Over 40 success stories -pics please!

I'm 52 and couldn't agree more with ar9179 - strength training that engages your stability muscles (i.e compound exercises like deadlifts, bench press, push-ups, lunges, squats etc.) are the way to go. It really makes a difference and I feel that I am reversing the natural loss of muscle that comes with aging and that awful "disappearing waist" feature of menopause. I was doing strength training before but kind of going through the motions. Getting older isn't for sissies - fortunately really pushing yourself is also kind of fun! I lost about 25 lbs last year and have about 25 to go - the food intake part is more challenging for me but I do find logging on MFP keeps be honest and gets me back on track. One of the big motivators for me is that I know I'm getting stronger but if I don't lose the rest of the weight the muscle definition will be felt by me but not particularly visible to anyone else (of course, it would be great to have both).

The photo on the left is not from the beginning (SW 244) but at 197 the photo on the right is pretty current at 150, I am 47 and 5'2".


I do cardio and body weight strength training.

I started my weight loss when I was 48.5, I am 5'10, started at about 220 lbs. MFP was a huge factor in my success of losing 60 pounds in 6 months, and then another 12 or so the following six months. Then maintenance, and slow loss of a few more pounds, a couple years until last fall, when I got to 145. I love walking, hiking, mountain biking--so most of my exercise until last fall was cardio and I guess biking does a bit of resistance to your body.

Last fall I started weight lifting, using a personal trainer (so no defined program). I was 52.5 years old. I realize now that out of my 75 pounds lost earlier, probably 30 pounds of that was likely muscle, the rest probably fat. I thought I was doing just fine, really, but wanted to be a stronger mountain bike rider, so weight lifting over the winter was a good path.

And I have to say, weight lifting was a game-changer. I can't believe how great it feels, and how much it benefits my body. It's so good for women (of my age) to increase bone mass/density; help my core strengthen; build muscle instead of watching the slow progression of loss--there's just no down side.

Lesson here: I wish I would've started weight lifting earlier. It's much harder to build muscle than it is to keep what you've got. I would've most likely lost the weight at a much slower rate, but I would've retained more muscle mass and baseline strength.

There are a number of great discussion threads and groups for weight training here; look at the Stronglifts 5x5 for Women, and the Eat, Train, Progress groups to get more information.

I don't have any "after" photos of my weight training, because this past winter I've been on a slow bulk in order to gain muscle strength and mass, so I won't post the "before". I've gained 10 pounds over the winter, and am just starting a "cut," where I am now in a caloric deficit. I probably won't be seeing a lot of strength gains this summer, but I'll be maintaining my strength through continued lifting (but probably not progressively heavier weights). I'll start in another bulk season starting this fall, and spend NEXT winter getting even stronger!

So these pics are just of my weight loss using cardio/biking, over the course of a year.

Starting: about 220 lbs, age 48.5:



Probably at about 150-ish, age 49:


Next fall, at age 53.5, I'll look even better once the cut/deficit helps me drop the fat and show more defined muscle!

I started at 372 pounds about a month before my 44th birthday last May. 11 months later I am down just over 80 pounds. I still have a lot to go – I figure anywhere between 120-150 more, will see once I get there.

Anyway, here are my "before" and "during" photos. I'm 5'8" tall and will be turning 45 in June. I figure it will take me another couple years to reach goal, but I am totally fine with that. Slow and steady wins! I'm not in a hurry.








Amy