It just ain't right....

Kelekat
Kelekat Posts: 174 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been dieting, exercising (cardio and weight lifting) like a fiend for six weeks. Every weekend, my fiance and I go on moderate to difficult hikes for HOURS! For two and a half weeks, I gained and lost the same two pounds. I finally broke through that dilemma for a grand total of five pounds. I weighed this morning and I've gained two of those pounds back.

Trying to lose weight in my 50 plus year old body has been the most frustrating experience of my life.

My clothing still fits like sausage casings and I'm about ready to go running, screaming into the night.

Yes, I know that there are challenges that go along with age when it comes to losing weight. But it isn't as if I was a couch potato before I started this journey.

I don't know where to go from here. Giving up isn't an option--but if something doesn't give soon, my frustration level is going to explode through my eyeballs.
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Replies

  • Skeemer118
    Skeemer118 Posts: 397 Member
    I looked at a couple of your diary days. Are you eating enough? Also I don't see many fruits/veggies logged. Are you eating those? Sometimes I don't log green veggies because I consider them "Free" so I don't want to assume that you're not eating them just because I don't see them. But not logging things like bananas have come back to haunt me. Lol. I thought just because it was a fruit that it was healthy...& it is...but it also adds 100 calories to my day that I was ignoring. I have noticed that I am eating a ton of carbs unitentionally through the day too. Oatmeal here, crackers there, sandwich here...you get the idea. I'm trying to really cut back on bread & the likes as much as I can. I have seen a visable difference just in the past few days. I hope this helps or inspires you. Good luck!
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    My opinion, looking at your diary - you aren't eating enough.

    some days you are only netting 500 calories (ate 1400, burned 900).

    Your body needs a minimum amount of nutrition to perform adequately and without that, it'll be hard to lose weight.

    I'd reassess your calorie goals to between BMR and TDEE. You may not think it will work, but neither is what you are doing now, so it is worth a try :)
  • johnsonje82
    johnsonje82 Posts: 46 Member
    Too little is worse than too much!
  • Kelekat
    Kelekat Posts: 174 Member
    This used to be so easy....heck, it used to be unnecessary.

    I just can't find the groove between too much to eat or too little.

    Last night, I couldn't even finish dinner--I was stuffed. I'm just not sure how to get around that.

    When I was younger, if I wanted to drop a few pounds, I'd just eat yogurt and soup for a couple of days and voila! Instant weight loss.

    Now it's: "You're eating too little. You're not eating enough veggies. You have to eat back exercise calories. And so on and so on...."

    I have no idea really, how to find that magic food groove between my BMR and TDEE. I don't even really understand what those are.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Exercise + lack of food = your problem.


    Set your goal at .5 lb - 1 lb per week and eat back 50-75% of your exercise calories. It works.
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    OP, look at WHAT you are eating, a lot of it is not very nutritious, you need to rethink your daily menu.
  • I1ahunt
    I1ahunt Posts: 72
    I owuld say it is time to see a Personal Trainer, Nutrionist or your family Doc for some advice about your eating habits and your metabolism.
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    * Not eating enough
    * Lots of exercise
    * Quality of food you are consuming is lacking

    This all creates the perfect storm of stagnation.

    * rethink your menu and drop the excuses. What do you want more? Your actions will say more than your words.
    * your activity level is fine. Keep that.
    * stop starving yourself. Your body has a fun way of telling you to go eff off and its doing so now.

    Part of the battle is not fought on the track or the weight room, but in the kitchen.
  • _greeneyedgirl_
    _greeneyedgirl_ Posts: 84
    This used to be so easy....heck, it used to be unnecessary.

    I just can't find the groove between too much to eat or too little.

    Last night, I couldn't even finish dinner--I was stuffed. I'm just not sure how to get around that.

    When I was younger, if I wanted to drop a few pounds, I'd just eat yogurt and soup for a couple of days and voila! Instant weight loss.

    Now it's: "You're eating too little. You're not eating enough veggies. You have to eat back exercise calories. And so on and so on...."

    I have no idea really, how to find that magic food groove between my BMR and TDEE. I don't even really understand what those are.

    What you are doing is obviously not working. What will it hurt to try something different?

    I agree you're eating way too little. Try to eat at least half your exercise calories back with healthy choices.
  • morganadk2_deleted
    morganadk2_deleted Posts: 1,696 Member
    Exercise + lack of food = your problem.


