Anyone had major success later in life?

Brocksterdanza · November 2016

I feel like a gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over. I'm almost 40(male). I know metabolism slows as we age but i wonder if it is a nearly impossible feat. Im a big guy as it is 250... and i would love to weigh 205-210... i used to weigh 325... im just not sure if I'm setting unrealistic goals for myself. I recently completed the spartan trifecta and felt that was a major accomplishment for me nearly being 40. I have some in my gym telling me to really pound out cardio and do simply maintenace weight training. That these 2 will butt heads if you combine the 2. Im a coach and i know that the two can coexist for the common good, but on the other hand realize that if i do too much cardio, ill begin to lose muscle. I guess my question is if i lift and combine cardio and keep my caloric deficit at about 750 a day, will i lose the weight and maintain the majority of my muscle. Also, how important do you feel protein shakes? I am struggling to get my protein numbers each day. Thanks gang!

Sued0nim · November 2016

Brocksterdanza wrote: »

I feel like a gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over.
So stop stopping

I'm almost 40(male). I know metabolism slows as we age
No it doesn't. On average your TDEE reduces 100 calories per decade through reduced activity and reduced muscle mass. Hit the gym, rebuild your muscle. Get more active

but i wonder if it is a nearly impossible feat.
Nope

Im a big guy as it is 250... and i would love to weigh 205-210... i used to weigh 325... im just not sure if I'm setting unrealistic goals for myself.

Unrealistic to be a healthy weight? Nope. Unrealistic for you if you don't work on your gamut of excuses? Possibly

I recently completed the spartan trifecta and felt that was a major accomplishment for me nearly being 40.

Congratulations you're clearly fit and can dedicate yourself

I have some in my gym telling me to really pound out cardio and do simply maintenace weight training.

Hmmm

That these 2 will butt heads if you combine the 2. Im a coach and i know that the two can coexist for the common good, but on the other hand realize that if i do too much cardio, ill begin to lose muscle. I guess my question is if i lift and combine cardio and keep my caloric deficit at about 750 a day, will i lose the weight and maintain the majority of my muscle.

Yes, yes you will. You do that

Also, how important do you feel protein shakes? I am struggling to get my protein numbers each day. Thanks gang!

Not important at all. Get your protein through your diet or shakes, hit your minimums

Stop being goal oriented get lifestyle oriented

How are you going to maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life

GottaBurnEmAll · November 2016

What Sued0nim said about lifestyle is important. Very important.

Totally reinventing myself at 52 from an obese, sedentary person who hated exercise into a fit 54 year old 94 pounds thinner took lifestyle changes. That meant forming habits I intended to keep. My goals were focused on the long-term.

I felt too old too young. I wanted to cut that nonsense out. I feel younger now than I did at 40.

It's only unrealistic to meet the challenge of being fit and a healthy weight if you think it is and set that roadblock in your way.

sijomial · November 2016

"Nearly 40" - one foot in the grave then?

I don't know where you get the cardio resulting in muscle loss from - that's simply not an issue for people in normal life. Using your muscles doesn't result in losing them!

A reasonable and sustainable deficit, adequate protein and resistance/weight training will give you good weight loss (i.e. fat loss) and cardio for heart health and the ability to maintain a reasonable deficit with a good amount to eat. Nothing magical about protein shakes, they are just a liquid protein supplement if your diet needs supplementing.

I manage to combine strength training and cardio, there's some training and recovery interference but it's just as much complimentary as antagonistic.

Brocksterdanza · November 2016

I was saying losing muscle from cardio due to the muscle i lost doing insanity... i went from 325 to 225 and could barely curl a 25 pound dumbbell. I was told this was because my body used my lean muscle as fuel because i was in a deficit and pushing my body. It sounded reasonable.

Thanks for all of the advice btw

Alatariel75 · November 2016

Almost 40 is 'later in life' now?? Good lord, that's depressing. I better start planning my retirement!

Brocksterdanza · November 2016

Sorry, just have always heard that after 40, you are on the backside of your life... didn't mean to ruffle feathers... my apologies

aldavid18 · November 2016

I'm 57, way over the hill I guess (teehee), and decided to finally dump some weight. My regiment is to watch closely what I eat, how much I eat, and expanded my cardio (walking) a wee bit. I don't measure everything I eat to the gram, eat pretty much what I want, read labels religiously, and rely on my MFP numbers. I'm not a gym rat, never have been, and have relied on the cardio alone. Since August I've dropped 36lbs and don't feel any worse the wear. After I get the weight I want off, I'll maybe look at rebuilding any muscle I may have lost. Obviously you're in good shape with what you have recently accomplished (well done), you just need to make a realistic plan and stick to it. If I can do it anybody can:)

Elise4270 · November 2016

Alatariel75 wrote: »

Almost 40 is 'later in life' now?? Good lord, that's depressing. I better start planning my retirement!

Retirement? Oh heck I think we got polish up that will! Haha!

