55-65 year old women's success?

skytuner · February 2019

Hi, everyone! I am the OP: pianorun ->skyweigh-> now morphing anew. Unfortunately, I have morphed up the scale again, as well.

I've been rather sedentary for awhile. Yesterday, nearly by accident, I went for a twenty minute walk, and thought that I really should do at least that and then increase to about 40 minutes. I'd dearly love to run again, too. Goodness! I even have a gym membership I've been neglecting!

Today, I've been catching up with your posts and "thinking about things".

Now, at 64 (and a half!) I am relatively healthy, and have no significant physical (or even emotional) challenges.

Your posts are all inspirational and I am so grateful for every share. One thing that sunk in deeply when I was at WW in my 40s (lost 40 lbs! then too!) is that everyone wishes only success for each other when the goal is weight loss for a healthier life.

Maybe in time I may be able to share some success. Right now, if I can "release" five pounds in the next few weeks it would be a great start.

NewBetterBest18 · February 2019

After loosing 60 lbs then gaining back 12 lbs over the holidays, I met with a personal trainer who mentioned using free weights. So at 61 years old I tried it and found that I actually like doing strength training. I lost that 60lbs in about 13 months, then stalled for a while, because I got lazy and slacked off on my gym/zumba sessions. Now back into 4 times a week at the gym. It's been a few weeks now and I'm feeling a difference in the way my clothes fit. That makes me happy.

debtay123 · February 2019

Great to see we are starting up this thread again- we have to keep encouraging each other- for the last few weeks- I have not lost but it has been a maintain- I may lose.02 or.04 something like that but same number on the scale- but I will keep trying and trying to eat right- also need to keep up my movement too. Love walking and "trying" to dance with youtube videos-

brenn24179 · February 2019

shopping for jeans since mine are so baggy, lost 30 lbs since July. They make all the jeans for teens but I bought a pair anyway, loved my old Ryder Lee Jeans, guess I am showing my age of 65 but bought some of the more modern stretchy ones, not near as comfortable though but got a size 8,use to wear 14, yea me!

griffinca2 · February 2019

Welcome newbies! Been here abt three years and in maintenance. Older than most of you; do weights three days a week (unless life gets in the way). Anyway, my problem is finding clothes that fit (I'm short for starters) and really don't want to dress like Aunt Bee and don't want to dress like I'm 25 either. Just remember, it's a journey not a sprint, you will have ups and downs; just get back up and start over--never give up! Good luck to all!

making_tracks · February 2019

Hello there. I’m 55 in August this year. Here’s an up date on my progress. I’ve lost 56.5lb over the last nine months and shifted my body fat from 44% to 28%. I have gone from a UK size 20 (US 18) to a UK dress size 12 (US 10). My waist has shrunk 16” ... from 46” to 30”.

My physical routine involves 2 x gym sessions with a 50/50 mix of aerobic work and body weight/light weight core and functional fitness training, 2 x heav(ier) weight training sessions of weighted squats, dead lifts, assisted pull ups and the like. Then 3 x bike spin type sessions on Zwift. I have steady increased my exercise over the 9 months, adding first the 2 gym sessions, then the bike spin sessions and finally in December the weight training. I had a Dexa Scan in October 2018 and found that my visiceral fat percentage was still too high. The consultant recommended I increased my up body strength but continued with my diet (more about this in a minute). In February this year I returned for a follow up scan and found that adding the weighted work into my training meant I lost a further 9.9kg of body fat with 5kg of this coming from my trunk - exactly where your visceral fat stores are! The scan also showed I have gained 1.6kg in muscle. This has helped explain why I am getting smaller but not lighter..... Weight training is key for me. I love it and it makes me feel incredible.

My diet is simple. I eat around 1,800 calories a day by consuming a minimum of 100g of protein each day and no more than 125g of carbohydrate. I don’t worry so much about fat. This looks like eggs and toast for breakfast, milky coffee as a morning snack, protein and vegetables for lunch, protein, veg and a small portion of carbohydrate for my evening meal. I have 150 calorie mid afternoon snack and a milky drink at bedtime. I usually cook once a day and then make the left overs from my evening meal into a lunch box midday meal for the following day.

The before picture was taken on 27 May 2018. The after picture on January 20 2019.

skytuner · February 2019

You have done very well, and you look great, too! Particularly interesting is the visceral fat measurement --- so important. I'm not familiar with how this is done? I am just getting started back on track for a healthier lifestyle, and your account is inspirational.

cory17 · February 2019

@making_tracks Wow - big difference, what a great job you are doing!!

cupcakes8kr · February 2019

I'd like to join this group please.

beachgal0626 · February 2019

@making_tracks awesome job keep it up! Looking great!

making_tracks · February 2019

skytuner wrote: »

You have done very well, and you look great, too! Particularly interesting is the visceral fat measurement --- so important. I'm not familiar with how this is done? I am just getting started back on track for a healthier lifestyle, and your account is inspirational.

A Dexa scan will give you an accurate visceral fat reading, however a scan isn’t always affordable or practical. Visceral fat is the fat we hold around our organs. We need some to provide protection but too much can mean the organ struggles to work effectively and increases liver diseases and diabetes.

