55-65 year old women's success?

woodenhut · April 2017

Aww birgitkwood, that was very nice of you to say that, thank you much appreciated & your so right in what you say, I say the same thing, I say I can push myself a bit further, but I've dislocated my hip twice, & what a pain that was, so I'm limited as not as strong as I once was. But I've learnt to adjust, wow you've done extremely well loosing all that weight & now running a marathon go girl, so happy for you & that your enjoying your life, I'll look into doing more walking, set myself goals to accomplish. It might spur me on, watch this space haha. Keep up the good work lady your doing great. I like the support I've had on here it's better than going to a class. Thank you all. Xx

Hogerda · April 2017

I am 58 and was always healthy, very active and happy with my body, even when I packed on some 20 lbs slowly over the years. After age 40 I could no longer lose the extra 10 lbs by swimming daily in the summer, or doing a lot of Pilates. Then when I turned 50 we moved (again and again), so more dinner parties to make new friends, coffees and teas and then the menopause. I really hate the menopause. Over the past 3 years I tried 3 times to shed some weight, losing 5 pounds and gaining back 10. In February the scales hit 75 kg, I had no pants I fit into, and could not cycle up a hill without stopping, so I stopped trying. I would try a training program to get fit, and could not enjoy it. And then I started on MFP.
And that really changed everything. I had no idea I ate so much! My husband is a cycling fanatic, and I ate almost as much as him! I walk the dog and do hikes, but had no idea that a long bike ride uses up many more calories than a long hike. I also did not realize how much fat was in my diet (olive oil is healthy, right? and also, the French eat cheese with every meal and I love cheese) and that half a plate of pasta was enough for my level of activity. I had not realized that we had slowly replaced vegetables (very expensive here) with sugary fruit and starchy foods. So now I know, we eat better and I learned how to ignore the "hunger pangs" that my body sends out to trick me into eating more than I need. After a month of MFP I did a 2 week hike, and could not log on, and when I came back, having eaten more than usual, I had not gained any weight. That is how quickly you learn new habits that will allow you to be successful. In two months I took 11 cms off my waist (the biggest surprise really, I did not think I would regain a waist at this age), I met my belly button again and can cycle up the long hills here. Slowly, that is true, but I actually enjoy it again! So on I go, 8 lbs more to lose and hopeful that with the regained enjoyment and better fitness, this time, the weight will stay off.

birgitkwood · April 2017

@Hogerda - that is absolutely fabulous! And yes, once I committed to the process, I too was surprised at how quickly the weight loss happens, at least for me. Congrats

@woodenhut - let's not go crazy here! I'm planning on running a "5k" next month (3.1 miles), NOT a "marathon" (26 miles). Geez... my legs hurt just reading that. Lol

griffinca2 · April 2017

Hogerda, have you tried frozen veggies?? They can be cheaper than fresh (and they keep longer)--you only fix what you plan on eating for lunch/dinner. I usually steam cook mine in Pyrex in the microwave oven (takes less water & time).

To all the newbies, do what you can do for exercise (or whatever your doc allows); adding more as you become stronger; correct form is more important than the weight (if any) that you lift. I've heard of folks starting w/soup cans. Also, make an eating plan using foods you like to eat; you're more likely to stick to the plan. And nothing is off the plan; if you want a burger & fries, eat it, log it, forget it and move on. It is not about a "diet" with an end date it is about a lifestyle that you can stick to the rest of your life.

I'm 66, and hate to run; but I do like to lift weights, and a lot of walking. I belong to a locally-owned gym and workout w/weights three days a week w/a short cardio session when I'm done. I've found out that it isn't "all or nothing," it is small changes over time that work the best (and they usually stick).

One thing to remember that it was the turtle that won the race, not the rabbit!! Slow (or slower if you have to) and steady is what wins the race.

bigsofty56 · April 2017

Hi, this s my first day, am 61, type 2 diabetic and have a lot of weight to lose, can I join your group please?

Bigsofty56

resina · April 2017

Brigidkwood, congratulations on your achievement of losing 114 lbs (around 50kgs) in the last 12 months. That's very impressive. Can you tell us how you did this please.

birgitkwood · April 2017

@resina - Thank you! Hmmm... how did I do it? Since you asked, I'll tell you the looong story:

I'm 62 yrs old, and like most of us have lost - and regained - probably about a thousand pounds over the years. I'd always lose a ton of weight and then some switch in my brain would turn off and I'd start eating like a madwoman once again. By Fall of 2015 I found myself at over 300 lbs and I was horrified. Feeling depressed, sluggish, every bone in my body hurting (not that I could FIND those bones, lol) - I was miserable. Last year in early Spring I found myself channel surfing and landed on an episodes of "My 600 lb Life," or something like that. That particular episode focused on a woman who weighed 787 lbs, and was entirely bedbound. It was a bit of a wake up for me! Really, the difference between that woman and myself was simply... well, time. I imagined myself heading toward 787 lbs, and not being able to get out of bed.

So, "there's an app for that," right? I looked thru my app store for "weight loss tools," and that's how I found MFP. That's really what made all the difference for me! In the beginning (I started 4/4/16) all I did was log my food faithfully. Started losing a few pounds. About a month in the weather was getting nice and I started to walk my dog. Someone had given me a Fitbit a while earlier that I had never used. I dug it out and started paying attention to my steps. At first just 5 mins, then 10. Before long I was walking 30 mins every day, then 45. I found myself walking faster, so in those 45 mins I was surprised at how FAR I was able to walk! Walking 10k steps a day became an "easy" day. Weight kept falling off. Various bones and joints stopped hurting, or - when they did hurt at least I knew exactly why - lol. Over the past couple of months I noticed that with a third of my body weight gone I had all this squiggly energy that I didn't know how to dispel - so I started running. So that's where I am now.

