Women 60 and over...losing weight is tough!

ShadowCat14 wrote: »

Thanks all for your input. To Expiggy...no I didn't lose easily in the first couple of weeks. That's one thing I found frustrating. About ten yrs ago I lost 30 lbs on Weight Watchers and noticed weight loss from nearly the start! Unfortunately I gained it all back. So I was expecting the loss would be similar this time. Not so.

You shouldn't compare yourselve to others even if it's you. That was 10 years ago on a different plan. How did it work long term?

Be very proud of what you have done! I lost my weight quickly at first, DW much slower. In the end we both hit our goals about the same time. As my loss slowed hers sped up over the last ten pounds. In the end all that really matters is to hit your goal.
Best wishes.

annieoldie wrote: »

How do you cope when eating out. I see my grandchildren each week, one day with grandsons (triplets parents need the help) and one day with one of the my granddaughters (I alternate each week). I cannot weigh the food and try to be good but end up finishing off the boys lunch, I can't bear waste! I am trying to walk 10,000 steps each day but again when on granny duty, it is not always possible

When I was actively losing, I would try to check out the menu before visiting the restaurant, and plan in advance what I would eat. It's easiest with chains that list calories/nutrients, but even if there's just a photo of the menu on Yelp or something, it can help.

Don't be afraid to ask if they can vary an item: I often order burgers without the bun, substitute a side salad or reasonable veg for fries, ask them to leave off sauce, etc. Most places will do this if you ask nicely. At sit-down restaurants, it's also often possible to order a plate with vegetable sides plus some cottage cheese as your entree. Also consider an appetizer as your entree, and of course most places have salads.

If I knew I was going out for a big/celebratory meal, I'd often plan the other meals that day to be more minimal than usual. For me, this is easiest if the restaurant meal is at supper time (psychologically easier, mostly).

For meals out, I never weighed food - I just do that at home. I eyeball the portion size, then - if the restaurant doesn't have calories on the web - use similar dishes in the MFP database to estimate calories, not picking the "lowball" entries, but something on the higher-calorie end of the similar ones, so if I'm erring it will be on the side of keeping the deficit. Logging consistently, even when one has to estimate, even when one goes over goal, is a good tool for being honest with oneself and learning from the process.

Finishing other people's food: The best answer is to find a way not to do it. Your grands will be best off if you're a fit, healthy granny, around to see them married, have kids of their own, etc., yes? Next best: Consider boxing the food, ideally for them to take home.

IMO, a lot of this is about taking control of one's own behavior, and taking charge of one's goals. As a side benefit, doing so is also an excellent behavioral example for the young 'uns.

I'm 60, and lost 63 pounds from April 2015 to around March 2016. I'm also hypothyroid (controlled with meds). As someone else said, I found the MFP method very straightforward and do-able, as long as I stuck to it. On that score, it can be better to lose weight slowly but consistently by picking an achievable calorie level, rather than trying for super-fast losses that lead to binges and a sense of failure. I'm now at goal weight (120 pounds, plus or minus 3, at 5' 5") and have been maintaining there for almost 5 months.

Exercise is a plus - especially as a way to maintain muscle while losing weight, as muscle is harder to regain at our age - but sticking to a calorie deficit is the only true requirement for weight loss. (Exercise does let you eat a bit more!) Many people enjoy walking and do well with it, but do recognize that more intense/vigorous forms of exercise will burn more calories in any particular time period, which is worth considering if you have limited time. It's never too late to try something new! Or, consider active things you can do with the grands: I see MFP friends logging exercise like walking at the children's garden, playing Pokemon Go, swimming in the pool with kids, etc.

Good luck - it is possible to do this at our age. We may have to gradually tweak our calorie goals, and try some new foods or activities, but we can get there.

