Women over 40 success stories...
groovyreba
Posts: 72 Member
I need some motivation. I've totally lost mine. Between the stress I've been under and medications I've taken over the last year, I'm at my heaviest. I know I need to exercise, but I'm a cheapskate, so I don't want to spend money at the gym. Anyone lose weight with just walking and/or swimming in addition to diet changes?
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I've lost 22 lbs since March just walking and staying at a calorie deficit.
I'm still a work in progress with 50 or so lbs to go.
You can do it!
I just turned 44 yesterday.0 -
I lost 10 pounds in the last month and a half by eating mostly fish and veggies with the exception of a few major screw up days. I also don't want to join a gym yet. So I got a few TABATA and short HiiT apps to follow at home for exercising but haven't done them much. I also walk about 25 minutes a day. Hope that helps. HiiT stands for High Intesity Interval Training. I like the App Sworkit for a short body weight exercise application to follow. Research has shown that you burn fat faster with these programs. However most of my weight lose was due to calorie restriction and healthy eating. A major lifestyle change for me who use to live on bread and Pasta and hated fish. :-)0
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I've lost 44 pounds and 36 inches since March 17th. I was at my heaviest point ever and had become a bit of a recluse. I didn't want to even walk in public, let alone exercise for people to see. I'm not a gym person at all. So, I bought myself an exercise "bike" on Amazon for about $60. (It's not a true bike- just a base with pedals. There are many for sale on Amazon but you're better off getting a higher quality one. I read customer reviews and made my decision based on them.) Got myself a nice padded office chair, put the bike in front of it and started pedaling away! At first I could only do about 20 minutes at a snail's pace. Now I can easily do 2 HOURS at a very fast pace. I pedal 6 nights a week in a closed off room in my house. It WORKS!!! Now that the weight is coming off, and I'm not quite as embarrassed to exercise in public, every once in awhile I go for a brisk walk around my neighborhood (which has a few killer hills.) I bought some 4 pound hand weights that I take on the walks. But more often than not, I'm pedaling away in my mud room at home. I usually go on MFP or watch something on Netflix while I pedal because the time passes so quickly by that way. I went from dreading exercise to loving it and feeling kinda crappy if I don't do it. YOU can do it too! I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and didn't want to continue letting life pass me by. Don't let it pass you by! I have a bracelet that I wear ever day that is inscribed with "She believed she could so she did." Start believing!! And feel free to add me as a friend. Having lots of support is key.
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I've lost 50+ in the last two years by walking. I did change my eating habits as well. Cut out Cokes and other junk.0
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I'm 53 and I've lost 49 lbs since Jan. 6 by simply cutting my calories to 1200 a day and walking 2 miles a day. I use an app called Moves to track my walking. At first the walking just about killed me but now it's easy. It's very hard to lose weight but if I can do it, so can you. I still have 51 lbs to lose but I know I'll get there by sticking with MFP and my walks.0
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Thank you everyone! This is most motivating...0
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I'm 56 and lost 24lbs in 3 months here. I have trouble exercising due to chronic pain, bad knees etc... I use Leslie Sansone walking video(not as much as I should) and cut out all the soda and most of the junk food. I know that I need to step up on exercise. You can do this just don't give up. It may take longer for some of us to lose but we can do it!!!0
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I'm using fitnessblender.com . They have very cheap programs that you can use over and over again (10$ for an 8 week program) or you can just use any of their workouts for free. The programs are great if you don't want to have to plan things out for yourself. I've lost 35 pounds since January using their workouts (30 min, 5 day a week) and I turned 40 in March. I used exercise, portion control, and stopped snacking at night. Feeling so much better!!!0
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I'm 43 and I started working on my health several weeks ago -- at first, just doing a daily 15-minute walk, and five weeks ago, also a 1300-calorie diet. After a few weeks of walking in crappy shoes and being 100 pounds overweight, I had a stress fracture and plantar fasciitis in one of my feet. I've been in a walking boot ever since and unable to do any weight-bearing exercise. For the past three weeks I have been truly sedentary (I was told to walk on the boot minimally) other than doing stretches every day. And between the diet and the stretching, I've lost nearly 10 pounds in those three weeks, for a total of 17 pounds lost since the beginning of May. If I can lose weight with a giant boot on my foot, you can lose weight too!0
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I'm 53 and I've lost over 50 pounds and haven't set foot in the gym. I discovered hiking, luckily I live in a nice place with access to wilderness areas and I've found friends to hike with me. When I can't hike, I walk. Everyone's different, but for me to be stuck inside doing the treadmill or elliptical or whatever, would bore me. When I felt I needed something a little more "group oriented", I searched for boot camps on Amazon Local and Groupon. I found one for $39 for a whole month. I'm planning to do another one soon.
