Seniors losing weight: support and motivation

Welcome. I’m 70, also trying to lose for health reasons. I am headed to my first Silver Sneakers class today.
As for rewards, lots of people recommend things like manicure/pedicure, new clothes, new haircut, new electronic toy.
There are lots of good groups to join here. Might as well jump right in.

Welcome to the community! 🧡

If you haven’t already, read the stickies at the top of the getting started forum.

I’m 61. I lose 5 pounds at a time. That means my next goal is always in reach.

Buy a food scale. Weigh everything you eat and log into the food diary.

Good luck with your journey!

gruiz21 wrote: »

Hi. I'm a 73 years old woman who was just told I have high blood pressure; this added to my knee arthritis and thyroid condition. Doc said if I lose weight I can conquer the blood pressure and improve my knee situation. So that is my motivation besides wanting to look good. My goal is weight loss increments of 10 lbs each and having a small celebration each time. But don't know how to reward myself. I am a good listener and supporter and like to explore all thoughts about weight loss. Hope I hear from you.

Welcome!

Some things that can be good rewards are new hobby "toys" for whatever hobbies you have (maybe fitness-related if you start getting into that, otherwise crafts or whatever you enjoy), something like a spa day or professional massage, some nice-scented luxurious soap/lotion sort of thing, an enjoyable experience like a special musical event or play, etc. For some people, getting new clothes as they get smaller can be a good reward, but I'm an oddball who hates to clothes-shop, so for me that "new clothes" thing was more of a punishment.

FWIW, I did find that losing weight** brought my high blood pressure, and high cholesterol/triglycerides, solidly back into the normal ranges. I also have less pain/discomfort from my (relatively mild) osteoarthritis and torn meniscus, and that pain/discomfort troubles me less often. It made a pretty big difference, for me. Exercise can also help with blood pressure, and that's something we can work into gradually, using activities that are a tiny bit challenging but manageable, then increasing slowly as strength increases and pain descreases. More strength can also reduce joint pain sometimes, too, by strengthening the stabilizing muscles.

** I lost about 50 pounds back in 2015 at age 59-60, and I've stayed at a healthy weight since, after 3 decades plus of obesity before that. I'm also hypothyroid, but that's well-managed with medication, so not a meaningful factor for me. I'm now 64, and pretty active. MFP was a huge help, both as a tool that made the process easier/more manageable, and via all the good information available from the community.

Best wishes!

You cain do this but you have to stick at it since doing more exercise I have had less back and hip pain but I do have to watch my knee its about being flexible and adapting exercises to fit your own needs. Logging food has heped me keep on track. Good luck!

sandrakarinab wrote: »

I go for the “new piece of clothing” reward AND a lazy day (guilt-free). My reward marker is a 5kg loss (close enough to 10lbs). In between, I’ll run in side seams of loose garments for that “looking better” mini reward.

Now, can someone suggest what to do with that packet of biscuits, bag of nuts and bag of potato chips that I’ve hidden away for visitors but is now getting close to the the “use by”?

Good ideas I do that to my clothes too, I would eat the potato chips, share the biscuits out with a neighbour over a cup of tea and snack on the nuts in an evening then don!t buy anymore.

I just checked my hi-cal food stash. Nuts and sweet biscuits have already vanished 🤔.
Chips should be still good by the next card night I go to. Savoury biscuits are good for a couple more months - will be my one and only standby for unplanned visitors.

Next question: When I’m feeling lazy, my body seems to want to gravitate towards food/drink, and I’m not talking carrot sticks and herbal teas. Any suggestions? I know that trying to curbing the laziness is one.

Hollis100 wrote: »

sandrakarinab wrote: »

Next question: When I’m feeling lazy, my body seems to want to gravitate towards food/drink, and I’m not talking carrot sticks and herbal teas. Any suggestions? I know that trying to curbing the laziness is one.

A hot drink, like decaf coffee or tea, is filling and soothing for me.

