Women over 50 (menopausal) success stories?
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fionawilliamson wrote: »Just turned 52 and I can't believe how hard it is to lose weight. I am obsessive about tracking and truly feel I am honest about my tracking of what I eat. I exercise every day and never eat back all of my exercise calories. I have MFP set to lose 2 pounds per week but have not come close to that in the last 3 months. I understand that progress is progress even if it's slow. I am determine to not give up.
Are you actually weighing everything you eat? (Your avocado, for instance - those are high in calories.) A lot of your diary entries seem to be in cups, spoonfuls, etc.
Check out this thread for some reasons why it's important to actually WEIGH rather than measure.
Also, how consistent is your logging? Do you really have days when you don't eat very much, or are you forgetting to log everything on those days? Do you have any "cheat" days or meals that you don't log? It's absolutely fine to have treats, meals out etc., but logging it all as closely as you can is important.
Double-check the entries you're using and make sure they're as accurate as possible. There are a lot of incorrect entries in the database, even some of the ones that have the green "verified" checkmark.
But at the end of the day, yes, slow progress is still progress! Even if it's only a few pounds by the end of the year, it's still a few pounds more than you'd have lost if you didn't even try.3 -
I have lost 100+ pounds (18 pounds pre MFP). I started MFP at 59 and was in menopause. I set MFP to lose 2 lbs per week (who doesn't at first) and the first year averaged 1.4 pounds/week. I have never done alot of exercise but do walk daily. As I got nearer to my goal weight I definately saw a big slow down. The first year I lost about 65 - 70 pounds. The second year I lost about 20. I am also hypothyroid so that could have a small impact. It can be done and the most important thing is logging and making sure you weigh things as @SueSueDio says. I'm 61 now and am maintaining although like others I would like to lose another 10 pounds eventually. I'm going to start weight lifting as soon as I can to build some muscle which I should have done long ago.4
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Thank you everyone for your tips! I'm 5'6", and started out this year at 205, my highest ever. I have been on thyroid medicine for years (hypothyroid), and last year tore a meniscus that made me not do much activity for 4 months. I have changed my MFP settings to be "sedentary", lose 1.5 pounds per week, and it said I should eat 1200 calories, so I will stick to that now. I saw a new naturopath doctor this week, to ask for her advice. She agreed that 1200 calories per day is right, but to also try the "intermittent fasting" of eating just 500 calories for one day a week, and fast for 12 hours each day, like from 7 pm - 7 am. She also gave me a prescription for Metformin, because she said I am insulin resistant, and this can help with weight loss, and helps your body process glucose. She said stick to the 30 minutes of exercise a day, get in 10,000 steps, and do weight training twice a week. Having a doctor sit down and discuss this stuff to my face was very helpful, and I'm trusting she will help me succeed and be accountable. I will see her again in a month. I'm down a total of 6 pounds now! Let's keep Workin' It!6
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Lost 95 lbs in a year and a half. Started at age 59. Weighing and measuring EVERYTHING that goes in your mouth is extremely important. I didn't do that over the holidays so now I'm working on getting the "winter accumulation" off! I will be logging the rest of my life. And, it really is all about calories in /calories out. I didnt eliminate any food from my diet.6
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Best of luck, Karla! I'm at 1,200 calories a week. I'm short at 5'1/2" and sedentary. I'm 54 and started at 207 pounds and down to 166 pounds so far with MFP. I strive for 1,200 calories a day and usually go over with a few Wheat Thins that tide me over I don't exercise, which would help, but I'm losing nicely and am pleased with my progress. I had a hysterectomy last year that hasn't seemed to effect me at all and have lost all my weight after that, actually! Best of luck!!5
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msmith404040 wrote: »Best of luck, Karla! I'm at 1,200 calories a week. I'm short at 5'1/2" and sedentary. I'm 54 and started at 207 pounds and down to 166 pounds so far with MFP. I strive for 1,200 calories a day and usually go over with a few Wheat Thins that tide me over I don't exercise, which would help, but I'm losing nicely and am pleased with my progress. I had a hysterectomy last year that hasn't seemed to effect me at all and have lost all my weight after that, actually! Best of luck!!
How long has it taken you to lose that much weight - well done tho , I’m only 33 but had my ovaries removed due to cancer so essentially I’m in menopause3 -
I'm 58 and have lost 90 pounds. It took about three years and I've been in maintenance about 6 months. Right now I'm working on the five pounds left over from Christmas lol
I have a desk job but even at my heaviest, I walked the dog or walked on the treadmill most says. Portion control was my downfall so once I started logging on mfp, the weight.started coming off. I was set at 1200 calories and only ate back some of my exercise calories.
I exercise about 60 minutes every day and vary it up quite a bit: strength training, yoga, running (in the summer), x country skiing or snowshoeing (winter), I paddle on a dragon boat team in the summer, and in the winter I use the cardio machines at the gym or deep water running classes in the pool. I think that by mixing it up so much, I've prevented any over-use type injuries.
We need muscle and bone density as we get older so exercise is very important. A strong core can help prevent things like slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk or a wet floor.
Or putting your back out. And we all know elderly people who have broken their hips.
A great read is "Thinner This Year" by Chris Crowley. Its specifically written for people our age with lots of good information and humour. I borrowed it from the library but liked it so much I ended up buying my own copy.6 -
I rejoined Weight Watchers in November 2002 (at the age of 54 and totally menopausal) weighing in at 202 pounds (and 5'3" tall). People thought I was a little nuts to "start a diet" a week before Thanksgiving. My specific reason for doing this was to try to keep from gaining any weight between Thanksgiving and January. I didn't look at the scale and told the receptionist that I didn't want to know whether I had gained or lost until after the first weigh-in of the New Year. I didn't even keep my weigh-in book because I *knew* I would be tempted to look. And I gave my bathroom scale to a friend to keep for me until after the first of the year.
Imagine my surprise to see, at that first weigh-in, that I had lost 10 pounds! I set my initial weight loss goal at 5 pounds. Why? Because I had lost 5 pounds HUNDREDS of times. The only problem was that I had also always gained it back. But I *knew* that I could lose 5 pounds. Each time I lost that 5 pounds, I set my goal for another 5 pounds. I didn't care how long it took me to lose it. I just didn't ever want to gain it back.
It was a long, slow journey (I hate that term, but...), but in September 2004 (age 56) I reached goal and lifetime weighing 138 pounds. I kept it all off (even getting as low as 128 at one point) until 2015 when I was about 3 pounds above my official goal weight of 140. I attribute part of the gain to some new meds I was put on for high blood pressure (a healthy weight does NOT mean you won't develop hypertension).
On December 31st of 2017, I was EIGHT pounds above my official goal weight in addition to being 3" shorter (yes, I'm now only 5' tall). After checking into the new WW program (Freestyle) and finding that it wouldn't suit my lifestyle, I started religiously tracking on MFP. So far I've had a loss every week since January 1st and, as of this morning, I've lost 6+ pounds. Right now I'm not sure what my ultimate goal weight is. I'll decide that at a later time. Since I'm so short, I already know that it's going to be LESS than my official WW goal weight of 140. Probably more in the range of 130, but I won't know for sure until I get there. Right now, again, I'm focusing on 5 pounds at a time.
I can't stress enough how important I think it is to weigh and measure EVERYTHING rather than "guesstimate" what a serving size looks like. That *did* come from years of following the WW program! I know that it's not always possible to do that when eating at restaurants, but if you do it at home you will eventually learn to recognize what a REAL serving size is. I will tell you right now that the amount of pasta you get in an Italian restaurant is probably 4-6 servings. Be honest about it.
And do NOT give up anything to lose weight that you aren't willing to give up to keep the weight off. If you can live without carbs for the rest of your life, good for you. I know that's not something that I could do. If you can go without ever having a cookie, a slice of cake or pie, or a piece of chocolate candy good for you. I can't and I don't want to do that.
Do the best you can do every day. You're going to have good days and you're going to have bad days. Don't throw in the towel because you have a bad day. A lot of people say that they take things one day at a time. I had to take them one MEAL at a time. But if you string enough good meals/days/whatever together, you WILL lose weight and you will learn enough in the process to keep it off. Keeping it off is much more important than losing it quickly and regaining it.14 -
I have been following this thread because I'm struggling a lot with this. I am in menopause due to my age, but actually was initially thrown into it suddenly from breast cancer treatment 6 years ago. I'm now on maintenance medications that cause joint pain and weight gain. It's so frustrating. I'm at my heaviest ever right now. I am almost 58 yo, 5'4 1/2" and 177 lbs, with a huge spare tire around my middle. I actually look like I'm pregnant and have had people pat my belly and ask me if I have some "news" to share. (At 58? Ummmm...nope.)
I have been afraid to ask this question because I was afraid I'd be told I'm just making excuses...which I guess I kind of am but at the same time, they are valid issues. It has been very encouraging to read your replies and I wanted to thank you for (1) asking the question and (2) sharing your tips and knowledge about it.
Have a great day!9 -
OConnell5483 wrote: »I have been following this thread because I'm struggling a lot with this. I am in menopause due to my age, but actually was initially thrown into it suddenly from breast cancer treatment 6 years ago. I'm now on maintenance medications that cause joint pain and weight gain. It's so frustrating. I'm at my heaviest ever right now. I am almost 58 yo, 5'4 1/2" and 177 lbs, with a huge spare tire around my middle. I actually look like I'm pregnant and have had people pat my belly and ask me if I have some "news" to share. (At 58? Ummmm...nope.)
I have been afraid to ask this question because I was afraid I'd be told I'm just making excuses...which I guess I kind of am but at the same time, they are valid issues. It has been very encouraging to read your replies and I wanted to thank you for (1) asking the question and (2) sharing your tips and knowledge about it.
Have a great day!
@OConnell5483 I do not see you as making excuses ... there certainly are obstacles and you are asking people who have experience surmounting them.
On the bright side, at 58 y.o. if people are intimating that you look as though you may be pregnant, then you must have a very youthful countenance.
I am looking to these posts for inspiration from those who are successful, like you, insomuch as I have not found it as easy at this stage in life to lose weight as earlier, but I am trying, and this time, this year, I've begun to show a little success on the scale, which is encouraging. But it has not been a result of eating chocolates, baked goodies and drinking wine. Logging meals that are mostly sound from a nutritional standpoint, and working towards more regular exercise/activity, less sitting, etc. .... might be a better strategy for me.5 -
@Skyweigh I guess that would be a good way to look at it...that they think I'm young enough to be pregnant. I never actually thought about it that way. Thank you for your insight.6
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I've been encouraged by reading your posts & feel like some of you have peaked into my heart and exposed my thoughts...
I'm 57 & have been surgically menopausal for 13+ years, struggling with yo-yo weight issues since my 30s. Thank you for your posts. My journey would be greatly complimented by a group like this!7 -
AKTipsyCat wrote: »I just turned 50, and am ONCE again starting on my weight loss journey. I started on the 1st of January with Whole 30, because I suspect part of my problem was inflammation and some food intolerance.. I'm on my last day of the plan and have not had heartburn, (which I was getting regularly) and have lots more energy than normal and my mood is just BETTER. I've lost about 9 pounds this month, and I know as I add some of the foods back, that the rate won't be as fast - but I also know that some of the foods I was eating WERE triggers and I feel like I have more of a handle on what my body can work with. Another benefit is that I'm over the cravings for carby, sweet foods and my morning coffees went from being over 250 calories of my day - to about 40.
