Success after 50? Please share!
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springlering62 wrote: »John772016 wrote: »springlering62 wrote: »Age ....
It’s my firm belief that this age is the cusp. You can either chose to do nothing and be and act old. Or, you can choose to be youthful and active.
Lots of wisdom in your post, but I really love this....
One of my favorite couples here “on the Square” is a retired airline pilot and his wife, both in their 80’s. I see them walking our city trail all the time, and they volunteer all over the place. He runs the local tree planting and park cleanup group. The day I saw she’d dyed her hair neon pink I nearly hit the sidewalk laughing (she liked mine and kept saying she was gonna do it) and congratulating her on her new look.
My trainer is 73 and could kick my *kitten*. With one hand and one leg tied behind her back. She’s like 5’ tall and got pissed off when she overheard some young guy questioning the legends he’d heard about her. She raised the garage door to the gym (her gym btw) and went outside and started casually flipping the 500 pound tire til he ate his words.
I want to have that zest and that interest in everything at “that age”.
I’ve got wonderful role models, now, after three decades of obesity. The old saying “you are who you hang out with” applies to health and happiness, too. Other people are only too happy to hold you down to their level, and it’s too easy to get comfortable there. Living proof, right here.
Every word of this.
The 2nd from left woman in the boat photo I posted above is one of my inspirations: She started strength training at age 39, when that was not a thing women did. (She was a hair stylist pre-retirement: She told me she didn't tell her customers she lifted back in the day, because they would've shied away from patronizing her.) She can do things around the rowing club that some of our 30-40s age members can't. She carries her own single shell (26 foot long boat) by herself to the water, for example, a thing that quite a few of the younger women and a few men can't do.
At one point, she was having some hip pain, and they discovered she'd cracked a bone (and was walking around on it, doing normal things!). She needed hip replacement. Literally one month to the day after hip replacement surgery, she was back rowing a boat (and rowing is a leg sport!), never looked back.
By contrast, some of my other friends who are overweight/out of shape have had similar surgeries, literally never properly recovered. One still needs a cane to walk. Sure, there are lots of factors . . . but I don't think an having an athletic, strong, capable body is irrelevant in that situation.
We had one guy who took our learn-to-row class at age 81. He did fine. Why did he decide to do that? His girlfriend (same age) was a rower and club member, had started rowing when she was around 70, wanted him to row with her. There's a different 80+ year old guy who rows nearly every day in summer, when he's not taking multi-hour bike rides, also carries his own boats.
I could rant in detail about the quality of life differences between my athletic older friends and same-age (or younger) inactive/overweight ones, but I won't. Sure, sometimes people become inactive and overweight because of health problems, and that's unfortunate and understandable. But, looking at people I know well, it's been more common for the causation to run in the other direction: They've become inactive and overweight, and that caused quality of life to decline.
Personal choices aren't the only factor, but they're a big, big factor in quality of life as we age, IMO, IME.13 -
I'll be 70 in July. I read "Atomic Habits" and realized I didn't need to change everything all at once. I started to make small changes, such as avoiding salty foods, and stuck with them. Then, I read the "Seven-Day Rescue Diet" and watched "The Game Changers" (full movie free on youtube) and went plant strong. Instead of struggling to limit what I eat, I can't eat everything I plan each day. I feel much better, have more energy and my blood pressure and cholesterol have dropped dramatically. I still have a few pounds to lose, but have confidence now that it can be easy. Some days I struggle and take a step back (like those four chocolate birthday cupcakes I ate last Sunday). Then, I remind myself of something a meditation teacher said to me about forty years ago: continuity of practice is the secret of success.4
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I like hearing the stories of others who are not letting their age define them! I hired a swim coach for a few lessons per month and I am now having a little Walter Mitty moment. The coach is trying to convince me to join the Master's Team despite the fact my strokes need a lot of work. Then a gal on the team (age 69) came up to me and tried to convince me to join. She is fast enough to qualify for the Senior Games and is saying I could do it too. Her 100 freestyle (short course) is about 1 minute 13 seconds. Amazing! I clocked myself at 2:15, so I guess not horrible but not good enough to qualify for the Senior Games in Pennsylvania next year. It is kind of fun to daydream that I could actually be on a team! I told my neighbor about it and she says, "it is like high school" again!8
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albamarie61 wrote: »I like hearing the stories of others who are not letting their age define them! I hired a swim coach for a few lessons per month and I am now having a little Walter Mitty moment. The coach is trying to convince me to join the Master's Team despite the fact my strokes need a lot of work. Then a gal on the team (age 69) came up to me and tried to convince me to join. She is fast enough to qualify for the Senior Games and is saying I could do it too. Her 100 freestyle (short course) is about 1 minute 13 seconds. Amazing! I clocked myself at 2:15, so I guess not horrible but not good enough to qualify for the Senior Games in Pennsylvania next year. It is kind of fun to daydream that I could actually be on a team! I told my neighbor about it and she says, "it is like high school" again!
