Just turned 50 what do you do to keep in shape? Diet?

I don't diet. When I turned 50 a year ago [just turned 51], I did an overall of the foods I had been eating and pay more attention to how my body reacts to the foods I do eat; I enter my foods on MFP, and I keep myself active whether it be at the gym, kayaking or taking long walks on weekends. I've integrated more vegetarian meals during the week although if I want a burger or steak, that's what I'm having. We all know that as we get older, our bodies don't burn the calories as fast as they used to so finding a proper balance between being active and food intake is key.

Nice reading this thread today felt low and sad about not being able to budge this wt this gave me renewed optimism. I am 52 yrs and all the suggestion point towards careful logging and calorie counting as the key factor.

53 and another echo for no dieting - just watching what I eat and not cutting out anything. Tried many things along the way, low fat/ high carb, low glycemic, ridiculous amounts of exercise - they were all just temporary and the weight comes back. This time I'm still drinking beer - good beer mind! And I have an exercise schedule that is reasonable, lifting, running, biking, yoga, walking - it all keeps you fit.

One thing though - don't beat yourself up if you have a day where you can't stay the course. Pick yourself up and start fresh the next day. Too easy to throw your hands in the air and say" I can't do this!"

Good luck.

Happy 50. I turned 50 earlier this year.

For me, 80% of weight loss / weight control is calorie intake, calorie tracking and limiting the overly processed foods such as the white breads and other carbs / sugars.

For me, the other 20% is getting out and getting some exercise each day.

Good luck to you and feel free to include me as a friend if you would like.

Welcome to the 50 club! I joined earlier this year too. We get better as we age, like fine wine. :-)

I've done just about all the fads and diet plans and lifestyle choices there are. Maybe I missed a few but.....
- Weight Watchers: Worked for me, loved the program, hated paying money to lose weight, quit and rejoined multiple times, gained it all back plus some. My fault.
- Low Carb: Did great for a month or so then hated the food choices and literally felt sick to my stomach at the thought of one more piece of meat or egg. I'm a picky eater. LOL
- Fluid Diet: Early 80's. The thing to do was only intake fluid. It didn't matter what the fluid was. But no solids. Wow. Can't believe I even tried it. So unhealthy. Too young and dumb to figure that out I guess.
- Low Fat: Blah...........
- Sugar Free just about everything: Blah and after taste is horrible.....
- Wrapped myself up in cellophane: Yes, I did this. In the 80's when it was the thing to do. I wrustled when I walked.
- Moon Suit: Yep, did that too. LOL

Calorie Counting: This is where I am now and have been in the past at times and yes, it does work. At least for me. I set my limit for the day based on my doctor's recommendation and I get to it or very close to it every day. I feel full, satisfied, not like I'm suffering or not a part of the group. I plan ahead when possible for treats or a night out for dinner or a party with foods. When I can't, I eat sensibly and watch my portions and then do my best to log it all to see the damage.

I don't beat myself up anymore. By doing this, I've learned to 'live'. I just live better than before. The weight is coming off at a slow, steady and HEALTHY pace at 1-1.5 lbs per week. This week I lost 2 pounds (was extremely active this past week) so that was a bonus. On weeks when it's just ounces I've lost, so what. It's ounces not on my backside anymore. I've learned to not be a slave to my scale. I feel it in my clothes more than the scale shows anyhow.

Everyone is different. I learned that the hard way too. Everyone gives good advice based on what works for them and I take it all in and end up doing what's best for me. There's no magic bullet. Weight loss is work like anything else worthwhile in life. But making it too much work sets me up to fail and that's why just simply counting calories, basic math here and this site, have made me more successful.

I love all of the advice you've been given so far here. Great people with great intentions and giving you their story and experiences. That's another thing about this site that is so fantastic and why I love it so much. We can all learn from each other and fit in what would work best for ourselves. Reading the boards has helped me tremendously as well. I never feel alone in how I'm feeling or doing on my plan.

This is a lifelong commitment for me to get healthy and lose weight. I realize looking back over my life that I've struggled with weight since my late teens with only a few years in my life after that where I was looking great and a healthy weight. Knowing this, I have come to the realization that for the rest of my life I have to watch my weight so I don't 'diet'. I choose to 'live' and make choices that will benefit me but also allow me to actually enjoy food without abusing food if that makes sense.

Good luck to you!!