LF women over 40 who have lost 50+ pounds

Wow! So inspiring - all of you. ;-)

I am 45 and 5'8" I have been trying to lose weight since january I started at 174lbs I got down to 166 (only lasted a week) now I'm back up to 170. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I went to the dr and I have no thyroid problems Ha I even lowered my cholesterol 36pts from 216. so I'm doing something right... I just can not lose weight.. Maybe hormones?! I know its not a plateau. Ha I haven't lost any how can you plateau the minute you start a diet!! I workout like crazy and eat really well, most of the time.
I feel your pain!!
Some advice would be greatly appreciated!! ANYONE!!!

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Hey, this would be me...53 and lost 76+ and still counting!!!

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Hi Debbie, I am 45 and over the past 10 months have lost about 26kg (58lb).

I have logged my calories here every day this year, mostly between 1300-1800, averaging 1500 a day.

I do weight training 3 x per week. Walk 5 x per week for about an hour. Yes I eat back my exercise calories.

My diet is about 40% protein, 30% carbs 30% fat. I can't imagine eating any other way.

I don't regard myself as being on a diet, it's the way I live now. I've had social engagements and have gone over my calories for a few days but when the party is over, I get straight back on to my plan.

You can do it, but it does take longer than it would have in our 20's or 30's, that's for sure

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I'm 59 and have lost 75 pounds since October 2012 - strictly counting calories. Not much exercise but very loyal to logging all food.

I am 59 and have lost 75 pounds over about 18 months, and have maintained my weight loss for about 4 months now. I eat between 1600 and 1800 calories a day depending on how much I exercise. I have to follow a pretty specific food plan to keep my food cravings at bay so I don't overeat or feel too sluggish to exercise vigorously.

Here is a summary of how/why I eat and exercise the way I do. First it is great to wear size 8/10, and enjoy exercise the way I do. There is a great article in well.blogs.nytimes.com today titled "How Carbs Can Trigger Food Cravings by Anahad O'Connor. it summarizes new resarch published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and research published in 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine that shows that sugary foods and other processed carbs that are known to cause abrupt spikes and falls in blood sugar appear to stimulate parts of the brain involved in hunger, craving and reward. In other words if you eat these foods you want more. It isn't so much that in terms of actual energy/ calories there is a difference, but that these foods affect the neurotransmitters int he brain in a way that sets off craving and leads to overeating. That is why those who say it doesn't matter what you eat do a disservice to those of us who are sensitive to higher carb foods and the resulting cravings. In other words we need to stick to a lower carb/higher protein food plan to sustain a healthy way of eating that allows us to lose weight.

This research supports what I have learned by trial and error. I have lost 75 pounds (took about 18 months) by eating a low carb/high protein (all relatively speaking) diet; and avoiding foods that cause me to crave overeating (sugary and high carb foods). I also ate moderate calories and exercised most days.

What I experienced is that high carb foods set off cravings in me (not immediately but as I begin to metabolize them). I believe I am genetically sensitive to these foods, based on what I have read about the science, and that some people probably share that sensitivity and others don't (like alcohol and alcoholics). What was interesting to me, is that it took about 30 days for the craving to go away, and during that time I experienced symptoms that have been described by other types of addicts who have experienced withdrawal (tired, ache, feeling like the flu, etc.) What is also interesting to me is that it doesn't really depend on what kind of carbs -- I find that very high carb fruits like watermelon, pineapple, etc. set off the cravings as I begin to metabolize them while less ripe apples, pears, and berries generally do not. Brown rice, whole grain breads, etc. also don't work for me. I get plenty of carbs from vegetables, e.g. broccoli, eggplant, cauliflower, carrots, etc , less ripe apples, pears, etc. I also seem to need a lot more protein that what a lot of people talk about, and I eat that spread out four times a day.

At 60, I feel better than I have ever felt before, and don't crave the sweet/white flour stuff. I lift heavy weights, do kettle bells, a lot of aerobic exercise, and my arthritis is so much better I can even jog a moderate amount with the approval of my arthritis doctor. Amazing what weight loss, and increased muscle strength can do for arthritis!

I am so glad that this science and epidemiology is available to help others, and that I do not need to feel that I am a sample of one.