Being older and losing weight

Blythmag · October 2018

Is it harder?
Im 50 and feel like im trying to use it as an excuse but is it actually true? Is it/should it be harder at my age, im doing well so far but have 15 lbs to go to get to my target but keeping it going is proving tough, marraige next year is giving me inspiration.

GOT_Obsessed · October 2018

I am 47 and just lost 63 lbs. (So I am close to 50) To me it's been way easier this attempt because I have had less distractions with social outings and peer pressures like I had in my 30s.

Plus I have more money and could afford a gym membership, an air fryer, Halo Top, some kettlebells and other things to help keep me on track. It can be done at any age if you stay focused and consistent.

Good luck.

2baninja · October 2018

I'm 49, I started with my weight loss last Sept. I've lost 35#, and that included being (unintentionally and unplanned) on maintenance for the summer. I've lost weight before a couple of times, this 35# is the most I've ever lost at once, I don't find it any harder then I have in the past, if I eat how I should, it comes off. period. I know easier said them done, but that is really all it boils down to.
But to answer your question, I don't find it harder this time then when I was younger.

AnnPT77 · October 2018

I'm 62. I lost 50+ pounds at age 59-60 in just less than a year, and didn't find it too hard.

Most people seem to find the last 10-15 pounds the hardest. It's a good plan to set yourself to lose 0.5 pounds a week at that stage (to minimize health risk), and that's a small enough calorie deficit that it takes pretty meticulous calorie tracking to pull off.

Personally, I don't think age has per se anything to do with it, other than because we tend to be less active, and consequently have decreased muscle mass, as we age. Fortunately, both of those are things we have influence over.

Best wishes!

jhilkene · October 2018

I don't think age makes a bit of difference!
The only thing that can make it difficult, is injuries, health issues, etc., and even then, logging the food you eat is something all of us can do!
Getting married sounds like a great motivator to get started!
Congrats and good luck!

karenlong7 · October 2018

I'm 51 and have lost 136 pounds in the last 9 months. Even post-menopausal, it can be done.

vanityy99 · October 2018

Thats normal when you don’t have much more weight to lose. I’m way younger with at least 15 pounds to lose and the scale is fighting me, it hasn’t been easy! Keep going don’t get discouraged.

lorrpb · October 2018

I lost 150 lbs at age 59. It doesn't matter if it's easier or harder than someone else or at some other point in your life. It is what it is. Obviously for me I was more successful at 59 than any other point in my life. I wanted it badly enough. I also believe that we have the maturity and life experience to tackle hard tasks and reach a goal. Let your young age be a tool and a strength not an excuse.

spiriteagle99 · October 2018

Unless you have health issues (i.e. undiagnosed thyroid) getting older shouldn't make it more difficult. Many people gain weight as they get older, not because of slower metabolism, but simply because they move less.

DoubleUbea · October 2018

Here is a success story for you.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10683218/my-weight-loss-journey/

UncaToddly · October 2018

I turned 50 in November. In 2015 I was 387 pounds (6'0") and eating whatever I wanted and in huge quantities. Working on portion control got me to 356 which is when my doctor referred me to my hospitals bariatric clinic to go the non-surgical route. With insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome, they put me on a program of low carb(85g)/high protein (160g), eat 6 times a day, 2200 calories and told me to start with walking.

I did that, felt like I was eating all the time just not the stuff I wanted and was doing 2-4 mile walks around the neighborhood 4-5 days a week. I got down to 295 and then slowly started creeping back up eventually hitting where I started...356.

That was in March of this year. I got back on the same thing originally, then after looking into the health benefits of intermittent fasting (most specifically the effects of lowered insulin levels for longer periods of time) I started doing 20:4 IF in June. I also could see how the ketogenic eating worked so well with IF so I spent about a month transitioning to that mainly because we had just bought groceries that were more LCHP friendly.

I am currently at 249 and have gone from a 52" waist in pants to the current 42" that were really too big when I bought them (I never even tried the 40" because I couldn't imagine they would fit).

Thursday I had my first followup DEXAscan done.

Body Fat % went down from 34.6% to 28.1% for a 6.5% decrease in body fat. Pounds-wise it went from 97.4 to 68.7 for 28.7 pounds of pure body fat.

Lean Muscle dropped from 176.3 to 168 but as a percentage of body mass it is actually about a 6% increase.

Other than how and when I eat, I typically do 35 minutes walking on a treadmill at a good incline (9 of 15) and a pace of 3.0-3.3 mph at Planet Fitness 3 times a well. I think I have done minor strength training about 6 times during that period and I eat anywhere between 1800-2400 calories a day, some days as much as 3000 or more if we go to someplace special to eat.

Unlike past attempts where I felt deprived all the time, I feel like I could do this forever. I don't have the cravings for the cakes and cookies and pizza and such I used to have all the time and on the odd occasion I do eat carb/sugar laden treats I certainly enjoy them more but I don't need to have a ton of them anymore.

So yeah, you can change things at 50. And the last part is always the toughest because you wanna be there.

I wish you luck.

vanmep · October 2018

If it does get harder as you get older, then you better get started this very minute!

Machka9 · October 2018

holycrosser wrote: »

Is it harder?
Im 50 and feel like im trying to use it as an excuse but is it actually true? Is it/should it be harder at my age, im doing well so far but have 15 lbs to go to get to my target but keeping it going is proving tough, marraige next year is giving me inspiration.

When I was 47, I thought age was a good excuse ... but at 48 I decided to lose the weight and dropped 25 kg.

kgirlhart · October 2018

I started on mfp at age 47. I am now 50 and have lost ~78 pounds. I have been in maintenance for almost a year. I honestly found it easier to use mfp and count calories than all the "diets" I tried in my 20's and 30's.

nowine4me · October 2018

I’ve done this a few times, but my current (and last) attempt has been the most successful. I started at 50 and am now 53. I’ve lost 85# and have maintained (for the most part) for two years. I’d say it was easier than past attempts (despite being in the middle of menopause) because my head was in the right place. I took it slow and learned a lot along the way.

