Moms over 40.....

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Replies

  • fairbanksd
    fairbanksd Posts: 1 Member
    I'm 49 and the mother of 10 kids ranging from 27 to 8 years of age, and yes I gave birth to all of them. I started my journey in June of 2010 when my blood pressure kept going higher and Dr. wanted to order tests we couldn't afford as we have no health insurance. I took some drastic measures to lower blood pressure initially (fasting) which started my weight loss. Fasting is not a realistic or healthy way to diet so I struggled with eating correctly attempting to follow Dean Ornish's eating plan to improve my heart health. Friends told me about MFP and it has helped me greatly as I thought I was eating good when in reality I was consuming more calories than I should have. I try hard to stick to 1200 calories a day, I started walking 5 miles a day in spring of 2011, and in August added working out with a trainer 2 days a week. I am at 108 pounds lost in 16 months. I get frustrated too at how slow it has been, but it is what it is, "Never give up! Never surrender!" (yeah we watch a lot of kid movies). My mind is still conditioned to want to taste more calories a day but 1200 is really enough to satisfy hunger. I try to only eat a healthy carb (whole grains) or a heart healthy protein with either fruits or veggies to help keep cals down. Benefits besides weightloss: depression drastically improved, blood pressure better (still on meds though :-( ), insomnia gone, knees no longer hurt, and my husband won't leave me alone. Draw backs: I miss my boobs.
  • keeponkickin
    keeponkickin Posts: 1,520 Member
    Hello. I'm 44, been married almost 25 years and we have 4 children, ages 24, 21, 10 and 9. I joined MFP on January 11, 2011 and I am down 101 pounds so far with 26 more to go. I am in the best shape of my life. I workout hardcore at the gym 4 to 5 days a week and just started P90X. I can't believe what a difference almost 10 months has made.

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  • wiglet23
    wiglet23 Posts: 887 Member
    Wow. This is such an awesome topic. So many wonderful inspiring stories.

    I'm 40. Have 17yo and 14yo daughters. Was solely responsible for them for 6 years after divorce and never felt like I had the time to take care of me. My girls moved to their father's 2 years ago. Depression kept me from taking care of me for about a year. This past May (when I turned the big 4-0) I decided it was past time to get off the couch and JUST DO IT. Since then I have logged 104 activities (including beginning with walking and elliptical only to now running, hiking, some cycling, strength training & elliptical) burning over 35,000cals.

    When my youngest was still in diapers I did lose weight using Slim 4 Life's low carb/hi protein diet - sure it was nice that 35 lbs slid off in a quick 6 weeks, but, obviously since I'm here now, it did not stay off! That is a hard diet to maintain. I am here to keep it off!

    I have found I now actually LOOK FORWARD to working out (maybe because it means I can eat more that day! :smile: , but, hey, whatever works, right ?) This is huge for me. And, all of the support from people here on MFP and reading others' success stories is also so encouraging and keeps me going. I have my bad days diet-wise (this week has been one of my worst since starting) but I have my goal in mine and KNOW I can just keep hitting the "reset button" and keep going.

    You are so close to your goal. You have the tools and know-how. You will get there!! :flowerforyou:

    *Let me amend.. I started exercising end of May. Not seeing much result in weight loss itself (but did see endurance building), I started MFP in late August. MFP has been a tremendous help in the weight loss catecory! :smile:
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    Ladies, such wonderful stories. You keep me inspired!! Please feel free to add me as a friend! I'm so grateful that we have one another to support and help!
  • SnowmamaM
    SnowmamaM Posts: 1
    I am joining the conversation late but hey, at least I am here. I am 43 - I have three kids, 5, 3.5 and 2. I am still 13 pounds over my prepregnancy weight and 21 pounds over my ideal weight. I have given this a few tries over the past year but not whole heartedly. Now I am really ready to make a difference. I am signed up for walking a half-marathon in April. I have been counting my calories for a few days and generally watching what I eat over the past two weeks.

    I am inspired by what I have read on this thread. I look forward to being a success story by Valentine's Day!
  • modernsoul
    modernsoul Posts: 148 Member
    I'm 45 (46 in January yikes) and have a 19 year-old son. Today I hit my half-way point, 15 pounds. 15 more to go. This past week has been hard. I was sick at the beginning of the week and I didn't work out much and yet I still dropped 2 pounds. Must have been my lack of appetite. When I got pregnant with my son so many years ago I gained 50 pounds and topped the scale at 190. Ouch. Since then I've been up and down and with age more on the up side. I married for the second time six years ago and since then both my husband and I have been putting on the pounds. We started MFP together the end of September. This is definitely a lifestyle change and we're both committed to see it through.

