Losing weight after 40

I'm 47 and lost 70 lbs last year. It can be done you just have to want it bad enough to stick with it long term. Thanks to the good advice I received here I incorporated weight training and my daughter insists I look better than ever, even at the same weight I was years ago before letting myself go.

Yes exactly! That is what I say, you just have to want it bad enough, and you will be amazed what you can do! I didn't start to lose weight until a couple months before I turned 41, and now 100 lbs later, I am so glad I did it. You can do it!!

I think my metabolism is slow regardless of my age (41 ), in saying that , the food I was eating was the main contributor to my weight gain .Not my age

Last year I put on 33kg ( over the whole year ) after losing 30kg at the end of 2012.

Ive cleaned my diet up for over a month now and have added exercise in and Ive lost 10kg . It can be done but it takes hard work and discipline .

I'm 51, and although I expected it to be harder to lose, it really wasn't as long as I stuck to it. I think what is harder is breaking the habit of years of over eating and bad habits, in other words, it's mentally harder for me rather than physical.

I'm 48 and for the past 7-8 years I've struggled with a 25 pound gain. It keeps getting harder and harder to lose and keep it off.

I'm 41 and have lost 92lbs since Mar-13 and am averaging 1.5-2lbs a week. I'm doing this by eating healthily including weight & measuring everything. I work out 6 times a week (inc 1 strength session) averaging around 40mins a work out. I eat 1900 cals a day and don't feel deprived or hungry as if I fancy something I work it into my cals. I have the occasional cheat day but get back on track the next day (eg yesterday was OH's birthday but this morning I ran 5.5 miles). Age is not an excuse I understand for not losing weight. Its not like we woke up on our 40th birthday and a switch flicked in our bodies which drastically slowed our metabolism. Eat at a calorie deficit, work out regularly and the weight will come off IME.

You might want to try two strength session per week. Also, take your measurements!!!!! Often times the scale will not move but your INCHES (cm) will reduce because although a pound is a pound is a pound (I hate it when people say a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat!). A pound of muscle is MORE DENSE than a pound of fat. Therefore your measurements will decrease even though the scale remains the same. Keep working it and it will work!

Inches are reducing as well as the scales dropping - very happy with it all so far! I can't fit in another weights session without ditching my rest day as I'm training for a half marathon (I got out of breath walking up a flight of stairs 10 months ago and now run 15+ miles a week).

I see a lot of answers saying activity is the key. Well this 57 year old man says that discipline is the key. Been doing this for about 4 months now and have lost 30 lbs. Took me a few weeks to get the hang of it but now it is a matter of eating under my calorie goal.. I exercise yes BUT for medical reasons (an injury) I haven't exercised in 2 weeks and still lost 3.5 lbs in those last 2 weeks. I was a couch potato until I started this but it is so important to me to get healthy, that I stick with it.. I am disciplined enough to know that just because I can't exercise right now there is No Reason why I should not continue losing weight...

I lost over 50 pounds and am over 40, I hover between 55-60 lost with the goal of losing 75-85 pounds in total. I still have 20-30 to go and expect it will take the rest of this year for sure, possibly longer. The good news is, I am fairly happy with where I am as far as being it LOTS better shape then I was 2 years ago, there is no comparison. The reality regardless of how or when the pounds come off I have no choice but to continue on, because giving up for even small amounts of time piles the weight back on. Thankfully about 18-20 months in I am more in control of weight and food intake where I can just about say it is my lifestyle.

hi tcat I am 53 and I lost 106lbs in 11 mths 3 weeks with weight watchers that was nearly 2 1/2yrs ago, so it really can be done at our ages, it is hard work especial maintaining, but it is also really rewarding, and I love clothes shopping now, I used to cry when I went to try and buy something to fit me, now I love trying on clothes. So just hang in there and know you can do it.

