51 yr. old trying to get her groove back

Hi, I'm 54, new to MFP and looking for a few friends also.. I am also working with an injury but have lost 3 pounds so far, it's a start. I've never been able to count calories before, and this is a great tool. Good luck to you, you can do this! I'll send friend request..

You're welcome to add me as a friend. I'm 52 and have been on this site for a while now. I'm maintaining or at least that's my story. In reality, I am fighting to lose 2.5 lb.s I gained this summer. I know it's not a lot but if I don't get rid of those pounds soon, they'll bring their friends over the holidays!!!:laugh:

Hi, new to MyFitness Pal and need all the help and advice I can get (constructive not mean!). Saw my reflection in the window while dining outside yesterday and I have no words (none that I could repeat on here anyway) that would sum up how I am feeling. I am going to use my calorie counter religiously so I can see what is really going in since what I have been doing is not working. I have about 40 lbs. to lose and a lot of toning. Pretty low right now, however, somehow I need to find my inner strength to do this! I just have to do this and now before my weight gets any higher.

good on you. You really have come to a good place. So many things we eat and we don't realise their calorie counts. I'd say my biggest shock and biggest enemy has turned out to be cheeeeeeeese... sob.

weighing food, measuring food, identifying high calorie food - that's what it's all been about for me. Working out that 3500 cals = 1lb fat. So I have to be at a weekly deficit of 3500 cals to lose 1lb of fat a week.

Simple science. Simple mathematics, simple physics... getting all the facts and then being able to choose among them. This has been empowering for me. I have moments of crisis when I work out how many calories are in that packet of ginger kisses I just accidentally inhaled, but knowing helps me in the long run. Just plain knowing has made a huge impact.

Good idea James, although I'm not real keen on having my picture taken skinny or fat:) Baby steps, I tell my students, you can't eat an elephant all in one bite.

I felt like that. And I still do when I look at old photos of how I was. I stumbled across one recently I hadn't seen for a long time, it looked like someone else! It still hurts to see.

Maybe facing the camera is something you need to do because it's part of you casting off the old you that you don't like, and embracing a new you - and if you don't really look, you won't see what changes. And there are days and moments when you will sink down again and think nothing has changed. That's when the photos help move you on.

But I'm glad I have them - because now I can put photos of me as I am now next to them and really see what I've acheived. And I love having my picture taken now!

best of luck . With a lot to I want to loose I try to focus on weekly goals. Each week I just say by next week I want be X pounds so just 1 pound off feels like a success. Week on week that builds. Even if I plateau for a week I consider the a successful week since i didn't gain any back.

Im 51, last December felt the same way and though enough was enough, so started with exercise burning calories, discovered MFP, so started calories and here i am now, still a bit to go but getting there. You have started the journey by logging here, find what fits into your daily routine and enjoy the journey.

I walked 14 miles last week. I can't remember when the last time I did that was. I'm treating myself to a pedometer instead of food!!!:bigsmile:

Hey ~ I didn't think i could do this either. And i have a few more years on you! In a month i will be 68 ! Thats hard to believe as i really don't feel like that (most of the time!) Anyway - I started on MFP 5 months ago today. My goal i set up was 30 lbs which realistically - i didn't think was possible. But- why not - put a goal down. After a few days I realized the MFP was just what i needed as the accountability of it - is what makes me tick. I love logging it all. I really like knowing where i am during the day. I do exercise a lot and most people on here will tell you that the exercise is not all that important. But for me it is. No - you still can't eat stupidly! That would not work. And i don't. I do eat back about half of my exercise calories. MFP has most exercises overrated as far as calorie burn goes - so keep that in mind. But exercise allows me to have treats everyday and so it really doesn't make me feel deprived.

But anyway - here i am - 28 lbs down. So close to my "goal" that i didn't believe possible. And Now - i want to go lower. I can - it is slowing up, since i am now at a weight that i haven't seen since my 20's!

So - yes - you can do this! If you mess up a day - no problem - start back the very next day - it happens. Life happens.

Get out there - enjoy.
(oh yes - Do take a before pic. I didn't - because like you - i hated the way i looked and avoided cameras! Now i wish i had that before picture )

Good luck - its doable!

I'm a 62 yr old grama of 4 - finally found the courage to look myself in th mirror. Hired a trainer (a godsend) and have lost 22 lbs in 6 weeks. Finally I;m a little bit proud of myself - glad to head so man success stories!

Hey I am the same age! We are all in this together.

I am 56.. I lost 22lbs when I was 53.. I now do 1000 push ups a day.. 3 years ago I use to work out but was fat.. Now I am fit.