I would love to join this group as I feel the support and experience of people nearer to my own age would be very beneficial. I am 62 years young, I am a mother of 3 and a grandmother to 8.5 grandchildren, we have anther grandchild due in July. I must admit that since my children have grown up and I've gotten older, I find exercising quite hard. I do have health issues, degenerative disease of the spine, I sometimes suffer with sciatica normally down my left side. I also have a recently diagnosed heart condition with high blood pressure. After working 10.5 hour shifts, exercise is the last thing on my mind when I get home. My brother has suggested I get up half an hour earlier and exercise then, which would mean I'd have to get up at 5:30 . When do most of you decide to exercise? Do any of you agree that exercising in the motioning is better.

I lost my 115lbs without doing any intentional exercise, due to medical issues. Some of those are now resolved (at least partly) so now I am just naturally more active. But without doubt, counting calories, using a scale and keeping a log are what really contributed to the losses. And its sustainable.

Without exercise I have had to be really vigilant about my eating habits but thats fine with me.

My point is that its not any more difficult to lose weight at my age (61) than other ages; it doesn't matter (other than preference) when or even if you exercise; and that losing weight is accomplished in the kitchen, while firming, toning and even abs are created in the gym.

I would never have believed this two years ago. Now when I look in the mirror, I cant believe it for a different reason!

Hello, everyone!
I turned 62 in May and have been gaining weight over the last few months. It might be all the extra meds I'm on, but I believe a large part of it goes to not exercising! I use to exercise daily...about 2 years ago. Then we sold our house and moved 3 times within the past 2 years. I lost some weight with each move but gained it back and then some.

My health issues have increased to the point that even walking takes my breath away. But I have to do something! So, I'm going to the gym and walk on the treadmill at 2.0 for 30 minutes. My biggest issue is a balance problem. If I use the treadmill, I can hold onto the bars and walk at a pretty good clip. Walking with a cane helps my balance but I tend to go slower.

I would really love to join this group. I've seen too many other forums with very skinny, young gals balking about losing 5-10 pounds. I need to lose 40 lbs!!! It looks like such a mountain to reach!

Thanks for your consideration!

I am 67. I lost 100 pounds about six years ago and two years ago decided to lose the second 110 pounds I needed to lose. I am now 8 pounds from my goal.

I've learned that exercise is good for all kinds of things--reducing stress and blood pressure, sleeping better, gaining muscle --but losing weight is not one of them. I do 30 minutes HIIT on a stationary bike, yoga for 20 minutes, and walk an average of 15K steps per day as well as strength training 20 minutes 3-4 times a week but I don't do it to lose weight because it just doesn't work.

I am highly insulin resistant. Going low carb, high fat and, a year ago, going to a ketogenic diet, is what worked for me. I stalled for a while until I added intermittent fasting. I plan on continuing eat keto and doing daily intermittent fasting (14:10 or 18:6 with a 24 hour one weekly) forever.

I had been on the maximum dosage of two high blood pressure meds all of my adult life and still my bp was 140/90. Now I take no high bp meds and my bp is 115/55. My cholesterol numbers went from mediocre to fantastic. I had been diagnosed with T2 diabetes with an A1C of 13.6 and, after losing the first 100 pounds, had been able to keep it at 5.8-5.9 with exercise, LCHF diet, and metformin. My last A1C was 5.2 and, while I still take metformin, my doctor said I could stop it whenever I wished.

I'm not going to say keto and fasting are the only ways to lose weight and get healthier. We're all different. The trick is for each person to try different things until they find what works for them.

It can be challenging at times. I slipped back on 5 pds last winter(2018) and they’re still hanging around. I was happier at 147-150 then 155. I just felt better and sizes fit easier, 8’s were looking good on me and now I’m back to 10 or earing something with elastic/strecth in them. I was feeling so well my sight was to makee to 145-147.

I’ve had a health issue and shoulder surgery so I do need to cut myself some slack on this but overaall I know I can do better. So I’m back to daily log and I cut back on my intake. it’s too erratic to make a difference. Exercise isn’t an issue, I have always enjoyed this.

I have lost a lot of weight 2 times in my life. In my early 20’s, and again at age 60. It wasn’t any harder, or easier, at either age. The hard part for me is keeping it off. So here I am again at age 67, trying to lose again. Fortunately, I came to my senses before I gained it all back this time.

Yes it is, But we can do it ladies!