harder over 40?
Lunarbeanie
Posts: 107 Member
wow, I have lost about 50 lbs before, but I was in my 20s.
Now I have over 100 to lose, but holy cow it is slow.
Is this a me thing or are the over 40 bunch struggling with this, too?
Now I have over 100 to lose, but holy cow it is slow.
Is this a me thing or are the over 40 bunch struggling with this, too?
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It is harder, and I have found that I need to be far more disciplined now. I lost 50 lbs in my early thirties, almost effortlessly. Now I find that I need to be excessively disciplined and organized. My dietary needs are much different now, too. I find that I have to reduce my carb intake and up my protein to see results.0
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Definitely! I've found that it's even harder than in my 30's. My body processes food differently than when I was younger so I've had to completely change the way I eat and keep close track of my calorie intake to continue taking the weight off. Much slower going than when I was younger, but I'm getting there.0
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I lost so fast and easy several years ago (in 2006, I was 35). I don't know if it was because I had NEVER tried before, so the change in eating and exercise was a complete shock to my system or what. I kept it off for a while, but it's slowly crept back on until I was pretty much back up to where I was.
I don't know if it's being in my 40s (I'll turn 43 this year) or that my body acclimated to my exercise (I've stayed very active, but in quite a "routine rut" doing the same, steady stuff day after day) ... or just that I wasn't watching what I was eating. When summer rolled around and I couldn't fit into any of my clothes from last year, that's when I decided to really take action.
I joined MFP in May, started logging all my food and upping my exercise. I had pretty good success by the numbers (following the basic calories in calories out) for a few weeks (lost 10 pounds of a desired 45), but didn't lose ANY this past week (even though the numbers had me at over a 5000+ deficit for the week). A bit discouraging. Too early to call it a plateau, but I was really hoping to get a little further along before hitting any snags. I'm planning on plugging along ... Hoping to shake it up with the 30 Day Shred (there is a big group starting today).0 -
In a word YES. It's those damn hormones !! :noway:0
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Yep. I'm stuck at the last 10 pounds. Been here for many moons.My efforts have been Herculean but the lowest I've been able to go is 128 pounds.
When I was 27 I got down to 117 pounds with what felt like very little effort. I went jogging a couple times a week and followed a sensible diet. Now...well, I guess maybe I just have to accept the extra weight. :sad:0 -
It can be done, slow and steady wins the race, it's a change for life and never give up !0
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It is tough but you can do it! Slowly and forever beats quick and regaining. Just don't give up!0
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It is for sure much slower and also harder to keep off! I have learned that patience is the main thing at this age to reach your goal;)0
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I didn't have any trouble losing weight in my 40s until I became perimenopausal about a year ago. Since then it's been very hard to lose it and keep it off. I don't think it's any specific age, but rather the point in your particular life when your body starts to change. At least that's been my experience. At the beginning of 2010, I was 46, weighed 136 (about 20 lbs overweight), and knocked off all the excess weight in less than 2 months via a combination of Herbalife, the South Beach Diet, and exercise. I haven't used Herbalife again because it gets quite expensive with all the supplements, not to mention remembering to take them three times a day! However I'm having such a hard time losing now, even though I do at least 30 minutes of some kind of non-stop exercise almost every day and have an overall healthy diet, that I'm considering trying Herbalife again, at least for a couple months.0
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I really thought it was when I turned 40,, now that I am 42, this is the best I have ever looked or felt,,
just takes some time to figure it all out,0 -
I think a hard part is the weight starts to redistribute in a way it didn't before. I have a large belly right now but I never used to and I've weighed more than this, unfortunately. Seeing myself look different to my own eyes has been maybe the thing to open my eyes to the need to get going on this commitment to a healthy lifestyle and stop messing around. Also, more stress in the 40's with age creeping up and bills and family issues...oh to be 18 again!0
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It's been a rocky 6 months watching what I eat. I started Body Revolution, transitioned from WW to MFP, and started over on Body Revolution, never finishing the 3 month; the exercises were beyond my current abilities, particularly the ab exercises. In the past 6 months, I gained another five pounds, which I'm now at 158.8, the heaviest I've ever been. A month ago, I started C25k and working out 3 days in a strength training class. I've been great at tracking my calories though I've gone over at least 1-2 a week.
