Losing weight after 40

Truecullers72
Truecullers72 Posts: 38 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone find it more difficult to lose weight, I am 43, about 5 years ago I lost about 55 pounds with weight watchers in about 6 months. So far with mfp it's going very slow. Anyone have this experience? Thanks for any input
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Replies

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited January 2016
    When I was younger, losing weight was easier because I had a more active lifestyle. Now I have a desk job and have to work at being active.

    Also, losing weight for me was easier in the spring and summer last year because there was more daylight - before and after work I gardened and otherwise spent more time outdoors and moving without having to work at it.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    No

    I found it much easier and sustainable
  • choppie70
    choppie70 Posts: 544 Member
    I am 45 and I have found it fairly easy to lose weight this time around. I tried to lose weight many times before, but since I started using MFP in late June I have lost 36 lbs.
  • colorfulcupcakes
    colorfulcupcakes Posts: 122 Member
    I'm like you, 41 and things are going much more slowly than 3 years ago when I lost 40 pounds in 6 months. There are various differences, like I'm taking a bc pill now, but really I don't know why it's harder now. This time I've lost 20 pounds in the last 12 months but hey, I'll take it. I'm just going to keep going, keep trying to improve.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    No

    I found it much easier and sustainable

    This.

    I lost weight "easily" in my twenties by crash dieting. Surprise, surprise, I put it back on.

    This time, I'm doing things in moderation, and sustainably. It's been a breeze, and a wonderful learning experience.

    29 kg lost since April 2015, and 4 kg to go. Then I'll be using MFP indefinitely to maintain.
  • grinning_chick
    grinning_chick Posts: 765 Member
    edited January 2016
    Now that I'm tracking calories, shooting for a livable number of them to take in every day, and not trying to change and/or do things I know are not sustainable indefinitely for me?

    Nope.

    In fact, so far I've been losing weight at a rate faster than I calculated for. Go figure.
  • Larissa_NY
    Larissa_NY Posts: 495 Member
    Only because I don't have an hour and a half to spend in the gym every morning anymore.
  • oocdc2
    oocdc2 Posts: 1,361 Member
    I'm 42. It took me the past year to lose 60 lbs., but I didn't mind: before last year any weight loss was a race. From now on, it's a journey. :)
  • Truecullers72
    Truecullers72 Posts: 38 Member
    Thanks so much for all your replies, I will try to add a bit more activity in my daily routine maybe that will help
  • bugseypimberton
    bugseypimberton Posts: 3 Member
    At 60 I find it moves slower, yes. I had to lower a calorie in take. On the up side, I find I don't have to exercise as long or as hard for results to add up. So its a mix.
  • bebeisfit
    bebeisfit Posts: 951 Member
    In my 20's and 30's I could lose 50 lbs in a few months. And always gained it back plus 10. At 41, it took about 6 years to lose 90 lbs. I'm 54 and have gained 25 of it back in the last 3 years and find it hard. But here's the thing. I used to run regularly and often spent more than an hour in the gym 5 days a week. I loved it! I also moved to the city where I walked to the train, ran for the bus and had loads of stairs. Our circumstances change. It's not that I'm 54 that it's hard. It's that I eat way too much (and not always the healthiest), and don't move my body enough.
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    Things to keep in mind:

    1. The more you have to lose the faster it will come off initially.
    2. Typically the younger you are, the faster your metabolism, so you'll burn calories faster.

    I'm 44 and have been using MFP for just over a year, losing 84 pounds. It came off at about 10 pounds/mo in the beginning, but now I'm losing around 4-5 pounds/month.
  • ldowdesw
    ldowdesw Posts: 222 Member
    Hi, I'm 42 and I feel it's more of a lifestyle change now. I'm currently 268lb however when I was 18 I attended meeting for a very low carb diet group and got down to 147lbs.. I had to work really hard back then and it was never in a million years going to be sustained, I've come to realise that as a mum, I take what I can when I can and put everyone else first. Changing my food choice has do be achieved now inline with my lifestyle and if that's means slow and steady, I'll take it. Well done on taking ownership for your weight and starting on this journey. To answer your question, yes it has slowed down but just go with it Hun and enjoy the ride. As long as the scales are heading in the right direction, you're doing great xx
  • doesthisappmakemelookfat
    doesthisappmakemelookfat Posts: 103 Member
    I think I'm smarter now, so I just can't bring myself to do the quick fixes like I used to. Slow and steady is the only way. Once I got that, it started coming off.
  • d_thomas02
    d_thomas02 Posts: 9,055 Member
    Everyone's Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) drops as they age. That means that I have to eat way fewer calories at 56 yr old to lose 10 lbs than I did when I was 25.

    That being said. No, I generally don't have trouble losing weight once I've put my mind to it. I've had plenty of practice with yo-yo dieting.

