up to date, with help from my smart phone app. I now weigh 152, which is the smallest I have been in my adult life! Everyone tells me how good I look, but honestly, I still see my fat self when I look in the mirror. I know my clothes are smaller, and my measurements are A LOT smaller. I guess it will take me some time to see the real me!

Well, I have to beg to differ with the OP's original statement.

I lost 55 lbs at age 54. I used exactly the numbers given to me by MFP. I always ate every single one of my exercise calories. I was often way over my calorie goals - by 500-1000 calories. I did regular exercise, used a heart rate monitor, and used those numbers exclusively for exercise. I updated my "goals" here whenever the site asked/prompted me to. It took me seven months, or 1.96 lbs per week, on average.

I also take thyroid medication, and I've gone through menopause, so you can throw those excuses out, too. I found it is mostly about a long-term consistent pattern. Some weeks I lost nothing, some weeks I lost one pound. But it was a general downward trend.

I went from 210 to 155, and I have been maintaining for five years.

Hi! I am 51 and I lost my first 50 pounds in about 4 months. I have a total of 150 to lose and I have lost 69 so far. I will have my 6 months in next week. I am almost halfway to goal and very happy with my progress.

I typically eat between 1200-1300 calories a day and exercise 4-5 times a week I mix strength training and cardio. I have a sedentary job where I don't get a lot of activity in but I get lots of activity at home. I DON'T eat exercise calories back though!

Hope this helps! Good luck to you!

bump

Debbie I am 48 years old and my husband 49 we are both over 100lbs. over weight (used to be) we started back in March of 2012 and with MFP and exercise we have lost over 100lbs. as of today. I have lost 43lbs. and I make sure I don't starve myself if I want to eat something I just make sure everything is done in moderation. You can feel free to look at my food diary and take note of my calories. Whenever I go to the gym and burn alot of calories I find myself wanting those calories I had burned because I do get more hungry because of the intense workout and I continue to lose. Hope this helps. I am on a 1295 calories but I was on a 1400 calories and changed it, when I exercise heavy I bump it up to anywhere from 1700-1900 depending on my stomach growling at me to feed it heeheee!! You can friend me on here.
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: