I need to get back on track

Mare0115
Mare0115 Posts: 1 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hi All,

My name is Mary, I hit the big 60 this year and in the worse shape I've ever been. My body hurts all the time. I know if I could get rid of some of this weight I would feel better. I am going to try to do low carb, I hear positive things about this, some of my coworkers are doing the keto diet, I don't think I can do that, not enough carbs. Anyone do low carb and how many grams of carbs do you have? I am going to start with 100 - 150 grams and see what kind of success I have.

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited September 2018
    Losing weight is so simple - weightloss depends on one thing, and one thing only - a sustained calorie deficit. But sustaining a calorie deficit depends on adherance to diet. And adherance to whatever diet strategy you pick, is going to depend on whether it's a diet style you like.

    Don't start with grams of carbs. First set your calorie target properly - pick a weekly weightloss rate of no more than 1% of your bodyweight. Assess your daily activity (exercise not included) as honestly as you can. Use your food diary and a food scale. Just doing that, and aiming to hit your calorie target daily (you can prelog to make it easier), will be a great start. It's also enough to lose weight, if you do it right, and it's probably enough if you have other things to do.

    If you feel that it's hard to stick to your allotted calories, that you find yourself hungrier than you're comfortable with, or tired/lethargic, then look into macros.

    As a general principle, start with the basics, and proceed towards the more specialized. It's okay to be lazy if you're smart lazy. Somehow, in a time of nobody giving a ****, low hanging fruit has gotten a bad name. I like low hanging fruit, it's just as delicious as the fruit at the top, and I don't risk hurting myself falling down from the tree :)
  • dejavuohlala
    dejavuohlala Posts: 1,821 Member
    Good luck Mary, try what you can stick to that's the best way.
  • dvg1027
    dvg1027 Posts: 2 Member
    Hi Mary,
    I am 62 so I know exactly how you feel.
    I had open heart surgery in Dec. 2017. I had to have a part of my aorta replace and the aortic valve replaced. Something I was born with. They say it takes up to a year to fully recover. Then only 3 months later my husband ended up in the hospital for 28 days, followed by 5 weeks at a rehab facility. He is home now but has to do home dialysis. But he is doing rather well too. Oh and we are in the process of selling our house and purchasing in a 55+ community. Talk about stress overload.

    I have tried the low carb route but it wasn't for me. Although a lot of people including my sister have been very successful. So good luck with it. If you put your mind to it, almost anything will work.

    I am basically just trying to each healthy and track everything on MFP. I was halfheartedly doing if for about a month and finally just told myself I have to get serious about this.

    Good luck going forward.

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