Looking for advice from women in their 40's.

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Replies

  • rfechter
    rfechter Posts: 109 Member
    I am 42 and the weight for me has been coming off very slowly. It has taken me over 5 years to lose 34 lbs and taking the last 5 lbs off that the Dr. wanted is becoming the most difficult. It takes a lot of patience. I try to do at least an hour of cardio most days a week and then 2 days of strength training. My calorie intake is supposed to be 1300 a day but I am not always successful. I am in no way an expert but I just plug away at it and try not to get discouraged.
  • thistimewillbedifferent
    thistimewillbedifferent Posts: 217 Member
    I'm changed my lifestyle at the beginning of 2013 (I turned 45 at the end of January). So far I'm down 36 pounds. I eat 1800-2000 calories (almost no processed foods) a day, see a trainer twice a week, use Nautilus machines once a week, take a shadowboxing class once a week, take a long walk on Sundays, and in between walk to as many appointments as possible. I go to a lot of business lunches and evening receptions, and I have reduced but not given up alcohol...it CAN be done! I feel fantastic and my triglycerides have already gone from "high" to "normal." Best of luck with your efforts!
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    In February of this year, I embarked on a weight loss journey. I'm 5'2" and started at 159.5lbs. I've lost 13 pounds (which I'm happy about). I've been stalking the posts regularly and see a lot of young women that are losing pretty steadily (congrats)!!!

    Just wondering if there are any other women in their 40's that are out there. Is your weight loss slow??? If not, what are you doing to speed it up??? I'm eating 1200 calories a day and Im on my 2nd week of the couch to 5K running plan.

    Appreciate all your suggestions!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!

    Exercise is good. Not because you burn so many calories -- you don't -- but because it makes you body-conscious in a positive way that may help you control your eating and it provides many other beneficial effects.

    I'm the same height and whenever I'm intent on losing weight I have to be at 1200 or under. I'm a bit older than you and it definitely was easier to lose weight when I was younger. I was more active, I had no injuries, and my metabolism was faster. I've never been overweight because I made adjustments when I saw my weight climbing -- usually after the Thanksgiving to New Year's corridor of holiday eating.
  • basschick
    basschick Posts: 3,502 Member
    I lost 50 lbs. in 10 months at age 41 and am still maintaining at age 43. 1200 calories sounds a little low for your current weight. I didn't drop back to 1200 until I was about 10 lbs. from my goal weight (around 135 lbs.) A common mistake people make on here is eating too few calories. Good luck on your weight loss journey!
  • Jocmc631942
    Jocmc631942 Posts: 22 Member
    "Hmmmmmm..... not sure how you are calculating your calorie burn #s are you using a Heart Rate Monitor?

    Did you use the Scoobie link to calculate your TDEE? I highly doubt that it told you to eat 1200 cals!!! What did your TDEE comeout to be?

    What is your height, age, weight and BF% (if you know) and what activity level did you enter?"



    Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1311
    Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2261
    Daily calories based on goal in step 1696

    I only eat the 1200 calories, I dont eat anything I have burnt off.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    I turned 45 last week (eeek!). My metabolism changed when I was 38, along with all those other fabulous changes. Ugh. I sort of just went along with it for several years, feeling overwhelmed by how out-of-control things felt. But then I decided that the only way to not feel out-of-control was to actually take control. That's about when I discovered this site. I've lost 19 pounds (from 187 down to 168) since November, just doing this MFP logging business. I work out usually 5 days a week. I most often do some of the circuit training videos on Fitness Blender...so some light-medium weights and some cardio. And I've gotten a handle of food choices and portion control. My daily calorie goal is 1490, and I always 'eat back' my exercise calories. I'm taking it slowly. I figure it took a few years to get here, it's OK if it takes a few extra months to go back.

    (I always accept friend requests!)
  • nagniho
    nagniho Posts: 132 Member
    "Hmmmmmm..... not sure how you are calculating your calorie burn #s are you using a Heart Rate Monitor?

