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

It is harder as you get older - not for everyone judging by some of the replies - but for the majority of us I would say. I weigh and log everything to the gram and I exercise at least 5 days a week. I have started running which makes me feel great! The weight comes off slowly though - but there are other benefits ... the main one is health - I feel so much better - my diabetes is under control - my blood pressure is at a really good level, I feel so much more active, alert and alive!! Plus I have toned up a lot and my clothes are getting looser even though there is not a huge difference always showing on the scale from week to week. My mindset is that it is going to take me a long time to lose the weight that I want to - my goal is to lose another 30 lbs ... but I know that I will get there - eventually :bigsmile:

Patience ...keep on ...don't give up!!!

Almost 64 here and I've lost 75 lbs. in the last 18 months, a bit slower than I would have years ago. I mainly walked as my exercise with a few other exercise sessions added in. The goal now is to maintain and not slip back into my old ways as I've done so many times before. I've had a great time replacing all my larger clothes with great "on-sale" finds. I enjoy shopping now, something that was always a chore since nothing really looked good. It is a long journey that really doesn't end when you reach your desired weight...but take it as it comes and just know you'll get there.

I am 55 and have lost over 138 pounds in the past 14 months. I don't think it's harder, but I am approaching it differently than when I have lost weight in the past. I'm adopting a healthy lifestyle with the weight loss being an effect of that, I'm not "dieting", this is a sustainable long-term life change.

I eat less, but eat much healthier selections. I focus on getting great protein, fiber and keeping lower sodium (I used to have high blood pressure). I don't waste my calories on junk, opting for more unprocessed and homemade foods. I also drink about 10+ glasses of water per day and get 8 hours of actual sleep. I am a lot more active than I was before. I take multiple walks everyday and now I also go to the gym for about an hour 3 days a week. I feel exponentially better about myself, and that spurs me on to continue.

I don't think age a barrier to a healthier way of life, the number on the scale is just our relationship to gravity. Concentrate on the changes you can make towards health, and that number will follow. :flowerforyou:

Can one of you over 50 ladies who've lost weight reassure me that the skin goes back eventually? I don't have heaps to lose but I'm just a bit concerned/curious to know if I'll end up with flabby skin
&/or wrinkles I know that sounds dumb but I know my skin is not as elastic as it once was....-.-

Will be 52 next month, and I agree that it is harder. I was doing some research, and it does appear that the reduction in estrogen does have an effect on weight gain.

http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/menopause-weight-gain-and-exercise-tips

"The impact of estrogen. In animal studies, estrogen appears to help regulate body weight. With lower estrogen levels, lab animals tend to eat more and be less physically active. Reduced estrogen may also lower metabolic rate, the rate at which the body converts stored energy into working energy. It is possible the same thing happens with women when estrogen levels decrease after menopause. In fact, some evidence suggests that estrogen hormone therapy increases a woman's resting metabolic rate. This might help slow weight gain. Lack of estrogen may also cause the body to use starches and glucose less effectively (insulin resistance), thus increasing fat storage and making it more difficult to lose weight."

It can be done, I have lost 50 pounds (including pre-MFP) in the last 2 years; reduced intake, increased output. Of course, exercise and proper nutrition supposedly reduce hot flashes, etc. Personally, I find that I only have very very warm flashes because of my regular, fairly intense exercise routine and healthy eating style. :bigsmile: I am less focused on the scale and more focused on how I feel.

Might take us a little longer but the tortise wins the race :-)

I work out 6 days a week at least 30 mins, often 45-60 mins.

I eat clean and no junk. I cook my own meals, going out is not such a great idea.

Nothing but my morning coffee and water for liquids. Occassional homemade fruit smoothie for variety and as a dessert.

No gimmicks or secrets. I am 50+ and have lost 66 lbs since Mar 2013.

Enjoy!
:flowerforyou:

I think it may be a little harder to lose weight as a 50 something than a 20 something. But weight loss is challenging regardless and serious business. It takes a strong personal commitment and one that you renew almost daily to achieve your goals.

