44 years old, not over weight but VERY flabby. HELP!

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Chicklit007
Chicklit007 Posts: 14
in Success Stories
Hello,

I am a 44 year old mother of three. I have never been tone and tight in my life, however I have always been "small" to most people. I am currently 5' 7" and 154 pounds. In April of this year, I weighed 135 (was still flabby of course. lol). I quit smoking after 16 years and gained the extra weight that I currently am carrying. I have a YMCA membership that NEVER gets used. I need MORE motivation and I need for someone to motivate me in the form of before and after photos for age 40 and up.

Can I get firm and toned in a matter of 6 months? What about 12 months? Is that possible at my age and with only an hour of exercise 3 times a week? That's really all of the time I have due to work and family :(

These are my issues. Bingo wings, flabby thighs, cellulite in butt and thighs, back fat, muffin top and a stretch marked belly that sags :( I suppose I need to take photos and post them to my profile. That alone should give me more motivation. lol

I want to look good in shorts, skirts and a bikini for the first time in my life. Is that possible this late in life??? Anyone??? lol Pics???
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Replies

  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
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    Yes. Very possible. Start a weight training program. I am 44 and feel 24, and I've only been lifting for 6 weeks! You want inspiration and pictures: here's part 1 of a 3 part thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/977538-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky
    Isn't that the most awesome thread ever? :heart: My goal is to post my pics there within the next year. So inspiring!
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    wow. those photos are fabulous! love the transformations.

    I believe that I posted this on the wrong board, so for that, I am sorry! However, thank you to everyone that replies. It means a lot to me!
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    By the way, Cindy. Your transformation is awesome as well! I just looked at your pics!!!
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
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    By the way, Cindy. Your transformation is awesome as well! I just looked at your pics!!!
    Thanks! It's going a little slower now, seeing more difference in inches than on the scale, but that's okay too. :drinker:

    Edit: Also check out the Eat, Train, Progress group. There's tons of fantastic information on there.
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    I just posted a profile pic of myself. A before and after, reversed. lol The before was taken in April of this year and the after was taken 2 weeks ago. I quit smoking in April and gained 29 pounds. Like I said, I have always been considered "small" but I have NEVER been tone. The before pic, while I look "good", if I were without clothing, you would see that I am VERY flabby and out of shape. The cellulite on my legs is terrible and it prevents me from ever wearing shorts or short skirts, let alone a bathing suit :( And while my arms "appear" to be fit, I assure you that it is just the positioning of my body because I have bingo wings from hell. lol


    I hate that I might come off as vain, but I am 44 years old and for the first time in my life, I would love to be tone and fit. I missed the bikini days in my teens, 20's and 30's....and my goal is to wear one and look good in it, for my 50th birthday photo, which is in 5.5 more years. lol


    If anyone would like to add me on Facebook to keep in touch and discuss even further, I can be found at https://www.facebook.com/lynn.broughton1 Feel free to add me :)
  • Boogage
    Boogage Posts: 739 Member
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    Looking around the threads I think it is possible to dramatically tighten your body at any age by lifting weights and eating a good amount to fuel your body and build a bit of muscle.

    I certainly hope so anyway as although I'm only 28 and have slimmed down from 167lbs to 112lbs, I've also had 5 big babies in the last 10 years and haven't been able to shift the stretched belly overhang and other flabby areas yet (actually I've never had a flat tummy so this really is a challenge!).

    I'm currently trying to eat my way up until I find my maintenance calories and then I am planning on eating a little above whilst keeping on lifting to build more muscle and hopefully start to recomp my body.

    I can't lift heavy due to medical problems but recently I've been reading articles saying you can get similar muscle build using lighter weights (supposedly 30% of your highest rep weight) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it'll work for me.

    Feel free to add me if you like
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    I wonder if resistance bands are just as good as weights? I have those and a ball here at home. I've been using them for the past week with videos from youtube. I thought that maybe if I just do some things at home that it would help, but I know that going to the gym would be best....especially for motivation. NOBODY in my home is motivated to work out. NOBODY. lol

    Grats on your weight loss! That is AWESOME!! As for your belly.....I had a doctor tell me that the only thing that would work is a tummy tuck!!! SURELY that's not true?!?!?!?! There has to be SOMEONE on this site that has made it happen!
  • michelleLynette
    michelleLynette Posts: 289 Member
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    You can look at my photos..Im 48 never been overweight(maybe college..5 to 10 pounds) People think im in my 20s..I have a 20,19 and 16 year old! Im fit, I lfit I run. yoga, pilates, body pump..you can do it at 44 if I can do it at 48!! Go girl!
  • Boogage
    Boogage Posts: 739 Member
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    I have seen photos of ladies who managed to pull up the overhang so I'm not giving up hope yet!