    Did you use the Scoobie link to calculate your TDEE? I highly doubt that it told you to eat 1200 cals!!! What did your TDEE comeout to be?

    What is your height, age, weight and BF% (if you know) and what activity level did you enter?"



    Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1311
    Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2261
    Daily calories based on goal in step 1696

    OK. Then you need to eat 1696cals/day. You are taking nearly 25% cut! How much weight do you have to lose?
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    I'm 40! (still can't believe that). I have 30 lbs to lose and am not having any luck. What and how do you lift?

    Find heavy things, pick them up and put them down. You can use your own body weight (push ups, squats, plank), dumbbells, weight bars, or machines at a gym. There are lots of DVD's that you can use for working at home.
  • Jocmc631942
    Jocmc631942 Posts: 22 Member
    "Hmmmmmm..... not sure how you are calculating your calorie burn #s are you using a Heart Rate Monitor?

    Did you use the Scoobie link to calculate your TDEE? I highly doubt that it told you to eat 1200 cals!!! What did your TDEE comeout to be?

    What is your height, age, weight and BF% (if you know) and what activity level did you enter?"

    40 lbs to reach 115, 45 if I want to get to 110. My doctor wants 115 because of my blood pressure issues.

    Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1311
    Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2261
    Daily calories based on goal in step 1696

    OK. Then you need to eat 1696cals/day. You are taking nearly 25% cut! How much weight do you have to lose?
  • Jocmc631942
    Jocmc631942 Posts: 22 Member
    "Hmmmmmm..... not sure how you are calculating your calorie burn #s are you using a Heart Rate Monitor?

    Did you use the Scoobie link to calculate your TDEE? I highly doubt that it told you to eat 1200 cals!!! What did your TDEE comeout to be?

    What is your height, age, weight and BF% (if you know) and what activity level did you enter?"



    Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1311
    Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2261
    Daily calories based on goal in step 1696

    OK. Then you need to eat 1696cals/day. You are taking nearly 25% cut! How much weight do you have to lose?

    I have 40-45 lbs to loose yet
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I'm 48 and i'm lifting heavy and running 3x a week. I don't know how much weight i've lost because I take measurements and pictures. I've lost over 25 inches since January. I can't afford to compare myself to younger people because i'm not them, i'm me. The only thing I can do is train as hard as I can, make sure my nutrition is in check (and it is 90% of the time), drink plenty of water and get as much sleep as I can (menopause/hot flashes aren't helping, but i'm doing what I can). I'm getting into size 10 pants (from a size 16) and can wear shaped t shirts in small/med and i have clean lines in my clothing (no muffin tops anymore, etc)

    Just because we're in our 40's and beyond does not mean our metabolisms have packed up and left town. Train hard, eat good food, drink water, rest, be patient and the results will come, whether i'm 28, 48 or 68.

    :flowerforyou:
  • ktrn0312
    ktrn0312 Posts: 722 Member
    Bump
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I sent you an invitation to join the menopausal group.
    Even if you're not technically menopausal, we have discussions about your exact issue. :smile:
  • afields72
    afields72 Posts: 5 Member
    Hi there! I I just turned 40 and i am wanting to lose 15-20lbs. I am not having much luck and i eat around 1450 cals per day. Is this too much or too little? II workout around 3 days a week. I'd love to hear more about what helped you and get an idea of what you all eat. I feel like I am never going to do it! I hope you can provide some ideas! Thanks!

    Angela
  • yuckidah
    yuckidah Posts: 290 Member
    I'm 42 and yep, it's very very slow going.
    Have been stuck for the past 3mths - haven't lost (nor gained) a thing.
    Will keep on plodding :smile:
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I only had about 10 pounds to lose.
    I tried to stay around 1200-1400 calories/day along with cardio and strength for an hour each 3/week until I reached my goal weight.
    Now I try to stay around 1400, continuing with my same cardio/strength schedule but increasing the amount of weight.

    Edit: I would usually eat more calories if I "earned" them from exercise on that day.