Sorry OP! I'm just kidding. I suppose it's possible to lose muscle mass if your in a deficit and not getting sufficient protein. Find a healthy balance and do your cardio and weights. I don't see that you need to shoot for such a dramatic and agressive weight loss, the 750 deficit. I've got about 10 left to lose, but it's just not happening *shrugs*. There's no magic number, don't chase the scale. Focus more on your gains, better endurance, lifting more weights and less on that scale.

You could be moving in the right direction with simultaneous fat/muscle change.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Old bat of 46

flower8330 · November 2016

Just turned 40 and this is the first time in my life that weight loss is working/sticking. The only thing you need to do to lose weight is eat less than you burn. I do not exercise (I know I should) and have lost about 35 pounds so far.

Sumiblue · November 2016

"Almost 40" seems young to this 47 yr old woman. I'm quickly approaching menopause so I should be screwed, right? Nope. It takes discipline & a desire to change. I changed my lifestyle to include regular exercise & eating to support my goals. I'm in better shape & health now than in my 20s.

MiniMansell1964 · November 2016

i am 52 and fitter and lighter than i have been in 30 yrs in my given sports i am an achiever, and kick the butts of younger men.
at nearly 40. your still a child. stop thinking like a pensioner

NoNameJustMe · November 2016

I'm 56, have lost 38 lbs since June, do cardio and lift, and I'm in better shape now than I was 20 years ago. As the old saying goes, "Age is but a number."

Brocksterdanza · November 2016

How often do you all hit the gym v. Cardio? IE, do you spend an hour in the gym and of that hour 15 minutes doing cardio? Do you do this 3-5 times a week? Or is it weight lifting one day, cardio the next? I'm trying to grasp on to any tidbits that will help me out of the rut.

lorrpb · November 2016

I was convinced that at age 59 and 301 lbs it was physically impossible for my body to lose weight. Wrong. Now at age 61 I am in my maintenance range of 155+/- and in the best shape of my life. The body is an amazing piece of work and will do what you allow it to do.

lynn_glenmont · November 2016

I started logging my calories on MFP in my early 50s and had "major success" (15% weight loss from starting weight in four months, and have kept it off for three years) at weight loss for the first time in my life. I lift more than most of the (younger) women in my gym. I started taking ballet in my 50s. I continue to practice yoga.

"Nearly 40" is no reason to feel like you have to give up your fitness goals.

NoNameJustMe · November 2016

Brocksterdanza wrote: »

How often do you all hit the gym v. Cardio? IE, do you spend an hour in the gym and of that hour 15 minutes doing cardio? Do you do this 3-5 times a week? Or is it weight lifting one day, cardio the next? I'm trying to grasp on to any tidbits that will help me out of the rut.

I don't go to a gym, but rather do everything at home. It's all covered in my profile if you want to take a look.

sbrandt37 · November 2016

Brockster, the only thing holding you back is yourself. Your doubts. Your habits. Your beliefs about food and eating. It is totally doable, lots of people on this forum have done it, and you can do it.

I'm 51. After being heavy much of my life, I realized that the key is to make small, sustainable changes that lead to a healthier, happier life. The reason to do it is not to lose weight, but because you only have one life and one body. If you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will. You have to choose to prioritize your health and well-being. And you do it not because you should, but because it feels so good. It feels good to eat right. It feels good to sleep well. It feels good to lose weight. It feels good to have your clothes get loose. It feels good to look good. It really is as simple as that.

18 month ago I started working out regularly. Over the past 9 months I have dropped from 250 to 220. I plan to get down to 200 over the next few months. I am doing it with a combination of modest changes: careful logging of my meals with MFP, modest calorie deficits every day, and regular moderate exercise. More recently, partly in support of my son, who has developed type 2 diabetes, I am eating low carb.

Rather than focus on the goal, I recommend that you focus on the small, sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to that goal. Each time you log a meal is a success. Each day you hit your calorie target is a success. Each time you make a mindful food decision is a success. Each time you exercise is a success. Each time you take the stairs instead of an elevator is a success. Each one of those successes is a gift to yourself that contributes to your health. Over time, those successes add up to real progress toward your weight loss goal. Perseverance is the key. Keep at it and you will get there.

Philtex · November 2016

Brocksterdanza wrote: »

Sorry, just have always heard that after 40, you are on the backside of your life... didn't mean to ruffle feathers... my apologies

In my 50's I dropped my weight from 250 to 180 and became a runner. Not bad for such an old geezer, huh?

JeromeBarry1 · November 2016

@Brocksterdanza Count calories accurately and honestly. That's what myfitnesspal offers. MFP provides the food diary and the food database. You provide the honesty and accuracy. If you can do that, you will lose weight.

You'll need a digital food scale to accurately weigh foods.
https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list for nutritional values of foods.
http://www.convertunits.com/ for when you need to convert units. Duh.

spiriteagle99 · November 2016

If you feel 'over the hill' at age 40, your hill is much too small.

I started running at age 55. At 59 I ran my first marathon. My husband hiked from Mexico to Canada at age 59, 60 and 66. (I hiked with him.)

You can make major changes in your life at any age. It's up to you how much effort you are willing to put in it.

Anyone had major success later in life?

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