After a month, I thought I would at least see a 1lb loss, but alas, I cannot make the scale budge downward. I know the weight lifting is transforming fat into muscle, which means I'm becoming leaner though after 4 weeks. All this is to say what I've done in the past led to losing weight. Now, I'm working hard like I did when I was in my mid 30's to become fit, yet the results are completely different. I'm just starting this journey as I just turned 40 this year, so I have listen to my body and try some different approaches. My main goal is to become stronger, so whatever I do will honor this goal. Some days I get super discouraged.0 -
Don't watch the clock, don't use the scale. Just do the work and eat right. Before ya know it you'll be there. I did 50 lbs in 4 months. Looked sickly though. I'm doing it slower this time0
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I can truly relate to this. In my 30's the weight just dropped quickly.now recently as back in March of this yr I found it hard to lose just one pound, but because elected to just eat healthy for life and exercise daily for my heart. This is a healthy lifestyle. In time it will come off and you will see it and feel it.0
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Just hang in there...0
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The answer is YES! In my 30's I dropped 50 lbs with no problem. Now I have those same 50 lbs to lose and it's much harder this time around.0
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Yes, I am proof it can be done. My ticker is only recent, and I started my journey at a much higher weight. As others I had to be disciplined and deliberate. It has been slow, but I really watch my food choices (mostly eat clean), upped the protein, lowered the carbs and sugars. Of course along with a steady exercise routine (make sure it's something you enjoy). Find your balance and it will come off even if not as fast as it used to. "Break the unreasonable down into little reasonable chunks A big goal is only achieved when every little thing that you do do every day gets you closer to that goal":).0
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It is definitely harder to lose in your 40's and I've also noticed that when I gain it all goes to my stomach now!! I try to run 3 - 4 days a week and walk on the other days which is helping me to maintain but I want to lose that last 15 or so pounds and don't know if I ever will!! I will continue to try though!! :ohwell:0
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Amyzeppy, you can do it! Being here everyone has a challenge they face and we are here to support each others goals. I felt the same as you, especially the weekend I didn't have to work and I ate over my calorie goal. When I made that post, the members here on MFP reminded me that the body responds to our emotional stress. My biggest challenge is my stomach as well, but everyday I work on it. It's tough, but I try to keep a positive attitude about it and not allow the challenge to overwhelm me. Don't give and keep trying.0
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It most certainly feels harder now I'm 43.
In my 20s I got away with murder. I ate what I liked, was never seen in a gym, but always came in around 120lb.
From 30+ I slowly started gaining but could lose it quite quickly if I made an effort.
Now I really have to be quite disciplined to sort this out.0 -
Its definitely been harder for me, but I am making solid progress now. I just keep reminding myself to make the next right choice. There is no way going off the will help so I stay the course.0
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It's most definitely been harder for me. I could lose 10 pounds here and there in my 20's and 30's with no effort. Now, I am 48 and my fatigue level is extremely low. It's a daily struggle for me to just even function. Doctors have done so many blood test and thyroid, all came back fine. I also take a potent daily vitamin that's also suppose to increase energy, but it still doesn't help. Even if I get plenty of sleep and walk 5 days a week, I'm still very fatigued. I know I need to step up what I'm doing to lose more weight, as I've only lost 5 pounds since April. I walk my dog 5 days a week...four shorter days and one long day. On the shorter days, it's a stroll mostly. And the long day is more like 3.0 mph. So now that I'm 48 it takes a whole lot more effort to lose, and being that I feel much worse than I use too, that doesn't help. I try to keep my calories below 1480 although my doctor says to keep it below 1800, but still I've only lost 5 pounds. So I know I need to step it up more, but finding the energy and motivation is a difficult task.0
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This is my first time really trying and putting myself on a regiment. I tried adkins briefly but not really into it. I think it's okay. I'm at the tail end of 40's (48) but I'm in the best shape in my life. I think of this as a shift in my life rather than a phase. Going back to the old ways of behaving seemed to not make sense to me at all.0
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Yes, it is harder in the 40's decade. Very hard. But you can do it. It has to be about lifestyle from now on, not just fitting into skinny jeans. There is more at stake. I am convinced this is the decade I must get it right, once and for all.
I am determined to modify my behavior with food. Otherwise, I will find out how hard weight loss is in my 50's, and I don't want to find out, I just want to be maintaining by then.0