Looking for others struggling with portion control and trouble finding motivation to work out.

lorissalobb
lorissalobb Posts: 4 Member
in Getting Started
I am turning 40 in September. I am married with an 18 year old son living with me. I am 5'9" and weigh 217 pounds. Unfortunately, I now have high blood pressure and am tsking pills to control my bp. Both of my parents died early from heart problems. I am seeking support to eat healthy portions and exercise frequently.

Replies

  • happyauntie2015
    happyauntie2015 Posts: 282 Member
    Feel free to add me
  • RainaProske
    RainaProske Posts: 636 Member
    I have already lost the weight; however, I did it without exercising, and now, I am paying for it. I thought I was real smart, going from 237 to 113 (today) without working out, but while I am certainly thinner, I am also very weak and can't exercise. I spend a lot of time in bed daily, I go out to get the shopping done, I don't have the strength to go to religious services, there's a great (seriously!) gym nearby that is free to senior citizens but I don't have the strength to go, . . and I am too young to be like this (67). Don't do THIS to yourself either!
  • piggysmalls333
    piggysmalls333 Posts: 450 Member
    Can you start with walking around the block? Also there are at home workout videos you can do at home but at your own pace and slowly build up as you get stronger.
  • RainaProske
    RainaProske Posts: 636 Member
    (If you, Piggy Smalls, are referring to me, these are good and workable ideas. Good night, I even have the videos -- I just didn't think about them. I admit, however, that I am a bit fearful of them, because I am wobbly and walk like I'm drunk. My balance is way off. At this point, I walk very slowly, but I have hope for HUGE improvement.)
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    lorissalobb wrote: »
    I am turning 40 in September. I am married with an 18 year old son living with me. I am 5'9" and weigh 217 pounds. Unfortunately, I now have high blood pressure and am tsking pills to control my bp. Both of my parents died early from heart problems. I am seeking support to eat healthy portions and exercise frequently.

    Don't rely on other people.

    Be true and honest to yourself. You deserve to treat yourself with care and respect.
  • Scotty_51
    Scotty_51 Posts: 15 Member
    First thing is cut out processed sugar, I was a huge, huge soda addict for 30 years, and once I stopped, my blood pressure dropped 10-15 points within a few weeks. The latest research shows sugar is worse for you BP than salt.
    Natural sugar in things like apples is perfectly ok to eat.

    I replaced sugar with protein shakes, and only drink water now, for me the key to water is it has to be ice cold, get something like a hydroflask and you'll always have ice cold water at the ready.
  • sugaraddict4321
    sugaraddict4321 Posts: 15,884 MFP Moderator
    Lorissa - You're in the right place. For weight loss, take it a day at a time. Learn to weigh your foods and log them accurately. Sometimes it helps to log what you're doing for a few weeks (not making any changes to what you eat) to see how much you're currently consuming. Then you can set a plan for a deficit. In terms of exercise, you don't need to run a marathon or deadlift 300 pounds yet. Start with walking and try to do that at least 15 minutes each day.

    Raina - If your balance is that bad, try doing some pilates and yoga at home and look up exercises to improve balance. Also see your doctor. It could be you have an electrolyte imbalance or other issue that needs to be addressed medically. Even though you've lost the weight, you still need to focus on nutrition especially at age 67. You probably lost a lot of muscle mass. Make sure you're getting enough of the right macros for your age. I don't know what those are exactly, but I do know that many older people don't eat enough protein and many women are deficient in calcium.
  • RainaProske
    RainaProske Posts: 636 Member
    Thank you, sugaraddict4. :) I am seeing doctors for this now and have real hope of getting better. I feel like I'm acting like a 97-year-old rather than a 67-year-old. I am working on getting to the bottom of it. Right now, many things are standing in the way -- like that I am presently refusing to drive until I get cataract surgery. Unnnhhhhh. :smile:
  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    @lorissalobb

    Welcome to MFP
    I recommend that you read MFP Most Helpful post , at the beginning of this message board. Here is a link
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/getting-started
    I concur with @Wellsuzie , using a food scale with a tare button is extremely important. It is the most important tool I have to control my body weight. Weigh all the food you ingest and log it at MFP. You need to manage the quantity (amount) of what you eat. If you eat too much food; even it is healthy food; you will not lose body weight. That is why the food scale is so important.
    If you eat at a deficit ( calories burned higher than calories ingested) , you will decrease your body weight.
    Physical activity is for fitness and health.
    Eating at a deficit is for losing body weight.
    I agree with @piggysmalls333 , you can start by walking around the block. It is better than sitting in the couch.
    Good luck in your healthy journey

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