A good way to measure your visceral fat is to measure your hip and natural waist ratio. Pop a tape around your waist and your hips at the widest point and divide waist / hip. You’re looking for a ratio less than 0.8 to have a healthier visceral fat level.

Reducing visceral fat is harder post menopause but not impossible.

High alcohol consumption increases visceral fat.

Hope this helps

debtay123 · February 2019

cupcakes- you are a member of our group if you post on this thread- you are part of us- so glad to see so many newbies- I am focusing more on being healthy this year as well- have lost 30 pounds in all on mfp- but still have about 10 or so to go to a healthy bmi . I lose very slowly now- but I will still keep trying- main focus is more fruits and veggies to crowd out the junk- it's working slowly for me

debtay123 · February 2019

making tracks- great job- awesome!!!

striving4moretoday · February 2019

PianoRun wrote: »

Looking for some inspiration. I lost my "chronic" 40 lbs of overweight with reasonable ease at age 45, and maintained for a couple of years. However, my motivation at this age is different, and is my ability to exercise with the same intensity has also decreased. Now, i don't want to hear all that stuff about how "age is just a number" -- There are many physical and emotional differences between women who have passed through menopause and those who are in their youth or who are pre-menopausal.... perhaps as many as between girls before menarche and teenagers who are growing into women. Anyway, I would be really interested in hearing from post-menopausal women who have lost significant weight and their experiences with that. Congratulations and high-fives to you all and your efforts!

im 59,.i have been training in gyms for most of my adult life. when I was younger the weight would fall off and muscle wAs easily built - not the case any longer - its a struggle. I had a job in 2017 that held us in a small space for 3 months 8 hours daily no movement, I put on so much weight - even though i was still working out - getting it off has been a struggle - but I keep at it because I know this lifestyle is healthier than the alternative even if I make no gains.

hope that helps.

skytuner · February 2019

@making_tracks Thanks! I am quite sure, even without measure, that my visceral fat is too much -- even without the hip measure, a waist measure of more than 35 usually means trouble.

Yet, I like the idea of a before and after accurate measurement, as you have, although I checked before your post and see that it is not $practical for me right now -- at the before stage! Also there are those who are not overweight, even "skinny" people who may have too much visceral fat.

I am very happy and encouraged that you have shared your success.

neeceelynn · February 2019

So much inspiration here. I am 64 and returning to mfp after a lengthy self inflicted separation. Ready to get back to a healthy me..which will lead to weight loss. Logging foods has always been my key to success. Lost 45 pounds in my 50's. Looking forward to learning from you all.
Congrats and good luck.

RetiredAndLovingIt · February 2019

@making_tracks...great job. Just wondering..how tall are you?

ndargy1977 · February 2019

@making_tracks WOW!!!!!! What an awesome story!!!! You look FANTABULOUS!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing, it's such a help to see others who have succeeded

springlering62 · February 2019

I am 56, and 5’ 7” tall. SW on September 10 was 221, joined MFP several weeks later. CW is 167. Current mini goal is completing loss of 1/4 of my starting body weight, next goal is to reach “normal” BMI at 159.

I started out following an elimination diet the doctor gave me, averaging roughly 2000 calories per day. I thought that elimination diet was the tool of the devil, and that I’d never be able to stick to it, but found out I enjoyed it so much, I’ve not varied very much from it, still eat a boatload of vegetables and still limit the wheat, dairy, and sugar. I now average about 1600. This includes a reasonably nice dinner with friends about once every two weeks. I don’t eat my excercise calories back, at the recommendation of my dietician. Per my Apple Watch, I earn at least 670 calories daily (no idea how it defaulted to that but am grateful it did because apparently I’m very Pavlovian when it comes to watching those colored wheels go round), often several hundred more. That seems ridiculously high, so I generally ignore it other than mentally high fiving myself when the wheels go around several times, lol.

I am very fortunate to live adjacent to a great walking/bike path, less than ten minute walk to both a yoga studio and a little neighborhood barbell gym, and my dog insists on at least two walks a day to our beautiful town square. There’s also a great health center at the hospital up the street, although I don’t go there often, I try to use all of these blessings. I’m retired, so outside of volunteer work (can walk to those commitments, too!), I have made “me” my new job.

I’ve been doing yoga for years, but now wear out my unlimited pass, especially after discovering how much I enjoy Pilates classes, and I just began working with a lovely trainer at the barbell gym twice a week. With walking, biking and the other exercise, I can easily exercise three or four hours a day, but it’s fun and I (me?!!!)enjoy keeping moving.

If anything, I’m starting to worry that I may be over exercising, so have scheduled a visit with the dietician, and am planning one with my Doctor, too.

I haven’t kept up with before and after photos. I never liked having my picture taken, so these are all I had, from a vacation exactly six months ago, a little more than a month before I started, and the new ones are from yesterday. My trainer insists I keep up with them now, and takes them herself. Even I was surprised when I dug these out a couple of days ago. I wish I’d been more conscious of taking photos along the way.

cory17 · February 2019

@springlering62 you are transforming, thank you for posting the great job!! Re the too much exercising - have a friend who is early 70s and she exercises probably 2 -3 hours most days, (very inspirational like you) and has the best health of anyone I know.

Wow, it shows what can be done by sticking with it.

55-65 year old women's success?

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