Is it true, when we get older it is hard to loss weight ?

13

Replies

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Chaelaz wrote: »
    Studies are still out on the effects of age on metabolic rate. It is still suggested that there is a decrease in MR with aging, but there are so many other factors to sort through it still is NOT clear if it is age - contributing factors cited are overall decrease in TDEE (sedentary jobs, less active lifestyle, etc), decreased metabolic efficiency from up and down weight dieting, apt to less portion control, etc.

    While all those are true, you know what I've found that makes losing weight easier at 52 than it did when I was younger?

    A better knowledge of myself, better ability to sniff out bs, and better ability to focus on things that don't give instant gratification.

    Weight loss is unquestionably slower losing weight at this age, but I don't really care about that. My head's more in the game, and I find that trumps all the other factors.

  • dalem48
    dalem48 Posts: 86 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    No :| Especially if you're trying to lose weight the right way.

    GREAT answer!! :)
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,857 Member
    Not sure. I had no problem losing weight. I'm 41, but I have a good set of muscles that keep my metabolism going and that need a fair amount of calories. Hey, based on age, length, gender and weight my maintenance calories should be below 1600. I'm currently eating 1900kcal and am still losing weight slightly. Cool!
  • betuel75
    betuel75 Posts: 776 Member
    Nope, just as easy as when i was 18...
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    I hope not.
    My theory is that it just appears this way due to lifestyle factors: stress, lack of sleep, or higher levels of inactivity.
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    Easier for me at 40 than losing pregnancy weight at 26. Mentally it's a lot easier as I know myself better and have clearer goals.
  • jim180155
    jim180155 Posts: 769 Member
    24 is not older. Neither is 34. I'd be pretty happy with 44 or even 54. But I'm 61. And losing weight is definitely harder now than it was ten, twenty, or forty years ago. Still, I've lost about 45 pounds so far and I'm down to about 13% body fat. I'm going to lose a bit more fat and then start bulking, adding muscle where fat used to be.

    It doesn't matter how old you are. You still have only one body to work with, and you'll either reap the rewards or pay the penalty for getting in shape or deciding it's all just too much effort. It may get tougher as we age, but the commitment to improve is within our power, no matter the years.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    edited May 2015
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    The reason you will find it harder is lifestyle

    Your activity rate is lower than when you were a teen

    Fix that

    This is absolutely, 100 percent not true as a blanket statement. I am 55 and my activity level is about the same. I started hiking, backpacking, kayaking and cross-country skiing in my 30s and 40s. Never did any of that as a teen. Did other things as a teen that I don't do now (dancing, among others), so I believe it evens out.

    It is TRUE that is becomes harder to lose as you get older...but usually not until after 45-50!
  • nikkib0103
    nikkib0103 Posts: 969 Member
    I don't know. I am having the best success of my dieting life right now at 51. I have lost 34 pounds (24 with MFP) since early January. I once lost 38 pounds on Jenny Craig when I was 28 but it took me close to 9 months to do it. I was expecting a hellish time because now I am "older" but it has been simpler and easier than it has ever been, even with perimenopause making its presence known. Now, maybe I have a tapeworm or some dread disease but all I know is that I have been consistently losing weight. I am not feeling miserable, deprived or discouraged. This is NOT normal, I say! NOT normal. So I guess the answer is It Depends. OP, you are 24. I assume you mean that you are deciding to get a grip on your weight now when you are young and your skin will bounce back better than wait until you are crepey and there's so much going on in your life you can never focus on you. If that is the case, go on with your bad self and do it now. If you think YOU are now "older" then I am feeling very inclined to snarl at you. YOU are only old to a 12 year old.
  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    nikkib0103 wrote: »
    I don't know. I am having the best success of my dieting life right now at 51. I have lost 34 pounds (24 with MFP) since early January. I once lost 38 pounds on Jenny Craig when I was 28 but it took me close to 9 months to do it. I was expecting a hellish time because now I am "older" but it has been simpler and easier than it has ever been, even with perimenopause making its presence known. Now, maybe I have a tapeworm or some dread disease but all I know is that I have been consistently losing weight. I am not feeling miserable, deprived or discouraged. This is NOT normal, I say! NOT normal. So I guess the answer is It Depends. OP, you are 24. I assume you mean that you are deciding to get a grip on your weight now when you are young and your skin will bounce back better than wait until you are crepey and there's so much going on in your life you can never focus on you. If that is the case, go on with your bad self and do it now. If you think YOU are now "older" then I am feeling very inclined to snarl at you. YOU are only old to a 12 year old.

    lol

    918505_1345752440962_400_300.jpg
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,474 Member
    nurumirarashid wrote: »
    24 is a big number i guess

    Are you 24 years old? And you're asking this question?