Once in a while I've tried sugarless gum, but even that has about 5 calories a stick, or 75 calories for most of those small packs

For my own laziness, I think about my bad blood test results, the high cholesterol and high triglycerides I hope have gone down by now, my high blood pressure that goes down with weight loss and exercise, how I absolutely don't want to start taking meds when I can do something about it myself. Then I tell myself to get up and take a walk. It doesn't have to be a major workout, just a walk somewhere and back.

I agree totally. Hot decaf with 1/4 serving of something high protein or fat = 4 nuts, small bite of jerky, something that takes some chewing.

For laziness, I think about how much exercise I have added to my life, and I give myself permission to take it easy one day. My body probably needs it. I just take a slow walk through the park, or shopping. Some way to move, but not push too hard.

sandrakarinab wrote: »

I just checked my hi-cal food stash. Nuts and sweet biscuits have already vanished 🤔.
Chips should be still good by the next card night I go to. Savoury biscuits are good for a couple more months - will be my one and only standby for unplanned visitors.

Next question: When I’m feeling lazy, my body seems to want to gravitate towards food/drink, and I’m not talking carrot sticks and herbal teas. Any suggestions? I know that trying to curbing the laziness is one.

I'm a little curious exactly what you mean by lazy in this context, as I could interpret it in several ways: Not as active, so kind of bored? Fatigued (maybe under-slept or something), which tends to bump up the appetite hormones? Don't feel like putting effort into fixing more complicated but less calorie-dense food?

Depending on the details, good solutions might differ. (For each of the above scenarios, respectively, I'd go with absorbing sedentary hobby (or walk if enough energy for that), something restful but distracting (perhaps even a nap) or caffeine, or keeping ready-to-eat shelf-stable nutritious snacks on hand). In my experience, for myself, if there's an underlying problem that isn't actual physical hunger, then the best solution isn't food.

Best wishes!

I'm a little curious exactly what you mean by lazy in this context, as I could interpret it in several ways: Not as active, so kind of bored? Fatigued (maybe under-slept or something), which tends to bump up the appetite hormones? Don't feel like putting effort into fixing more complicated but less calorie-dense food?

Best wishes![/quote]

Point taken. By lazy I mean ” unwilling to work or use energy” as in the dictionary. No excuse of fatigue or boredom, just looking for an excuse to avoid chores.
Thanks for the suggestions for when the “laziness” is valid though.

Hollis100 wrote: »

One more comment about the sugarless gum. This may be TMI, but it's reality, and we're all here to help each other. Sugarless gum upsets some people's stomachs, meaning it can give you gas if you chew more than a few sticks. Often, sorbitol is an ingredient, which is also an ingredient in laxatives.

https://solvingtheibspuzzle.com/chewing-gum-and-gas/

In addition to decaf coffee and tea, if I'm really hungry and have the calories, a cup of soup, like low-sodium vegetable, is very filling -- only about 100 calories. I like Amy's brand soups.

Thanks for the warning on the sorbitol. It IS an ingredient of the gum I just bought.
Yes, the soup is a good option. I should use it more often.
Going to the shops has kicked me into action. Home now and about to tackle my lawns. Thanks everyone.

I am 68. I went on this journey tow years ago and lost 60 lbs with the help of nutrisystem. While it works its not good from as I love real food and sweets. So little by little I have gainThe surgery and recovery went very well as I was walking and had the weight loss. Now after putting it back on my knee is somewhat cranky and the other knee is now going. After the loss I began to think I wouldn't even need the replacement. My last checkup, my bw came in normal range however my blood pressure is higher almost to the point of needing medication. So I too will once again begin my journey. I plan to eat real food this time and learn portion control which will be difficult for me. Also whenever i sit down, which is often lately I grab a snack, lollipop, chips, cookies anything sweet . So I will ned to remove it from the house. I think I grab snack because they are easy...just open the bag. So I will have to prepare something now. I like lots of foods and I think my best option is to prepare them, freeze n heat, or just learn to portion it out whenThursday I will cook and I will eat but I won't overdo. I hope. I have found in the past it was helpful to log each day as it made me feel more accountable.

Here is an accountability group you will enjoy in this journey. https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/134776-ultimate-accountability-challenge-december-2019