40 something and trying not to give up on losing weight!

cara523
cara523 Posts: 116
in Introduce Yourself
<sigh> ok here I go...AGAIN! Seems like I am living the movie Groundhog Day except the same thing happens year after year instead of day after day. Each year I tell myself THIS IS MY YEAR! I WILL LOSE WEIGHT (and boyyyy do I have a lot to lose!) and well, I dont need to tell you how that ends because here I am :(
I somehow found this sight (honestly I am not sure how...maybe thats a sign that this time it will work since I was brought here?) and it seems easy enough. The hard part is staying motivated and on track. Any advice?

Replies

  • ursus_maritimus
    ursus_maritimus Posts: 19
    Hey cara :) I am new here too, but like you I have been on this roller coaster for a while. Here's my only advice: don't beat yourself up when you get off track, but do take the attitude that tomorrow is another day or dinner is another meal or whatever. Break it down into manageable pieces. If you fall off the wagon for breakfast, suck it up and eat a healthy lunch. If you had a totally blown day yesterday, get up today and do your best to be healthy today.

    Bottom line is you will fall off track, success in this endeavour is defined by how we do at getting back on when we do. I fell off track for 10 years and am just getting on again now... apparently I am a slow learner :D
  • cara523
    cara523 Posts: 116
    Hey! thanks for the advice! Great advice and perfect timing I might add! I did real good this week...until today :( Today I had a burrito for lunch then Apple Jacks cereal for dinner and a few hershey kisses for dessert. I stink at this! But I will take your advise and remind myself "tomorrow is another day!" thank you again!
  • elizcarman
    elizcarman Posts: 38
    Welcome to MFP! This is a great site with many supportive people. The community section is good too for asking questions and getting different perspectives about what works for people on this journey and what doesn't work. The success stories section is very inspirational and the recipes section has given me some ideas. I haven't found anyone who is trying to get healthly for the first time. Everyone has tried before. I too, am hoping this time I will be a success. You are welcome to add me as a friend. Open your food diary up so that your MFP friends can look at it if you want advice or comments. I hope you will take advantage of everything this site offers. Good Luck!! Liz:flowerforyou:
  • elsiesnow
    elsiesnow Posts: 33 Member
    I'm 40 and just joined the site myself. I got a Fitbit One right before New Year's and am using that every day to track my steps. I thought I was a lot more active than I really was! It's been an eye-opener and it's giving me incentive to stay on track. I made a New Year's resolution to track all my food and that's how I found this site. It's got such an extensive food database it makes it really easy. Now, when I want to eat something, it makes me pause when I think about recording it :P
    Friend me and I'll be part of your cheer team!
  • ursus_maritimus
    ursus_maritimus Posts: 19
    Yay me for the great timing. I think a lot of us suffer from "all or nothing" thinking. Today I got up and fought with myself not to go through McDonald's drive-thru for a Sausage Egg McMuffin meal.... luckily the good me won the battle. Then when I got to the office, one of my staff brought in a box of donuts for a meeting :S. My resolve prevailed again... but it was not easy... bottom line for me is I am going to make one decision at a time. If I make a poor one, I am going to try my best to make the next one a good one :)

    If you get stuck, feel free to shoot me a message and I'll give you moral support or a kick in the pants if that's what you need. :P
  • bluebird321
    bluebird321 Posts: 733 Member
    I've been on here for a little while (2 years this March I think). What helped me was logging my food everyday, and having a sense of humor and tolerance about myself and other people.

    Get in the habit of looking at the "success" threads on the forums; I have found that looking at the before/after pictures keeps me motivated and positive.
  • cara523
    cara523 Posts: 116
    well one thing I did learn...when staff brings "goodies" to work, as they often do...I lock myself in my office until the goodies are all gone! Seems to work :)
    Thank you! I need all the moral support I can get and as I always like to look on the bright side of things...I guess thats one good reason to have extra weight...the kick inthe pants wont hurt so much! hahaha
  • cara523
    cara523 Posts: 116
    thank you for the advice! I havent logged my food before and maybe thats where I am failing. Many sucess stories I read say that is what they do! Going to give it a try this time. Thank you again!
  • cara523
    cara523 Posts: 116
    Liz and Elsiesnow, thank you! I think i added you as a friend, not sure because this is all new to me! :)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    It takes practice.

    Ever see a toddler learning to walk? Many many falls.

    It's not easy to learn this stuff; there's a learning curve, and there are a lot of roadblocks. Just keep plugging away at it. Don't beat yourself up, celebrate every little success - and don't reward yourself with food - ever.
  • ravenchick
    ravenchick Posts: 345 Member
    Like the above poster said, don't let a small set back ruin your progress. Just get back on track the next day. Eventually it will be second nature. Make yourself a priority and you will succeed!! One day at a time and one step at a time.

