Dieting in your 50's and 60's

No laxatives are necessary. I lost 32 lbs. just sticking to mfp's suggested calories (and using a food scale). I am 59. The only exercise I did was a daily one mile walk.

sijomial wrote: »

I'm 56 and losing weight is no different - just a calorie deficit and patience required.
If you are maintaining your weight then you may think you are at a deficit but that's highly unlikely.

Should I take a supplement, like colon cleanse tablets? Dieter's tea?

Absolutely not! Scams and potentially harmful.

Better ways to invest your money:
Digital food scale. (Weigh and don't use cups, or spoons, or estimates)
Good pair of walking or exercise shoes.

This. Weigh & track everything you eat/drink. Eat whe calories MFP calculates for you. Exercise for health, that's very important.

I was having issues before I got here and started tracking everything, especially with peri-menopausal binges and lack of control. Since I got here and started tracking everything I put in my mouth and my exercise, I've lost 4 pounds in about 2.5 weeks. It has taken me nearly two weeks to figure out my optimal calorie deficit goal (so many calculators give so many different answers), but I think I'm on track.

One of the best things I read recently was err on the high side when estimating your caloric intake (which I especially do when I can't measure because I'm out at a restaurant, etc) and on the low side when estimating your caloric burn from cardio/exercise. [ http://www.bodyforwife.com/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-to-lose-weight/ ]

Totally agree with others, if you are tracking/logging accurately, then you should be seeing results. Something isn't right somewhere, and it is likely your food estimates if you aren't measuring. Are you tracking all the drinks you have daily? Many are very high in calories if you are drinking anything other than water. Are the calories from your exercise accurate? If you are overestimating your activity, then if you eat back those calories, you may not be at a true deficit. Finally, if everything else is right, then try a tape measure rather than a scale. You might not show weight loss, but you could be losing inches. My tape measure is my back up to my scale, especially when the scale isn't moving.

Based on my current weight - I've gone back in time and I'm back to being 34 - cut my age in half. No magic pills - just stubborn adherence to a boring diet where I know exactly what I'm eating.

No pills or other junk. Do the scale and walking shoes. FYI my wife and I are 59 and lost 50 and 55 pounds last year. She's on a medication that your not supposed to be able to lose weight on. Just eat nutritionally rich foods and eat your calories, walk and eat back at most half your exercise. It works.

54 years old, lost almost 40 lbs in less than a year by counting every calorie in, and very best guessing (on the low side) exercise calories. Just because our basic burn drops as we age does not negate the truth of the CICO equation. We just have to be more accurate than 20 yos

how bad do you want it" do it.

I'm up around there. It's definitely harder that it used to be. You gain weight easier, you lose it slower. It's rough getting old! But we're also a lot smarter than we used to be. About ourselves and about the world both.

Original poster, weigh your food and count your calories and you'll lose weight. It still works, have faith.

I'm old (69), lazy, and self-indulgent, yet managed to lose over 60 pounds during the last few years. My progress has been slow but worthwhile, and I'm enjoying much better health. A basic food scale and inspiration from this website have been my secret weapons. Good luck to you.

I am new old guy 65 started mfp May 17. Lost 6 pounds in 20 days..have not once gone over caloric limit...I wish it would melt away faster but cannot walk much with arthritic disability. Hoping weight loss helps me and all of us!