65, can we bring the body back one more time?
gingerbeericecold
Posts: 23 Member
Was thin and athletic when I was younger -- clear up to 48 years old, and then the gain began very slowly but consistently till I am now 65 and 40 pounds over my goal. Got run over by a car two years ago (I was on the sidewalk!) and it has been really hard to come back from that, but competed in dragon boat racing (we won 7 medals this year) to firm up the flesh and am now ready to diet and increase exercise. Tried keto, but hated it. I've cooked from scratch, healthy, fresh, organic all my life and won't give that up. But I can count calories. Been trying to hike 90 minutes 4 days a week. Very steep mountains around here. Am about to try my third pair of boot/shoes in my effort to find the most comfortable. A knee injury (from the car run-over) has so far kept me from mountain hiking every day. Every other day is as good as it gets for now, but I started with two miles just twice a week and am up to over four miles three times a week in just three weeks. I bought a fitness watch which has pleased me mightily so far. Even has GPS to track my path up the mountain. Cool.
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I am curious how my 65 y.o. body might emerge from menopausal and back surgery weight gain. Also about 40 lbs extra, as per you OP. Tried Keto for about 7 weeks with zero loss, admittedly not with perfect adherence but really with next to no carbs and sugars. No weight loss, so as of today I broke my intermittent fast at noon with a fruit feast and celebration of a pear a nectarine and an avocado - a thorough fruit extravaganza. I am going to embrace my inner fruit fairy and find my own wood land path. I walk daily though slowed and limited by back “disease,” or gravity + weight gain’s impact on spine. I think being creative about my eating is more comfortable for me than trying to meet the strict metrics of Keto. I like limiting processed foods and their carbs so will still embrace that, and healthy plant based oils, but fruit has to be part of my diet, and I think to honor that I will continue to exclude all sugars besides fruit. Exercise stress reduction sleep all need focus. I am allergic to the plastic in fitness watch bands but my doctor was wearing one with a metal mesh band and I could buy one like that. Focus and being creative with food I hope will lead to emerging from this fat cocoon!6
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I am only 67 - and yes, you can!4
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Imaginemary you seem to be on a similar path as me and you too are finding your own diet. Very glad to meet you online. I was also very worried about the plastic watch, band but I don't seem to have a problem with the one I got, except it's annoying to wear a watch after a whole life of mostly not wearing a watch. Update on my workout: I've now either hiked or worked hard three days in a row!! I'm usually really knocked out every other day. I walked nearly six miles on Friday and was tired on Saturday so took a shorter, steeper route which proved to be killer - so much for that strategy - and then cleared out a storage unit on Sunday. That storage unit really whipped me. My body hurt so bad I could barely walk after three hours of that. But its done at last! Today, going to try to do a mild hike just to train toward the habit of daily walking.
Neugebauer52 thanks for the encouragement!3 -
Thank you all for sharing, this has been an interesting read! My mom is only 64 but her quality of life is very poor due to not taking care of herself. I've started on my own fitness journey this past spring solely because I don't want to end up like my mom. It's inspiring to read about fit seniors and to know that it can be done!6
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I'm 65 and I believe we can do this. Everyone always says "I'm too old" or "When you get older, you always gain weight". This is not true. We can do it, a little bit more everyday. Yes, it might take a little longer but I believe we can lose the weight and be healthy again. Let's hit it!!7
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Go, Girl! You got this!
P.S. I have a family member who is in her mid-70's, has had Parkinson's disease for several years now, and still goes backpacking with her husband and still carries her own stuff. They just got back from a trip a few weeks ago. She's awesome! If she can do it, we can do it!
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What you can measure, you can control. Measure your food and weight as well as several body dimensions. Control all of them by means of intentional effort.6
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?? why not Age 60 HBP over 365 pounds fairly sedentary age 71 195 pounds run 5 days a week average 5 miles a day and decided to lose about 20 more pounds and begin to train for a half marathon next spring
You can do whatever you decide to do for yourself
I have a hat that says " older than dirt" and a tee shirt " All Men are created equal, but the best can still run in their 70s" because I get asked a lot why do you do ?? this at your age? because I can folks and it feels real good11 -
Hi all, I'm 56 and a firm believer you can stay healthy no matter what your age, my mum was very active till 76 only slowed down due to the dementia but physically she was still great till 84 when she had a fall, she was always an avid walker which I'm sure helped her.
Good luck everyone.4 -
What inspirational comments! There are three people on my dragon boat team that are over 70. I think our oldest is 74 (he was my bench mate this summer and is in great condition). BTW dragon boat racing is excellent exercise for people with knee, hip or low back problems. It's still a full-body workout but you don't put any percussive weight on your lower joints. My bench mate is having knee surgery now that the racing season is over, so you can see that racing is possible even if your knees are bad.
Several of my teammates have had back surgery (including me) and I actually joined the team 6 months after I got run over by the car to use racing as physical therapy (because I knew I'd get competitive and push myself). There are many dragon boat teams for "golden" age racers, blind racers, and cancer survivors.
Last year we had a race team come to our competition that was made up of women of all ages, many over 200 pounds. They were getting in shape and having a great time doing it. Loved seeing that.
