Age 40+ looking to lose weight and improve fitness in 2014.

[HoneyandRum]

I have found it is much harder and takes much longer for me to lose weight in my 40s. I managed to get back down to a healthy pre-dc weight and size after first two dcs (not immediately, but when I had the energy to think about it). Since I had dc3 when I was almost 38 I have never been back to where I was. It also was not a priority for a long time as three kids and life made it hard for me to focus on myself.

I managed to lose half a stone last year just by watching calories but once I lost my focus the weight went back on.

This year I want to make health and fitness for myself my focus. I would love to have some more MNs on board for mutual support. My plan is to be realistic. At the moment I am doing no exercise to speak of so plan to go back to weight training twice a week and to gradually add cardio such as walking and swimming.

To watch my food intake I plan to use Myfitnesspal and also the principals in the book "Eat to Live" which always motivates me, as a doctor explains which foods help your body and which do not with lots of scientific evidence. When I get distracted I eat way too much dairy for example.

Whose in?

[jchocchip]

Same nn on mfp if you want to add me. Will be doing this in the new year...

[HoneyandRum]

Jchocchip I should change my nn on mfp to match MN - is that simple to do?

Thanks for the mutual support! I know I need it

[Lindor]

count me in. I'm in exactly the same situation and have just joined local gym, but not had time or been well enough to make it along yet, Need to find out about MFP too. Is it really useful?

[HoneyandRum]

After reading about mfp on here last year I gave it a whirl. I had never counted calories before and I found it really worked. Basically because you are maintaining an electronic food diary. It's made very simple for you as you can pick out what you eat from a vast database (or add something unusual to the database) and then those foods are in your food bank or list of foods you regularly eat. I found it startling to see what had lots of calories and what didn't. You soon train yourself to eat things that give you a lot for your calorie count i.e. they fill you up and taste good.

You get extra calories if you exercise.

The book I mentioned I would also highly recommend as I used the principals after my first two dcs and lost the weight (I also exercised). Dr Fuhrman has a six week plan that if you stick to you should lose about 20 pounds. I might try that once the kids are back in school and our schedule has a regular pattern again.

[HoneyandRum]

If you google "Eat to live 6 week plan PDF" the whole book comes up. You don't need to plough through the whole thing (although I find it always motivates me) the final chapters explain what to eat and not.

He basically has a ton of evidence to show you how toxic the modern western diet is and it can scare you (in the right way) to do something!

[jchocchip]

I think you are only allowed a limited number of changes to nn on mfp...
mfp was great for me when I used it.. could consistently drop the lbs if I stuck to the limits and exercised. I fell off when a friend died over a year ago and need to pick it up properly again.

[HoneyandRum]

So sorry to hear about your friend j. It's clear how our state of mind affects our behavior.

[HoneyandRum]

Just polished off a big bag of salt and vinegar crisps with the kids, so obviously not on the bandwagon yet!!

When do we start lads?

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Hello! I'm definitely in. I'm on MFP with this same name so add me. :)

I want to lose a stone to be back at my favourite weight of 9st 7. I'll be doing the Scarsdale Diet details here as that's how I lost 3 stone a couple of years ago. It's strict but the food is lovely, all fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish.

My main issue will be moving in with my parents in a week's time, while I buy my own house. They eat A LOT and my dad will tease me about dieting, as that's just what he does. But they have a gym opposite their house, and they'll babysit my DC anytime I want to go. I'm just going to have to stay strong, result their lovely home-cooked meals, and show Dad how effortlessly I can get all slim and gorgeous.

Plus I have to lose wight as none of my clothes fit anymore.

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Sorry, that should say resist their lovely meals.

Dad cooks amazing food, and mum makes lovely comfort food like spag Bol, steak and kidney pie, fish pie, macaroni cheese, etc... I'll feel like a right diva if I make myself something separate, but I just can't eat that comfort stuff. It makes me balloon.

[HoneyandRum]

My kids are not back to school for ages so realistically my start date will be Wednesday 9th January. But I will start getting myself prepared mentally. For example just banned DH from bringing junk food home! Will try and get some walking in too.

BTW I can spell principles but my American iPad keeps substituting "principals"

[HoneyandRum]

Kids and I are out for a walk - gave up waiting for DH he is working and can't get away (on-call). My goal today is change my name on mfp and friend jchocchip and AnuvvaMuvva, what about it Lindor?

