We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
40 year old women and older who has lost 40 or more lbs - HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO IT???
Replies
-
I just turned 58 a few days ago. I have lost 51 lbs, quickly ? Not by any means but what matters is, I did. CICO. Once I learned portion control and that feeling stuffed was not normal the journey was enjoyable each and every pound. Small goals help too. A lb a week or less was fine versus thinking I need to lose 50 lbs ???? At first my goal was to lose 40 lbs, never dreamed that would happen. And here I am. I still laugh thinking about my husband rolling his eyes every time I brought out the food scale in the beginning. That stopped when he saw my progress.
LOL, at the hubby laughing, I totally can relate. My DH laughed and always shook his head when I started this journey everytime I weighed my food. He would make a big joke about it being another diet phase that I would soon fail at (as he witnessed so many times throughout our marriage)...but nowadays, he looks at me with pride and now encourages me to keep going 5 -
LOL, at the hubby laughing, I totally can relate. My DH laughed and always shook his head when I started this journey everytime I weighed my food. He would make a big joke about it being another diet phase that I would soon fail at (as he witnessed so many times throughout our marriage)...but nowadays, he looks at me with pride and now encourages me to keep going
How great!!!!2 -
For the first time in my life I joined a running group. Its the "beginners" group but all of them could run for 40 minutes without stopping. The lady I ran beside said she has grown up children who had left home so lets say she's 40+. She had lost 10kgs over 14 months and now has kept her weight steady. She looked beautiful, fit, glowing and slim.
1 -
Question for everyone. For the first 3 weeks I worked so hard at the gym and counted every calorie. I also made them healthy calories. In that time I lost only 2lbs. Measuring showed approximately 1cm lost on hips, waist and bust.
Did anyone else find it slow at the start? I hate to perpetuate the cliches but it did used to melt away for me in my 20s and even 30s. Maybe my lifestyle was more active?2 -
bump0
-
Hi, I'm 57 years old, and have been "dieting" and going to the gym most of my 40's and never lost a pound. Then I gave up meat recently, continued working out, but mainly changed what i think about food. I no longer diet or deprive myself from what i want. Food is my fuel, not my comfort. I try to eat clean most every day and 90% organic. And really watched my portion control. I log everything. I wear an UP fitness band to help me. I recently incorporated kettle bells into my 3 day a week workout rotating 2 min. cardio, 2 min weight training for 30-45 minutes, and have lost 24 pounds so far. I have a long way to go, but at my age, I knew it would take some time and patience. I feel the best i have in my life!8
-
I am 58 years old and have lost 49 lbs in just a week short of a year. I did it by logging my calories every day even if I go over my limit and by trying to be as honest as I can with myself. I want to lose 51 more pounds. Keep trying and it will happen for you.4
-
I turn 45 in a few days and I've lost 98lbs. I did it by removing motivation from the equation. I went to the gym and stuck to my calories whether I felt like it or not. I changed my mindset. I can't spend all money, even if I really want something. I looked at my intake the same way. I have to budget for it. If I didn't feel like going to the gym, I went, just like I have to go to work. This has made it so much easier for me.12
-
MissusMoon wrote: »I turn 45 in a few days and I've lost 98lbs. I did it by removing motivation from the equation. I went to the gym and stuck to my calories whether I felt like it or not. I changed my mindset. I can't spend all money, even if I really want something. I looked at my intake the same way. I have to budget for it. If I didn't feel like going to the gym, I went, just like I have to go to work. This has made it so much easier for me.
Great outlook and I see that it works for you.2 -
donnalangilledl wrote: »I am 58 years old and have lost 49 lbs in just a week short of a year. I did it by logging my calories every day even if I go over my limit and by trying to be as honest as I can with myself. I want to lose 51 more pounds. Keep trying and it will happen for you.
Thanks....I am 'finally' on the right track....1 -
LOL, at the hubby laughing, I totally can relate. My DH laughed and always shook his head when I started this journey everytime I weighed my food. He would make a big joke about it being another diet phase that I would soon fail at (as he witnessed so many times throughout our marriage)...but nowadays, he looks at me with pride and now encourages me to keep going
When I first started weighing my food my teenage boys laughed at my weighing my meat, lol. 70 pounds later they are my biggest support. If I eat something they say now you have to log that. If we are out and I am trying to decide between 2 meals they ask do you have the calories for it. My husband even weighs my food or writes down serving sizes for me when he cooks.
It took time for them to see that I serious but now they are my best cheerleaders. You can lose weight in your 40's, it just takes dedication.10 -
I'm 47 and have lost 45 pounds in the last 15 months. I know it can be a controversial topic but what worked for me after many failed attempts was limiting carbs/sugar. I learned that is the easiest way to both manage my cravings and appetite, not to mention it allows me to operate on less sleep, have way more energy and even feel better mentally. I still believe it all boils down to CICO - because science - but how you go about those calories is a really individual matter. I am a sugar fiend, therefore I have to severely limit it; some people can easily go without. I do use some artificial sweeteners like Splenda in coffee and the occasional Diet Coke, but the more water I can force down the fuller I stay and the quicker the weight comes off.5
-
Thankyou so much for the advice and real life success stories. I am a sugar fiend as well. I notice on MFP I am regulalry over my sugar level early in the day so that's one to look at.0
-
Thankyou so much for the advice and real life success stories. I am a sugar fiend as well. I notice on MFP I am regulalry over my sugar level early in the day so that's one to look at.