Good luck and don't get discouraged. It takes time and consistency, but it is SO WORTH IT!0 -
Unless you've suffered with chronic pain from a disease you have in your genes, you just don't get it! This is why I needed the motivation and support. Despite what the judgmental people here may think, I am not a lazy couch potato, so kindly step aside. Thanks so much to all of the others who are not judging me for my post. I appreciate very much your kind words of encouragement...0
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I have chronic joint pain. It isn't genetic or a disease it is just a lot of damage from years of life with horses. Today I took my black belt in aikido after 6 years of training. This is several years faster than the majority of people in my age group do so.
Sheer determination and hard work can get you through a lot more than you might think. Be it martial arts or just going for a walk around the block. Not judging, just saying don't be so quick to decide that you can't do it.0 -
I have arthritis in my knee and neck so I understand joint pain. It's very hard to exercise when your hurting0
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SomeGirlSomewhere wrote: »Don't mean to disappoint anyone, but this is very much the TRUTH:
Seriously someone flagged this, because it states the truth!?0 -
I am 45, and I've been trying to get below 180 lbs since 2008. I gained 20 lbs in one month when I quit smoking and I never lost it.0
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49, and lost 22 pounds since January. I swim....at first it was a quarter mile in anout 20 minutes. I had been sick and 16 laps was all I could manage. Now...I swim a half mile in 20, and have done 1.5 on a good day. I also walk and starting to run again. Ran 4 miles and was real proud of that as I hadn't done that since high s school. I count my gardening and farm work as calories burned. And mostly...I eat less and count those calories. The counting of calories has helped the most I think. It has taken several months to get where I eat a little under most days. Weekends are still hard...but I am getting it.0
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I'm 48 and I've lost 16 lbs (7.4 kg) since April 11, by CICO and walking.
I've averaged 8,600 steps a day for the past month, and am up to 10,000 the past week or so.
I usually don't eat many of my exercise calories back. The walking just makes me feel terrific and is a safety net in case I need extra calories.0 -
Hi, I am 51 and I have lost 85 lbs over the last 18 months, I have osteo arthritis in hands, hips and shoulders and the only exercise I do, is walk on my treadmill at home, most days, I try and walk four to five miles throughout the day, and stick to 1200-1500 calories a day, it comes off slowly, but you have a greater chance of it staying off.0
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I am 44. I have lost 52lbs since January.
i walk, iron, cook, clean, sweep, lift things that need lifting etc etc for exercise. I started doing exercise videos but prefer to get my exercise from doing what needs to be done. Ive actually saved money.
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starting .. again.. but this time I'm serious.. Have 21lbs to lose - and I want to do it healthily.. slow and steady wins the race.. this time I am determined to keep it off. I am looking for friends to give and receive support so please add me if you want to buddy up. From tomorrow I will be logging daily (its the only way it works for me).. x0
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I'm 56 and have chronic pain. A lot of pain in my left knee, as well as other issues. I am walking to Leslie Sansone's videos and usually I'm able to keep up. I try not to let the pain stop me. If I get swelling I tone it down. I feel so much better after completing a video both mentally and physically.
To date, I've lost 24lbs and would like to take off between 30-50 more. The last month I've been in a slump, so I know that I need to get more exercise in and maybe reevaluate my calories needed.
