Ladies over 50!

13

Replies

  • Debmcd20
    Debmcd20 Posts: 3 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Mentally it can be easier to lose as we get older because we've lived with The weight longer, want to get rid of it more badly, know how to commit to a goal, are more aware of the health concerns, and just have more internal motivation. Forget all the chatter about whether or not it's harder. At my small fitness studio, I've earned a lot of respect from many younger people who've been bouncing up and down the same 10 pounds while I've dropped 120+.

    60 yo
    SW 301
    CW 178
    GW 150
    18 months

  • Debmcd20
    Debmcd20 Posts: 3 Member
    Congratulations on your amazing success. Will you share with us your story on how you started your journey and stayed committed? I am sure all of us know the fundamentals of good eating and the benefits of exercise, it is the "choosing" part that suffers for me. Your thoughts?
  • jenboye
    jenboye Posts: 1 Member
    Hi, everyone! I'm a return! I've been here before, but it was years ago (2). I've lost over 80lbs these past couple of years, but have gained 10 of it back :( Has anyone heard of the ketogenic diet before? I know it's used for epileptic children. I've done lots of research into it-- the pros and the cons. I started it last Saturday and I must say, it's working well for me so far. It's just so hard to wrap my head around all the fat one must consume to get the body to burn fat for fuel and not glucose (for me it's 69% of my total daily calories, the remaining are 26% protein and 5% carbs Oofda!). I have a scale that measures fat, water, muscle and bone density. I love it and right now, it's telling me that I've lost 1.2% of my fat. No lean muscle has been lost. I've lost a total of 4.5lbs (mostly water, I know) since Saturday ('tis now Wednesday). It seems to be working... so far. Any thoughts?
  • dia_nruf
    dia_nruf Posts: 112 Member
    Jenboye
    I am not familiar with the ketogenic diet but it sounds interesting. Please keep us updated with your progress.

    I'm thankful that today is just about over. Had to travel down to Boston for work and the traffic was a bear. It's like no one had ever driven in snow before. I had hoped to do my exercising outside but they still have not clear the snow off of the sidewalks so I road my stationary bike indoors. Hey at least I got some sort of exercise in.

    Hope everyone is having a great day
  • LeslieinOC
    LeslieinOC Posts: 14 Member
    Hi jenboy. I've been doing keto since mid December. I'm tweaking my macros to find what works best for me. I lost 2 lbs initially, but the scale hasn't moved up or down since. Except for a few days of eating sweets (my go to when I'm sad --my FIL passed away suddenly the day after Christmas), I've been doing well and feeling well. I think I was eating too much dairy initially. I'm only allowing 2 oz of cheese a day, plus 2T heavy cream in my coffee (will be cutting down each day to wean myself off). I also watched a video by Dr. Phinney on YouTube and added more leafy greens as a result. Anyway, good luck with keto!
  • dia_nruf
    dia_nruf Posts: 112 Member
    Happy New Year to all of you. May this new year be the best in our weight loss goals!
  • MsDonaB
    MsDonaB Posts: 8 Member
    Hi, all! Happy New Year! I am claiming 2016 as MY YEAR!! I'm currently 51 years old, and my weight has crept back up since I started having some health issues in March. I am 5'5" and right now am at 203 lbs. with a goal of 150 lbs. I am 100% an emotional/stress eater, and 2015 has been an extremely stressful year. The high point was that I did a half marathon in February (95% walking, 5% jogging), which was the most difficult physical thing I have ever done, but I completed it and got my bling! After that, it was straight to he**. I started having health issues, which still have not been totally resolved, but involve my pancreas. Then, on October 1st, my world was turned upside down when my husband of 31 years was diagnosed with Stage 2 colorectal cancer. Since then, he has been through 5 weeks of chemo and radiation, and we will be facing surgery within the next few weeks. To say the least, I have not been eating well or exercising at all. My goals for this year are:

    1. To be the best supporter and caregiver I can to my husband as he goes through surgery and the follow-up chemo & recovery.
    2. To treat myself better by eating a healthier diet (not striving for perfection, but definitely for major improvement)
    3. To treat myself better by getting at least 30 minutes of movement each day (starting with walking both at home and at work)
    4. To drink a minimum of 60 ounces of water per day (to some, that's not much but currently I don't drink water much at all)
    5. To use resources such as MFP and the boards to get encouragement and guidance

    I have to take care of myself in order to be able to take care of my husband!

