Feeling old

Totally know what you mean! I'm 42 and have a 6 and 3-1/2 year old. I think I'm always on the go go go and then I get so hungry that I just grab whatever. Gotta start stashing my purse and car with apples instead of the chocolate covered granola bars.

I'm 42 and I feel more fit and healthier NOW than I've ever been in my life!! It's amazing, absolutely amazing, how I feel!! It takes time, a lot of patience, and a lot of HARD work all put forth by you!! It doesn't come easy, it's not overnight!! I've been really at this for 6 months, 3-4 days a week and it's taken me baby steps, a lot of sweat and tears, but when I go from 2 plank to pushups to now doing 20 or other little milestones, I know it's worth it!! Keep trudging onward, you're in a good space if you've come here.

I wanted to add, I sought refuge in A LOT of comfort food, it's hard to give it all up but you "reward" yourself one day a week and eventually you won't even be craving those foods.

I'm a 44 year old mother of 2.... Can't blame "baby weight" cuz they are both adopted! But I know what you mean. Between baseball, soccer, football, archery, volunteering, working, etc, it's so much easier to grab convenience foods that really end up being horrible for you.

I have found that keeping that sort of food out of the house helps, but so does prepackaging your own healthy food. Brown bagging is a great way that I can keep from eating crap. A big yummy salad that comes in at under 200 calories is a typical lunch for me. I take 3 cups spring salad mix, 2 ounces of Virginia ham, 2 tablespoons of crumbled low fat feta cheese, 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato, and 1/2 cup diced fresh apple. Then I top it off with some dressing which is usually Newman's Own Lite Balsamic Vinagrette dressing that i've allowed the oil to rise to the top then sucked out all the olive oil out with a turkey baster... All the flavor, none of the fat! It's BIG on flavor including sweet, savory, and has a nice crunch, it also has a good amount of protien and oodles of fiber and keeps me full and satisfied for hours.

When I have a craving for something sweet, I find that a 1/2 serving of Garber's brand low fat chocolate marshmallow ice cream with 1/4 cup of Special K Vanilla Almond cereal is just the ticket and it comes in at 150 calories. Or frozen greek yogurt is also a good alternative, but be sure it's the low fat low sugar versions.

My favorite salty food substitution is dry roasted almonds. When I crave chips or pretzels or some other crappy snack food, I reach for a serving of dry roasted almonds. They are packed with flavor, crunch, protien, and other good nutirents. Plus they help stave off cravings by making you feel full longer than a serving of junk food because of the protien content.

There are ways to eat healthy and still enjoy what you're eating. My best friends on my weight loss journey have been measuring cups and spoons, and my kitchen scales. They keep me honest about my portions and it gives me sense of satisfaction when I can say "Yup, I only ate 1/2 cup of..." or "Only 2 ounces of..." and I KNOW my logging is correct.

Be dilligent with your logging. Keep measuring cups and a kitchen scales handy, and swap hig fat, high carb, high calorie foods out for ones that are healthier versions of the same. Small changes make a huge difference!

Good luck and you CAN do it! If you need encouragement or support you've come to the right place! MFP is awesome!

Hi Cathy, you can do it! I'm going to be 50 next year January and eating clean has made my life so much more enjoyable! your skin clears up, you look youthful, and you lose fat! AND you can still eat! lol!!! You can do it!

I will be 50 this year with a 3 year old Grandson. Man I don't remember being this exhausted with my two children all those years ago...

I am finding that while I dread getting started with a cardio workout, I almost always feel better after its done. Even when I put in extra time.