Hi, my name is Emy and I live in Louisiana. I'm 44 years old and mom to three children, ages 22, 18, and 13. I did pretty well losing weight after my first two children, but I had a really hard time after my third. I was able to lose almost down to my goal weight about 8 years ago following the South Beach diet, and kept the weight off pretty well until about 2 years ago. Since then, I seem to steadily gain despite using all of my old tried and true tricks. I changed jobs in January and left a very stressful job situation that I had been in for 15 years. New job is so much better and I'm finally starting to feel that I have my life back. So decided it was time to try something different to lose the weight and get healthier.

I recently read Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto, and I've started the muscle primer workout from that book. I've also started the C25K program. The book suggests setting both short term and long term goals. My 3 month goals are to lose 15 lbs, finish the C25K program, do the muscle primer workout 3 times per week for 12 weeks, and eat healthier in a calorie deficit.

Thanks Cindy for starting this group! Would love to be a part of an over 40 group of women to share this journey with.

Hello everyone. My name is Jetta and I live in MD. I'm 44 and have 4 adult children.

It was so much easier to lose weight before I hit my mid 30s, been a struggle ever since. Started MFP in Jan 2013 and slowly lost 38 pounds, with my weight going up and down. I've tried Akins, Weight Watchers, Center for Medical Weight Loss, Medifast and now I'm doing Nutrisystem. Trying to find a lifestyle I can live with that doesn't eliminate entire food groups.

I've recently started exercising again and having my daughter train me at the gym, but trying not to aggravate my back injuries in the process. I would like to lose about 30 more pounds and of course do what I never have, maintain. Like Jo, I recently bought a fitbit to keep me motivated, but having a small group of people to be accountable to, and share successes and failures with, is just what I need. Thanks Cindy!

Emy, would love to hear more about the Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle Book and the workouts - how much equipment do you need etc? I started the 17 Day Diet 3 weeks ago (anyone try that?) and I have lost 8 lbs since and while that is great, it's definitely water and I probably haven't done my muscles any good (well, what i have of muscles??). I've decided to stick with hit for the entire 4 cycles, but know that at the end there has to be a better option out there. C25K … I've gotten through day 3 about 30 times. Ha Ha. Maybe you ladies can all help me get through all of it!

Cindy,

You only need dumbbells, a mat or carpet, and a chair to do the muscle primer routine. I've started with a pair of 5 lb dumbbells that I had from years ago. I've only done the workout twice so far (I'm really just getting started!), and can only do two sets of each exercise ( except the push-ups - can only manage one set). He says in the book to start at one set of each exercise and work up to three in the first week. We'll see if I can do three sets next workout!

I just finished W1d2 of C25k. I'm really hoping I can finish the prgoram. I've never been able to jog/run in my life. I've usually used walking in the past as my main exercise when trying to lose weight, but I find this time I can't get motivated about walking. Hoping the schedule/app will keep me focused this time and enjoying the exercise. I really need to find something I enjoy doing and try to make it a part of my life for good.

Hello to everyone! I'm about to head to a horse show to see my daughter compete, but will check back later this afternoon.

Hi, Jojo here. I'm 47 and in TN. I have loved MFP since finding it last week.. I weighed this morning and have lost 10 pounds since last week. I know that's fluid but I have to start somewhere. I am not following any specific diet. I've just cut out bread and potatoes but not cutting all carbs. I have also been walking every day. Looking forward to getting to know everyone here. :smokin:

Hi I'm another Cindy. I am from Ontario Canada and will be turning 43 this year . I have a 16,18,21 and 24 year old ( only the 16 and 18 year old are at home whew) . I have been looking for an active group . I am looking to lose about 70 more pounds and want to keep motivated . I am tracking daily- only walking for now , but will be rejoining the gym in the fall

Hi! I'm Brenda and I live in SD. I will be 45 this summer and have one seven year old son.

I never had weight problems until I hit 40. Somehow I gained 20 pounds in three years. Couldn't have been the ice cream I had every night for a snack, could it? Yep, that's my downfall. I love ice cream. So I quit the evening ice cream, started JM 90 Day Body Revolution and MFP. Since starting a regular exercise routine I've got more energy, so am better able to keep up with my very active son! I'm having trouble with the 1200 calorie diet. Feel like I'm hungry all the time. Also, I haven't lost any weight this last two weeks and it's frustrating!

Thanks for starting this group! It's hard taking this journey alone so will be great to share it with others my age.

Brenda I to struggle with the 1200 calorie and feel I am hungry. One girl on a different group mentioned the Olivia Method, I find it is not that bad. When I really focus try no to go over 1500 if I have a good workout and if I just go for a walk etc that day than I make not go over 1350.

What is the Olivia Method?

Hi, I'm Stephanie. I've been gaining and losing weight since college. I keep telling myself "not this time" and lo-and-behold, my life gets busy and I start packing on the pounds. I know I need to exercise to keep my weight under control. I know by now I'm not going to stop eating "bad" food. When I'm under stress, moderation flies out the window.