Probably joining the team is a good route to accomplish more of the work that your strokes need? Just guessing.
I'd bet you can surprise yourself if you put in the work (which you've obviously started doing). That's how daydreams become more than daydreams, IME.
I never thought a bookish, picked-last-in-gym kid with no kinesthetic sense at all, hardly, could compete as an athlete, starting in late 40s, and even win a few age group medals. But I could, it turned out. Suspending disbelief, and doing some (fun) work, was how.
That one - by far my best/favorite - included a lot of blind luck: 2016 was the first year, so fewer high-level indoor rowing athletes participated, and by then I'd lost weight and the lightweight weight class at my age was less speedy than my former heavyweight grouping (where all the tall and super-strong women are
). Still, I was just thrilled just to place. Later years' fields, I would've been closer to mid-pack.
Do you have time to join the swim team? Do the logistics work for you to participate in it? If yes to both of those, what's the worst that could happen, if you join? The best is that you could surprise the bejeepers out of yourself, if you can make room for that idea.
A lot of women my age (now 66) missed out on team sports in youth: There just weren't many opportunities in the US before Title IX, even had we been inclined. It's not too late. And it's fun!10 -
At 48 in 54X30 size pants with a 4XL shirt.
Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s trying on a small shirt.. that fit 😳
Will be turning 52 in 3 months.
All done by tracking what goes in and paying a bit of the toll by putting in about 45-60 mins of exercise WO a day. Sundays is easy with a 30 min WO. I think those are the same shoes..32 -
I love when @mrmota70 posts.
He only comes out often enough to inspire and amaze.
He’s got some kick *kitten* running pictures around here somewhere.2 -
springlering62 wrote: »I love when @mrmota70 posts.
He only comes out often enough to inspire and amaze.
He’s got some kick *kitten* running pictures around here somewhere.
Ha ha thanks for the ego boost
Finally sprang for some actual male “meggings”.
Figure don’t want to offend any sensitive folks when I jog throughout the neighborhood
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@mrmota70
That's amazing.
I'm curious, did you also gain height?
"At 48 in 54X30 size pants"
"Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s"2 -
It's so interesting reading other people's experience with weight gain (and loss)! I am 70 and decided to do something about the pounds I had put on during menopause when I turned 50. At my biggest, I weighed 150 pounds and had a definite muffin top around my waist. Then I went through a divorce, I lost my job and my mother died so, all in all, I decided my fifties would be a turning point in my life. But my metabolism was very sluggish and I only had to eat more than 1200 calories a day to put on weight. So I tried low carb diet and started going to the gym. It worked! Within 3 months I had lost 24 pounds and felt immensely better, fitter, happier. I maintained that weight for 18 years, through carefully balancing my carb intake and exercising regularly, and then 2 years ago I decided to try and get back to my ideal weight of 114 pounds (I am 5' 2") during lockdown. I also discovered intermittent fasting, eating only in an 6-hour window, and this has helped hugely. I have lost a further 12 pounds and now weigh the same as when I was in my twenties! So, for me, the secret is low carb, intermittent fasting, and 10 hours exercise a week, when possible.8
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Retroguy2000 wrote: »@mrmota70
That's amazing.
I'm curious, did you also gain height?
"At 48 in 54X30 size pants"
"Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s"
Ha ha. Yeah it’s called “belly height”. Belly isn’t in the way so pants actually go up to where they should be. 😝
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A lot of women my age (now 66) missed out on team sports in youth: There just weren't many opportunities in the US before Title IX, even had we been inclined. It's not too late. And it's fun! [/quote]
AnnPT77,
That medal is fantastic! Love it.
Somehow it feels sweeter in our older years than in youth to accomplish athletic goals. The dedication and effort requires more from us, but the results are so much more appreciated!
I am going to let the next year play out with more training (and let's hope no more interruptions due to Covid) before making the decision to join the team. It is fun to think about though and that alone is motivating!
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I'm a 62 year-old male. Due the increasingly bad combination of the consequences of acid reflux and sleep apnea, I had a scary medical episode in early January that finally pushed me to take control of my eating and weight. I started out being 30 pounds over my ideal weight. The worst thing I was doing was eating dessert twice a day (usually ice cream with syrup) and a big snack at night (mostly a big chunk of cheese and crackers), adding up to over 1000 extra calories per day. The second worst thing for me (not for everyone) was drinking coffee because it badly disrupts my stomach acid. So I stopped drinking coffee, cut out desserts and snacks, and got on MFP to set a goal of losing 1.5 pounds per week. I eat a large variety of foods and meet my targets most every today for calories, protein and fiber.