The MFP default sugar goal can be silly, unless you have a medical reason to control sugar. It measures sugar from all sources, not just added sugar.
While I was losing weight, I went over my MFP default sugar goal every day, when the only added sugar I ate all day was some concentrated fruit juice (not even the top item on the ingredients list) in a 30-calorie single tablespoon of all-fruit spread.
Then where was all that "evil" sugar coming from? It came from 2-3 daily servings of whole fruit, and sugar that's inherent in no-sugar-added dairy products. My solution was to drop the sugar column from my MFP diary, replacing it with fiber, something more important for me to track.
I can see the point of the sugar column if you have a medical reason to control total sugar, or are using it thoughtfully as a tool to reduce added sugar, or find a low-carb diet easier to stick with, or some such thing . . . but absent those kinds of reasons, it's not particularly useful, IMO. Eating "all that sugar" didn't prevent my losing 60+ pounds and reaching a weight I hadn't see since 30+ years ago.5 -
Hi there, 45 here, and lost 80 lbs. Feel free to add! 2
-
-
The MFP default sugar goal can be silly, unless you have a medical reason to control sugar. It measures sugar from all sources, not just added sugar.
While I was losing weight, I went over my MFP default sugar goal every day, when the only added sugar I ate all day was some concentrated fruit juice (not even the top item on the ingredients list) in a 30-calorie single tablespoon of all-fruit spread.
Then where was all that "evil" sugar coming from? It came from 2-3 daily servings of whole fruit, and sugar that's inherent in no-sugar-added dairy products. My solution was to drop the sugar column from my MFP diary, replacing it with fiber, something more important for me to track.
I can see the point of the sugar column if you have a medical reason to control total sugar, or are using it thoughtfully as a tool to reduce added sugar, or find a low-carb diet easier to stick with, or some such thing . . . but absent those kinds of reasons, it's not particularly useful, IMO. Eating "all that sugar" didn't prevent my losing 60+ pounds and reaching a weight I hadn't see since 30+ years ago.
Very insightful...thanks for your response.0 -
I read a lot of articles about being mentally ready to lose weight and stopped making excuses (too busy, too tired, too hard). I read up on what the MFP "diet" was and the whole calorie deficit finally made sense. I'm just now at 25lbs lost. I literally used the out of the box MFP formula, got 1250 calories to manage to every day. I was shocked at how few that was, but did some meal planning and figured out how to make that work. I make sure I walk the dog 2x per day and I eat back some (if not all) of my exercise calories. I'm still pretty new at this, but the hardest part BY FAR has been dealing with the stuff in my head--not what's on my plate.8
-
I'm nearly 41, and I've lost 60lb. I cleaned up my diet (no sugar, no wheat, nothing processed), worked on portion size, managed to overcome a binge eating disorder, but the last 2/3 of that weight loss came from daily exercise, 45 minutes, cardio & strength training.
For context, I also have chronic health problems, PCOS (which makes weight loss harder) & fibromyalgia (which makes exercise harder). So if I can do it, I think anyone can!
I'm not quite at GW, but I think I'm fighting vanity pounds at this point. I'm 5'10" and weigh 150lb.4 -
trudiebamford wrote: »I'm nearly 41, and I've lost 60lb. I cleaned up my diet (no sugar, no wheat, nothing processed), worked on portion size, managed to overcome a binge eating disorder, but the last 2/3 of that weight loss came from daily exercise, 45 minutes, cardio & strength training.
For context, I also have chronic health problems, PCOS (which makes weight loss harder) & fibromyalgia (which makes exercise harder). So if I can do it, I think anyone can!
I'm not quite at GW, but I think I'm fighting vanity pounds at this point. I'm 5'10" and weigh 150lb.
Wow, good for you. You aren't letting any ailments stand in the way of your goal.... Kudos for you. I really have no excuse now.0 -
Thank you!! I think it really helped that my motivation was to FEEL better. Looking better was just a byproduct. That meant that I got positive reinforcement all along the journey, as I gradually recovered my health.3
-
This content has been removed.
-
Trixiegirl66 wrote: »I started to get serious about losing the 40 pounds that refused to budge after my fourth child was born in 2006. I for one do not abide by the CICO myth - I spent the greater part of the past decade buying into this mindset, and all that I lost (and repeatedly gained right back) was five pounds.
After reading a great deal, I decided to eat instinctively, walk five times a week and lift very heavy weights - since my 50th birthday on the 14th of June, I have dropped from 168 to 139 and have lost over 12 inches. More importantly, I feel as great as I did in my 30s, and have gained significant muscle mass.
