Is it too late?

bettyjmaurer · March 2020

Hello everyone. I've been with my fitness pal for about 6 years, but don't track regularly. I've just read some of your comments for the first time and feel more inspired. You see, I'm 72 and have been overweight since puberty, but after my son was born when I was 30, my weight really skyrocketed. I've been as high as 321 lbs, am currently 285. Is it too late for me to realistically lose a lot of weight? I've tried every kind of diet imaginable over the years. My problem is that when I eat things I shouldn't, I don't want to track, then I get depressed and angry with myself and have a hard time starting again. I have a terrible sweet tooth. My son tells me not to give up. I see that some of you have managed to make this a new lifestyle, which is what I want to do. I need HELP! My name is Betty.

Katmary71 · March 2020

It's never too late! I got up to 222 at my biggest after being bedridden, I'd quit smoking and had back surgery and nerve damage. I tried a bunch of diets including logging my food but wasn't weighing or logging everything so it didn't work out. In the last few years I had a bunch of health problems (diabetes, fatty liver disease, chronic pain) and have improved all of them through diet and exercise. I decided last January I didn't want another year of being unhealthy and racking up diagnoses to happen as I was in a bad place for my age. You can still eat sweets, just limit them. I'm awful at moderating so I don't bring them in the house and just have them on special occassions. I agree with your son about not giving up. Try logging your food no matter what, it's a good way for you to start and you can track patterns you can alter. When you're ready start cutting calories do so. Walking (indoor walking with Leslie Sansone on YouTube is fun if you're not up for walking outside) or yoga are gentle ways to start workouts and you'll improve your health in a way you can see results in a short amount of time. Good luck Betty!

mermaidnj · March 2020

War is only over for the dead... You Betty are far from that!!!

Like you I have some health issues and struggle with staying on track but it can be done!

Hang in even when you faulter you got this!

CC

bettyjmaurer · March 2020

Thank you, Katmary71! It helps to know I'm not alone in this struggle. Quitting smoking when I was pregnant was one of the reasons I gained so much, too. I have diabetes, fatty liver disease, and chronic pain, as well. Lots of arthritis in my back, but I can still ride my recumbent bike and walk inside. I live in snow country (Colorado) and am looking forward to getting outside to walk my corgi. Can't walk more than a couple of blocks, but that's something. Thanks for the info about the YouTube program. I'll give it a try. I think this community board is going to be very helpful. I was feeling like I really needed somebody to talk to.

MrsDan1667 · March 2020

No, it’s never too late. I’d say log everything even if you go over because then you can look back and see true progress. Not logging overages makes it hard to get a true sense of what’s working and what’s not.

And if you have a bad day or eat too much based on your calorie goals that’s ok! Just hop on your bike for a bit. You might not work off all the overage and again that’s ok.

Progress is progress!!

You said you can only walk a few blocks at a time. That’s great! Just do what you can now. Say you walk 3 blocks each time you walk; do that for a week. Then on week 2 see if you can do 3.5 blocks. Then on week 3 try for 4 blocks.

New mindset mantra: better than before🙌

If you get off track during lunch, do better at dinner. Today was just NOT to day, do better tomorrow. Can’t walk as far as you did last time, at least you got out there and walked some, try to increase distance next time.

You’ll get there! You’ve got this! Just repeat your mantra and remember progress is progress💕

barbiecat · March 2020

slow and steady wins the race. Build good habits, do a bit more each day, never give up.

AnnPT77 · March 2020

There are people here your age who've succeeded, and I hope some will comment.

I'm a young whippersnapper, now 64

, who lost weight at 59-60 a few years back (obese to healthy weight) and I've stayed at a healthy weight since, using MFP.

Others have given you great advice on the "how" part, especially exercise.

I'd add one thing in support of katmary's post: Commit yourself to track everything, good bad or ugly. Try to think of it not as a "report card", but as a diagnostic tool. Look back at each day: What went well: How can you build those things into your routine habits? What didn't go so well: What triggered that part, and how might you be able to deal with those triggers in the future, in ways that better support your long-term goals. One bad day ruins nothing, unless you let it make you give up.

Think of it, if you can, as gradually remodeling your habits. You don't have to be perfect every minute, and you can just be gradually working toward your goals, most of the time.

Wishing you much success: You can do it!

bettyjmaurer · March 2020

Thank you all so much! Your thoughts are inspiring. I'm such a perfectionist that it's all or nothing, but I'm working on progression, not perfection. I saw that quote today and it really hit home for me. I would welcome friends on here since I'm new. Not tech-savvy, so I haven't yet figured out how to put in a friend request.

barbiecat · March 2020

I have found that interacting with others on a conversational thread like this is far superior than gathering friends. If you check back on this thread and share what's going on with you, you are likely to get good responses.

Also, here is the link to a very friendly thread of people like you and me.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10718336/60-yrs-and-up#latest

Evamutt · March 2020

glad you're here Betty , it's NEVER too late. let me share my husbands story, about 3yrs ago(he's 68now) he had to have all his upper teeth pulled. He actually waited for 6 months to get upper dentures. During that time, our son gave us his used nutribullit because he bought a new one. So he started making smoothies to add to his soft foods. He researched what to put in it, like flax seed, peanut butter, fruit etc. for dinner, he would put whatever I made for dinner along with almond milk to make a cream soup. I'm not recommending you do this, just sharing his story. He started losing weight & getting off meds. He weighed about 280-290, had A-Fib & was on a diabetic pump for 10+ years. . He is a sweet a holic. He would eat what ever sweets he wanted & the pump would make up for it insulin wise. He also used to drink beer. He got off insulin & heart meds, he still has back problem but not like he used to. He weighs 205 now & looks great. He walk & rides his bike & got a wood working hobby. He still craves sweets every day, but most days he makes a fruit smoothie. He still has cookies/ pies, pan Mexicano but has 1-2 cookies & buys one of those mini pies & goes to store for 1 donut. He has not gained any of the weight back & his meal portions are a lot less . It's worth feeling better at any age. I never thought he'd change. I also lost 50lbs but his story is more similar to yours as I crave salty & didn't weigh as much as he did. I did gain 12 lbs back after I quit smoking & am still working on that

teresadannar · March 2020

I applaud you Betty for not giving up on yourself, regardless of age. Every pound you lose and every movement you make will contribute to your health, well-being, and longevity!

annliz23 · March 2020

Ihi I think I have sent you a friend request you can do this!

Is it too late?

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