    When they say that it is harder to lose weight when you get older, they are generally referring to a time when you're in your 70s or 80s or 90s and start to lose some of your mobility. Not when you hit 24!

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    GreenIceFloes wrote: »
    Come on. Seriously? You can rest easy for another couple of decades.

    This made me laugh!
  • lauracups
    lauracups Posts: 533 Member
    Almost 46 here. .someone gimme a walker to hobble over to the scale; ) There are challenges that come with losing when older, but it's not impossible.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I'm 53, lost 44 pounds the year before last, and have been maintaining for over a year now. It was difficult for me at all, and it is not difficult maintaining. I made it a habit to weigh food, log food and exercise calories, I use a heart rate monitor to guesstimate burns (this has been more accurate for me than any other source), and I try to stay on track. When I do overdo food, I don't beat myself up, and I have learned to love myself no matter what.

    This is the first time in my life that I have been within a healthy weight range (The last 15 years, I was overweight, before that I was obese), and maintained the same weight range for this long (before it was a yo-yo of ten to twenty pounds and NO that was not natural fluctuation).

    I must say I'm pretty darned proud of myself for losing all of my weight in my 50's. I don't ever want to find that weight again because I feel fantastic!
  • wolfeboro
    wolfeboro Posts: 1 Member
    This is all pretty funny. All the talk about being old in peoples' late 20s. Ha! I'm 62 and in a weight loss/fitness program using My Fitness Pal as the daily food tracker. I am steadily losing 1 pound per week. I have lost 16 vs a goal of 30 lbs. I can go for long, tough bike rides on my new road bike or my mountain bike. I can work on an elliptical for 40-50 minutes with my heartbeat in the 160 to 170 range. Then lift weights, something I am working on to bump weight and reps. I do Pilates (a BIG help) 2x per week. I skied hard and fast this winter on new race skis. oh, did I mention I have a hip replacement from 2 years ago? So DON'T WHINE about slower metabolism or getting older. Those are just excuses. I know, I've been there. Just do the work and eat the right amounts and nutrients and do it all consistently. Be determined, be disciplined, be proud, and be real!
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I'm 60 and I lost 24% of my original body weight just fine. No excuses!
  • othernanny
    othernanny Posts: 6 Member
    24, Seriously. I am 63 this year and have managed to lose over 30 kilos in the last 18 months by exercising and changing my eating habits and logging everything. I ate for comfort after my husband died but realised that I still had a lot of life to live. 24 IS NOT OLD.
  • wyceta
    wyceta Posts: 2 Member
    I remember struggling to lose weight when I was younger. Now at 41 yrs old I am losing weight at a steady pace. After 10 weeks doing FocusT25, I lost 18 lbs. Quick, hard workouts! Also, I aim to eat more fresh veggies, protein, and drink lots of water! Age is NOT an excuse. Get your eating habits together and workout. That works for any age!
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited May 2015
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    kaitcxlv wrote: »
    Actually, a persons basal metabolic rate (The energy used for your bodies basic functions) decreases 2-4% every ten years after the age of 20. Realistically for people in our age range its negligible, but it will add up eventually.

    Umm it really doesn't add up to that much

    About 100 cals per decade

    Which you can offset with resistance exercise to preserve / build your musculature

    It's just another excuse

    For sure, lots of excuses out there. I'm 59 BTW.

  • EricNewark
    EricNewark Posts: 295 Member
    I'm 45 and lost 40 pounds since November with moderate exercise (mainly walking / jogging) and watching what I eat (eating more, just healthier).

    Can I exercise like I could when I was 20? No.. Has it slowed me down? I put all my weight on when I was younger, so I'd say no.

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