Quit smoking and turned 50 @ same time- can't lose weight!

If you've truly been doing this for a while now (1200 calories + 30 min walking), it's time to make a change. No insult intended when I say this, but it's very easy to miscalculate how much you consume or burn. Most people on this web site, in my experience, will tell you to get a heart rate monitor (with chest strap, not just the watch) to help be more accurate with your workouts. People also recommend getting a scale and weighing out your food portions, to be more accurate.

I'm lazy, so I just overestimate what I eat and underestimate what I burn. Do whatever works for you, but keep up the patience and keep at it. Still not losing weight after another month? Maybe reduce your caloric intake to slightly less and keep adjusting until it works. Also, probably time to up the intensity / duration of your workouts, if you want this whole process to move more quickly. The most, most, most important thing is being consistent and logging everything. We can be good all week long, but don't track on Saturday / Sunday. We typically wind up eating back or over the deficit we earned over the week. It's astounding, but not logging and keeping yourself accountable really hurts your progress.

As for the smoking (currently trying to quit after... made it three months before we started again), I doubt your body is in any kind of shock. Even if it is, you'll recover. Just keep with it and be consistent and hold yourself accountable. No offense at al to alison990, but I wouldn't do e-cigs. In my personal experience, it only keeps you smoking or causes you to revert back to regular cigarettes. Just stay quit and feel great about yourself for it. And good for you for wanting to get in better shape.

Congrats on quitting smoking!

How much is your calorie deficit?

I have your TDEE totaled over 2000 and that is if you are only walking a few times a week. By that alone you should be eating more. 1200 calories is hardly enough for a lady your height.

I also wouldn't pay attention to the scale as much as a tape measure.

You might also want to look into a food scale to give you accurate calorie count if you haven't already.

Make sure you drink enough water and eat as much real food as possible. By real food I mean fresh cooked ingredients not microwave or set meals and takeaways. As a general rule the more processing food has done to you the worse it is for you. Not that you need to be obsessed with this. But A policy of limiting processed foods is very helpful. As they are usually naturally lower calorie AND have a greater nutritional content. Which means a lot less hunger. Doesn't mean you can't eat processed foods just keep it under control

Also here is the lowdown on metabolism. There are many calculators for this available but basically you input you height and weight, age and gender And the calculator gives you a number of calories. BMR calculators calculate the basal metabolic rate. Which is the number of calories you burn each day just being alive. TDEE calculators take your physical activity level into account. And calculate the amount of total calories you burn a day. In general you should eat somewhere between your TDEE and your BMR to lose weight healthily. If you eat under your BMR your body will lack the nutrients and calories to perform basic functions and your health and in some cases your weight loss rate will suffer. Losing too fast can also leave you with ugly hanging skin. Personally I would take someone who is a bit chubby over someone that looks like droopy the dog any day. Eating under your TDEE is required to be in a calorie deficit. Eating at your TDEE Is what you do when you want to maintain your current weight.

Most people recommend subtracting your BMR from your TDEE dividing that number by 2 and then subtracting the new number from your TDEE.

I wouldn't use e-cigs. You are just extending your addiction. If you must... maybe chew gum when you want a cig till the nicotine craving subsides??? I was a smoker... and I am 62 now. This weight thing seems to be age-stage of life thing and I bet most of us in this age range will agree.

And... your body has to adjust to the change in your metabolism now that you are not smoking. So... the option of being impatient is probably not one of your choices.

When you need to kick start you can drop your carbs and up your proteins. That means you may not be able to do the MFP perfectly. Also, some people have had good luck with programs where you order the food etc, like Medifast or the one Osmond advertises on TV.That eliminates the need for you to have to make choices outside of what the program offers except maybe for an evening lean and green meal.They cost money and it would not be worth it unless you are willing to follow them exactly... no cheating!!

Also... rather than leaping into a major exercise program you can just increase the amount of energy you expend in small ways, like keep the tv remote on the other side of the room so that you have to get up and change the channel, if you are putting laundry away... make numerous trips back and forth instead of one, keep your house really clean :-) but these are issues that have research to support them.

Good luck my friend. OK, it is 9:00 AM, time for my morning vacuum. (joking... :-) )

5 years ago I joined a gym and then two weeks later quit smoking.....5 years later I have lost 25 pounds and can run like the wind.

Here's some bluntness coming, so....yea, buckle up.

With the attitude portrayed in your message, you aren't going to be successful. Note that I didn't say you CAN'T...because you CAN (just not with the "I want these lbs off right now" mentality). I am no medical professional, but it is my understanding that when long time smokers stop smoking it is common to put on a bit of weight. Since you are on this site, my advice would be to use it to it's fullest. Weigh and measure all your food. Cuz seriously, there is no way you are truly eating only 1200 cals a day and gaining weight. That just isn't happening. Not that you are lying or anything, just that you are probably taking in more calories than you realize. Also, no magic button gets pushed on the day you turn 50 to halt your metabolism.

Here's the good news...you quite smoking!! Good for you. That's a HUGE achievement, and one that you shouldn't question because of a few pounds. The weight can come off, you just have to get yourself dedicated to it.

This. ^^^^^^ Also, YOU CAN lose weight after 50! (I'm 54) but it takes a bit more dedication. WEIGH YOUR FOOD!!!! Overestimating or failing to count the little nibbles is what derailed me in the beginning. Log EVERYTHING and you'll probably be surprised at how many calories you are really eating.