    Set your goal at .5 lb - 1 lb per week and eat back 50-75% of your exercise calories. It works.

    this sounds good to me ^
  • sco8462
    sco8462 Posts: 34
    Its a whole knew learning experience for me too. At 42, I had a hard time learning all the new rules at first. But, with the help of a nutritionist, logging EVERYTHING, and reading as much as I could, after a few weeks it got easier. It isn't just exercise, it really is about what goes in. It will get easier. Unfortunately, it is never as easy to lose it as it is to gain it. Just stick with it. You'll get there!
  • nahralynn
    nahralynn Posts: 125 Member
    Try adding more vegetables, fruits, and lean meats then eat them first before the more processed items that you have. You might find yourself eating more of the veg/lean meats then the other things. I wouldn't STUFF yourself though just because you are trying to get to a certain calorie goal. If you find that you are lacking in calories try to pad your meals with higher calorie but better for you items like an avocado, or PB with an apple.

    It may be worth it to see a nutritionist for at least one session just to get your basics.
  • Gail3260
    Gail3260 Posts: 354 Member
    Please don't give up...it really is possible to lose the weight at our age...I am 52 and gained the weight in very much the same way as you. I have lost 25lbs since last August although the loss has slowed significantly now.

    As long as you stick to your calories then you don't need to exercise like a fiend unless you really want to and enjoy it. I exercise twice a week for 45 minutes (gym or swimming) and have a desk job. You can look at my food diary but as I am in the UK it may not be much help.
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    eat more calories, good calories of course, but still eat more. you sound like you're doing a lot. I don't think it's your age, you just need to eat more.
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    This used to be so easy....heck, it used to be unnecessary.

    I just can't find the groove between too much to eat or too little.

    Last night, I couldn't even finish dinner--I was stuffed. I'm just not sure how to get around that.

    When I was younger, if I wanted to drop a few pounds, I'd just eat yogurt and soup for a couple of days and voila! Instant weight loss.

    Now it's: "You're eating too little. You're not eating enough veggies. You have to eat back exercise calories. And so on and so on...."

    I have no idea really, how to find that magic food groove between my BMR and TDEE. I don't even really understand what those are.

    I know what you mean. I have been bobbing up and down with 3 pounds and never going below a certain point. I have tried cutting back a little, because I have been (almost exactly) what MFP suggests. I am afraid to increase my calorie intake for fear I will jump up another 5 pounds, which has happened in the past. I tried eating half of my exercise calories back and also cutting my suggested daily calories (1540) down to about 1300. Dah!! So, I just keep plugging along *hoping* I will start losing. Not sure what else I could try except maybe 1200 cals/day for a while (which I did yesterday). From the beginning, I believed MFP over estimated my BMR. Other than doing a very painful (back injury) 30 minute cardio 3-4 times a week, I am totally sedentary.

    Don't give up. I'm going to hang in there too. Just wanted you to know; you are not the only one.
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    I have no idea really, how to find that magic food groove between my BMR and TDEE. I don't even really understand what those are.

    you don't have to. I was happy losing 20pounds before MFP on my own. maybe that may work for you as well. just eating when you get hungry, sometimes a great tool such as MFP can complicate things. I still like MFP because I like to see where I'm getting my calories from, but eat when your hungry and eat frequently
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    Exercise + lack of food = your problem.


    Set your goal at .5 lb - 1 lb per week and eat back 50-75% of your exercise calories. It works.

    this
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    Exercise + lack of food = your problem.


    Set your goal at .5 lb - 1 lb per week and eat back 50-75% of your exercise calories. It works.

    this
    Adding my vote to this.
  • HauteP1nk
    HauteP1nk Posts: 2,139 Member
    This is a really great article you should read. It is all about ways you can BOOST your metabolism.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/90509-lose-weight-women-over/
  • TrophyWifeSass
    TrophyWifeSass Posts: 490 Member
    Exercise + lack of food = your problem.


    Set your goal at .5 lb - 1 lb per week and eat back 50-75% of your exercise calories. It works.

    this
    Adding my vote to this.

    Ditto!!!!!!!!
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    If you are putting your body through that amount of exercise you need to feed your body. Having a goal of 1200 calories with everything you do is not helping your body at all. Also just because you stick to 1200 or 2200 it doesnt mean that you can eat crap until you reach that calorie goal. You need to feed your body with more nutritious foods.

    In your diary I saw that you eat fries...burgers....chips etc Try getting some fruits, Vegetables, greek yogurt, Chicken.