I'm 51 and lost 50 pounds over a year eating 1500-1700 calories a day and exercising moderately. I'm proud of what I've accomplished and even happier that I've maintained my weight loss for over a year.

Join us! You can do this as well...best wishes!

I think it is harder just because too many years of not doing what is right and healthy catch up with us. I am 55 and have tried for a couple of years to lose weight with no luck. Found a great alternative meds. dr. who is now helping me to get my body healthy again and the weight is coming off as a side bet! I have always tried to eat healthy but was never able to beat my sugar addiction. As a result I was pre-diabetic, bp was right on the edge, inflammation in my body was an 8 (0-3 normal) and my cholesterol was high. I have been following a whole foods diet at 1300-1400 calories to give my body a rest for a while and working out a couple of days a week but not strenuously. I have lost 10 lbs in approximately 12 weeks and am never hungry. I eat every 3 hours including a medical shake at 9:30 at night before I go to bed. Vitamin D was very low (18) so I now that a supplement. She did my body composition and out of the 10 lbs I lost 9.9 was fat and .1 was muscle. Yah Baby! I will take it that way every time vs. 20 lbs lost with 10 being muscle. My pants are big which was a place I could never lose it before. I still have about 40 left and have resigned myself to the fact that it might take me a year or so but that's ok. I also have 4 bulging disks in my lower back so I am limited as far as exercising. Follow a whole foods diet, get your vitamin D level checked and continue on. It's not a spring, we will need to do some form of this for the rest of our long, healthy lives. Good luck! I also need to mention I got an IGg blood test which is a test for food intolerances due to a compromised digestive system (aka leaky gut). I removed 28 foods from my diet that cause me troubles. Foods such as bananas, cherries, all gourds, all melons, lemons, tomatoes, vanilla, Yeasts (bakers and brewers) peppers, broccoli, caaulflower, etc. etc. Once I removed these foods, my body responded immediately within 2 days and I started to feel much better. A allergy test showed no known allergies to anything. The IGg is different than a regular allergy test. I am also gluten free now.

AMEN!!! to that. It is much harder to lose weight the older you get. Although, it seems to take longer than when I was younger, you still can lose weight as long as you keep track of your calories and try to get some excercise in, most days. Some weeks I just lose a half pound, some one or two, but I will take that. I am feeling much better about myself.

Actually for me this time loosing the weight has been easier as I am so much more constant with what I eat thanks to MFP. Also I am not driving myself crazy with how fast the weight comes off as long as it comes off steadily. It is hard work, don't get me work, but no matter what age it can be done! You are welcome to friend me if you would like to see what I have been doing. Anyone else also welcome to friend me.

Mamadon,
You look amazing! Congrats on all the weight lost. I agree that I want to lose the weight for health reasons. Heart disease runs in my family and I want to be here for my kids and future grand kids. I'm 48 and have about 50#s to lose. I've had some issues with depression, hormone imbalance, and high stress in the past several years that has caused me to gain weight. You said watching the calories has worked for you. Have you exercised also? Thanks for posting. You are an inspiration to me.
Cseaglass19

With menopause it's definitely different. The strategies that work when you're younger may not work any more. And "calories in calories out" gets harder as the metabolism slows and the window gets smaller, There are a few really supportive groups here. PM me if you'd like the names/links. Feel free to add me too.

cheers!

At 76 I am finding it is much slower than when I was younger - but for some reason I have the will power to stick with it this time! I have yio-yoed up and down many times through the years - but I started this new way of eating in October of 2011 on Atkins - joined MFP in March of this year - and in that time I am down 33 pounds. Very slow - but I have just come off a summer long plateau and am finally back to losing again. I no longer stick to Atkins but try to keep my calories under 1250 and exercise as best I can 3 times a week. When the next plateau hits I hope I have found a way to break it with the help of a friend who runs a Curves. I had tried all the suggestions on MFP but nothing helped until this one - and so far so good! Hang in there - slow loss is much better than any gain!