Of note....in addition to overhauling my diet, I also worked hard on improving my sleep and reducing stress. I think it made a huge difference.

OldAssDude · October 2018

I did it at 57. I lost 57 lbs. in 52 weeks, but I did it mainly from power walking every day. I did roughly count my calories until I learned how to eat better. Then I stopped counting. I went from a 40 waist to a 32 waist.

I still power walk a lot, but now I also run, cycle, do interval runs, kayak, and occasional strength training. I do at least 1 activity per day 7 days a week, even if it's a quick 3 mile walk. I figure that I eat every day, I sleep every day, I should do an activity every day.

I have been maintaining my weight ever since, and I don't even log food. I'm 61 now.

sgt1372 · October 2018

68 here. Lost 46# in the past 2 yrs.

Daily weigh-ins, sticking to calorie limit by logging all food eaten and exercising daily was what it took for me to achieve it.

Didn't find it difficult to do but others may not feel likewise.

JRSINAZ · October 2018

I lost 100 pounds in 8 months at 62 years old.

Blythmag · October 2018

Some fantastic stories thank you.im with yous on the distractions of youth, less partying is helping, my journey is 6 weeks old and im down 6lb so its a great start, 15lb to go before June next year and the big day.Seems age is no barrier if you want it.

Mishilovescolours · October 2018

I am post menapausal and losing weight is easy enough for me. As long as I eat sensibly. I have a long way to go, but I don’t think she is s barrier.

nexangelus · October 2018

No, age does not make a difference, being more sedentary does, though...I am 44, post menopausal, training for a strongman competition and eating at a deficit. I have never been as strong, fit or feeling as great as I do right now...still losing a few pounds to reach weight class...I have lost 31.2lbs over the last 16months (I also did a deliberate bulk when I was still not lean at 167lbs to overcome some ED stuff and it worked)...if you want to achieve something, you will do it!

workinonit1956 · October 2018

I’ve lost 43 pounds this year at age 62. It’s been easier for me this time than in past attempts.

Blythmag · November 2018

workinonit1956 wrote: »

I’ve lost 43 pounds this year at age 62. It’s been easier for me this time than in past attempts.

Why do you think it has?

GottaBurnEmAll · November 2018

I'm 56, came on this website when I was 52 and weighed 210 pounds. I now weigh 120.

I've struggled with weight my whole life, and this by far has been the easiest attempt and most successful I've been at weight loss.

sijomial · November 2018

I found it far easier to lose weight in my 50's compared to earlier attempts.
Food labelling and tools like MyFitnessPal helped enormously as it strips away excuses. The numbers are right there and it's up to you to take action on the data in front of you.
When you accept responsibility for how much you eat and how much you move the rest follows relatively easily - age really isn't a factor in that.

Also I simply had more "me time" in my 50's. Children and career took up less time so I used my time to work on improving my health and fitness - losing the excess weight I carried around for over 20 years was a part of that.

countcurt · November 2018

I guess I’d ask a different question of the OP. Which is, why does it matter? If it’s more difficult, that is?

Because you can’t control your age. Or your genetics. Or your gender. So, to the extent that any of these plays a role in relative ease of weight loss, you have no ability to do anything about them. The one thing you can control, which is the one thing any of us can control, is how much you eat. So if you eat fewer calories than your body needs, you lose weight. Regardless of any of these other factors that might impact the actual numbers.

So, is it harder at an older age? Wasn’t for this 60 something guy who lost all the weight in his early 50’s and has managed to keep [most of] it off over the past decade.

mph323 · November 2018

I'm 67 and am 8 months into maintenance. The first year I was in weight loss mode I had a full time desk job and a long commute. It was easier this time (last time was more than 5 years previously) because I lost much more slowly. I think sometimes as we age we slow down our activity level, and that makes it seem like it was easer to eat more and lose faster in the past. I know when I started to be mindful of getting in more steps as part of my daily activity (just moving around more during the day, nothing big), it wasn't really any more difficult to lose than in the past.

Sometimes just getting out of the mindset that "it's harder because I'm older" can really make a difference in motivation and perceived effort.

jaweeston · November 2018

I turned 63 3 weeks ago. I started Dec1st 2017 and I have lost 60#. I have 10 more to go. MyFitnessPal has helped so much to keep me on track. My weight has been an issue my entire adulthood. This time around I realized this was for me and my Health.....not for an event or a special date or to fit into an outfit. I wanted to be as healthy as possible. I hope you can change your mindset. Even if it is difficult it is worth it. Good luck. Stay connected for support.

CarvedTones · November 2018

Turn 60 in less than 2 months. Lost ~65 pounds to get to a BMI of ~24 that I have maintained for 8 months. I have also been working out and paddling quite a bit and will turn 60 with visible abs. Age by itself is not an excuse IMO.

SimplyMary66 · November 2018

I’m 66 and think it’s much harder not just being older but having physical problems. Every time I get going either my sciatica or neck starts hurting more. It ticks me off royally!

brenn24179 · November 2018

I am 65 and lost 30 lbs since July. I lost 40 lbs 5 years ago and kept it off for five years, then gained 25 lbs back last winter, maybe adult children problems, maybe could not quit eating after the flu. My scales were off 10 lbs which was very discouraging was part of it. ANyway started again in July and lost 25 plus 5. I eat half what I use to, just got in a bad habit and realized all that extra food I did not need. Now I ask myself is that extra food going to do anything positive for me? and put it back.

Being older and losing weight

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