Did you use the Whole 30 books? I don't have the main one. I just got the Whole 30 new cookbook that came out.
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I'm 56 and have been surgically menopausal since 2001. I am also hypothyroid. In the beginning of April I started restricting my calories to 1500/day, and watching my sugar, sodium, and saturated fat intake. I do a variety of exercises, such as walking and Daily Burn. I have lost 22.5 lbs so far. I am very happy with my progress. It's never too late to get fit and healthy.4
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I totally agree...its never too late. I am 61 and you can get out of your own prison of an unhealthy body.
I have lost 23lbs since November 2017. I feel mentally and physically better. Only have 30lbs left to go.
Tracking is a must as well as movement! Love buying clothes that I like instead of just the ones that just happen to fit. If you want it you will move heaven and earth to do it!4 -
Bumping this, as I think it's a great idea for a thread.
I lost 80 lbs in 12 months and have kept it off for 2 and a half years. Now aged 51.
Lots of good advice above.
Don't believe the myths about it being hard to lose weight as a mature woman. It's hard at any time, so just do it!
Read the helpful posts announcement topics at the top of the Getting Started and the General community sections, and learn from the successful people.5 -
Bumping this, as I think it's a great idea for a thread.
I lost 80 lbs in 12 months and have kept it off for 2 and a half years. Now aged 51.
Lots of good advice above.
Don't believe the myths about it being hard to lose weight as a mature woman. It's hard at any time, so just do it!
Read the helpful posts announcement topics at the top of the Getting Started and the General community sections, and learn from the successful people.
Orphia,
Thanks for reactivating this topic. I’m 53 (very close to 54!). I have been post menopausal for 5 years. I’m 5’2” and have lost 22lbs (half way point) since July 23rd. I have 1320 cal/day. I’ve lost the weight by counting calories, no set exercise routine. I do plan on starting to lift in the next few weeks (I need to get through a rough patch at work before I add anything to my schedule). I love MFP because I was already eating realitvly healthy, it was my portions that were out of wack! If anyone tells you a post menopausal 50+ women cannot lose weight just smile at them and say “Watch and Lean Sweetie Pie!”0 -
I’ve lost 44lb and 9% body fat since June.
I’m 54, and 4 yrs post a total hysterectomy. I lost weight prior to my surgery maintained for two years and then regained the weight (and more) during a stressful couple of years. I’ve been on a mission to reclaim my body since June this year. Like many of us post-meno ladies, I’ve heaps of experience losing weight (and gaining).
This time I have focused on gentleness towards myself. Anything I do to change my situation must be something I feel I call do for the long haul.
I log and eat 1,500-1,700 cals per day
I aim for a 500-700 deficit
I eat 100g protein daily and aim to keep my carbs below 125g
I compete with friends to hit 10k steps daily
I train in the gym 2 x week - 50% aerobic, 50% weights (often body weight)
I cycle 3 times per week.
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I am 53, weigh 88.9 kg. It's my 44th day of MFP. I plan to be at my ideal weight of 70 kg. In my search of support I found this community blog and I must say that every one here is a champion! Their struggle is inspiring and makes me feel less lonely in the battle of the bulge.0
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I turned 55 2 weeks ago.
I started doing strict keto 95 days ago and so far have lost 22.8 pounds. My starting weight was 202.6 and todays weight is 179.8. My goal is 145.
I track, measure and weigh everything. I eat up to 1200 calories a day and I'm never hungry.
Before anyone barks at my calories there is school of thought that says that if you eat the calories for your goal weight then you are not fighting to stay at maintence, and actually your body has been their the whole time. I have in the past on other eating plans like WW, low fat etc. had a hard time adjusting calories down. Keto keeps me full and there is no adjusting.
In the last month I have introduced 16/8 IF a couple of days a week on days that it feels right.
I do not work out or do any exercise.
I feel GREAT! .
When I started I committed to a year and I have no plans to change what I am doing.0
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