    Thanks for sharing all your wonderful stories.

    Trina
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    Trina...how wonderful that you and your husband are on this journey together. One of my biggest struggles was my husband being so thin. Can't tell how many times I felt like strangling him when he mention how his pants were getting lose and needing a smaller size. It was a struggle knowing I weighed more than him. My youngest is 10 and I tipped the scales and about 185 just before he was born. I'm only 5'2!!! One of my victories along this journey was finally weighing less than him!!!
  • hemlock2010
    hemlock2010 Posts: 422 Member
    I'll be 47 in a month and have two kids, 21 and 16, who have been my cheering section since day one of MFP. The 16yo was a little skeptical at first b/c he hates change and thought that if I got fit, I would be different. Now he's my motivator when internal motivation fails. The 21yo has always been supportive but struggles with her own weight issues, so we have to be very careful not be enablers for each other's self-destructive impulses.

    I've been stuck at 172 lbs for about five weeks--obviously not the worst thing that's ever happened in my life-long weight loss journey (since my high was 217) but still kind of frustrating. I took a break from exercise during the worst of fall allergy season, but now that the air is a little more breathable, I'm ramping up the Turbo Jam again.

    This past week I've been having sort of a mid-life crisis (brought on by the approaching 47th birthday) and the sudden realization that I'm really old. Age has always been just another number for me until suddenly--starting this past Tuesday--it's been this awful thing I can't escape. I feel as though no one in the history of the world has ever been as old as I'm about to be and that there's no point in trying to be fitter or to learn a new sport because I'm so OLD. It does help (a little) that Tony Horton is also in his forties, but he's still not as old as I am about to be . . .
  • Leigh_D
    Leigh_D Posts: 356 Member
    Hello lovely ladies....today I am doing a happy dance. Once again after the scale not moving for a couple of weeks, I have had a 3 lb weight loss. And......it moved me into that "healthy" weight range on the BMI chart. I am no longer officially over weight. I'm not done yet, still have 13 lbs to go to meet my goal but I am so happy I could shout it from the rooftops.

    OHHHHH YEEEEEEAAAAHHH!!
    "Healthy" BMI is my goal! 20 more pounds to go until I reach that point, 30 pounds to maintenance, I think. I haven't ever been in the 140's since I passed it the first time when I was, like, 12.

    Hi, I'm Leigh. I'm almost 40 (in March '12), with a 4-year-old. I knew I started "late" for kids, but it has really made an impression on me reading through this thread through everyone's story. So many of you my age with teenagers! I'm 10 years "behind" my peers! But otherwise, same old story -- major sweet tooth, heavy all my life, blah blah blah. Learning about Basal Metabolic Rate has been the "magic potion" for me, and I've shed 60 pounds in 10 months.

    Way to go, Ladies! Keep up the good work!
  • circusmom
    circusmom Posts: 662 Member
    Hello lovely ladies....today I am doing a happy dance. Once again after the scale not moving for a couple of weeks, I have had a 3 lb weight loss. And......it moved me into that "healthy" weight range on the BMI chart. I am no longer officially over weight. I'm not done yet, still have 13 lbs to go to meet my goal but I am so happy I could shout it from the rooftops.

    OHHHHH YEEEEEEAAAAHHH!!
    "Healthy" BMI is my goal! 20 more pounds to go until I reach that point, 30 pounds to maintenance, I think. I haven't ever been in the 140's since I passed it the first time when I was, like, 12.

    Hi, I'm Leigh. I'm almost 40 (in March '12), with a 4-year-old. I knew I started "late" for kids, but it has really made an impression on me reading through this thread through everyone's story. So many of you my age with teenagers! I'm 10 years "behind" my peers! But otherwise, same old story -- major sweet tooth, heavy all my life, blah blah blah. Learning about Basal Metabolic Rate has been the "magic potion" for me, and I've shed 60 pounds in 10 months.

    Way to go, Ladies! Keep up the good work!

    Your not that late!! I'm 42 and have a 23, 12, 5, & 3 year old. Congrats on your weight loss so far!! Keep it up!
  • modernsoul
    modernsoul Posts: 148 Member
    Trina...how wonderful that you and your husband are on this journey together. One of my biggest struggles was my husband being so thin. Can't tell how many times I felt like strangling him when he mention how his pants were getting lose and needing a smaller size. It was a struggle knowing I weighed more than him. My youngest is 10 and I tipped the scales and about 185 just before he was born. I'm only 5'2!!! One of my victories along this journey was finally weighing less than him!!!

