Discouraged

cocomama62
cocomama62 Posts: 3
in Introduce Yourself
I usually eat really healthy but no matter what I do I can't lose weight. I restrict my intake, eat Paleo, drink mean green exercise regularly. I'm 52 years old and I just feel so discouraged.:sad:

Replies

  • Still_Standing
    Still_Standing Posts: 75
    Keep your head up! Everyone hits a stand still at one point.
  • lorim200
    lorim200 Posts: 38 Member
    Are you logging your food to count calories?
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    You say nothing about how many calories you are eating that's what matters in weight loss. Also if you open your diary people may be able to give you more specific advice.
  • kristinaswett
    kristinaswett Posts: 1 Member
    hi discouraged! I would like you to consider reading a book called the 17 day diet. I read it a year ago and was fascinated by the information it provided regarding body functions and what foods are best for your body. It is not actually a diet plan, but rather a lifestyle change. I got my mother to read it recently and she started the plan and has lost just over 5 lbs. in the first 6 days. It is a safe and effective method to losing weight and improving the overall health of your body. My mother is 65 years old and has diabetes (type 2), along with several other health problems. The book is written by a doctor and basically encourages you to cut out sugars & bad fats, and gets you to eat foods that are the most beneficial for your body. It is not really constricting (you can have as much as you want of certain foods), and it is separated by 4 17 day cycles. Although I read the book a year ago, I was not in the mind-set to devote the attention to my health that I deserved. Now that I am dedicated to improving my overall health, the book has been very helpful. I have lost just over 12lbs. in 5 weeks, but I have not been completely following diet to a "T". On the other hand, my mother has & she is feeling great and losing weight quickly. I highly recommend reading it. And good luck :)
  • Mojoman02
    Mojoman02 Posts: 146 Member
    You have to really analyze what you are putting in your body. What kind of foods are Paleo? What is the Mean Green that you consume? Are you logging any calories? Are you doing any exercising? You are either eating too much or not burning it off in any way. Give us some more details and we can try to help better.
  • claudie08
    claudie08 Posts: 154 Member
    You and me, both. :ohwell: One week I'm doing well and the next, I'm gaining. I don't know if I'm coming or going.
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    Unfortunately, after we hit 50 or so, it is much more difficult to lose than in our 20s and 30s. That doesn't mean it can't be done, I have many 50+ ladies on my FL that are doing it, but we do need to be very careful with our measuring and logging, and we just can't usually eat near the calories that we could when we were younger. That is unless you are very active and are lifting heavy. Some of the women that are extremely active at this age can still manage to eat more and still lose.

    But we also need to lower our expectations quite a bit. The days of 3-4 pounds in a week are long gone. Be thrilled if you can lose 1/2 to one pound a week now. But that is still progress, and if we are consistent and don't give up, we will eventually reach our goals.

    Be sure you are eating plenty of protein and healthy fats to keep feeding your muscle mass and keep the hormones in balance. This will also help you feel fuller so you can stay within your calorie goal.
  • marksava
    marksava Posts: 1 Member
    Hello,
    I can totally relate to your comments. I am 50 and wow it is so much harder now. I have pumped up the proteins and decreased the carbs at night. I do work out with a trainer twice a week for 1/2 hour a time which has helped me feel better about myself but the weight is slow to come off. Many comments have been about tracking your intake and I totally agree with them.
  • Sarahkov12
    Sarahkov12 Posts: 48 Member
    Hello future friend ;) I myself have really been struggling as well so I know how disappointing it can be! I have tried the 17 day diet as mentioned by someone else and it did work-6 pounds in first 7 days unfortunately for me I was never able to make it the whole 17 days before I started cheating so I use it to trim down for special occasions but count overall calories the rest of the time. You could try it, it might be the trick for you. I have also find that sometimes the scale may not go down much but I might lose inches so I always recommend taking your measurements monthly. Having said all of that I am 32 years old and currently weigh 204 pounds. I work out 4-6 days a week for 30-75 minutes at a time. I am tracking my calories daily. I post regularly because I love to encourage others and love the support I get from my mfp friends. Feel free to add me and don't lose heart! It may take longer than you'd like but keep moving forward and it will happen :)
  • cocomama62
    cocomama62 Posts: 3
    Thanks for the suggestion :)
  • cocomama62
    cocomama62 Posts: 3
    Thanks for the info. About the diary. I wasn't aware that the settings could be changed.
  • mereditheve
    mereditheve Posts: 142 Member
    Your challenge is so common but the good news is that there is nothing wrong with you that prevents you from losing weight.

    If I knew what you were eating and what types of exercise (and how much) you are doing, I could give you much better tips. However, here's some general advice that may help:

    1 - Don't do the same exercise every time you work out. So many people hop on the treadmill and do the same workout for 30 minutes each day and it doesn't push them enough. Add strength training, HIIT (high intensity interval training), yoga, pilates, etc. to build muscle and lose fat.
    2 - Be accurate in your calorie counting. This can be tricky since MFP's nutrition facts are not always accurate. There is also a margin of error in manufacturer's labeling of nutritional values. Err on the higher side to be safe.
    3 - Don't use the scale as your only measurement. If I'm training heavily, I often gain weight but my waist is smaller and clothes fit more loosely. I would be discouraged if I only used the scale as a basis for measuring my progress.
    4 - Eat foods you like. The Paleo diet has its pros and cons. Cons are that people often don't stick with it... better to eat foods you enjoy in moderation than eat the same "healthy" things every day and hate it.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like more specific recommendations.
  • pspetralia
    pspetralia Posts: 963 Member
    Weigh and log EVERY bite that goes in your mouth. If you still don't lose weight that means you're getting more calories then you burn. Adjust accordingly. Good luck!

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