Looking for 50 somethings to share stories

I turned 50 this year. Losing is absolutely harder now, but it is possible. Find an exercise that you like, don't force yourself to do something because others see results. I prefer more low-key exercises that target everything, like Skinny-Sculpt by Ellen Barrett. Also, don't underestimate the importance of water. It doesn't make me feel full, but it really helps the pounds melt off faster. Be patient with your body, it's had a lot longer to become friends with the fat and it doesn't really like letting go. You can do it, with persistence and patience. I lost 18 pounds last year and could have lost more if I hadn't gotten lazy after I got close to my goal.

I am not quite 50 but will be 49 next month UGgggg. Where did the time go? Anyway I have lost 92 lbs since july 2010. It hasnt been easy but i am determined to reach my original goal of 100 lbs lost, 8 more to go YEAH. We can do this, it may take a bit more work, but we will get there

I was one of the lucky ones when I was I kid who could eat anything and not gain an ounce. Then came my 20's and the kids. The weight came on gradually, with my being able to lose most after the first and second babies. After the third, I gained about 50 pounds and kept it all. At 50, it's like a switch went on. Menopause probably has something to do with it, but it became a lot tougher to lose pounds or inches. At 56, this past year I have weighed the most I've ever weighed. While I've been able to cut back and exercise in the past and lose, it isn't working that way anymore. I discovered MFP 8 weeks ago, and so far I've had good results. It's SLOW, but the weight has been dropping - about a pound a week. I think at this point in my life, daily exercise is NECESSARY, as well as logging in every single thing I eat. It also helps that my daughter and husband have joined me, and we are all in this together. What works for me is exercise - first thing in the morning. It gets me motivated to watch the calories during the day. Also, I can't stress enough the importance of drinking lots of water. It temporarily fills you, keeps things moving, thereby easing the bloating that can occur. Good luck!

We have a group here called Senior Golden Sneakers. Let me post this now, just to get this thread into My Topics. Then I'll click away from here and get the URL and come back. There are lots of us in our 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s. I'm 65. I lost 26 pounds last year, ten of that since September when I joined MFP.

Hi. I am in exactly the same boat! I'm 51 and want to lose 50 # this year. I am currently at an all time high for my weight and cannot stand how I feel with all this extra weight. I've noticed that I've developed extra fat around the middle--the dreaded 'menopot!' I never had weight problems around the middle when younger--always went to hips/thighs-bad enough! I need to melt this fat off of my waist. My fist goal is to have 30# off by end of June for a trip to Florida. We can do this! Best of luck to you.

Hi All and thanks for the words of encouragement and stories, they really help. One question.....When I enter my food (1200 calorie diet) and then enter my exercise it adds those calories to my available calories for the day. Am I suppose to eat 1200 less the workout of a flat 1200 and the workout burns part of those 1200?

Thoughts...please!

Your "Net Calories" add the extra calorie you burn (and earn) from exercise to you daily goal, and the total is your LIMIT for the day. If you eat less than that limit, you will lose faster. My daily goal is 1300 calories. If I try to eat only 1300 calories, I feel miserable. I usually burn a minimum of 300 calories a day, sometimes twice that much, just so I can eat more! I lose 1/2 pound a week that way. Slow and steady is the ONLY way to win this raced after 50!

I'm 55, and since mid October have lost an average of 1/3 pound a day (24.2 pounds). Although it looks more like stairsteps than a gradual decline! I log EVERYTHING in MFP, work out 3 to 6 days a week, and have the help of a trainer to target my weak spots. The hard parts for me are the difficulties from Insulin Resistance and having to listen to my body on injuries and limitations. From October 2010 through May 2011 I ran three half marathons and several 5K's until a torn meniscus in my knee sidelined me, surgery had me stop moving and my weight went back up. I lost that weight and more, and am now faster than before, but not necessarily for as long of a time. If you ever participate or watch a half marathon - take a good look at how many in our age catagory there are! Feel free to friend me.

We also have a very supportive group here for diabetics and prediabetics.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/529-diabetics-and-prediabetics