    This time my challenge is going to be keep it off for good. For me, that means portion control 24/7/365.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    Have you had your thyroid levels checked? An underactive thyroid can make weight loss more challenging. It's a simple blood test that's needed to determine if there's an issue there, and if there is, medication will level the playing field. ;)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    The BMR drop is not fixed in stone ...preserve and build muscle through a progressive resistance programme, move more to increase your TDEE and you can easily counteract the 100 cal per decade drop

    Jus' say in' :)
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    Nope. I'm 46 (almost 47) & I'm lighter and leaner (thank you, heavy lifting!) than I was in my 20s. I never had a weight problem or was a yo-yo/chronic dieter, though so my experience may be quite different than others. I always stayed in pretty good shape/weight due to active job. I ate whatever I wanted. But, pregnancy added some extra pounds and flabbiness. I have less time for me self now so I have a solid plan for working out and follow my deficit plan. I've lost over 18lbs and feel great! When I was younger, I used to go to the gym and aimlessly go from machine to machine. I can't over emphasize having a good plan. Consistency is the key. I've gone from 137-118.8 since Jan. 2015. Slow weight loss is good. I lost mine .5lb a week.
  • Bshmerlie
    Bshmerlie Posts: 1,026 Member
    I'm 46 and I have lost 80 pounds pretty easily. You'll lose it when you're ready.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    trn2bthin11 wrote: »
    Thanks so much for all your replies, I will try to add a bit more activity in my daily routine maybe that will help

    Using a FitBit motivates me to increase my activity, as does earning extra calories from exercise.
  • spzjlb
    spzjlb Posts: 599 Member
    edited January 2016
    I lost 30 lbs when I was 50 by using MFP to help monitor my calories in and expended. It went well but I was patient. I exercise HARD for about 30 min every day. I am in better shape and slimmer than I have ever been since high school. My BMI is now around 21.5 or so, but was in the overweight range (26-27, if I recall correctly) when I started MPF.

    We can look for all kinds of excuses such as slower metabolism as we age. On the flip side, now that I am older, my family is also more mature and I have more time to focus on my own fitness and diet.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    Every one else already made good comments. Just posting to say yes, I've done it as well. It's much easier when you recognize the truth about weight loss - CICO.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Found it easier in my 50's than any other time.
    Food labelling, calorie counting app, more science and less guesswork, more "me time" now the children don't need me to be their taxi driver.....
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  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    Not harder at all. I'm not as active in normal day to day life as I was when younger. Back then I moved a lot more because I had more to do lol and everyone I was around was also active. If I make sure I get up and move now, the weight falls off faster than it does if I go on cico alone (that's with eating back exercise calories too).
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    It's funny because I had convinced myself that it was a lot harder now that I'm in my 40's. I struggled a lot and it was slow going, if I lost anything at all. Once I found this app and started being diligent about weighing/logging, the weight just fell off. Of course it slowed down here and there, but...I lost 30lbs.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    I don't think it's harder. I'm 60 y/o, and have lost 60 pounds since April 2015 after being fat most of my life, and obese (per BMI definition) for at least 20 years. I've made a couple of other attempts to lose, and lost around 20 pounds (which I mostly regained), but haven't been a steady yo-yo dieter.

    For me, MFP has made a huge difference. It makes calorie counting, which used to be absurdly laborious, very simple and manageable. Instead of a guessing game, weight loss with MFP is like a science project (and I'm just that kind of nerd ;) ).

    It's also easier this time around because - after living with myself for 60 years - I know myself so much better: I know what my failings and weaknesses are, and how to maximize my strengths to accomplish goals.

    I've also found, very much to my surprise, that I burn more calories than MFP estimates for my age and sex. This, despite being hypothyroid, another situation that many people say limits their ability to lose weight. I've been pretty active for a dozen years, though, so may have a bit more muscle than many women my age - I don't know.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    It's funny because I had convinced myself that it was a lot harder now that I'm in my 40's. I struggled a lot and it was slow going, if I lost anything at all. Once I found this app and started being diligent about weighing/logging, the weight just fell off. Of course it slowed down here and there, but...I lost 30lbs.

    I can identify with this. I've been maintaining a while, so I have +\- 5 lb to lose what I get to the top of my range. In my mid-40s, what I had always done for that last 5 lb wasn't working. Wondered if it was age. Realized no, it is not age. I changed careers and was a lot less active. Same exercise, but less workday activity. Bought a food scale. Tightened up logging accuracy. Lost weight exactly as predicted. Try it and best of luck to you!
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    The BMR drop is not fixed in stone ...preserve and build muscle through a progressive resistance programme, move more to increase your TDEE and you can easily counteract the 100 cal per decade drop

    Jus' say in' :)

    Really good advice.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Nope. Hard work and dedication.

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