Walking and feeling better

bkev7000
bkev7000 Posts: 13 Member
edited November 19 in Introduce Yourself
I'm going through a separation from my wife of 19 years and over 26 years together. I didn't put enough effort into our marriage and I don't blame her for wanting a change to be happier. That made me look at all aspects of my life and try to improve before it's too late. I'm 5'7" and was 172 pounds. I started getting a gut and didn't like it.
I had more time to focus on myself and used MFP to track my calorie deficit. I've tried to keep my intake around 1200 calories/day. I've dropped 15 pounds in a month. Then, another 10 pounds in the month after. Four months later, I've been hovering at 140 pounds pretty steady. I walk everyday, maybe 30 mins at lunch and another 30 to 45 mins after dinner. MFP, the blog, and community success stories have kept me going. It's still really early for me, but I'm taking it one step at a time, literally.

Replies

  • CoffeenSquats
    CoffeenSquats Posts: 982 Member
    I'm sorry to hear of your separation. I wish you health and happiness going forward.
  • bkev7000
    bkev7000 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks! Keep steppin'!!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    1200 is a default minimum for a WOMAN.....please eat more. Fast weight loss = a higher % of lean muscle loss. Muscle "insurance"....adequate protein, strength training, and a moderate deficit.

    Walking can be great cardio.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    @bkev7000 there are many events that can serve as our wake up call when it comes to eating and moving for better health.

    Assuming 75% of your weight loss over the four month period was body fat loss than that would get your daily calories up to more like 1900 calories on average. As you are moving into maintenance you can keep adjusting your Way Of Eating as needed.

    I wish people over 30 would look more to daily walking instead of wrecking their bodies doing insane stuff in gyms and running races that are too much for their state of health at the time.

    Best of continued success and welcome to MFP forums.
  • manic_all_the_time
    manic_all_the_time Posts: 7 Member
    edited July 2017
    My husband and I just divorced this year. We were together 24 years and married 21. It was hard and really threw off my routine for a while. I'd love to add you as a friend. I am pretty supportive. I think 1200 calories is why you're stalling. Your body is trying to preserve. Bump your calories up and see what happens.
  • horses4ever1414
    horses4ever1414 Posts: 71 Member
    manic_all_the_time wrote: »
    My husband and I just divorced this year. We were together 24 years and married 21. It was hard and really threw off my routine for a while. I'd love to add you as a friend. I am pretty supportive. I think 1200 calories is why you're stalling. Your body is trying to preserve. Bump your calories up and see what happens.

    Sorry for your divorce :(
  • bkev7000
    bkev7000 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks. There's good advice and support on MFP. I'm actually trying to maintain at 141lbs. I'm 5'7", so I think low 140's is good. I have better abs now, then when I was in my 20's. I agree, @GaleHawkins, walking works for me. I'm not into the HIIT and weight craze.
  • bkev7000
    bkev7000 Posts: 13 Member
    I've kept walking over 10K steps for the last 40 days straight. My separation from my wife really caused me to stop putting off positive changes in my life, in my relationships, and my work.
    I only wish that it didn't take a "wake up call" for me to change. That's all I hope for everyone else reading this and on MFP.
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