    One thing I learn a long time ago.....it doesn't matter how much work you do to your body if your constantly feeding it foods that do not help you. YOu can work out 15 hours a day but if your feeding it Fries and burgers your not going to get the results you need. 90% of weight loss results is based on your eating habit. (% may be high lol)
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    Your struggles sound much like mine. I could lose weight, but it was difficult and hiccupy. It turned out I am hypothyroid, and that's why I struggled so much. And deficient in vitamin D and B12. Amazing how much easier weight loss is when you take care of silly things like that.
    I'm not saying this is your answer. I struggled through my 20s to lose. Now at 33, I'm finding it a little more difficult, but not impossible. But I do have my doctor behind me all the way. Perhaps a little blood test might be in order, just in case.
    I hope somewhere you find the answers you're looking for!
  • lambertj
    lambertj Posts: 675 Member
    I am in the same boat, at 46 yrs old this weight loss is driving me nuts. Same with you, used to drop lbs in weeks with yogurt and such. I'm eating too little, i'm exercising too much, increase your calories, then i gain weight. They say it's just good old fashioned math but I still have no idea what i'm doing. But one thing is for sure i'm not giving up either. Hang in there
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    I've been dieting, exercising (cardio and weight lifting) like a fiend for six weeks. Every weekend, my fiance and I go on moderate to difficult hikes for HOURS! For two and a half weeks, I gained and lost the same two pounds. I finally broke through that dilemma for a grand total of five pounds. I weighed this morning and I've gained two of those pounds back.

    Trying to lose weight in my 50 plus year old body has been the most frustrating experience of my life.

    My clothing still fits like sausage casings and I'm about ready to go running, screaming into the night.

    Yes, I know that there are challenges that go along with age when it comes to losing weight. But it isn't as if I was a couch potato before I started this journey.

    I don't know where to go from here. Giving up isn't an option--but if something doesn't give soon, my frustration level is going to explode through my eyeballs.

    Off the subject: I bet you are a hoot to get to know. Being around you is probably a fun thing! :glasses:
  • Kelekat
    Kelekat Posts: 174 Member
    Thank you all for your input. I've reset my weight goal from 1.5 to 1 pound a week. I've been on the 1200 calorie diet because that is what my trainer told me to do. Guess there's some knowledge lacking there too.

    I have some food issues, yes--but not from a lack of desire to eat right.

    I leave my house at 6 AM and most nights, I don't get home until 7 PM. The moment I walk through the door, my 15 year old son with the forest fire metabolism hits me with, "what's for dinner, Mom?"

    I barely have time to shop, let alone prepare food that will do double duty for his calorie burning machine and my less than stellar metabolism. He won't touch most veggies and truthfully? I can't afford to feed us both something different every day. I have no help, either in the form of a hubby or child support--so finding something we can (will) both eat that I can afford is generally a challenge.

    However, if anybody has any ideas as to how I can start getting more healthy foods into our diets (I'll have to sneak them into his) believe me, I am ALL ears!
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    I am 55 and have lost 26 lbs just by diet alone. 1200 to 1600 calories per day. I am losing average of 0.5 pounds per week. So it can be done even in middle age :smile:

    I don't have an answer as to why you are not losing but looks like some good ideas for you to try have already been posted. Good luck and hope you find the answer.
  • shadyj26
    shadyj26 Posts: 102 Member
    Doing the cardio with weight trainning is great. I suggest that you continue to watch what you are eating but make sure that you are eating enough. If you are burning off 800 calories do to execrise and only taking in1500 your not going to lose weight. Your body is trying to survive off of 700 calories. So, your body is holding on to the fat to use it for energy later.
  • cutie2b
    cutie2b Posts: 194 Member
    Have you had your thyroid checked?
  • booyainyoface
    booyainyoface Posts: 409 Member
    ooh your from poway- do you do woodson a lot? what are some other good challenging hikes in the area? coming from colorado/vermont I am finding a lot of the local hikes are way too easy :)
  • Kelekat
    Kelekat Posts: 174 Member
    ooh your from poway- do you do woodson a lot? what are some other good challenging hikes in the area? coming from colorado/vermont I am finding a lot of the local hikes are way too easy :)

    I've climbed Woodson. Try Iron Mountain. I think the length of that one will get your motor going. Switchbacks make it somewhat easier, but it's a heart pounder nonetheless.

    Try the Daley Ranch hike too. There are hills--but again, it's the length plus hills that are the kicker on that one. There's also the San Pasqual Valley Trail--about nine miles one way. Straight up Raptor Ridge and through the San Pasqual Agricultural Preserve.

    Lovely scenery and hills that will make your legs ache and heart pound.
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