55-65 year old women's success?

Hi. I’m not new here but I hesitate to post on most threads because a couple of years ago I got swarmed by a young clique for saying I find it easier to lose weight if I spread my calories out over what I consider six small meals a day. Heresy? That’s still true for me so if it offends anyone please ignore me. 😜

I’m going to be 64 next month. I’ve struggled with my weight my entire adult life (although I remember thinking I was fat when I weighed 135 — I’m 5’6.5”). I’ve lifted weights and done some form of cardio for over 40 years but I love to eat. About 22 years ago I got tired of being heavy and through rational diet and lots of lifting and cardio over about 9 months I went from 210 to 140. I felt better and better about myself than I ever had, just as my husband had a huge crisis of confidence (he felt old, was fighting a major battle over how the company he was a partner in was screwing him and others over, and honestly I don’t think he knew what to do with me finally standing up for myself) and we nearly divorced but instead moved to the other side of the country. It was very very hard. (I’m a military brat and never had issues moving but this was beyond anything I’d ever been through.) So the weight crept back. About five years ago I was 235. I was miserable. I got serious and lost 25 pounds and was determined to stay with it. Then I spent six months in and out of the hospital with life-threatening (and inexplicable) pancreatitis. By the time I could eat again I was 175. Yay! But just as I recovered my son (who was struggling with drug addiction) went into a major spiral and finally was diagnosed with a serious mental illness. I spent two years juggling my work schedule to help him, and yes, I ate. He ended up killing himself the week after Thanksgiving two years ago, a few days after my adored younger sister killed herself, right before the first anniversary of our older sister dying of alcohol poisoning (you may be getting the impression that our upbringing was toxic, and you’d be correct). And I ate. Two weeks ago I realized I really wanted to feel better. I started at 213 and I’m 209 today. Because of my muscle mass I think 140 is a good goal weight for me. I log everything and am fine at 1310 calories a day, eating back no more than half my exercise calories. Whenever I feel hungry and I don’t have any calories to spare I remind myself that I lived through being nonstop hungry for six months when my pancreas tried to kill me and I can manage a little hunger now. It’s worth it to feel better. Cheers to this generation. 🥂

I think I may have been on here a few years (!!) ago -- I am currently 63 yrs. and I have, as many have said, spent most of my life trying to lose weight. After college I was 196 -- did Nutrisystem and lost 20 lbs. on that. Moved and met someone who was a Weight Watcher member, and she got me involved in that -- I met someone that asked me to marry him (aw!) and that was added motivation, so I got down to 145 before the wedding! I am 5'3", btw.... fast forward 10 years (I know!) and I finally get pregnant, and back up to 175 (not bad for pregnant, I think), then back to 145-155 for the next 20 years! Finally, son in college first year -- Mother's Day and we all go out to brunch, husband takes picture of me, and I was a middle aged BLOB! I saw it... I was 155 (or there abouts) and there was no waist visible. Worst kind of fat. Even worse, I did not see myself that way. In my mind, I wanted to look thin and fit. In reality, I was plump and flabby. And aging. That was it -- I had a friend that had lost 60 lbs on MFP, and it motivated me. I lost 30 lbs., over 8 mos., got to 122 lbs. and was amazed at how it had all come together.

Fast forward to now -- last year I was 128, and right now, this week, I weighed in at 138. Enough said. I am back at it -- this morning was 137.5, and I'll take it! If this is the most important goal I have right now, then I have to act like it takes priority. Posting and sharing and weighing in helps motivate me. I am impressed by your picture and story @sillix , and I am devastated by your losses @SalinitySally.

This pic of me, btw, was taken 3 years ago at my lowest.... I'm proud to say it -- I plan to get back there!

I hit my first goal - 10 lbs gone!

juliemargaretkim wrote: »

If this is the most important goal I have right now, then I have to act like it takes priority. "

@juliemargaretkim Well, that sentence just smacked me upside the head - thanks Gorgeous photo

@SalinitySally, goodness what a story, and I am so sorry for your losses. Good luck on your journey: you can do this (with however many meals each day you want!).

I can’t remember if I’ve posted here before or not. Apologies if this is a duplicate post.

