Almost 50 years old-help with weight loss 😩

Hi, I’m new here and only a couple of weeks in. My first week I lost almost 10 pounds of which I know was water weight. I just weighed myself and I only lost .9 pound! I’m sticking to my diet, eating good foods and walking 5 miles a day every morning for excruciating. I didn’t expect to lose another 9 pounds but not even losing a whole pound was just depressing. Anyone else been through this? I only started to have a weight issue in my forties and because of this stopped working out altogether. I’m trying to get down a total of forty pounds. My thyroid has been checked and I have already gone through the change. Any help ladies who are in my age range??
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Replies

  • onehottomatodmz
    onehottomatodmz Posts: 26 Member
    If the 1200 calories isn’t going to get me to my 2 pounds a week what should I do? I am also speed walking 5 days a week for 5 miles a day. Should I dip to 1000 calories a day?
  • ChickenKillerPuppy
    ChickenKillerPuppy Posts: 297 Member
    If the 1200 calories isn’t going to get me to my 2 pounds a week what should I do? I am also speed walking 5 days a week for 5 miles a day. Should I dip to 1000 calories a day?

    No. You should adjust your expectations, not your calories.

    Plan for 1 pound per week.

    ⬆️ This!! Losing .9 pounds in one week is great. Small sustainable habit changes will result in a slower weight loss but one that will last and that you can maintain. No rush and nothing to gain from eating an unhealthy and unsustainably low amount of calories.
  • onehottomatodmz
    onehottomatodmz Posts: 26 Member
    Ok, I was told by my cardiologist that due to my age and having already gone through the change that this was affecting my weight loss. My doctor is one of the top in the country so I really believed what he was telling me
  • cheryldumais
    cheryldumais Posts: 1,907 Member
    If the 1200 calories isn’t going to get me to my 2 pounds a week what should I do? I am also speed walking 5 days a week for 5 miles a day. Should I dip to 1000 calories a day?

    I agree with others not to lower your calories but instead lower your expectations. There are multitudes of folks on here who have done that over and over and then regained the weight. This is hard on you and can result in loss of muscle mass. You don't want that as muscle is needed and don't forget your heart is a muscle. Trust me slow and steady wins the race.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,399 Member
    Ok, I was told by my cardiologist that due to my age and having already gone through the change that this was affecting my weight loss. My doctor is one of the top in the country so I really believed what he was telling me

    Obviously your doctor knows your entire situation. That said, most doctors are not well versed in weight management. Is he a bariatric doctor?


    I lost 80 pounds after menopause. I lost weight at a consistent rate once I learned about calories and nutrition. I didn't eat super low calorie, more like 1500-2000. The higher days were on days I exercised (walking around my neighborhood.)

    Maybe go see a dietician if you need help with how much to eat.
    It's likely not 1200 calories and it's definitely NOT under 1000.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    edited February 2020
    I would love to lose almost a whole pound a week. My loss was slower, at about .5 pounds a week. Sometimes a bit more. It took me 8 months to lose 20 pounds. I’m 59 and was eating 1350 cals with weight training, spin or hiking 5-7 days a week (with a few binges/high calorie days and days off for spe ial occasions thrown into the mix). You have to be patient, AND consistent. I hit goal last September and guess what? I’m up 5 pounds already and back to careful logging/weighing of food. This MUST be a lifestyle change for you to have permanent success.
  • onehottomatodmz
    onehottomatodmz Posts: 26 Member
    Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not looking to lose a huge amount of weight every week. I’m just looking to lose 2 pounds a week. With losing under a pound this last week and working so hard at it, it seems like I must be doing something wrong.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    edited February 2020
    2lbs a week is a huge amount.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    I need to add:

    To lose 2 pounds per week, you need a 1000 calorie deficit EVERY DAY. This isn't safe/possible if your maintenance calories are anything less than 2200 calories per day.

    Do you have any idea what your maintenance calories are?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,399 Member
    "working so hard at it."

    So you joined this website on February 10, 2020. We're glad you're here.

    Your FOOD diary is your Bible.

    Logging food Accurately is the #1 thing you should focus on, AND not try to lose too fast. There is a learning curve and under-eating is every bit as bad if not worse than over-eating.

    Here:
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10569458/why-eating-too-little-calories-is-a-bad-idea/p1

    and:
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear/p1

  • daisykrull
    daisykrull Posts: 1 Member
    keep doing what you are currently and if you don't see any weight loss, you may be consuming too few calories. may try to increase them by 200 or 300 because your body will fight you to keep every ounce if your not consuming enough for daily maintenance of your body.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    I find it is helpful to remember it took me a long time to gain the weight and it is a lot harder to lose then gain so it will take longer to lose the weight.
    If you have 40lbs to lose and next spring hit your perfect goal weight that is a ton better then burning out returning to what you were doing and then next spring jumping back now with 50 lbs to lose
  • onehottomatodmz
    onehottomatodmz Posts: 26 Member
    edited February 2020
    You need to put on your patient pants and get mentally ready to do this for the long haul. You didn't gain the weight in a few weeks and you aren't going to lose it in a few weeks.

    You're not doing anything wrong. You're losing about 1 lb per week. AWESOME! Keep it up![/quote]

  • Katmary71
    Katmary71 Posts: 7,041 Member
    I hate being told this but didn't do it right at first, make sure you're logging everything. I was logging things by package servings when they're allowed to be off and logging things like apples as a small apple when a true small apple is pretty darned tiny! Peanut butter on a spoon isn't the same as weighing it. I log every last blueberry now, coffee, and spices though that's pretty anal.

    I have to agree with everyone about eating enough to nourish your body. I didn't when I started calorie counting and burned out around the 5th month, I was frustrated because I was eating 1200 and working out a lot. Once I started eating back some workout calories I wasn't dizzy and fatigued and able to slay my workouts and up weights used pretty fast. I averaged about 1lb a week the last 50lbs, some weeks I plateaued. other weeks I had a whoosh.
  • onehottomatodmz
    onehottomatodmz Posts: 26 Member
    Unfortunately I did gain the weight in weeks. I gained the weight due to medications for my heart. I gained over 40 pounds in less than 2 months. I’m not looking to lose as fast as I gained I just figured with my calorie reduction and walking it would workout to more
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,733 Member
    OP, you seem to be forgetting the most important thing. You still lost weight. You didn't gain it. AND it was a very respectable just shy of 1 lb. Instead of being all worried it wasn't the probably way too high expectation of 2 lbs, be happy you're that much closer to your goal.

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Unfortunately I did gain the weight in weeks. I gained the weight due to medications for my heart. I gained over 40 pounds in less than 2 months. I’m not looking to lose as fast as I gained I just figured with my calorie reduction and walking it would workout to more

    This would have been good to tell us.


    Work with your cardiologist, ask for a referral to a Dietician. Your medical issues mean you need more input than people on a forum should be giving you.

    If you gained 40 pounds in two months, it's not about exercise or being age 50.

    Good luck.

    Yeah, important info to know. Please speak with your doctor.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Holy cow. Ditto working with your cardiologist and expanding your medical team to include a dietitian. I wouldn't even know how much of that may be fat and how much could be heavy water retention.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,399 Member
    Does anyone remember the thread where the OP got really upset because we didn't know that "girlfriend" was sexy-time partner girlfriend and not just next door neighbor pal??

    :lol:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10582739/pissing-me-off/p4