Age 50, 262lbs

Hi! I am here to see if I can find a like-minded group of ladies who are around 50 and faced with similar challenges to my own. I am peri-menopausal and coming back from a physical injury (knee out) about 5 years ago that left me almost completely sedentary for a year which created a downhill path in my physical health, until now.
My husband and I also faced a terrible tragedy soon after and I finally asked for medical help last year. I am taking Wellbutrin and anti-anxiety medication and have finally crawled out of the dark. I’m ready to save my life (diabetes and heart disease and obesity on both sides of my family) and get back to walking in nature with my husband.
I have been missing so much light and beauty and joy. I’m ready!

Started 265, now 261 lbs. 5’5 age 50
Starting goal to get under 200 and build back some muscle by making small lifestyle changes that become permanent. Stronger muscles should start holding my bones/spine in the correct place (relieving the tremendous lower back pain that happens now when I walk) and burn more fat, of course. The long term goal to reach 160lbs.

I was very inspired by the story of the woman who was my age and larger than my current weight who changed her lifestyle to the point of eventually becoming a world class athlete. I’m more of an introverted bookworm astrologer hippie nature girl who loves singing but I am just glad to know of the possibility of overcoming Age, Hormones, and Physical Decline. :)

If this resonates let’s be accountability buddies :)

Replies

  • michelemorrill1
    michelemorrill1 Posts: 22 Member
    @healingmysticmelody Hi, I'm Michele, 49, 5'4" currently 220lbs but have a goal of reaching 150lbs. I'm also looking for encouragement, support, and accountability if you're interested.
  • @michelemorrill1
    Thank you so much for your reply. I remember reading a post of yours and I think we are on similar paths. Still figuring out message board but I will attemp to Add you. Lol
  • tracy042
    tracy042 Posts: 9 Member
    Hi guys. I just turned 50, am in menopause, and am at my highest weight ever. At 5'1 I am 180 lbs. So, let's do this!
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    Hi Ladies. I’m just popping by to say that age, menopause, none of it matters. Ignore the naysayers.

    My experience was people would tell me I couldn’t because it relieved them of any guilt that they weren’t making any effort themselves.

    I started at 56 and lost over 40% of my body weight.

    It’s just buckling down and weighing accurately and logging honestly. It’ll be overwhelming for the first few weeks, but it clicks into place pretty quick and becomes second nature.

    Losing the weight has made a huge difference in how I feels, and how I feel about the world in general. Pain levels drop, happiness quotient goes up.

    Much success to all of you, and welcome to MFP.
  • @tracy042 Great! I will add you :) It might take a bit. I don’t remember how I added michele. Lol
  • @springlering62 What a lovely comment. Thank you so much for the support and the inspiration!
    I think the weighing correctly/accurately will take a bit but I am getting better each day.
  • cathyjog50
    cathyjog50 Posts: 25 Member
    Hey! I’d love to connect. 51 in March. Up and down on weight loss. Age sure makes it hard. Hoping we can help each other out.
  • I see your request, Cathy! Thank you for communicating :)
  • I’m at 257 now and still looking for some ladies going through similar challenges. Please reply if you would like to connect for support. :)
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    That’s 8 pounds!!!!

    Starting at 265, wanting to get under 200, gives you a goal of 66.

    You’ve already reached over 12% of your goal, ma’am!

    That’s not chump change!!!! Great job!
  • Thank you for being lovely and wonderful, Springlering62.
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  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    edited February 2022
    Thank you for being lovely and wonderful, Springlering62.

    As silly as it sounds, I found playing Mind Games with myself went a long way.

    Breaking losses down into 5% here, an even number (say, 190) there, really helped. Celebrating along the way, 25% to goal for example, helped. Getting a nice scarf or lair of shoes as a treat. For me my treat was - and still is- the most colorful leggings I can find.

    (When I got too small for those leggings, I happily gifted them to a couple of MFP friends.)

    Super motivating: hanging a Goal Dress in my closet sideways so I had to see and touch it to get to my daily clothes. I would talk to it and stroke it every day. “Can’t wait til I wear you”. “We’re going to blow everyone’s minds!”

    It helped keep my goal right in front of my nose. Unavoidably so, lol.