    My MFP is set at 1300 calories per day (was originally at 1200 but I upped it for the first few weeks). While I love lifting weights and working out hard, I need to start out with walking and build back up - would love to get to the point where I could do CrossFit-style workouts again, and maybe do the half-marathon again in February of 2017 and better my time.

    Sorry for the long post, but I just happened on the boards again after a long absence, and decided I needed to put my thoughts and goals in writing! Wishing everyone a happy (and safe) New Year!

  • jb_2011
    jb_2011 Posts: 1,029 Member
    edited January 2016
    Happy New Year!! :grin:

    Welcome everyone new, we're all very fortunate to be a part of this community. :heart:

    January 1 Self-care notes:
    :| I admit I'm not immune to old habits.
    :* Thought I was out of the woods, but the truth is, I haven't really changed.
    :angry: I eat too much and I still snack like crazy at times.
    :( I became lazy with counting calories, and guess what? Yep. Weight gain.

    Therefore, TODAY I am accepting reality and letting myself ease into a serious mindset.

    The flame is a little dim, but it's still burning!

    jb o:)






  • snowbrocade8
    snowbrocade8 Posts: 19 Member
    jb_2011 wrote: »
    Happy New Year!! :grin:

    Welcome everyone new, we're all very fortunate to be a part of this community. :heart:

    January 1 Self-care notes:
    :| I admit I'm not immune to old habits.
    :* Thought I was out of the woods, but the truth is, I haven't really changed.
    :angry: I eat too much and I still snack like crazy at times.
    :( I became lazy with counting calories, and guess what? Yep. Weight gain.

    Therefore, TODAY I am accepting reality and letting myself ease into a serious mindset.

    The flame is a little dim, but it's still burning!

    jb o:)






    Great self analysis jb, I can relate. I struggle all the time with old habits!
  • snowbrocade8
    snowbrocade8 Posts: 19 Member
    Okay, I am back from visiting the folks and I did what I said I'd do which is keep track of what I eat which helped a lot I think.

    I ate a lot less than I usually do and am amazed at how many calories a holiday dinner with no extra helpings can be. Wow. No wonder I have had so much weight gain. It was really nice not to feel that "I really over-ate last night" feeling upon waking in the morning.

    And it all paid off. Amazingly I have not gained any weight! So overall I lost 6 lbs in December! That's with my birthday and the holidays. I feel so good about it, and it gives me hope for this year.

    So, I am sticking to the formula, a high nutrient shake for breakfast everyday. And count calories the rest of the time, eat what I want within calorie goal.

    Cheers everyone! Have a fantastic and successful New year!
  • jb_2011
    jb_2011 Posts: 1,029 Member
    Snowy, wow! Great report. :smile: Congrats on the 6 lbs for Dec!! It not only gives YOU hope for the future, it gives ME hope! Thanks, and Happy New Year!
  • dia_nruf
    dia_nruf Posts: 112 Member
    MsDonaB: Glad you found our group. Thanking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do to help yourself and your husband. I'm sorry to hear what he is going through. Hopefully this surgery and next round of chemotherapy and radiation is just what is needed to get him on the road back to good health. Let us know how we can be of support for you.

    Snow: I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday and have followed through with your desire to get back to your program. Wow on the great weight loss this past month!

    JB: Great self analysis. Glad your flame is still burning bright. Keep up with your goals and it will only get brighter.

