LF women over 40 who have lost 50+ pounds

I just turned 59 and have been on MFP for almost 3 years. First year I lost 50, second year I lost 17, and have been holding fairly steady for the last year. Currently on a mission to get super serious and reach my 75 lb goal.

I don't eat under 1200, ever. I can't, I'd starve! I'm not an athlete, never will be, but over time I've increased walking speed, and as the weight came off I was able to start doing a little jogging. I burn most of my calories gardening, walking dogs, and doing aerobics on rainy days.

On an average, I lost the weight by eating right around 1450 calories, making sure to exercise every day, and focusing on cutting wayyyy down on bread, pasta, rice, chips, and sugar. I paid lots of attention (and still do) to getting enough potassium, and being sure to get enough Omega-3s daily. Both things help keep me feeling good, and staying positive.

The magic "losing" number for me now seems to be 1350. Some days that's enough to fill me, others, it isn't. I allow myself a couple days off on weekends, but I still try to pay attention and not be a total pig.

Thanks for the posts, it's good reading!

I'm 41. I'll be 42 in January.

Highest weight January 1st 2012: 238 pounds

Starting weight MFP June 12th 2012: 214 pounds

Current weight as of September 28th 2013: 148.2 pounds

Goal Weight: 130 pounds

I eat on average 1800 calories a day. I currently exercise every day, though starting November I will take a rest day one day a week (I'll still walk one mile on that day) I drink 136 oz. of water each day.

I agree. I have tried several beach body workouts and when my husband and I do them consistently, THEY WORK!!! I'll use you as motivation..

Im restarting....again. Good thread as I just turned 49 and know its not going to get any easier. But seeing it is doable gives me motivation. Im needing to lose about 60 lbs or so.

I just turned 40. I have been on an up and down dieting journey for the past 10 years. I am finally at my highest weight and I have to lose 70 lbs, to say I am discouraged and intimidated is an understatement. I fear both my large number needing to be lost, but also, loose skin. This thread is extremely helpful to know that even some older than myself have been able to do this.

This time my plan is as follows:
Eat the maintenance calories for my ideal weight (around 1500 a day)
Eat protein at every meal with a large plate of veggies
Weigh daily
Weight training 2-3 times a week
Aerobic activity 4 times a week
Walking daily
Trying to get better sleep
Cut out sweeteners of all kinds

It is starting I find most intimidating.

Hi - I'm 51 and have found turning 50 and menopause much more challenging than the period between 40 and menopause. The loss of metabolism, thickening of the waist etc. has been something that I decided to reverse as much as possible. I'm hallway through my journey with a loss of 25 lbs and another 25 to go.

I have tried to be as consistent as possible with logging both my workouts and food. The weeks I haven't lost are due to me not working my program rather than my program not working. I do track my macros and try to eat healthy but without any "I must reach ketosis" or "low-anything" obsession. I'm not saying these don't work for some people but I know myself and anything that involves avoiding types of food, complex planning, etc will not work for me. My plan is too eat as much nutritional dense food as possible so that I have a good amount of energy/health for my relative low calorie days. I have never been one to load up on bread, pastries etc. but you can definitely get fat eating mostly healthy foods! I also know that I will not be able to maintain weight loss if I have a "special" way of eating when I am trying to loss weight. After the next 25 lbs are gone I will eat more but not "different". I don't go lower than 1200 and usual have about 1500-1600, depending on level of activity.

My weeks would typically include two to three spinning classes and 2 to 3 strength training sessions. Lifting heavier (squats, glute thrusts, lunges, overhead presses, bicip curls etc.) has been the best thing I ever did. I'm not sure about you but I found dealing with loss of muscle just as hard as gaining extra weight. If you have ever looked behind you and thought "what the heck is my tush doing on the back of thigh" or thought "OMG I can't wear sleeveless tops with these batwings" you will know exactly what I'm talking about :noway:

This and the links referenced in it made all the difference for me:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Start a progressive lifting program to maintain your lean muscle mass. Figure out your true TDEE is and eat slightly below it with adequate fats and proteins. (Fats are SUPER important in regulating out hormones, by the way, and they keep you full, too. Win/win.)

I've been maintaining almost a year now on 2500 calories, which gives me loads of room for soul satisfying foods like wine and chocolate. I strength train 3xweek and walk - for enjoyment, not "cardio" - 4 or 5 times a week.