One of the things I did was that I put a "sticky note" in the center of the home screen on my smartphone. It shows my starting date and my starting weight. Underneath it says "787?" as a warning of where I never want to go. Every time I pick up my phone, I see that. It's a constant daily visual reminder to stay on track.

I'm 6ft tall and at my current 191lbs, I'm pretty close to goal (8lbs to go).

Not much magic here - just persistence. Logging conscientiously, but not obsessively. I "eyeball" a lot of my calories if I don't know exact numbers. I "eyeball" quantities, certainly. I never eat the exercise calories that Fitbit or MFP give me - that's what allows me to be somewhat imprecise about my calorie or portion counts.

I suppose I am lucky in that, due to my height, I have a higher daily calorie allowance than someone who is shorter. These days I stick to a daily calorie goal of roughly 1700, and I walk/run between 13k and 17k steps on my FB every day. Am considering maybe adding in some strength/weight training... but it seems unbearably dull and I'm not sure I can make myself stick with it. So I haven't bothered to begin...

Going forward I know I will probably continue to log my food for the rest of my life. I will also continue you do some sort of exercise every day. The combination of the two seems to be the winning formula for me. And I also realize that all "those people" who are thin and in shape actually do exactly that! Typically, they watch what they eat and exercise. I'm no different, and "they" don't have any magic that I don't also have. That realization was a bit of an aha moment for me!

So that's my journey, in a nut shell. Now aren't you sorry you asked?

Sending my best wishes to you on YOUR journey!

oldgirl235 · April 2017

Your story brigitkwood is so inspiring,my woke up call was looking back on family photos we had done a couple of months ago i had no idea I was so big, I new I put weight on over many years but I was kidding myself that I was alright and I would look at other people when out shopping and say to myself I,m not as big as them, but in reality I was probably bigger so I have been doing mfp for 3weeks now and have lost 3kg

Artemis2121 · April 2017

Bump

woodenhut · April 2017

Griffinca2, thank you for your advice about slowly but surely I think that's the way for me, a little goes a long way yer, I love reading these stories they give me the get up & move, & to get my head thinking about my food intake to see where I need to make changes.

woodenhut · April 2017

Birgitkwood wow, wow, wow, you are an inspiration if your journey to do something about making changes for the better then it will inspire others like me, I will be doing this as I can only walk at the moment so like Griffinca2, & all the others on here who have told their stories or given advice it really has helped me with doing something about getting back to being healthy again so thank you all. Very much appreciated

woodenhut · April 2017

Bigsofty56, welcome & im a newby too, us lot on here can help each other yer : )

Hogerda · April 2017

@Birgitkwood, congratulations. Your story is great and such a testimony to perseverance. Imagine being able to walk only 5 minutes and now running! And me feeling sorry for myself because I could not cycle like I used to at 20. What holds us down is the feeling that you cannot regain what you lost because of age and weight, but you show us that we can! And with every pound lost, we can do more, feel better and get rid of some of the self-pity! Thanks so much for posting.

resina · April 2017

Birgitkwood, thanks for sharing your story. You and all the ladies on here are very inspiring and showing us that just because we are 'older' it means we can't do and achieve things. I would love to be able to sit on the floor to play with my beautiful 2 year old grandson and be able to get myself up unassisted and without my knees groaning. One day as I now avoid this little pleasure not to embarrass myself.

I'm going to venture out and walk this weekend and try to build this into a habit. I've done this in my head but now need to put it into practice!! Cheers to everyone.

birgitkwood · April 2017

@resina - funny you should say that! My now 4yr old granddaughter visited for a week right after Easter. While she was here she and I spent a LOT of time on the floor playing with Legos. A year ago, when she was three, that did NOT happen! Now I don't even think about getting on the floor. Funny, I hadn't even noticed what a miracle that is... in only a year. Sometimes even I am surprised! So @resina, a year from now your beautiful grandson will be three. Have at it, and work on getting in that floor. You can do it!

Zippy62 · April 2017

So very pleased to see this thread! I'm almost 55, menopausal and really struggling to keep the weight off which I've lost, let alone lose any more. I have around 1,200 calories a day which I thought was ridiculously low but seeing what the rest of you manage on, maybe not! Looks like I'll just have to get on with it and stop complaining! I am losing about 1 pound a week and don't have much to lose but it seems so much harder than it used to.

retirehappy · April 2017

birgitkwood wrote: »

@resina - funny you should say that! My now 4yr old granddaughter visited for a week right after Easter. While she was here she and I spent a LOT of time on the floor playing with Legos. A year ago, when she was three, that did NOT happen! Now I don't even think about getting on the floor. Funny, I hadn't even noticed what a miracle that is... in only a year. Sometimes even I am surprised! So @resina, a year from now your beautiful grandson will be three. Have at it, and work on getting in that floor. You can do it!

bigsofty56 · April 2017

Some of these posts made me laugh, I can't get up from the floor once I'm down there, plus my 3 year old granddaughter likes me to race her in the garden, I walk quickly but she shouts 'run grandma' thankfully nobody can see

mk2fit · April 2017

@Zippy62, 1200 calories does not seem like a lot, but there are so many tasty and filling ways to use them. If you haven't already, sign up for the Hello Healthy blog here at MFP. There are lots of recipes available and you can learn to sub healthier and lower calorie items for higher cal stuff. Zero fat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream is one example.

As to the grandma thing - grandkids are the best trainers! (Mine is 4) They work us hard and don't judge

FitOldMomma · April 2017

I'm still a work in progress...I will be forever. But I did hit my goal in December after nearly 3 yrs of logging my food and exercise. Down 145 pounds! Oh...I turned 60 last month.

55-65 year old women's success?

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