Losing weight after 40

Hi Alisa, and welcome to THE best site on the web! :flowerforyou: Don't worry, if I could lose it when I was 50, YOU can lose it at 45!
Between the easy to use food counter (which by the way is SUCH an eye opener!) and all the wonderfully supportive members, you WILL be able to lose the weight that you want to, AND, it'll "almost" be easy doing it!
I recommend logging ALL your foods BEFORE you have them, rather than later, as it tends to lead to better food choices. (not to mention you'll know if you've got enough numbers left to have a night time snack, like I ALWAYS try to do!) Some people also like to weigh and measure some things, such as meats, rather than just estimating and possibly being WAY off! :noway:
Don't go making the mistake that if you have LOTS of numbers left at the end of the day that you'll lose even faster, because that DOESN'T happen. Feel free to read any info about the site in the "help" section at the top of the home page. And also under "Community", then "Weight Loss and Healthy Living", then "general diet and weight loss help", and then check out the first few threads. They'll REALLY help you understand how MFP works.
Before coming here, I had tried just about EVERYTHING out there, including hypnosis, TWICE, and nothing really worked until MFP!
Just the word "diet" would make me cringe and set me up for failure. :grumble: It meant depriving myself of all the "good stuff" out there, and as a result, I'd only last just so long, (maybe a few weeks if I was lucky!) and then I'd "cave" and go right back to eating all those "goodies" again! :embarrassed: But, MFP ISN'T a "diet". :noway: It's a "lifestyle change". (When I first read that, I said "Ya, SURE it is!", thinking that it WAS just another diet. :grumble: But, it wasn't! :noway:)
The main reason that I've managed to lose the weight that I wanted to is because I HAVE been able to eat "real/good" foods. :bigsmile: (Not Slim Fast or any other easy, quick, fad "wacko" diets!:noway: ) Through MFP I learned that I just needed to "work for it", through exercise, and watching my numbers (MOST of the time! ) As long as I do that, I CAN occasionally have stuff like Chinese food, a double cheeseburger, pizza, and even homemade ice-cream!
As far as exercise goes, it doesn't always have to be awful. :noway: For my exercise, I walk almost every day, (weather permitting! ) I also dance to a fast oldies CD that my husband made up of all my favorite old songs. (Like "Love Shack", Wild, Wild West", "Mony, Mony", "Footloose", and "Gloria") :happy:
It's free, (unlike a gym!:grumble: ) fun, and I can even watch tv at the same time, so I never get bored! :happy:
I also have Wii Fit, and jog to that, which is a lot of fun, and easy too!
So, to make a LONG story short, make good food choices, eat in moderation, get some exercise, and you WILL lose the weight that you want to!
MFP REALLY, REALLY, DOES work! :happy: Give it a chance, and it WILL work for you too!

Alisa -
I just turned 40 this year and 6 months ago, I had the mindset that because I was getting older I just had to accept the changes in my body (big stomach, big thighs...). IT"S NOT TRUE. I really believe that while changing eating habits is an essential key ingredient, the MAIN ingredient needs to be BUILDING MUSCLE. The more muscle you have throughout your body, the higher your metabolism will be which means you will burn more calories even at rest. You will be leaner and slimmer with more muscle. I found a program that worked amazingly well for me and encourage you to do the same. Send me a note and we can talk more about it.
Let's make the 40s the best decade yet!!! Which sets up even better things for our 50s and 60s!
Risa

Hi, I'm 43 and had 20 lbs. to lose (down 14 so far). We have a GREAT group of 40+ women here...so much wisdom and encouragement. Join us if you'd like!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/87257-women-40-would-like-to-share-progress

There's a lot of 40+ men here too, but we're a bunch of D'bags. :blushing:

Ya', it's a little harder when you reach full-fledged adulthood and your metab slows down a bit and a couple of the joints start to creak a bit, but it can be done. I was past 41 when I started this thing, but with a little hard work and discipline I got 'er done.

On the plus side, you've done a little living and hopefully have a little maturity and perspective. I've buried both of my parents - giving up cheesecake was easy compared to that.

You can do it, just stay on task and be patient.

HI! Just wanted to add a little something to all these great ideas, have you added any strength training to your excercise ? I'm 48, and I started strength training about a month into my "lifestyle" change and believe me, at my age, I truly did not think it was possible to tone or have muscle mass, but you can!!! I've lost a ton of inches and I know doing this is contributing! I do combination of both cardio and strength. I try to do strengh 4 times a week. Twice upper body and twice lower body. All I use is a set of dumbells (though I have had to increase their weight 3 times!) and I also use leg weights. I also keep changing up al my excercise to keep my body guessing whats coming next!! Good luck to you!

Hey guys! I am 42 and always weighed around 110 until the past couple of years the weight is just slowly coming on! I recently gained 6 lbs in the past two weeks but I am exercising like a maniac! I am weighing in about 123 right now. I don't really watch what I eat but I don't eat horribly either! I am now trying to track what I eat and make better choices. I go to the gym at least 4 times a week. One day I do a kick boxing class, 2nd day I do a arm/shoulder routine/cardio/abs, 3rd day I do back/cardio/abs, 4th day I do chest/cardio/abs and then the next week I do one day of legs/cardio/abs and then a full day of cardio and start the routine all over! What do you think? My clothes are not really fitting differently but I do not like what the scale says. Any recommendations? :flowerforyou:

There's a lot of 40+ men here too, but we're a bunch of D'bags. :blushing:

Sorry, CasperO...didn't mean to disclude you, - - - Forgive me? :bigsmile:

'a alright this time,,, don't let it happen again. :laugh: :bigsmile:

Hey guys! I am 42 and always weighed around 110 until the past couple of years the weight is just slowly coming on! I recently gained 6 lbs in the past two weeks but I am exercising like a maniac! I am weighing in about 123 right now. I don't really watch what I eat but I don't eat horribly either! I am now trying to track what I eat and make better choices. I go to the gym at least 4 times a week. One day I do a kick boxing class, 2nd day I do a arm/shoulder routine/cardio/abs, 3rd day I do back/cardio/abs, 4th day I do chest/cardio/abs and then the next week I do one day of legs/cardio/abs and then a full day of cardio and start the routine all over! What do you think? My clothes are not really fitting differently but I do not like what the scale says. Any recommendations? :flowerforyou:

You actually remind me of another very important point: The scale is one thing, and yes it's important...to a point. Even more important (I think) as we get into our 40's is getting our bodies healthy so we can enjoy our 50's, 60's, and 70's...and beyond. How many people in that age range have heart disease, diabetes, blood clots, clogged arteries, painful joints? I want to do everything I can NOW to try and prevent all that. That's my main focus.

That being said, exercise of course is crucial. BUT...I think nutrition is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. IMHO. Really make an effort to eat wholesome, nutritious foods (as much as possible), with some cardio and toning. You'll feel better, and as an added bonus, you'll drop a few pounds.

Good luck! And come join our 40+ thread if you'd like the support...it works!