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • Kougra
    Kougra Posts: 358 Member
    Welcome to MFP! And welcome to the journey to a new you. I have been on here for over year and have lost quite a bit. My advice to you is keep logging in, don't be too hard on yourself, and find some very supportive peeps! You can DO IT!!! It is never too late to get moving. Namaste :flowerforyou:
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    And you HAVE to log your food. All of it, every day, for as long as it takes. After you do it for a while, you will be able to log the entire day's food in less than 10 minutes.
  • dragomom
    dragomom Posts: 88 Member
    Like one of the posters stated, the success stories are great for inspiration and motivation but you should get a good line of support by finding friends on here that will help you along in your journey. Feel free to add me if you wish.
  • Graceious1
    Graceious1 Posts: 716 Member
    Hello, I am 44 and have been on here since the end of August. Being on this site has really helped me to really make a good go on changing my mindset when it comes to losing weight. I now see it as living well and looking after my health. By doing that I am now doing regular exercise (martial arts, jogging, weights) and really enjoying it. I haven't lost much weight but my body composition has changed greatly. I have been fortunate enough to have friends on here who are like-minded and very encouraging and we all want the same things. Feel free to add me if you like.
  • Jesea
    Jesea Posts: 376 Member
    Welcome to MFP! I've been on for almost a year, and I'm almost at my goal. Remember, there will be times when you won't exercise, and there will be times you eat more than you should. But that is not the end. It may take a while to figure out what calorie deficit works for you as well. Don't give up. Read the "success" threads. Find friends who are just starting out, as well as those who've been successful. Supportive friends can make all the difference.

    I wish you all the best!
  • cara523
    cara523 Posts: 116
    wow! overwhelmed by so many responses in such a short time! And all by posting my one and only message! Looks like I found a home here at "mfp" and looking forward to the journey! Thank you everyone and best of luck on your journey as well and congratulations to those that completed theirs! :)
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    Hi-I'm 44 and don't see age as a reason to give up at all. In fact I was chubbier when I was younger.
    It's about educating yourself, it's been said it's 80% diet 20% workout.
    So start learning and trying out different styles of eating and see if you notice any improvement.
    Good Luck!
  • almc170
    almc170 Posts: 1,093 Member
    No point in giving up! it's totally doable. Just takes patience and focus. It actually seems a little easier than it used to, since I know myself better than I did when I was younger. Lost about 20 lbs. last year, still trying to lose a few more.
  • ScarlettVamp
    ScarlettVamp Posts: 828 Member
    Welcome!! Take it day by day, or even moment by moment if you have to. Before you know it, time will have flown by and those moments/days will have added up to SUCCESS.
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    log EVERY THING!! That is what really taught me to get the most bang for my buck "caloriewise". I could eat a whopper meal for the whole day, or I could make healthy choices, eat even MORE food and be full. You can do this. Feel free to add me. I have a wonderful support group with my MFP friends. Don't get sucked into a lot of the BS in the forums. Keep it basic, calories in; calories out. Try to avoid as much processed and packaged food as you can. I know they are a part of life, but try to limit them. I did not start this process until I was 40 something as well, so I know it can be done.
  • danie11e2012
    danie11e2012 Posts: 2
    I have been overweight for most of my life and have tried several times, with little success, to lose. Last year I joined a program run by a doctor and suggested by my doctor. It is a support group, complete with a fitness guru, a nutritionist that runs the group, great office staff and wonderfully supportive group members! It is not a weight loss group but a weight management group. I never thought a name could be so positive but it is. We not only learn about food but we also learn about ourselves and what (emotions, boredom, happiness, marriage, kids, etc...) makes us gain and lose weight. A major lesson was not to call a slip up "cheating" and not to scold myself. Take it at face value; you slipped! Tomorrow, or even immediately, start again. You will be amazed what this does for your mind. Keep at it and once the pounds start coming off and you start feeling better I bet you will feel driven to keep going. Good luck!
  • krzykatmomma60610
    krzykatmomma60610 Posts: 7 Member
    I would have to say one of the more important derailments for losing weight is our tendency to focus on the things that we aren't doing right. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies with setting impossible standards for ourselves. One thing that we all need to do more is to be mindful of our NSV's (none scale victories) every single day to offset all of that. As a fellow 40 something I can totally relate to your weight loss past...I'm in a similar boat. But last year was last year and this will be our year :)
  • alifer
    alifer Posts: 387 Member
    I was on here in 2011 and lost a good amount. Then had a few major changes in my life and quit logging. I just started again. My advice-- log everything that goes into your mouth. Be completely honest with yourself including portion sizes and calories burned. I had a decent day today, but was craving chocolate tonight. I had some Hershey's, which made me go a few calories over. It's not the end of the world, tomorrow is a new day.
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    Hi, welcome, this is a great place to be when you're ready to lose weight.

    I'm 48 and have lost and regained (and then some) the same 10 lbs again and again. This time around I'm down over 30 and it's not coming back. I've gotten rid of the junk in my diet and now love to exercise.

    Stick around, make friends - the enthusiasm here is contagious :-)
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    I just turned 50 and haven't been this fit in many years. You just have to commit to it and do it. (And have fun with the process!)
  • DeeBee042
    DeeBee042 Posts: 34 Member
    You can do it! This site does wonders for motivation. Log your food and exercise everyday, it really does help. :) and if you have a blow out then don't get down on yourself. Everyone has slip ups, the test is not allowing that slip up to continue on for days. Good luck :smile:

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