Hi. I'm 56 years old and begin this journey late July 2014. I'm on track at 1200 calories per day and I DO eat my exercise calories. I have lost 23 pounds in 56 days.

seems like everyone lost a pound a week..no matter the advice.

I am 56 and have lost 59 lbs. in about 16 months. I found that using a food diary has really opened my eyes to what I eat. I exercise 5 times a week. Drink plenty of water. I have a great support group of family and friends. Hope this helps.

I love reading these stories!:flowerforyou:

I just had to mention that I *AM* a unique snowflake

36-year-old walks out.....

I'm 45 and have lost just a bit over 40 pounds so far, since about January (probably about 40 more to go).
1. I have gone from almost no water daily to trying consistently to drink 8+ glasses a day.
2. I try to maintain 1200 calories a day. If I go a bit over, that's okay.
3. I try to exercise as many days as possible per week, but usually average about 5 days.
4. I have been primarily concentrating on cardio but have seen the need to increase strength training lately to hopefully improve the flabby feeling.
5. I vary my workouts frequently. My body likes to get stuck if I stay with the same workouts a lot, so I change it up.
6. I try to make each meal meet my percentages for protein, carbs, and fat (currently 25%, 50%, 25% respectively). I also try to keep my sodium under control since I tend to hold water.

In the late '90s, I weighed 180 and today it's 125. I'm 5 foot 5.5 inches tall and aged 58.

Here's a few of the things that helped, I think.
1) Walking. Good for your head, your body, your spirit. Good time to think positively about the weight you're aiming for.
2) I substituted home-made food for store bought foods that used to be triggers. For example, I often have an out-of-the-freezer home-made crepe for breakfast, rolled up with 2 TBSP ground flax seed and a TBSP honey. It tastes like baklava to me! Instead of buying a bag of chocolates and demolishing it, I'll measure a TBSP or 2 of cocoa, some icing sugar to sweeten it, a little milk to make a paste, then add coconut and voila - macaroons! Instead of potato chips, I'll stir fry minced potatoes in a Pam-sprayed fry pan till cooked, then sautee in TBSP olive oil to finish. Two salted tortillas fried in 2 tsp oil instead of taco chips.
3) Visualize. I use practices like those described in the book Ask and It Is Given. "Wouldn't it be nice to weigh 125?" (It is!)
4) Journal. Get the feelings out. Talk about how it's going. Note how much you weigh. What's working.
5) I make most of my own food and rarely eat out. It's usually beans for lunch and when you make your own, using Quick Soak method, they're pretty delicious. Love red or black beans, salsa, and light sour cream. Beans freeze well in ziplock containers.
6) Made friends with vegetables. They seemed to steer the body to a healthier state. Some of them taste pretty good too.
7) Had official weigh-in and recorded it, but could weigh myself whenever I felt like it. Had 2 month mini-goals to meet.
8) Avoided high glycemic carbs whenever I could. A good supper would be a few ounces lean protein and vegetables.
9) Minimized alcohol, but had red wine to look forward to at least once a week.
10) Stop eating by 7pm. Have a cup of tea, no-cal lemonade to mark the end of eating. Maybe even brush teeth then.
11) Drink a large pot of loose green jasmine tea a day - at least that much. Five pound bags of jasmine green tea can be had at Chinese Markets for little cost and last a long while.
13) Have a 'super salad' for supper a couple times a week. Measure into it imitation bacon bits, parmesan, sunflower seeds, any other protein so you are getting at least 15 grams worth of protein. Light or no-fat ranch dressing for me, or balsamic vinegar with a little sugar and garlic for very lo-cal dressing.
14) I aim for at least 15 grams of protein per meal. Your body can only use it a little at a time, so that's efficient, plus allays hunger.
15) I measured everything. Tablespoons, measuring cups, scale. Aimed for 400 calories per meal, or so, plus afternoon snack.
16) Got one hint from a diet book that helped: you got to get those Omega 3s. I grind 2TBSP of flax seed (buy a spice/seed grinder) every day - good over cereal, in that crepe, maybe mixed with a little honey/syrup. And take 2 fish oil capsules a day, plus various vitamins.
17) Have 'away food' options ready. Lunch away could be home-made granola with nuts, pack some cheese and it's a meal.

Best of luck to all. Those tired words, "If I can do it, you can do it" are true.