    Today my husband and I started training for our up coming hikes this summer on the Appalachian Trail. I am hoping we will be able to get out for a minimum of 4 - five day hikes. Last year was the first time since I was in my late teens where I went on overnight hikes. I am really happy we chose to get back into it. I love to hike and boy do you burn a lot of calories doing it! What an added bonus.

    I hope everyone is having a great day.

    Beth
  • jb_2011
    jb_2011 Posts: 1,029 Member
    Good morning all.

    Just wanted to share my blog post from yesterday. I've been doing lots of thinking lately about the meaning of "success". I'm ready to move forward :)

    "Simple Success"

    In the dawn of a new year, I ask myself how serious I am about being successful. Am I willing to make a plan and really stick to it? Will I rejoice in the success of a daily routine and give myself a good pat on the back on a regular basis?

    Success is being happy with myself, proud of myself, and never forgetting that I have the ability to make changes that will last for the rest of my life. Success breeds more happy success. On the contrary, failure breeds contempt, disgust, hopelessness and, well, more failure.

    I have to choose which way I want my year to go. Pleasant and simple? Or disgruntled and struggling? I've seriously had enough of the latter. Can I moved towards simplicity instead of turning everything into an insanely complex ordeal?

    I have one hell of a time trying to work through some issues in life - it seems I look at certain things as incredibly difficult challenges which in turn causes me to doubt that I can ever achieve them.

    I'm reminding myself that success is actually quite simple.

    Hello 2016.

    jb in snowy Portland B)
  • dia_nruf
    dia_nruf Posts: 112 Member
    JB:
    Remember to just put one step in front of the other in the right direction and you shall succeed, no matter how small.
  • dia_nruf
    dia_nruf Posts: 112 Member
    Happy Tuesday everyone. Just checking in to see how everyone is doing? Are you on point with your goals or have you run into some snags? Let's share and give encouragement or praise where it is needed or deserved.

    My goal this month is to exercise 3-4 times per week. So far I am on point!

    Beth

  • Sweepypie
    Sweepypie Posts: 161 Member
    Please friend me as well. I'm a 58 year old grandmother raising one of my grandchildren, who's 7. We have great fun together. I don't have much of a social life as I am disabled by Arthritis. I must also lose as much as I can to help my poor joints. I started in November at 199.6 pounds. This scared me to action. Its not easy because I also battle long standing MDD. I now have lost 11 pounds. Not so much, but its a start!
    Hi I raised my eldest granddaughter from 2 months old! Now she is 32 in March and has a hubby and son of her own. I too am disabled with arthritis in nearly every joint! Plus I have high blood pressure and angina! I find it hard to exercise! B)
  • snowbrocade8
    snowbrocade8 Posts: 19 Member
    dia_nruf wrote: »
    Happy Tuesday everyone. Just checking in to see how everyone is doing? Are you on point with your goals or have you run into some snags? Let's share and give encouragement or praise where it is needed or deserved.

    My goal this month is to exercise 3-4 times per week. So far I am on point!

    Beth

    Hi Beth

    Congratulations on keeping yourself on point, great work!


    Thanks for checking in with us. I feel really good about having achieved my goal of losing a total of 10lbs over the five weeks I have been doing MFP, despite a few calorie dense days in the holidays.

    I feel hopeful for the first time in a long time that I may be on my way to a successful weight loss but also scared to feel hopeful because of that many times I have lost some weight then gained it back.

    Somehow in the past I would get derailed after a successful beginning and lose this feeling of commitment and control over my eating habits. I just don't want to disappoint myself again.

  • jb_2011
    jb_2011 Posts: 1,029 Member
    Snowy, the whole point of this exercise is not only losing weight, but learning how to maintain healthier eating habits for the rest of our lives. Try to look at it that way rather than just a temporary diet. But I totally get where you're coming from...I did disappoint myself by gaining a little weight back over the last 3 years, which has recently required some intense soul searching as to why I let it happen. I became lazy with counting calories, bottom line. I didn't want to accept the fact that keeping track was imperative. Got too big for my britches, as the saying goes, and now, yes indeed, my clothes are all too tight!