Regardless of what people say, for most, it IS harder to lose weight after the age of 40. I used to be able to eat fairly freely without gaining but not anymore. I can easily gain 5 pounds in a few months now if I don't closely monitor my diet and fitness. It is especially hard for me because I am an older Mom with little ones. As I pull out snacks for them or make them meals (healthy 90% of time) I catch myself grabbing a few bites of what I am making them. Then I later make something for myself. I think all of those calories add up. Plus, I tend to skip workouts because of the kids activities. I have to be super vigilant which is hard to do with all of the distractions of life!! But, with age comes wisdom (at least I hope!! hahaha) and that wisdom tells me I have to put in the work now so that I don't regret poor health later! Keep on keeping on!! We can do it if we put in the work!

I'm 46 and haven't found it any different despite 30yrs of diet cycles - in fact it's easier now because I have changed my mindset, stopped looking for quick fixes and made a real lifestyle change.

I've been maintaining for a year having lost 28lbs in 6mths eating 1400 cals/day. I'm only 5'2.5 but wanted gentle sustainable loss and not to starve or leave a trail of dead bodies through grumpiness!

The biggest difference has been my change to a can do attitude, I'm embarrassed at how right supporters of this are - do not under estimate the power of the brain monkey in making you fail!

Looking at a cookie doesn't make me gain weight, eating several and lying to myself about it or my activity levels does!

As I scan through some of the posts, I see there are a lot of people who have the same difficulty as I do. I am 43 and it seems like I can gain 10 pounds just with a simple look at a cookie but it takes all kinds of grueling leaps and bounds and jumping through hoops to lose just 1. Looking for support as I start one more journey toward healthy weight.

I've lost 119lbs and I am past 40. You can do it too unless you have an underlying medical condition that needs to get checked out. But even so, you can still lose weight.

Yes, it does come back on very, very easily. This is the biggest commitment I've made in my life...other than being a parent.

I feel your pain! I've been working/eating better for a year and half and have only lost 24lbs. I have to work very hard to lose any weight. Just eating less calories doesn't seem to do much for me. I'm 41 and in my 20s I didn't have this problem. It's a daily struggle. I finally think I'm finding the right combination. I do hour workouts 5/6 days a week and stay around 1500 calories.


I will say I do find it discouraging when I see how fast some people lose (especially guys), but my doctor told me this last physical that she only recommends 2lbs a month, so I'm on track for that (and supposedly more likely to keep it off) I hope so.

I have to keep reminding myself it's a long term change and not a diet.

I found an exercise I love (jazzercise) and that is making a huge difference for me. Even though I'm not losing weight quickly, I am toning up a lot more than I was.

I feel your pain! I've been working/eating better for a year and half and have only lost 24lbs. I have to work very hard to lose any weight. Just eating less calories doesn't seem to do much for me. I'm 41 and in my 20s I didn't have this problem. It's a daily struggle. I finally think I'm finding the right combination. I do hour workouts 5/6 days a week and stay around 1500 calories.


I will say I do find it discouraging when I see how fast some people lose (especially guys), but my doctor told me this last physical that she only recommends 2lbs a month, so I'm on track for that (and supposedly more likely to keep it off) I hope so.

I have to keep reminding myself it's a long term change and not a diet.

I found an exercise I love (jazzercise) and that is making a huge difference for me. Even though I'm not losing weight quickly, I am toning up a lot more than I was.

Are your macros set right?? Are you tracking sugar?? These are KEY to weight loss not the amount of calories.

Joanne Moniz
The Skinny on Obesity Group

I am 42 - almost 43..and my body is transforming back into shape. It didn't transform as easily as it did when I was 25, that's for sure -- but through good nutrition (finally got that right! You can't out-exercise a bad diet) and regular exercise I am well on my way to a fabulous body after 40. It can be done! Day by day, choice by choice!

My husband is 55 and did 1000 ft on the treadmill last night. He has severe arthritis in his knee and can't do a fast pace, so he put the incline on ten and walked slow. He did forty five minutes on the treadmil after riding the stationary bike. If you really want to stay healthy or get healthy it can be done. Just because we are older doesn't mean we have to be sedentary. I am 13 years younger than him and am so proud that he isn't using his age as an excuse to not stay active.