Seeking 40s success stories

You most definitely can. Many will argue that it's not harder at this age....I think it was. But that's also because you are making a lifestyle change, so things are a little slower than if you were on some sort of fad diet. But MFP is riddled with people in their 40's and beyond making dramatic transformations and keeping it up years later.

Of course it's possible, it all comes down to the choices you make. I'm 42 and have been good livin' now going on four years...I'm leaner, healthier, and more fit than I was in my 20s. It's all about your choices and developing and nurturing healthy habits.

I'd recommend letting go of the "motivation" thing...motivation is a fleeting emotion and if that's all you're working with then it's never going to work. We all do things every single day for which we are not motivated to do...I'm rarely motivated to go out and mow the lawn or do the dishes or vacuum the house or clean the bathroom...but these things need doing or else my house would go to crap...so I do them...your body is your house...take care of your house!

As far as exercise goes, find something you enjoy doing rather than forcing yourself to do X because that's what seems appropriate...not that you're always going to want to do it, but if you're doing something you more or less enjoy you are going to be more inclined to do it and participate even when you're not really feeling it.

As eating goes, healthy/nutritious foods don't have to be bland or boring...I cook like a boss and the vast majority of what I prepare is highly nutritious as well as delicious...IMO, it's not difficult to eat nutritiously unless you're just boiling chicken and broccoli or other inane things people do because they think that's the only way to eat healthy. Eat a wide variety of fruits and veg prepared in a variety of ways...eat a variety of lean sourced protein prepared in a variety of ways...eat your whole grains and legumes and your good heart healthy fats from things like avocados and nuts and good cooking oils.

started at 47. lost 100 in roughly a year. been maintaining for nearly 3 now. totally doable.

I'll be 42 in August and I have done MFP before with success. What got me off it was the problems I was having which later were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When I had a rheumatologist tell me last year that I should just take 2 Tylenol at night and 2 in the morning, I got pissed. I ate almost 5,000 calories that day and quit trying. By December, I had some type of diagnosis that made sense and I recently was able to get my meds right so I can exercise again. In the last 3 months, I've lost 58 pounds and it's plainly because I care again. I think I now have more focus on my lifestyle changes and see that no matter what is going on in my life, being obese just makes things more difficult, not better. Hang in there, and if anyone needs some extra support, feel free to contact or friend me!

Entirely possible! I am 55, post-menopausal and hypothyroidism. I'm not done yet but have lost 62 lbs to date. Not every day (or week, or month) has been smooth sailing but keeping my goals in sight and recognizing small victories along the way keeps me going. You can do this!

thenananator wrote: »

I am 51 and the journey has been slow and I have quite literally had to work my a** off to get this weight to budge but budge it did and I am not looking back. You can do it! And I would also add, I sincerely hope you do because I wasted so many years "wishing" that I had my body back instead of taking it back then. DO IT NOW! FOR YOU!

I totally feel this way! All I did is WISH that I was thinner! I have started MFP 20 times with low daily calorie goal to get it off quick...obviously I went over every single day and felt guilty and eventually quit. I am 44 and this time around I am starting at 1800 calories per day, exercising moderately (as not to injure myself) but not eating back those calories and I have been under calorie goal every single day so far. My goal is 1 lb per week. It is an achievable goal right now. One day at a time!

[I recommend letting go of the "motivation" thing...motivation is a fleeting emotion and if that's all you're working with then it's never going to work. We all do things every single day for which we are not motivated to do...I'm rarely motivated to go out and mow the lawn or do the dishes or vacuum the house or clean the bathroom...but these things need doing or else my house would go to crap...so I do them...your body is your house...take care of your house!

Thanks for this! I think it was just what I needed to hear.

It absolutely is possible. I'm 45, hypothyroid, and have lost 56lbs (4 stone) since February last year - I reached my goal weight last month. It has not been a quick process, but slowly and steadily I've gone from a UK size 18-20 to a size 8-10 (I was never a size 8 when I was young and slim even!). It hasn't been easy. Like you, I've lost significant amounts of weight before and put it all (and more) back on. But this time round I feel more informed (I'd never counted calories before - it's been eye-opening!) and, because of the time, effort and perseverance it has taken, I feel far more motivated to maintain my weight now that I've done it. (I know it's been said that motivation is fleeting - but it really does help to keep reminding myself of how much I have changed, how much more I can do, and how much longer I'm going to be able to keep doing it, now that I'm fitter and healthier!). The key I think though, is that I haven't tried to make huge, maybe unsustainable, changes. Whatever you change needs to be able to be done for the rest of your life - this is the penny that has dropped for me. So, for example, no point in me trying to eat things that I don't like, exercise like a maniac, lose weight really quickly. Start small - be patient - keep going - in it for the long term! Good luck.

I'm 48 and am down about 30lbs through lots of running and being reasonable about what I eat. I'm still very much a work in progress (I'm still just in the obese BMI range at 30.3) but am happy with the progress I'm making.

Here's me at somewhere in excess of 240lbs (not sure how much as I avoided the scales in those days!):


And here's me after at 211lbs after my run this morning (which is my excuse for the state of my hair!):