    I don't know about resistance bands and such. At the moment I can't get to the gym so I'm just using dumbbells at home and trying to get in a few compound moves to work lots of muscles at once. I find it hard to stay motivated at times but find the more I workout and see pumped muscles, the more I want to work out as I know positive changes will keep coming if I do :o)
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
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    <
    almost 40 and I gave birth to 6 kids.

    I suggest you buy the book, the new rules of lifting for women, it is the best 15$ I ever spent. It explain everything you need to know and do in order to have the body you want.

    Good luck
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    You can look at my photos..Im 48 never been overweight(maybe college..5 to 10 pounds) People think im in my 20s..I have a 20,19 and 16 year old! Im fit, I lfit I run. yoga, pilates, body pump..you can do it at 44 if I can do it at 48!! Go girl!

    Michelle! WOW! You don't look a day over 30!!!!!
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    <
    almost 40 and I gave birth to 6 kids.

    I suggest you buy the book, the new rules of lifting for women, it is the best 15$ I ever spent. It explain everything you need to know and do in order to have the body you want.

    Good luck

    Wow. You look awesome. Does this book help with diet tips as well because I am IGNORANT to dieting. I've never done it in my life. lol
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    @ Yanicka. I just looked through your photos. YOU are inspiring to say the least!!! I need friends like you ladies to go the Ymca with me to help keep me motivated until exercise becomes a constant love of my life. lol


    I know that I can transform into a bad *kitten*. I just know it. I just have to "do it."
  • Pidgeywendy
    Pidgeywendy Posts: 32 Member
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    Hello,

    I'm 42 and have two children. I'm 5'2" and was a size 8 until my 20's, then as I got older and settled down, I went up to a size 16. After having the children, I put a lot of weight on. As a result, I am fighting against my flabby belly which is tough for a variety of reasons - my age, my previous weight, genetics....I therefore have found it unhelpful when people tell me it's totally possible to get rid of my overhang with the correct diet and hard work. And when it doesn't shift, that'll be because I didn't work hard enough?

    I have a personal trainer who I work out with four times a week. He will get me into my desired size 12 - but he can't get rid of this saggy belly...any fool can see only surgery will achieve that!!!! I'm very realistic though. I'll be thrilled to look good with my clothes on, and my husband loves me without any, so that's all good :-)

    All I'm saying is, be careful about your expectations. Be realistic. Get someone such as your Gp or a sports specialist to look at your belly and tell you honestly what is possible for you to achieve. Anyone who is overweight and loses it, has absolutely no way of knowing how their body will react to the weight loss.

    That said - stay positive and go for it! Losing weight is the best thing I've done for myself for a long time :-)
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    Yes, you are right. I truly think that genetics has a lot to do with things. I look at my body and see my mother when she was my age. I hope to change SOME of that. lol

    And hey.....if I need a tummy tuck after hard work proves not to pay off, then maybe I will do just that? And yes, my guy loves me just the way that I am, but I want to look better regardless. lol Maybe it's because I'm getting older? Maybe it's because I'm older than him?? Maybe it's because I have NEVER looked tone in my entire life??? I'm leaning towards the last one. It's crazy but it's true. I can remember being 18 years old and jiggling my legs like they were jello and I was only a size 6 then!! wth?!?! lol

    Thank you for your post, Wendy!
  • Pidgeywendy
    Pidgeywendy Posts: 32 Member
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    You know what drives me mad? Not appreciating my body when I was young! In the 70's and 80's the fashion was to long gypsy skirts, Lady Diana high necked blouses lol So I didn't ever get the chance to show off my body, if you know what I mean? Add that to most young women not having the confidence we have now as mothers in our 40's....and I just wish I could go back and realise what I had!!!!

    I never thought when I started this 18 months ago that I would consider a tummy tuck - but now I think I just might. Maybe something to think about after I've maybe maintained a size 12 for a year or two.

    Good luck with your journey :-)
  • Chicklit007
    Chicklit007 Posts: 14
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    funny you mention that because I love my long skirts. lol I've worn them for years....sadly they are the only thing in my wardrobe that truly fits these days!! lol

    And yes.....my memories of my flab in my younger days may still be with me, but I'm sure that I would love to have that flab back now, verses what I am currently carrying around. lol At least it wasn't stretched out with stretch marks too. lol

    Hey, at least we have our senses of humor about it all! lol
  • chani8
    chani8 Posts: 946 Member
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    I want to reassure you that you can get the body you want, even without a tummy tuck. You are not so overweight that you will need surgery, in my opinion. You just need to diet, walk, and weight lift. ;)
  • pandorakick
    pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
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    <-- 35 and 2 children. I second Yanicka's advice of lifting!
  • conniedj
    conniedj Posts: 470 Member
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    46, 2 children 5 & 8--both c-section. I started lifting at the end of May this year......I cannot tell you how pleased I have been with the shape my body is taking on! I still have fat to lose, but I am no longer jiggly!

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