I have three boys 18, 16, 13 and a wonderful husband. I work full time (plus). I started on MFP two years ago, lost weight, stopped logging on to MFP and this spring I was up 25lbs. Three pounds here and three pounds there really added up! I have to figure out how to keep from falling off the wagon. I'm surrounded by men at home and at work. Men just have different metabolisms and they just cannot relate to our daily challenges (or at least not the men I know).

add me please Im 44 in a career change-from NJ, pretty sure peri menopausal, suddenly have stomach overnight, love to work out, it is my anti anxiety medication...Up until now I could almost intutitively keep my weight, well being etc on track for the most part. Suddenly all the things that would work diet & especially exercise don't seem to be making a difference. I am single, not married YET have overcome many challenges in life & so starting a family/marriage was delayed --and want to finally start this next chapter at my personal best, I am blessed with lots of energy & a strong faith...but need to find out what works at this stage--clearly not the old ways. I am unemployed, looking for work decided to go to Grad School at 40, finished in 2012--have been care taking both parents until recently--January. Very stressful. That's when I noticed my stomach and body changed the most...For the last 4 months have been working out at the gym, putting myself first again and trying to regulate diet...but the stress & anxiety was great. Prayer and exercise got me through. Now that I have secured really good home health care for my parents I have peace to focus back on myself. However, I think all the stress of the months before have caught up to me....my self esteem and confidence, self care took a hit...I want to bounce back--and live this next chapter at my personal best and hopefully meet a great guy soon Would love the support of other 40 somethings to navigate through this change of life and bust through the easy "settling" that so many succumb too. I cant afford it, really life feels like its just opening up for me now...Thank you for starting this group I have been doing intense cardio, eating fairly well, trouble hitting macros without going over or under...and too much sugar. Best wishes to all for health & peace...Lisa

I've recently started exercising again and having my daughter train me at the gym, but trying not to aggravate my back injuries in the process. I would like to lose about 30 more pounds and of course do what I never have, maintain. Like Jo, I recently bought a fitbit to keep me motivated, but having a small group of people to be accountable to, and share successes and failures with, is just what I need. Thanks Cindy!

Jetta,

How long have you been dealing with back issues, if you don't mind sharing? I had micro decompression surgery (L5/S1) in 2003. It really motivated me at the time to start exercising and to lose my post baby weight. Unfortunately I have really let my weight and fitness slip the last few years. Losing weight and a consistent exercise program is what I need to do to help minimize future issues with my back but I'm also always nervous about doing something different that might cause me to reinjure myself.

Hi, I'm Cynthia, I'm almost 47 years old and live in the Pacific Northwest. I also have had trouble losing weight once I hit the big 40. I need to lose about 20 pounds and it is a long process. I'm glad that I found this site as it is helping me realize exactly what I'm eating and how much my exercising is helping me.

Hi, my name is Carrie. I live in Maine and turned 44 this year. My weight gain in the last 3 years has been around 25 pounds. I joined MFP awhile back but cannot seem to stay on it (2 - 4 weeks is my average). I hope that joining this group will help motivate and encourage me.

Hi - lets see - I am Shelly...46 years old living in Richmond, Va. I'm just shy of 5'2" and petite/small boned so while my weight looks fine numbers-wise, it really isn't on me! The most discouraging thing is that after getting up to 146 about 6 years ago, I had lost it all and then some - getting down to my HS weight of 105..and I was 40 at the time! Then about 2 years ago the pounds started creeping back and i got into the 130s. I started traveling more for work and it was gradual. Ive been totally unable to take it off this time! I will admit I've not been totally committed until now, which is why I'm here! Ive been using the app to log food but never branched out. I think connecting w/ others is going to be a big help!

Hi Shelly we're hoping to relocate to VA next year. My husband was working in Crosspointe last year training people in the new Rolls Royce factory. Me and the kids spent a month with him (he was living in Tobacco Row) and we fell in love with the place, so hoping we can make the move over there x

I will be 45 next month. I joined MFP 13 months ago. I was thin in my teens. Then over the next 2 decades, while I was busy raising my kids, I did not focus on healthy foods, just mostly foods that the kids would eat rice, pasta, pizza. I was a carb addict and I told myself I do not have time to prepare salads that only I will eat. I did not have much time to exercise. Of course the weight piled on. I decided I must do something when I realized I weighed exactly the same as I did right before giving birth to my oldest, and my youngest was then 6.5. Of course I heard all the bad rap about women in their 40s and how impossible it is to lose weight and blaming it on hormones, etc. Even though I did not think I would ever be thin again, I decided I must give it a try. I was in the mid to upper 150s and originally set my goal at 135. Now I am down to 122 and have been maintaining for a few months. This program really works. I walk a lot, swim, and once in a while go on the elliptical machine. I look and feel great! My doctor says and I have proven that it has nothing to do with hormones or being in one's 40s but everything to do with calories in and calories out. I know others have different experiences, and I am sympathetic, but I am trying to encourage anyone who is discouraged before they even try.