    I'm still down 45 pounds from my original start weight, so I'm grabbing onto the positives and working at pushing away negative thoughts like Fear and Doubt. Keeping a good mental attitude is so important. That's what I'm working on now - being happy with myself, staying on the positive side, congratulating myself for little successes, and even buying myself little gifts.

    I've been trying to figure this out for the longest time - I've come to the conclusion that I forget to like myself! I pay attention to everything and everyone else in my life, why not ME? At 61 years old I'm just learning this?? Ha. Ain't life grand. :smiley:

    Beth, thanks for checking in. I'm doing lots better. o:)

    jb

  • bcovely
    bcovely Posts: 57 Member
    I just turned 50 on Christmas. I was on the losing track, then gained 10 pounds back 2 years ago and just can't get motivated. Looking to lose 25 pounds....anyone interested in being friends, please feel free to friend me.
  • Canevagirl
    Canevagirl Posts: 2 Member
    Hello, I just started again on 1/4/16. I am 55 and want to lose 20 pounds. I am 5'4" 169. I need support to help me remain motivated.
  • snowbrocade8
    snowbrocade8 Posts: 19 Member
    Jb

    You are so right it is about habit change! And it is the old habits that scare me. . .

    Bcavel
    Welcome! Keep us posted on your progress

    Canevagirl welcome also!
  • EKBeeps
    EKBeeps Posts: 3 Member
    Hello everyone! Happy 2016! I will be 50 in May and have been struggling with my weight for a long time. (I was a skinny kid and very fit in the Army, but now 80# over weight) I am sick of being out of breath and out of shape. My boyfriend and I joined ed the gym but havent gone much. I want to really get active and eat healthier. I am pre-diabetic and have hypertension and high cholesterol. I always say that if I just lost weight I would get rid of my health problems......but can't seem to do it. It really is all in my head! I am a RN.....so know the consequences. Looking for new friends on here so we can support one another. Be strong everyone!
  • LeslieinOC
    LeslieinOC Posts: 14 Member
    dia_nruf wrote: »
    MsDonaB: Glad you found our group. Thanking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do to help yourself and your husband. I'm sorry to hear what he is going through. Hopefully this surgery and next round of chemotherapy and radiation is just what is needed to get him on the road back to good health. Let us know how we can be of support for you.

    Snow: I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday and have followed through with your desire to get back to your program. Wow on the great weight loss this past month!

    JB: Great self analysis. Glad your flame is still burning bright. Keep up with your goals and it will only get brighter.

    Today my husband and I started training for our up coming hikes this summer on the Appalachian Trail. I am hoping we will be able to get out for a minimum of 4 - five day hikes. Last year was the first time since I was in my late teens where I went on overnight hikes. I am really happy we chose to get back into it. I love to hike and boy do you burn a lot of calories doing it! What an added bonus.

    I hope everyone is having a great day.

    Beth

    Beth, will be interested in hearing about your hikes along the Appalachian trail. I'm planning an overnight hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back with my daughter and son-in-love for late Spring. We're also planning to walk the Camino De Santiago within 2 years. Big plans/dreams but it keeps me motivated and gives me goals to shoot for.
  • dia_nruf
    dia_nruf Posts: 112 Member
    LeslieinOC: It sounds like your up coming hike in the Grand Canyon will be great fun. Spring time should be beautiful and cooler than later in the year. When I lived out west in So. California I visited there many times but never hiked it.