So while I know it is an unpopular viewpoint, please reconsider the whole CICO mindset - for one can eat a highly processed and sodium/sugar/transfat nightmare of a diet and still meet the guidelines of CICO - I see food diaries that break my heart, and yet these naive dieters are being commended because hours of cardio allowed a deficit.
As a fifty year old woman with many friends in the same age bracket, I assure you that while CICO may work in the short term, the health of your organs, elasticity of your skin, brightness of your eyes and so many of the other signs of optimal health can only be gained by the quality of the food you ingest. I do log what I eat, but this is simply to keep myself accountable, as I do not like to go overboard with sweets. If I am honest, I only started to see real fat loss when I ignored the suggested 1200 caloric intake suggestion, and ate more on a daily basis.
I hope this helps - my diary is open and extremely honest if anyone wishes to see just how much I manage to eat. And think of this - American doctors all back the CICO theory, and we are one of the fattest nations on the planet.
@Trixiegirl66 Thanks for posting your story...and round of applause losing and keeping the weight off at 50!!!! I am one that hardheartedly believes that the quality of food matters. I just don't believe that you have to give up everything you love, just to be fit. However, I seek pleasure in finding healthier alternatives or enjoying some of the foods that I love on occasion. I used to do 1200 calories and I ate back exercise calories...and I gained most of the weight back b/c I went to my old eating habits. I'm learning that I can't focus so much on the results....that I need to focus more on making better choices - like building my strength in the gym and going up on weights. Eating to fuel my body and treating it right by choosing food that shows my body that I love and care for it and not eat for pure enjoyment all the time. I try to keep my goal conscious and before I eat something, I ask myself, "is this going to get you closer to your goal?"
Lastly, I think I understand you about CICO, however I believe you still lost the weight because you burned more than you took in. But I think your focus was more on feeling better and you made good healthy food choices, and you became more active and YOU LIFT!!! WOOT WOOT FOR THE FEMALE LIFTERS.... I LIFT HEAVY TOO...I just got to clean my diet up....2 -
This content has been removed.
-
Trixiegirl66 wrote: »Thanks for posting your story...and round of applause losing and keeping the weight off at 50!!!! I am one that hardheartedly believes that the quality of food matters. I just don't believe that you have to give up everything you love, just to be fit. However, I seek pleasure in finding healthier alternatives or enjoying some of the foods that I love on occasion. I used to do 1200 calories and I ate back exercise calories...and I gained most of the weight back b/c I went to my old eating habits. I'm learning that I can't focus so much on the results....that I need to focus more on making better choices - like building my strength in the gym and going up on weights. Eating to fuel my body and treating it right by choosing food that shows my body that I love and care for it and not eat for pure enjoyment all the time. I try to keep my goal conscious and before I eat something, I ask myself, "is this going to get you closer to your goal?"
STLBADGIRL, I think it is great that you have made the connection with making better choices, and putting most of your attention on fitness and weights. After all, if you follow the "is this going to get you closer to your goal" logic atleast 80% of the time, the diet can almost go into autopilot.
I also agree that giving up everything you love is pointless, but my Dad was sick for decades before finally testing positive for Celiac in his 80s - so when I feel sick after a bowl of healthy whole wheat pasta, it is a no -rainer to nix that from the diet. So while I still eat the occasional muffin or bagel, I am working to clean those from my diet as well - but at fifty I understand that getting neurotic and obsessive does me no good!
Oh, I totally agree with that. It's not worth it feeling sick afterwards. But I have learned how to make oven friend chicken. I love the 'crunch' and texture of friend chicken and fish and didn't want to give that up!
I've also found out that I don't necessary HAVE to HAVE meat like I thought I did (except fried chicken...lol)...but I've learned that I love the texture of meat. I went meatless for 30 days and had to get creative....and find other foods that provide me with texture. I'm learning and discovering so much more.0 -
STLBADGIRL wrote: »
Here is my vision board....I think the shape of the fitness tracker picture may help me reach the top *wink wink*
ROFL0 -
I just turned 43 yesterday and I'm starting this again, hopefully for the last time. I'm about 40 lbs overweight. Fell free to add me. I would love to have some support on this jorney. 2
-
STLBADGIRL: Did I miss your vision board? Great Idea, btw. I have been wanting to do that for some time I will get on that today! There is great power in keeping your goals/ dreams constantly in your sight!0
-
I calorie count ..no fads, no demon foods, no demon food groups, no fads or gimmicks, an eye on protein aiming for 100g minimum daily. Watching my trend on trendweight.com
Like the Karate Kid's "wipe on, wipe off" training, I do calories in, calories out training
Lost 50lbs in my 47th year
Took up the gym, with the help of a PT, got into progressive weight training and increased my general activity
I'm 49 now, been at goal (5'8, 160lbs for around 2 years)
I'm not perfect but I'm really proud of me
7 -
That's amazing..way to go....#GoHawks!
Speaking of Seahawks.....what was that on Sunday night? I'm going to need them to beef it up....they almost lost that tie game... At least I got credit for them in my football pool.....Again, congrats on the weight loss though
1
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.5K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 392 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 926 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions
Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!