40+ Club : Where the Cool Kids Are

I have no information to offer, Jules, sorry.

All I know is from personal experience - being a cardio gym rat for 25+ years did NOTHING for my "shape". Not. A. Thing. I'm sure my heart was in good condition, though! I still do some cardio, for 3 reasons:

1. I am a lifelong asthma sufferer and in order to keep my lungs from regressing to an early death, cardio is necessary.
2. I use cardio as a way to manage my day-to-day stress. I have a high-stress job and cardio reduces the stress coursing through my body.
3. It makes me feel good.

About a year ago, though, I realized that cardio was NOT giving me the "SHAPE" that I wanted. If I want a different SHAPE, then I have to do things differently. And, as it turns out, the aesthetics *is* what I'm wanting.

So, for me, that meant putting heavy weight-lifting back into my exercise equation. In order to make the necessary time for weight-training, it meant that I had to give up much of my (beloved) cardio.

Now, I lift weights 3 x per week. And I do cardio once-per-week....maybe more if I have the time, but, in 6 weeks, I've only managed cardio 1 x per week.

My shape has changed in the last year for ONLY 2 reasons:

1. I have reduced how many calories I am eating - which means that I am losing body fat.
2. I am doing heavy-lifting - which means I am preserving my muscles while I am losing body fat.

Alas, by Jan or Feb, 2013, I will have the hourglass shape I am seeking. My muscles will be visible and there won't be a layer of fat (under which they are hiding).

That's it.

For "shape-change", I don't believe in cardio. And, for weight loss, I believe it is strictly calories in vs. calories out....if you are expending MORE calories than you are ingesting, your body weight will come down. To make SURE the "weight" that you are losing is "fat" and not "muscle", I believe you need to be lifting heavy while eating your calorie deficit.

Checking in to say that I ran the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on Saturday/Sunday. I was in the last group to go at 10:25 pm and crossed the finish line about 2 hr 8 min later, and 19 years after the last time I ran a half. Fun experience with Disney characters throughout the race. Lots of people with over 14,000 runners. I wanted to see if I could do something in my 40's that I did in my 20's and I did. Felt great, but I don't think I have it in me to do another one. Maybe in my 60's. I think they announced the oldest participant as 74 years old!

Got my weight-training done, today. Wasn't easy....still suffering DOMs from Monday.

But, it's done.

And, I've lost 11 lbs since end-of-September, so my "cut" is also going well.

I think I only have 10 lbs to lose, but once I get there, I may decide a little more fat loss might be beneficial.

We shall see!

GO KILL IT 40+ club!

C'mon 40+ club....let's get more "busy" in here!

Where ARE you?????????????

I'm going to get my weight-training in, today. I hope to get my cardio in tomorrow. The rest of the weekend is busy with kidlet activities!

Hey now. 42 years old here. But, I am not cool... But, if this club has a cool t-shirt to go alone with it, maybe that will help...
BTW, as far as cool goes,, I vote RILEAMOYER for President of the Club. Damn.

I'm 40 with two toddler boys, so I feel like I am 25 most days and 100 every now and then. Lol!

I am currently doing the ChaLean Extreme workouts with three of my 40-something friends here on MFP. And I agree with hatsdown, my friend Rilea should be president of the club!! She ROCKS!!

I am looking forward to the weekend so I can go "running"...not liking these shorter days at all

So my husband, who is the bestest hubby in the world, decided I needed a reward for going to the gym every morning this week before work, decides to bring home some Fudge Stripe cookies, which are my favorite, and therefore, my kryptonite. :noway:

I decide to buck up and resist, only eating 3 (150cal) a day as a snack at night. I'm cool like that. :glasses:

They should have lasted longer than a day, right? :bigsmile:

But, check it out, I didn't eat them all. He did. :laugh:

I must say that's one way to kick temptation to the curb!

Reward for going to the gym, cookies? I would have thought new work out clothing, or a fit bit. IDK, maybe it is me.

On the up side, he is doing something for you because he is proud of you. That is awesome.

I don't think being British is a barrier. I'm quite certain even Brits get to be middle aged, cool or otherwise :happy: I think being middle aged is the key criterion here.

I'm 46 - mother of a 19 yr old son & 17 yr old girl, and a wife to a perfectly lovely husband. I'm struggling with weight loss as well, and also hope to minimize or forestall age and obesity related illness. Of no consequence all - I have dual citizenship, which means I think eating meat pie covered in gravy a really awesome meal.

Hey, I'm a cool kid....46 in less than 2 weeks, eek! I have 3 boys, 14, 16 and 18, looking to lose another 45-50 pounds (we'll see when I get closer) and I'm really into zumba and bikram yoga. Trying to get myself back into running, used to run 25 miles a week, hurt my foot, got better, but also got lazy

Reward for going to the gym, cookies? I would have thought new work out clothing, or a fit bit. IDK, maybe it is me.

On the up side, he is doing something for you because he is proud of you. That is awesome.

Yes, that is his thing. And, I might add, it's not always food. He IS very good at being supportive. He just got the cookies on a whim, and I think, in this case, it was a matter of convenience because he happened to be at the market. If he's at Target, it may be a movie, or if he's at the mall, some Bath and Body Works. Barnes and Noble, a new journal or something like that. He's amazing.

Sometimes I just turn my computer off on the weekends - particularly on Sunday. So, Jules, that was what happened (for me), yesterday.

I have this weird "pinch" in my left hip. I'm still going to go weight-train, today, but, depending on how this "pinch" feels, I may have to dial back on some of the weights. Which is fine.

I'm aiming to get in 3 weight-work-outs this week. Have to squish in one cardio session, too, somewhere....

I am 57, and I hang out with all ages. I would love to be part of this group.! I am currently trying to lose about 15-20 lbs.

Finally had my office birthday lunch out....along with my paralegal who celebrates her birthday next week!

One of my groupon's is expiring tomorrow - so we went to that restaurant for lunch. Turns out they wouldn't accept the groupon for "lunch" - has to be a dinner! So, I've planned an impromptu "date night" for tomorrow night!

Hubby won't mind....