    Even now, I do supremely oddball stuff. I have delicious cake batter pancakes supplemented with liquid (leftover from making skyr or yogurt) and powdered whey and cottage cheese every morning.

    I brush them with the tiniest dab of cream cheese and put a little zero cal chocolate or caramel syrup on them, roll them up and eat them with my fingers.

    That way I can pretend they are Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. (But better!) and that I’ve packed them out with (satiating) protein is a secret bonus.

    Right now I’m playing with homemade ice cream and challenging myself to make it as low cal as humanly possible. I just made a batch of chocolate that should come out to 141 for a half pint serving.

    Keeping it a game keeps it fresh for me.

    Ooooooh….. 💡 💡 💡 I bet using liquid whey and skyr instead of water and skyr would be amazing…..and think of the extra protein punch.

    Be like the guys in that “always working” ad series. Be always thinking!!!! And keep it fun so it’s not a challenge.

  • I did receive more friend requests but no one has replied here. I hope those who sent requests will say hi on this thread.

    Hi Ger :) It’s kind of embarrassing to have guys around but I appreciate your communication so much I might have to add you! :)

    Miss Spring, I read about your Little Debbie’s on another thread and your great thread about your husband getting on board. My hubby and I made a lot of homemade ice cream with stevia and erithrtol when we did Atkins a couple years ago to help with my sugar addiction. So I’m sure we can check out your ingredients and do that out at the camper this summer. I bought some cute 80’s style “sweatpants” but they are already getting loose. I like the idea of choosing “treats” I can keep wearing as I lose. Tights are in my future! :)
  • healingmysticmelody
    healingmysticmelody Posts: 58 Member
    Bumping because I am 151 now and still looking for weight loss friends who like to communicate in the feeds. I still get random friend requests but I have no idea who is sending request so I remove most of them. Looking for serious members who are in it for the long term who are either experiencing a similar journey of weight loss, or members who have been in my position and have triumphed.
  • MaggieGirl135
    MaggieGirl135 Posts: 1,033 Member
    @healingmysticmelody I have heard that when you send friend requests to people through MyFitnessPal, messages cannot be added. You can only send messages to others once you are a friend. So, you may wish to accept the friend requests you receive; you can always ‘unfriend’ them.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    @healingmysticmelody I have heard that when you send friend requests to people through MyFitnessPal, messages cannot be added. You can only send messages to others once you are a friend. So, you may wish to accept the friend requests you receive; you can always ‘unfriend’ them.

    Yup! It’s to protect us from unsolicited porn and such. I accept friend request and then immediately review their posting history to make sure it doesn’t include shared .ru links.

    And if I add a guy and he immediately responds with “how are you” or “what are you doing?” Or he’s got photos of his tighty whities pulled up to his naval, I generally delete, unless he’s got a stellar feed. I have to wonder how many ladies respond with “sitting here in my lacy undies waiting for you, big boy?” that it’s worth their time to bother.
  • healingmysticmelody
    healingmysticmelody Posts: 58 Member
    Lol :D I just thought I was getting those types of guys or the people who like a lot of Likes/admirers who just send lots and lots of requests and wouldn’t notice if I checked no. Now I feel bad. For all I know every one of them sent a kind greeting and introduced themselves or let me know we have similar journeys etc.
    Thank you both so much!!
  • healingmysticmelody
    healingmysticmelody Posts: 58 Member
    239!!!!!!

    Still seeking female buddies on similar paths and those who have won their personal victories who have helpful or interesting feeds. Please lmk if you are interested so I can add you!!! :)
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    This may explain those requests you’re getting, lol.

    Vet carefully, my friend.
  • DiscoveringLisa
    DiscoveringLisa Posts: 112 Member
    239!!!!!!

    Still seeking female buddies on similar paths and those who have won their personal victories who have helpful or interesting feeds. Please lmk if you are interested so I can add you!!! :)

    Hey, I think you replied to my GERD thread. I'm not yet 50 but I've had alot of health issues the past few years that all started with breast cancer in 2015. I like to eat for health and not just for numbers now and me and my dog walk alot. If you don't mind pictures of nature and food then you might like my feed haha. I could do with some more supportive friends too, I have like 3 right now 😂