Over 40 - easier to put on and harder to shift!

Hi I'm Helen mid 40's working mum of 2 from UK.

I have about 60lb to lose, been gradually putting it on over the last 9 years. Spent my teenage years and 20's around 130lb and never need to worry about my weight, finding it had to stay on track.

My fitness aim is to be able to run 5k none stop and build up from there.

Feel free to add me.

I'm in. I does get harder to get it off for women over 40. Sucks but true. I'm a trainer and I deal with many women with the same issue. I poped up 73 pounds after 50 and then I had to work towards geting rid of the weight. It can be done. Your friends at MFP are here to encourage you through the process.

I don't believe "over 40" means automatic and easier weight gain. Nor do I believe "over 40" makes weight loss more difficult.

What I do believe is that priorities shift. In my earlier years, because my priorities were different, it was easier to stay active and be healthier. Then my priorities changed. Away from health, fitness and having fun to marriage, family, career and other "group up" matters. Fitness, exercise, diet and "taking care of myself" got pushed to the back burner, and I reaped the consequences.

At age 50, I decided to change my priorities. I made a conscience decision make my health, fitness and well-being a priority once again. This shift in priorities does mean every thing else takes a back burner. It just means that I have made some simple changes, like taking an evening walk instead of watching TV, bringing my lunch from home instead of grabbing fast food during the lunch hour, getting up a little bit earlier for a morning workout instead of staying up late on the computer (ok, I still have trouble with that one - thanks MFP).

But once I adjusted my priorities, the weight started coming off and I started to feel better about myself - much better.

The only thing about "over 40" that may make things difficult is being "set in my ways" and being reluctant to make the necessary changes and putting in the necessary effort. But that really has nothing to do with age and everything to do with attitude.

Don't use your age (or anything) else as an excuse or reason why can't do something, especially get healthier.

I'm 41 and realized recently my 30s were a total write off when I decided to not care about fitness, etc. as I had all my life. I shifted the weight last year after I turned 40 and it wasn't that hard really. Yes it's easy to put it on, I gain 9 lb over the summer but I don't think it was just as easy as in my 30s.

the only difference is that I have different priorities that take up my time such as a child I had to entertain over the summer. Now he's back in school I'm back on the healthy train.

When I decided to make this change I figured it would be easier to do it now that in 10 years. As the above poster wrote don't use your age as an excuse. It's easy to gain and hard to lose at any age. Just keep at it and it will happen

I'm 60 and have been exercising vigorously almost every day for years.

The sad thing is that if I slack off on carefully watching my diet, I'll gain weight. And, when I go back to counting calories and sticking to my goal, my body fights the weight loss.

Back in my 40's when I stuck to a calorie counting and exercise regiment, it seemed that the weight flew off.

No more.

I started gaining weight about age 48. I am currently 52.

It's more than just age. It is being female - sorry guys, it DOES make a difference - and soon, for you, peri-menopausal. Your body simply doesn't burn the calories like it used to!

It will take time, but you can figure out what works for you. Good Luck!

per http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

BMR for a 25yo female 5'4" weighing 140# - 1447.3
40yo female 5'4" weighing 140# - 1376.8
50yo female 5'4" weighing 140# - 1329.8

So the difference between in metabolic rates for a 25yo woman and a 40yo woman is 70.5 calories/day. That's less than 6 calories per waking hour. Metabolic rates for the same woman at age 25 and 50 is only 117.5, or 10 calories per waking hour.

If the metabolic rate has not changed significantly as a woman ages, what causes that weight gain? Again, I say it is lifestyle choices, not biology or age.

I've just had my 49th Birthday and I am determined not to be fat and 50 next year so, I started the 5;2 diet which has gone well but my weight has stalled and I have had no loss for two weeks and getting a bit frustrated. I signed up here after a friend recommended it. My meal plan is public so feel free to have a look and give advice. I have another 15-20 Lb to lose and my failing is sugar

I turned 41 a few months ago, and I did not notice any significant change in metabolism when I turned 40 or 41. I did notice a slow and gradual decrease in metabolism over the past 20 years, but it wasn't major...I probably burn 100-200 fewer calories per day at the same activity level than I did 20 years ago. Enough to make a difference in the long term, but not a huge difference on a daily basis. Also, I find it more difficult to achieve the same activity level that felt natural 20 years ago, but I feel that has less to do with age than with habit...going to school fulltime while working fulltime for the past few years has left little time for fitness.