As of today, I have lost 16 pounds and I'm feeling very encouraged by it. I hope that in the coming months it improves my sleep and acid reflux.16 -
I stepped away for a couple of days and came back to find even more amazing responses! You're all so inspirational! Thank you for sharing 3
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In my early 40's I lost about 194 lbs (Started at 406 lbs). I was doing fine until I took a new job. I am a stress and boredom eater and there was stress and then COVID. I went back up to 339 lbs. I decided to get back on the plan (aka workout and use MFP). Since Sept 2021, I have lost 52 lbs. I am a bit over 1/2 way to my goal. I work out (swim) 3-5 days a week and add in strength training 2-3 days per week. I gave up bread, potatoes, rice, junk food, and other things not good for me ( I do allow bread, rice, and potatoes on vacation, but in moderation). I have added Creatine and Whey Protein to my diet. I am down 2 sizes ( I luckily had kept my "skinny clothes"). I am 56 years old. It can be done. I am reducing my stress and planning my next stage of life and looking forward to being healthy.11
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I just turned 67. Between the ages of 61-64, I had a personal trainer. I raised my resting metabolic rate from 1771 to 2074, and lost 35 pounds. I maintained my loss for over a year. Then, I moved out of state, the pandemic hit, I stopped working out, and gained 25 pounds. I am starting slowly - doing workouts with Peloton (beginning strength, cycling). For me, consistency is key - tracking and regular workouts. I also didn't think I'd be able to do it being older, but even at my age, I've been able to lose weight and get stronger. You can do it, too!
Just started 7 weeks ago at 68. I'm not doing much exercise but I'm losing 1lb/wk. I'm pretty happy about that because I thought it would be harder at this age. Covid weight gain. I'm also doing a you tube meditation in the morning to get on track before I start the day.12 -
I have lost 160 pounds after I turned 50.18
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Over 50 (52) Down 94 lbs over a 2-year period. Persistent logging and accountability combined with diet and exercise. Wooooo! If I can do this, you can do this! Keep plugging away at it.
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58 here, started end of August at 214 lbs. Am now at 156, trying to get to 150 but it looks like my body has decided it is perfect right where it is now. And I'm not going to argue with it.
I also had diabetes and was on Metformin. My A1c was 7.2 in October 2021. Not very high, but high enough to be a diabetic. In January 2022, it was 5.3. No more meds. No more checking my blood sugar every day.
It is very doable at the later years. Just have to be consistent and be willing to work it.16 -
At 48 in 54X30 size pants with a 4XL shirt.
Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s trying on a small shirt.. that fit 😳
Will be turning 52 in 3 months.
All done by tracking what goes in and paying a bit of the toll by putting in about 45-60 mins of exercise WO a day. Sundays is easy with a 30 min WO. I think those are the same shoes..
These are the most amazing before and after pictures!
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I've just begun my "success story." I'm 51. In January, of this year, I decided to get back in shape. In four months: I've lost 9 pounds and gained muscle, stamina and flexibility.
I hope to continue along this path but only time can tell.11 -
In the race no one wants to win - I have you all beat - at 76 it hit me one day that I had let my weight creep up to 296 - and there was simply no way that I would weigh 300 - NONE!! (of course a mini-stroke also factored in) that was May 11, 2021.. and for the next 11 months I followed Noom faithfully, and lost 40 pounds. I have struggled with weight since the end of sports in my youth and yo-yo'd losing anywhere from 40 to 75 pounds in diets of self-denial - which would last up to 5 years and then be lost when the game of weight loss seemed one and I could return to "normal" eating - of course, each time I put hte weight back on and then some. Never did I include exercise in my change, and each diet left me depressed, without energy and unhappy. This time I resolved to accept slow weight loss, still eat what I liked but in moderation and add exercise. I hit a wall at 40 pounds with no change for 4 months.. Noom did it's fast shuffle of a tripling of its' price with a "free" upgrade (and no way back to the lower price). Looking for an alternative I found MyFitnessPal and for a fraction of the price I found a phenomenal answer - easy to use, vast database of food and nutrient info, exhaustive feedback on every aspect of nutrition - projections to provide ongoing motivation - I've broken through and lost 4 pounds in the month since I switched. I love MyFitnessPal - no silly psychological mumbo- jumbo (I'm a psychologist and ever 10 year old knows the lessons they spew), just easy to enter, easy to interpret information - I'm now down to 252.5 (don't' forget the fractions) and on track for my 1 pound a week loss again - increasing my exercise and optimistic.. at 76 you don't get a second chance.. I just opened a box of "Marty's too small jeans" from many years ago and they all (but one) fit easily - The good news is that it is never too late to be healthier , feel better (I can see my shoes)..26
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I started my journey 10 years ago, at age 60 and 215 pounds. I made goal of 152 a few years ago, maintained until the pandemic hit, then like many others, I regained some of that weight. I'm now 70, and I'm 10 pounds from goal again (I gained 20). So yeah, you can do it regardless of your age.11
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58- always struggled w/ weight. Have been on/off w/ FP for several years. This time seems to click more for me, tracking what I eat I can see what I am eating the most of. Sooooo helpful for me to increase protein! I have finally taken off that last 10 pounds I have struggled with for years and slowly working on maintaining and maybe a few more pounds! Feel so much better when I eat healthy, I also have a low tolerance to sweets, so I have to be careful what and how much I eat for sugar. I am a person that could gain very easily so I have to stay right on track, even when I fall off I get right back on. I also think of my health and not so much the weight, that for me has followed. SLOWLEY!