Thanks for sharing, it's all been inspiring for me.0 -
jaxgetshealthy wrote: »starting .. again.. but this time I'm serious.. Have 21lbs to lose - and I want to do it healthily.. slow and steady wins the race.. this time I am determined to keep it off. I am looking for friends to give and receive support so please add me if you want to buddy up. From tomorrow I will be logging daily (its the only way it works for me).. x
I am starting again as well. When I was 40-41 I lost over 30 lbs. I was eating 1200-1500 calories a day. I approximated my weight in high school, lost several dress sizes, and had that good problem of having to go shopping for clothes that didn't fall off. Now at 43 it's all come back, I'm the heaviest I've ever been, and I have this very rebellious gut! I think calorie restriction doesn't work well for all. Also I think my hormones changing has slowed my metabolism. I did go through a gourmet doughnut phase too, so that didn't help. Now I'm trying to do more body weight resistance training (also some bicep curls w/ 15 lbs). I'm kickboxing and yoga-ing 3-4 times a week. I'm also varying my carb intake. I was doing 100-150 carbs a day but am going to try to reduce to 80-100 range to see what that does (don't like that less than 50 grams ketosis thing, that made me feel weird). I've been really good for about 2 weeks and pants seem slightly less tight. Like jaxgetshealthy, I want to do it slow and steady, but am also impatient for some results!
Sorry to hear about the chronic pain, that must be tough. Feel free to MFP friend me if you want another buddy!
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I lost 120 lbs in 10 months and I am 47. I did have a trainer, but all my workouts were at home on a treadmill or with body weight. As I got smaller, I invested in home gym equipment. I agree, diet it so important. I log consistently and I meal prep every weekend. I have maintained my loss for a year. Good luck, you can add me if you want. It can be done.0
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Liftng4Lis wrote: »SomeGirlSomewhere wrote: »Don't mean to disappoint anyone, but this is very much the TRUTH:
Seriously someone flagged this, because it states the truth!?
I was wondering the same thing. This is the truth, I am living proof of this concept and I don't think the person that originally posted this meant anything other than what it states. You can't out train a bad diet. FACT. Good luck OP, you can do this no matter what age. Put your mind to it and MAKE it happen!!
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Thanks to everyone for sharing your great results. I am 49 ( 50 in December). I am motivated by your successes. My personal goal is to lose 50 for my 50th. I am down 5 lbs. So 45 to go.0
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I'm 56 and over the past few years have lost 4 stone by cutting calories and walking.
MFP really helps to keep you motivated and think about your nutrition and exercise. I use Mapmywalk each morning when I take the dog for a walk....make sure I do a mile at least and longer walks at the weekend. I've also started doing fitness videos off Youtube.....keep trying different ones til I find one I like.
Last year I went to a gym, but I find it easier and of course less expensive, just to walk every day and do a fitness video in the evening for about an hour.
For me the most important thing of all is to keep a positive mental attitude. I used to always give in thinking I couldn't do it and what was the point
However, every day I look at the success stories on here, I've added some very supportive friends and I've made it my priority in life to eat properly and exercise. It really does work! Once the pounds start to fall off it gives you the motivation to carry on!
Good luck! You can do it!0 -
I didn't notice any judgmental post? But to the OP it's really just math so of course you can lose weight with calorie reduction and walking/swimming as your primary exercise. I'm in better shape now than I have been in years and it's mostly cause I changed my nutrition and that's when I started to really get the results I wanted. I had always worked out but my nutrition wasn't always on point.0
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I'm in my 50s and have lost 47lbs total. The key has been cutting calories, measuring my food, eating a lot less. For exercise, I weight train, dance, do kickboxing and yoga.0
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You can do this, just tell yourself you are worth it, in 6 months do you want to be healthier and feel better or the same, or heavier??
I am 46 and had been very sedentary. In January something clicked and I started logging food and doing elliptical at home some and some work out videos about a4-5 days a week. I have lost 30 lbs and still want another 20 lbs to go. I realized if I want it, I need to make it happen. You have to make yourself get up and move a little more each day, try new things, I still don't love to exercise, but I need to do it. I have actually had a horrible cough for a few days and can't exercise because I start this horrible coughing, and I feel like a total lazy bum and hate it. I can't wait to feel better quit coughing and go for a walk.
My hobbies are sedentary, quilting, card making, things like that, but find a time make time to do active things. I saw a couple ladies at JoAnnes the other day (they were older, and looked like they had a lot of medical problems) but they were huge, were walking like zombies, and looked like they were there to pick up what they needed and weren't going to move again except when they had to. I really had this moment like, this isn't going to be me. I need to do this, make a change, be healthy, make good food choices, no one can make it happen but you. All these people are making it happen you can too. You are worth the effort.0
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