over 50 women... how do we lose weight ladies?

I love all the success stories I read, but notice that many are much younger people. is it true that it is much harder to lose weight as you get older, especially for women? or am I just a pig and overeating? even watching my calorie intake and exercising, it just doesn't seem to work the best. :brokenheart:
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Replies

  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    metabolism slows with age.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    I love all the success stories I read, but notice that many are much younger people. is it true that it is much harder to lose weight as you get older, especially for women? or am I just a pig and overeating? even watching my calorie intake and exercising, it just doesn't seem to work the best. :brokenheart:

    Much harder? No. Slightly harder? Yes. It still boils down to calories in/out.
  • Andibenni
    Andibenni Posts: 408 Member
    As I've gotten older it has been harder for me to lose weight and I've become disheartened and stopped, never achieving my goal. This time round with MFP I've consistently lost weight. It's slow and steady but I've changed my expectations and will take 1lb a week as it's better off than on. Good luck with your weight loss. :flowerforyou:
  • Pamelaniamh
    Pamelaniamh Posts: 611 Member
    Every....single...gram....lost...takes...tonnes...of ...work.
  • kezzola
    kezzola Posts: 65 Member
    I'm 61 and I'm finding it harder to lose weight now. Since April I've managed to lose 10 kilos (22 lbs) - lost 1 kilo before I started here.
    I exercise most days - walking, Zumba or gym and I stick to my 1270 calories. I'm losing weight more slowly than a lot of the people on MFP but I'm gradually getting there. I don't want to use the old comment that " I didn't put on the weight overnight" but at the moment I weigh less than I did in my 40's.

    And I will get there - even if a bit slower than others.
  • holliwood322
    holliwood322 Posts: 92 Member
    thanks for the support! it is good to know I am not alone and not delirious in my expectations. I guess slow and steady is how the turtle won the race! :noway:
  • holliwood322
    holliwood322 Posts: 92 Member
    thanks for the help! as stated in my other post, I guess "slow and steady is how the turtle won the race!" :noway: half the battle is starting....
  • holliwood322
    holliwood322 Posts: 92 Member
    you are a very young looking 50 yrs, and a bit mannish for a woman. :huh: :laugh: LOL!!!! thanks for the help, mam?
  • holliwood322
    holliwood322 Posts: 92 Member
    I believe this to be true. my dad is 78 and fell and broke his hip 4 months ago. metabolism slows, nothing good about getting old. the good news is "you get there," and the bad news is, "you get there." :drinker:
  • holliwood322
    holliwood322 Posts: 92 Member
    Much harder? No. Slightly harder? Yes. It still boils down to calories in/out.
    [/quote]

    you are a very young looking 50 yrs, and a bit mannish for a woman. :huh: :laugh: LOL!!!! thanks for the help, mam?
  • Dgadd17
    Dgadd17 Posts: 49 Member
    I'm only 44, but I'm experiencing much of the same trouble. As long as I stick with it, I think I can keep making it happen. :) As to your comment about there being nothing good about getting old, I'd disagree. The great thing about getting old is that it's better than the alternative! :)
  • Pamelaniamh
    Pamelaniamh Posts: 611 Member
    The great thing about getting old is that it's better than the alternative! :)


    I agree :smile:
  • 1aurane
    1aurane Posts: 73 Member
    Steady as you go ...onward and forward!!! :wink:
  • claudiakendall98
    claudiakendall98 Posts: 242 Member
    I am 54 and do find it a little bit harder to loose weight .I plateaued about 2 month at same weight but did not let that discourage me .I changed my exercise and eating a little , but do not deprive myself .I have fun with foods I cook and am on this journey not just to loose weight but to make positive changes.If you are looking for support you can get it from me and check out my diary which is open.Add me if you like
  • Dunkirk
    Dunkirk Posts: 465 Member
    Every....single...gram....lost...takes...tonnes...of ...work.




    Yep
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    I am fifty one. Simply counting my calories has worked for me just fine. I think for many of us it's mostly about regaining our health. I don't care as much as I used to about looking good naked lol, but do want to be around for awhile longer.
  • Pamelaniamh
    Pamelaniamh Posts: 611 Member
    I am fifty one. Simply counting my calories has worked for me just fine. I think for many of us it's mostly about regaining our health. I don't care as much as I used to about looking good naked lol, but do want to be around for awhile longer.

    You look fantastic on it too :smile:
  • mahanaibu
    mahanaibu Posts: 505 Member
    definitely harder, esp; post-menopause. but not necessarily hard.

    I had been working with a nutritionist, all that stuff, and not getting below a certain point. I thought when I joined MFP that this would be a very tough battle. But now it seems to me that I was fooling myself about how much I was eating before; MFP made record-keeping something that I was willing to do regularly, as well as track exercise, and I've been thrilled by the results.
  • mixiepixie29
    mixiepixie29 Posts: 2 Member
    I am 51.

    I used to be able to do yogurt and cottage cheese for a week or two and be back into my jeans.

    Not any more.

    I went to see a nutritionist as I have piled on a lot of pounds over the past couple of years and could not shake them with my old tricks. She put me on a sugar fast for 21 days-- no white sugar, no honey, no syrup, no white flour, no white rice, no white potatoes, etc. I lost 13 pounds so far and will keep this up as long as it works.