So, it has been five days since I joined this site and I've lost one pound. I'm still tinkering with my diet to find what gives me sustained energy as I seem to have several low energy days each week. I just added both MSM and Hemp protein to my lunchtime smoothy and today was a low energy day, but nothing as low as last week - so I think it's working.2 -
I am 65 and also had many surgeries which waylaided me for awhile until I could work myself back, back, neck, shoulder, ankle, knee, abdominal, wrist and soon another surgery coming up. I am down 68 pounds this time and in another pound + 2 ounces will reach 100. I just tell myself I am not giving up. I work out at the gym, ride bikes and walk. Older then dirt and still lifting and I love it. Best of luck, just keep counting the calories and having a deficit and you will be there in no time.5
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no no no, cannot be done, nothing can be improved, buy a pickax and dig your own grave now.... 🤣1
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You've got the needed attitude and strategy, so I think you'll do fine.
Using MFP, I lost about 50 pounds at age 59-60, after literally decades of obesity, and have maintained a healthy weight (5'5", mid-130s) for 4 years since. (I'm now 63, 64 in November.)
No keto or low carb for me, BTW, just sound, balanced nutrition at the right calorie level (plus a few treats now and then for pure pleasure
).
I was pretty active even while obese, and now row on water 4 days a week in season, and go to spin class 2 other days. I feel better physically than I did in my 40s, and my formerly bad cholesterol/triglycerides and blood pressure are back in the normal zone. Even my bad knees hurt much less, with less weight to haul around.
Expect success: Best wishes!4 -
A super day today 2 main walks 16241 steps knees not too bad today but hip a bit sore.2
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?? why not Age 60 HBP over 365 pounds fairly sedentary age 71 195 pounds run 5 days a week average 5 miles a day and decided to lose about 20 more pounds and begin to train for a half marathon next spring
You can do whatever you decide to do for yourself
I have a hat that says " older than dirt" and a tee shirt " All Men are created equal, but the best can still run in their 70s" because I get asked a lot why do you do ?? this at your age? because I can folks and it feels real good
Exactly right @Ke22yB Such a great post.
OP, sounds like you're physically active and motivated. Throw the age thing out the window. I wish you much success!
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Age 72 and about that much left to lose after losing 22 pounds in the last couple of months. Have been battling my weight all of my life, but recently found out I have kidney disease so am trying to do what I can to eat more healthy and slow progression down, Have not had much energy to exercise and it is just this week cooling down here in Tulsa so I hope to be able to begin a regular exercise routine. Belong to the YWCA so no really good excuses I suppose. Looking for encouragement, friends, and motivation. Also work part time for registered and licensed dieticians so, along with the supplements I purchased there and seeing one as a patient after hours, I have good support during those work hours.2
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Lat1963 wrote: : no no no, cannot be done, nothing can be improved, buy a pickax and dig your own grave now.... I think I'd have to work out a lot to be able to swing that pick ax and dig that deep. Better get to working out!4
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Down a full 25 lbs now and ready to go for the next 25, and the next, and the final 25. Walking momentarily trying to determine the best location where I am safest and still can get a good walk in.3
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Trying to best determine what alternative I can use when the weather does not permit a one hour walk each afternoon. I have a Wii Fit and Wii Sports, but don't think it will substitute for a three mile walk. I do belong to the YWCA, but find the treadmill to be boring. Suggestions?0
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Trying to best determine what alternative I can use when the weather does not permit a one hour walk each afternoon. I have a Wii Fit and Wii Sports, but don't think it will substitute for a three mile walk. I do belong to the YWCA, but find the treadmill to be boring. Suggestions?
Our mall has a walking club in the mornings before the mall opens, I have never been but hear from friends it is fun so maybe your mall has the same.0 -
Find an exercise routine on you tube and do that's there are loads to choose from0
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Trying to best determine what alternative I can use when the weather does not permit a one hour walk each afternoon. I have a Wii Fit and Wii Sports, but don't think it will substitute for a three mile walk. I do belong to the YWCA, but find the treadmill to be boring. Suggestions?
If the walking thing is important to you, but you are limited to an indoor, non-treadmill kind of workout, you could try something like a Jessica Smith walking workout. She has tons of different workouts. Here's one sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4IH12Piuf4 1 -
Trying to best determine what alternative I can use when the weather does not permit a one hour walk each afternoon. I have a Wii Fit and Wii Sports, but don't think it will substitute for a three mile walk. I do belong to the YWCA, but find the treadmill to be boring. Suggestions?
If the walking thing is important to you, but you are limited to an indoor, non-treadmill kind of workout, you could try something like a Jessica Smith walking workout. She has tons of different workouts. Here's one sample:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4IH12Piuf4
Thanks I'll check it out!1 -
This worked well!0
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no no no, cannot be done, nothing can be improved, buy a pickax and dig your own grave now.... 🤣
Digging’s a good workout!
Loving this thread!! @imaginemary best of luck in your continued journey. This 40-something has a thread full of role models!1 -
When I shared with a person that I wanted to get down to my normal BMI weight of 174 she said “don’t do that you’d look horrible!”😳. This is what I looked like at 180 pounds:
I was an athlete and had been inducted into the track and field hall of fame for my state.
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lindaporter2018 wrote: »When I shared with a person that I wanted to get down to my normal BMI weight of 174 she said “don’t do that you’d look horrible!”😳. This is what I looked like at 180 pounds:
I was an athlete and had been inducted into the track and field hall of fame for my state.
You can do anything you want no one has a right to put you down it's your choice, you look lovely then and now!1
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