    We live in Maine so we have been section hiking the AT in Maine or New Hampshire. Last year we spent most of our time hiking the 100 mile wilderness area. One important lesson we learned was grams = ounces = pounds and pounds = pain. The first hike I was outfitted with 35 pounds on my back. I was in pain and if it had not been the love of hiking I would never had tried it again. A blessing of having a zero day due to rain we would never had the opportunity to meet someone of the through hikers (Georgia to Maine) who wised is up about the new light weight equipment available. To give you an example the first backpack (empty) weighted 4.3 pounds. My new light weight backpack weights in at 26 ounces. Completely outfitted (food and water) I carry 20 - 22 pounds for a 6 day hike. If you would like more information about this topic let me know.

    My thought for today:
    I am in charge of me! I have the choice to make a good or bad decision. I choose today to make the best decisions I can for the situation I am in. I also choose to log my food correctly and exercise today.

    I hope everyone has a great day!

    Beth
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    Oh dia I will pick your brain about go-lite gear! Sounds like you are doing some wonderful hiking. I hike a lot too & would like to get into simple overnights without the kids.
    Welcome newbies.
    Are you guys interested in moving to a new thread over in challenges where we can keep checking in on each other all through the year? Just something to think about...
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    Yesterday I was back down to my lowest weight before Christmas but today I spiked back up. Looks like my weekly average will be 4/10ths of a pound over my last weeks, which is exactly what happened at Thanksgiving. I'll take it! I'm eating well & logging some good workouts which will show up on the scale about 2 weeks out in the future. I'm seeing that pattern in my stats consistently. Both good and bad behaviors take about two weeks to really come home to roost! Hahaha
  • EKBeeps
    EKBeeps Posts: 3 Member
    Keep up the hard work sister!!
  • macdrp22
    macdrp22 Posts: 2 Member
    I'm writing here for the first time because I ate three bags of M&Ms today. Haven't done this in a long time so I'm bummed. i'm 58 (what??) started on MFP a couple of years ago and have lost since then about 30 pounds. I'd like to lose about ten more which sounds so easy, but not! I've been having trouble for a few months in keeping the momentum going after meeting my first benchmark, so I'm happy for the support so I stay in forward motion.
  • wardshelia63
    wardshelia63 Posts: 5 Member
    dia_nruf,
    You are an inspiration to me. I see that there might be hope for me. I am currently at 215 and having really been trying hard only the past month or so. But I desperately want to lose my weight. I wish I could see some progress. Please tell me what you did or give me some pointers so I can lose weight too.

  • jb_2011
    jb_2011 Posts: 1,029 Member
    G'morning all. This was my first week back to a promise of logging & losing - I didn't do great but at least I paid attention. This morning all I want to do is borrow Beth's lightweight backpack and go out hiking with my dogs for a week. That would keep me out of trouble in the kitchen!

    35 years ago I carried a 70 lb pack while out trekking in the wilderness. Think Cheryl Strayed's "Wild". A couple of years ago I carried 15 lbs of weight in a little pack and nearly croaked hiking through a local park. Ha.

    Leslie, I'm envious of your Grand Canyon plan! What an incredible place. And Beth, great you're able to hike the AT, it must be beautiful.

    Welcome wardshelia, EKBeeps, macdrp, Canevagirl, bcovely, and sweepypie. I'm currently working to remove 20 lbs that "mysteriously" reappeared over the last 3 years! I'd originally lost 65 lbs. by logging everything I ate, walking a lot, and staying under goal. Felt so good but I eventually became lazy with logging. If I can offer any advice, it would be to Keep Logging. If you goof up one day and eat M&Ms or something, it's ok, just give yourself a good, solid pep talk and remain positive. If we let frustration rule our mindset, we often self-destruct. I think we need to look at it differently and praise ourselves for little bouts of progress.

    It takes lots of diligence and desire to do this. Treating ourselves with kindness is key. Easy for me to say, but not easy for me to do. Every day I pick myself back up and chisel away at it. Don't give up!

    Scolaris, you're absolutely right about good and bad behaviors, haha.

    Happy weekend, let's keep tabs on each other. :)

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