    If my husband wasn't doing this along with me I think I would have failed by now. I think now it's turned into a little competition. Of course he's losing more than me but men always do. It's so unfair. LOL. I'm about ready to start a second round of the 30 day shred. The first round I wasn't able to do it in 30 days straight, but this time I'm determined. Good luck to all you wonder mothers over 40.
  • kj_4
    kj_4 Posts: 50 Member
    Yes, Mom over 40 here too. I am 47 with 4 kids - 19,17,13 and 8. I started MFP just before my 47th birthday just over a month ago and I have lost 15.5 pounds so far. Gained and lost so many times, I have lost count. Seems when I gain, it goes higher everytime - so no more. MFP has been my lifeline in helping me track my calories, stay motivated and on track. I often read the success stories and it really gives me inspiration to keep going and maybe one day, I can post some before and after photos. I have been doing pretty well with sticking to my calorie limit, but I need to get exercising more. So thanks to everyone who posts, as it does give me inspiration to know that I am not alone and that many others are finding some great success. Also, there has been some great support when things have not gone so well and just when I am struggling to deal with a hectic life with 3 teenagers!! Thanks MFP's!!
    Kathy:flowerforyou:
  • rdvincent
    rdvincent Posts: 52
    ladies, I am struggling to find time to get everything done around my house, I have an 8 and 3 yr old at home and care for an 86 yr old,full time she's paralyzed on her left side with dementia, so with keeping house, homework and stuff, I've found that the first person I don't take care of is me.
    my husband works and I can't leave the 86 yr old alone so everything is done at home, which leads to stress I may add! which leads to eating bad at times, how do you all balance it. bring on the ideas so I can get back on track!
    thanks
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    You really do have your hands full. I am so sorry to hear that. Try to keep only healthy food and snacks in the house to avoid that stress eating. Make sure you keep measuring all the food you eat best you can, maybe pre-measure if you can when things are quiet and you have the moment. Can you get your exercise in when your husband is home? Sounds like you'd sure enjoy a walk or run or some sort of exercise out of the house. What about getting up in the morning just a little earlier and getting your exercise in then, even if it's only for 15 minutes at least it's something.
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    Vic...everyone needs to find what works for them, that's for sure. But there is no replacement for portion control and exercise. This is a lifelong process. Just because it's a holiday or one's birthday doesn't mean you should over-indulge. Yes we all do it from time to time, but we must for the most part do our best to remain in control. Best of luck to you!
  • Leigh_D
    Leigh_D Posts: 356 Member
    Hi, I have trouble keeping weight off during the holidays, all of that wonderful holiday food simply entices me to over eat, I know I will need help avoiding all of those holiday treats, then I run across this add on the internet for RocaLabs Gastric Bypass Diet formula, through my research I discovered the reason this diet works, it simply makes you feel full an satisfied, you do not eat as much nor as often, finally someone invented a product that targets the reason we all over eat and once you get at the root of the problem, you can solve the problem. In reality this is the most logical solution, so I ordered the product and only 2 days into it, I am not hungry nor do I want to snack. Every One this is the best plan out there.

    SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM
  • mom2jjl
    mom2jjl Posts: 48
    BUMP because I want to read this at home tonight on my Kindle Fire! WHOOP WHOOP!!!!
  • Karen1157
    Karen1157 Posts: 5
    Hay there everyone. Mom over 40 with around 50 pounds to lose. Looking for friends that want to take control over their health. I want to lose but be heathy, wise and fit. I am not one for giving up once I have mad up my mind. My mind is mad up! It is never to late to get back in shape, feel good about yourself, life and a pair of skinny jeans. LOL!
  • Karen1157
    Karen1157 Posts: 5
    You look great ! Way to go!!!!
  • jgmom2
    jgmom2 Posts: 14 Member
    i am also 43 with a 10 year old and 14 year old. I have lost 41 pounds as well and feel amazing. I have about 20-30 more to go. 20 more would make me happy , 30 more i would be overjoyed. It has been a lifestyle change and one that i will not falter from. I love the way i feel and beginning to like the way I look as well. I weigh in every morning. I find that it keeps me accountable. Good luck with the rest of your journey. You look fantastic.
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