Stay strong, think before you eat and just keep moving. I also walk , possible yoga at times. Good luck!
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I am bookmarking this post for future encouragement on the days I will need it. I am 51 and starting again my "diet". I am a yo-yo cycle dieter that will track and exercise until I reach my goal and then stop and then start again once I gain it all back. During the last cycle of my yo-yo diets, I also quit smoking which added more weight, and then covid packed on some more pounds also. So at 51, standing on the front step of menopause ringing its doorbell, and needing to lose 50+ pounds - I am ready to start my diet again - but I am scared that I am too old to pull off the diet this time. I have read and heard all the myths about not being able to lose weight after 50. This post is what I needed to read!!
Luckily I have found a wonderful group on MFP called the Ultimate Accountability Challenge group and they are helping me unlearn my old diet ways and develop a sustainable healthy lifestyle by tracking calories and exercise. I seriously think the UAC is MFP's best-kept secret!
I will bookmark this post and come back to it for encouragement. Thank you to everyone that posted on this post - it has been very encouraging to read. I especially want to thank @AnnPT77 @springlering62 @mrmota70 for your encouraging posts!10 -
So glad to see all these success stories at 50! I am back to MFP again...4
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@Springlering62 : You're such an inspiration!! Thank you for the pics and putting it out there for all to admire. I myself will be 56 this year. I'm not in horrible shape but the 50's sure are looking to be a little more difficult to handle than my younger years. I intend on rocking my body by December and that keeps me motivated. We all have the ability to achieve our greatest desires, we also have the ability to remain stagnant. I'm reaching for the stars!!4
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Going to be 56 real soon. I lost most of my weight when I was 48.
8 years has made a real difference in terms of my energy level and desire for exercise. What I desired to do back then isn't sustainable nor reasonable for me today.
What's also different for me now is a healthier perspective of what I want for myself in terms of a sustainable/reasonable weight. It's not a number - it's a 'feel'.
I'm still very much in a healthy weight range and good bmi. If I never dropped another pound, I'd be OK. That said, I don't have the 'feel' I want and desire to drop about 10-15 pounds.
So, like others, I'm back as well tracking - which is what made my first round successful.10 -
RaquelFit2 wrote: »At 48 in 54X30 size pants with a 4XL shirt.
Yesterday in 30X32 Levi’s trying on a small shirt.. that fit 😳
Will be turning 52 in 3 months.
All done by tracking what goes in and paying a bit of the toll by putting in about 45-60 mins of exercise WO a day. Sundays is easy with a 30 min WO. I think those are the same shoes..
These are the most amazing before and after pictures!
Ha ha.. I was checking in to look at other folks posts. And got a shock that first to pop up on one of the 32 inch monitors attached to my laptop was the pic of me castigating my poor yeti bucket.. 😆
I easily went beyond its 300lb max capacity it was recommended for then..
I love that bucket.. It toughed it out with unhealthy old me and is now living an easier life with the healthier version of me.
Thanks... for the shock and for the chuckle.... smiley:10 -
To the original poster: I'm glad you are back here giving this another shot. Don't let your age discourage you. At 59 years old, using the food and exercise data bases here on MFP, as well as taking in lots of good advice such as: don't have an all-or-nothing attitude (I ate something I "shouldn't have" or "had a 'bad' day/weekend/month" so I might as well just stop trying), don't think of weight loss as linear (there will be fluctuations but over time, if you pay attention to the principles, your weight will trend negative), and exercise because it's good for you, not specifically to lose weight, I lost 40 pounds during Covid lockdown and have kept it off for over a year. All of my bloodwork numbers and BMI reading got to where they should be, so it's really worth it. 40 pounds ago, I told myself a healthy BMI was out of the question, the stuff of fantasy. But as I picked up momentum and saw the possible, it suddenly became not only attainable, but a reality. I also see a lot of people very dear to me, around my age, with health and mobility problems, and they remind me of the value of taking this seriously. Best of luck to you. You can do this.
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