over 50 here

Hello, I hit 55 next April 21st - been back 6 weeks and 11lbs down on a 30lbs target. 'Friend me by all means!
best regards, David

Hi, day 2. I'm 51 and would like to lose 15-20 lbs, I am just under 5ft tall. I have MS and tried the Wahl protocol for a while, but was unable to maintain due to the very strict protocol. This is somewhat similar, but it will be interesting as I've been about 90% dairy free for the last 3 yrs. Looking forward to being able to make my cauliflower pizza crust again!

Hello. My name is Helene (pronounced Helane). I’m new.
Weight loss or even gaining is a real, actual roller coaster ride, many have indicated. Sometimes a lifelong ride, sometimes on and off trip, but regardless, a huge adventure.
Unfortunately, humans come in different shapes, sizes, body types and today, genders, so going up or going down in weight is a broken line, seldom a straight line of success.
I am older than the average writer of this message board, pushing that 77 number in a few weeks and from a complete different cultural and generational era. Mother always preached that I must eat from the ‘pyramid’. For those of you who don’t know that term it embodied protein (including what is now called by itself as ‘dairy’) at the base-widest portion of a triangle-to vegetables, taking up a wide area, then fruits, to carbs (they called these ‘starches’), and ending in sugar at the smallest point. Every plate at every meal had all these or the meal was not complete. Weight Watchers came around a few decades later and modified all this by reminding us about portion control, and that fruits and vegetables were ‘limitless’, merging into a point system (very confusing!), to something new even different/newer this year.
So, how we eat, how much we eat, regardless of the era has been a cornerstone of life for every person having or not having a weight problem. Mother was a petite, small boned, (could eat a horse under the table metabolism) so weight was not her concern, nutrition (according to the pyramid) was. I, unfortunately, did not inherit her stature or lithe DNA. I am tall, big boned from the waist down, small upper bone portion, and about as graceful as a drunken sailor, one foot seldom worked in coordination with rest of me. I was brainwashed to the pyramid and disgraced by my ‘klutzy’ demeanor.
When I was 21 years old and pregnant with my first child, Mother and the doctor decided I, at 5’8”, 135 was overweight and promptly placed on a 500 a day diet! Can you imagine what a doctor today would say to that?
Ah! Life of daughters and mothers!
So, bottom line, how do we get off this weird roller coaster? Not a clue!
Then I met my Rheumatologist who turned me to My Fitness Pal. Yeah, I have rheumatoid arthritis, so carbs and sugar must be as low as possible, and because arthritis is a cousin to gout, which I also have, keep that protein down. Yahoo! What’s left to eat to get to those 1200 calories a day I’m supposed to have? No way, I kept getting told that I would not lose those 15 lbs. doc wanted me to lose if I didn’t eat more. I’m old, I don’t eat as much as used to! I don’t move like when I was even 30 years old. Life is slower, life is different. So, I lowered my calorie intake to 1100, now I can just about hit that (most of the time), but it’s a huge struggle of how much cheese can one eat and not get ‘plugged’. Yup, too much of a nice thing does weird things to us old ones!
Struggle, struggle.
Which brings me to My Fitness Pal’s database. Who put that thing together? Insane! Since when was a fluid ounce ok to use for sunflower seeds, or any ‘dry’ item? Fluid means liquid, for goodness sake! Why is one store brand ‘food’ (try mushrooms), different from another store’s brand? A mushroom is geared by size and kind, which is what determines caloric content. Not a store’s brand! And, why are they filed by store brand, generic, homemade and a few other non-descript categories rather than the food item? When I want mushrooms, I shouldn’t need to search by store, I go by what I hope to eat, which should give me the category, store or other info.
I have to admit that all of this writing is not something I do. I belong to no social media, blog or other people oriented communications, save for email. They all remind me of gossip fences and very combative. So, forgive the yak, but….life is change, and I thought I’d try to see if anyone would read this and give me some sort of feedback and answers. I’m no computer geek, but I am a tad savvier than the average senior, so tell me about the database’s foibles/idiosyncrasies.
Helene Bigler
Snohomish, WA

Just over 50. At maintenance but enjoy supporting others. Anyone can feel free to send me a request.

Recently turned 50, joined mfp 7 weeks ago, 16 pounds down, 80 to go, so far so good

I haven't yet mentioned that I'm 53 either.

55. Started MFP last November when I was discharged from the chest pain unit. I'm not losing record amounts of weight, but I am dropping significant inches, dropping my blood pressure, and dropping my resting pulse rate. Hope to lose 40 lbs eventually.

Just turned 51, doing resistance training for a couple years now, but still just a noob really. I don't want to lose weight, just fat, and replace with muscle. I started keto at probably around 20% bf, want to get to 15% or lower then switch back to bulking mode (cleaner this time around) for summer. MFP has been a very useful tool to help me stay on top of my diet. BTW you guys all look so good, got me thinking 50 is the new 40?

I started last March 1st at 57 on here..308 pounds..Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of making the decision to change my life (and following through)
I am now 58 and I hope to be down 80 pounds tomorrow morning. I weighed in this morning at 228.2

My health is good 9I am diabetic according to my Dr but no meds..diet controlled..no special diet either. Just eat sensible and exercise!

Just remember to enjoy the journey and don't focus on the end result..I look back at this past year and am amazed at what I have accomplished. Hard work..yes..rewarding..yes

A healthier me Priceless! Best wishes to all of you!

machete66 wrote: »

Hello looking to lose weight and get into a better 50 yr old shape and meet people with the same goals and support. Does not matter if you want to lose 5lbs or 100 plus

I'm 51 and my goal was to lose 10lbs. That's done but I'm staying on, as this seems like a good lifestyle to adopt for the long term, rather than just a temporary diet.

Any of you want someone else in your cheer squad? I'm about to leave my 50's, so maybe I need to find the geriatric section?! I'm about halfway through my shrink process, and I found that the community here gave such a boost to my own convictions. Add me if you like....

69 age is no barrier. Go for it you will achieve

Hi,. My name is Mark. Iamm 54 years old. I've been on here about 8 months. I have lost 35 lbs. Original goal was 45. I have decided it is going so well to reset it to 55. That was the weight I was when I got married. The amount of time it takes me isn't as important as the final outcome.

I would be interested to hear people's motivation or reason for doing this. Mine was twofold. First I was getting desperately close to 300 lbs. But second and probably the real reason was missing an opportunity to do something special with my son. I missed it because there was a weight limit of 270lbs. I said never again and I haven't looked back.