[madwomanintheatt1c]

I will probably pop by once a week for motivation
I'm not doing anything that requires long term recording (so no mfp, weighing food or any of that time consuming laborious stuff ) although I may be convinced as someone has just suggested I try some 21 day paleo thingy. I need to see what it entails.
I'm going to start with the 14 day Anna Richardson thing on 3rd Jan (ds1 bday on 2nd and I WILL be eating pizza and ice cream birthday cake with a handful of pre-pubescent boys) so will decide during those 14 days whether I can move onto the paleo one.

I like the fit, feminist and (almost) fifty blog for inspiration, as I would rather focus on fitness than weight loss per se (despite being aware that my weight is currently prohibiting the fitness improvements, and I have an entire wardrobe full of clothes that I can't do up..)

fitisafeministissue.com/2013/12/24/active-holiday-traditions/

43, Have three kids (two with sn) and work ft, although I am changing my work week to 4 days instead of 5 in the new year, just doing longer hours - this is going to help me be organised, and in turn make it easier to get fit and healthy (life is kinda chaotic and I think lack of time makes it harder to get yourself in the right place mentally to make positive changes).

I won't be on here every day, as I'm also trying to cut down my online time in an overall healthier lifestyle overhaul... but I am looking forward to seeing how we all go! Hope that's okay!

[knitknack]

I'm in! I've managed to put on a stone over the last year, my will power shrivelled after losing my dad, who was my remaining parent, and various other life-stresses. It's all good now though and I'm on day 3 of couch25k and primal eating -here's to a fabulous 2014! I'm going to be one of those 'I'm in better shape in my fourties than in my twenties' types :)

Kn1tknack on MFP

(I'm making my kids to couch25k with me!)

[madwomanintheatt1c]

Knit knack, are you doing the mark Sisson 21 day thing? That's what I'm toying with...

[jchocchip]

I would love to redo c25k. I did it 2 years ago and surprised myself, not a natural runner. I have run ever since although had an injury which meant I had to have a couple of months off and now I'm am really slow although still take part in parkrun most weeks. Combined with mfp it meant that I could eat more on my running days. I also changed my job after my friend died which was a big mistake as the stress is not good and too much food around in new office.
Need to summon up the courage to weigh myself. My mfp used to say 44lb lost, hate to think what it should say now :(

[HoneyandRum]

Hello all! So excited we are all on the same page. Wherever we are health, weight and fitness wise and wherever we want to be, we can only do it in small steps. So best just to start in the right direction and keep going (with help and encouragement from here!). Would love to say I immediately am motivated but instead kids and I are mowing through the Christmas goodies (ice-cream, cookies etc.) as I won't be buying any once they're gone. I know I could be a good girl now but something in me likes giving the finger to my good intentions until my brain is totally in the right place, I am getting there, but know it will be hard work ahead. Kind of like the wild weekend before a squaddie starts bootcamp.

Like the idea of couch to 5k but have not run since a teenager, can I really do it?

[russianmule]

I would love to join you all, I have a mfp account, is it OK to find you that are on there. I would love to be fitter than I am now and need to lose a stone that has sneaked up on my in the last 12 months.

[HoneyandRum]

Hi Russianmule the more the merrier [seasonally appropriate]! Haven't done my task of nc on mfp yet as went out for long walk with kids yesterday and forgot. Will try and get to it when home later..

[Lindor]

thanks for all the info, I will see about getting on MFP. I did about 4 weeks of C25K last year and found it quite motivating before life got in the way and I fell off the fitness wagon. We are still in Christmas holiday mode, slouching around. Breakfast today from the Hairy Dieters book=
fluffy banana pancakes - yum!

[badasahatter]

I'm in. I have a plethora of tools at my disposal, all of the electronic variety. Looking forward to having some people motivation. I'm planning on using values diary on phone, Wii Fit and Mumsnet. Am hoping the three things combined will sort out the 2 stones + I need to shift. I'm in...

[SunshineOnACrappyDay]

I'm in too :) Am FabulousJasper on MFP. I lost a stone last year but I have 5 more to lose to get to my fighting weight. I've got into the habit of snacking over Xmas so need to get a grip on that.

[MaeMobley]

May I join? I am 44, 5'4 and a size 18-20.

Also on MFP.

[TalkinPeace]

Anuvva
re being fed beautiful stodgy meals,
take the makings of yummy salads with you and half fill your plate with salad at each meal
that way you get to enjoy the food, be polite, but not over eat
if its a roast type meal, cover half your plate with veg so that there is less space for the pie

(TiP luffs pastry and spag bol and that sort of stuff!)

[AnuvvaMuvva]

THANK YOU - that's a good tip!! I'll do that!