SW at least 222 at age 56 in Sept/2018. Prompted to start by an honest evaluation from my gastroenterologist that my GERD would go away if I’d lose weight, followed a week or two later by an unwanted thyroid prescription from my GP. After reading the warning pamphlet, I called the GP and asked for a re-test in 90 days.

Ninety days later I was down over 30 pounds.

I had several sessions with a dietician. Odd to think that someone like me who was an expert in eating anything and everything would need to be educated on “how to eat”. She recommended MFP.

Someone suggested contacting the local powerlifting gym owner to see if she’d train me. She wasn’t taking clients, but later said something told her to text me back. We hit it off immediately, and wow!!! what a difference her positive attitude and her knowledgeable training have made in my life.

I did C25K. Started Pilates. Amped up my yoga practice. Started walking in the mornings, and after dinner.

Learned to love new foods, and limit and slowly savor old favorites. I haven’t “given up” anything, although I certainly think twice about some.

CW hovers between 129 and 133.

Took my trainer some flowers today and she took this picture. To look at a photo and not be embarrassed, disgusted, or cringe and look away, is still a new and gut wrenching experience. It sincerely makes me tear up to be able to look and be happy with the person I see.

As the lovely lovely lady above me said, Thanks, MFP, and all you good people who make it the amazing resource it is.

sillix wrote: »

I am not in the right age group (I am 78) but had to comment. I went through menopause in my early 40's.

In April of 2018 I weighed 248 pounds. My back was killing me. I couldn't walk more than a few feet without stopping to rest. I had been over 200 pounds for years. I yoyoed for a few months before starting to track my calorie intake. Hadn't heard of MFP and built an excel spreadsheet to track my weight and food intake. It worked! In November 2018 I broke below 200. In July 2019 I met my goal of loosing 100 pounds. I decided to adjust my goal and go for what at my age was my dream goal, 135 pounds. I am 5'6-1/2" tall. In October 2019 I was at 136 pounds. November 19. 2019 I joined MFP. My brother-in-law had been encouraging me to do so for some time. He had such success with the program.

I was having a problem holding my weight and since I didn't exercise during my weight loss I was becoming feeble and had poor balance.

I started MFP which as you know tracks your nutrition as well as calories. I realized I was not eating enough protein, fat or carbs. MFP helped me adjust my eating habits and get back on track. I not only lost the few pounds I had gained but reached my dream goal of 135.

I added exercise to my routine and now have regained my strength and balance. I love MFP. It keeps me on track and healthy.

I am still at 135 pounds. I fluctuate between 134 and 138 pounds (I weigh daily). Eating right is such a habit now that it is not difficult or a chore. I love all the new foods I eat; roasted vegetables of all kinds, especially root vegetables. I didn't even know what a rutabaga looked like much less how it tasted. No food is off limits but I do avoid breaded and fried foods. I would never go without having cake on a special occasion.

I walk a lot and have a routine of stretches and arm exercises that I do faithfully. I am strong, healthy and all symptoms of my diabetes has disappeared.

If I can do it you can do it, one pound at a time...I day at a time. If you take a day off from it, so what, just get back to it tomorrow.

I agree with luluinca, "You don't have to spend hours and hours at the gym to accomplish these goals but if a little exercise solves some of the aging problems characteristic to a sedentary lifestyle and aging........I'm in."

Thank you MFP.

YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!!! You are a great inspiration.

Hello Ladies,

I'm 63 and have lost about 21 lbs so far. It's been a anything but a straight line, as I've gone off the program several times and then gotten back on. When I'm on it, and logging in daily, I find I can indeed get a slow but steady loss going IF I keep up the daily exercise.

For me, I've found that it's pretty much a necessity to put in about 45-60 minutes daily on the stationary bike (in addition to 2 daily dog-walks). That allows me to maintain progress meeting my calorie goal without having to resort to super-restrictive eating. I feel it lets me eat healthfully but also reasonably to satisfy baseline hunger/cravings.

Without that extra daily exercise I either go too far down the rabbit-hole of starving myself (and then bingeing out) or just getting discouraged by the lack of progress.

I'm working hard to really make this part of my daily life from here onward. But I gotta say, for that post-menopausal metabolism -- the extra exercise requirement seems to be key.

Best of luck to us all! :-)