    It is much harder at this age for sure.......
  • srm1960
    srm1960 Posts: 281 Member
    :sad:
    Yes, harder as we age!! Had 3 plateaus too! But @ maintenance now!! :drinker:
    I definitely worked @ the gym a lot harder....& stayed @ 1200 cals....it can be done and this MFP WORKS...good luck !!????????
  • SISMELLON
    SISMELLON Posts: 19 Member
    Hi over 50 I am also over 50 and I feel your pain. I also have a second issue with loosing weight and thats I work the night shift. I finally went and had my resting metabolic rate measured. This helped alot, it turns out my metabolism is running slow. For a women my age,size, I was burning 200 calories less at rest. The nutritionist I went to help me with the amount of calories to eat in a day. Since than I have lost a steady 2lbs a week. I started walking again which she said would help.I hope this helps,good luck.
  • gypsyrose64
    gypsyrose64 Posts: 271 Member
    Will be 49 in November and it's taken me a YEAR to drop 35 pounds! Had a few months were I either stayed the same or gained a pound. I've measured and tracked every morsel for 364 days (Friday makes 1yr anniversary) and was feeling like I'd die before I'd see -100.

    Went to a doc for palpitations and that turned out to be B12, D3 and magnesium deficiency (common in older women). While I was there, he instructed me to eat below 30g carbs/day, moderate on protein and high fat on 1200 budget. That last 5 lbs came off since the 10/1/13, so I'm going to follow a keto/paleo eating style for a while. He also thought I was insulin resistant so that would also explain my carb sensitivity.

    All I know is a year blew by quick, and I do feel better... so I guess it'll take another year to drop another 35.<rolls eyes>
  • Lexi507
    Lexi507 Posts: 79 Member
    I'll be 50 next year, and while I would never ever (really never ever ever) recommend that anyone eat like I do, I've managed to lose quite a bit of weight in the past year. I'm at about 18 months into the process now, have thyroid issues and take inhaled steroids for asthma. Watching my calorie total and logging seems to be working for me.
  • susanrechter
    susanrechter Posts: 386 Member
    Up until menopause, I could eat anything and not gain weight. I was never overweight. Then,... BAM! I packed on 25 lbs. I am now over 50, menopausal, and have found it to be very, very difficult to lose weight, BUT, it can be done! I really believe once I logged every single morsel and crumb, I was able to see what nastiness I was eating....and there was way too much of it. I eat on target and now I have put my weight loss in motion. Interesting, I look at my food diary and compare what I was eating when I first started logging and losing slow with now and my results. I can see where the change occurred. I am eating so much better quality foods that fill me and don't trigger the sugar cravings.
    It's a wonderful feeling and shows we older gals can do it, just takes longer. I did all the math, tdee, bmr etc and follow the kcal/day recommendation. I am also strength training. Good Luck!
  • judykat7
    judykat7 Posts: 576 Member
    You exercise and log your responsible food!!! You can do it. Just flip your internal switch on that says you can.
  • eileen0515
    eileen0515 Posts: 408 Member
    I am 55, I used to believe at my age it would be super hard to lose weight. I was wrong. It does take effort, follow through, and accuracy.

    I've lost 65 pounds, and weigh what I did in my twenties!

    Dining out is a rare treat.

    I am the cook, so I control the meals.

    I weigh everything to the gram, and track it, and stay within my caloric deficit. I do this honestly and accurately.

    I walk and hike, fast and uphill. (I live in the Sierra) I do not eat all my exercise calories. I wear a fitbit.

    I take an ice chest, with a healthy lunch or snacks, to do errands, that way I am not tempted by high calorie foods, while out and about.

    I really try and get my calories from whole, nutrient dense foods. The volume comes from mostly plant foods, with reasonable amounts of lean animal protein.

    I try never to get famished, that leads to poor compliance with my goals.

    Lastly my husband has supported all my efforts. He eats what I do, and never complains about all the healthy food I have in the house. This has been critical to my success.

    Has every day been perfect? No! But overall I stuck with it. You can too!
  • Suzeesmu
    Suzeesmu Posts: 159 Member
    I'm 50 since June and found myself at my highest weight ever in March. I lost about 6 pounds from mid March thru mid July (very slow and steady) by diet alone. Mid July I was able to start going back to the gym where I do 55 minutes on the AMT (an eliptical type of machine) and then do about 30 minutes of weightsat least 3 days a week, if not 5. Since I started back at the gym I've lost an additional 17pounds . I realize that, for me, I really need the the excercise (cardio mostly) to help me lose weight. I forgot how much better I feel after working out. I have another at least 35 pounds to go. Hang in there!
  • Debbjones
    Debbjones Posts: 278 Member
    I did not find it any more difficult to lose weight over 50, than I did when I was younger... it all boils down to determination.

    Now on the other hand, I have found it a bit easier to maintain my weight loss since menopause; less weekly/monthly variation. When I was younger, I never kept the weight off. However, a renewed mindset and realization that "one little bite more" won't hurt, actually WILL hurt, changed everything.

    On a final note... over 50 now and I never felt better! I have more life, energy and vitality now than I ever did... and more wisdom to boot! Great success to you!
  • Debbie_Ferr
    Debbie_Ferr Posts: 582 Member
    It's slow and steady but I've changed my expectations and will take 1lb a week as it's better off than on. Good luck with your weight loss. :flowerforyou:

    yep, metabolism slows down. and if you have night sweats / menopausal insomnia, it runs havoc on your hormones AND metabolism.

    For me, it took me 9 months to lose 21 pounds. I am now 119 pounds @ 5'2".
    approx 1,300 calories a day average .
    logged food every single day. every single thing I ate/drank.
    exercised 3 hours per week: Hill hiking, hill walking, tennis.

    yes, slow & steady wins the race :smile: you CAN do it !!
  • nextrightthing
    nextrightthing Posts: 408 Member
    Much harder? No. Slightly harder? Yes. It still boils down to calories in/out.

    you are a very young looking 50 yrs, and a bit mannish for a woman. :huh: :laugh: LOL!!!! thanks for the help, mam?
    [/quote]

    This made me laugh and smile and then laugh again, ha, ha,,,,,, I was thinking the same thing:-)