Over 40 weight loss success stories

[OceanPacific]

I'm 47 and 5'3". Until I was 40 the heaviest I weighed was 9stone. Since turning 40 it has crept up and up and up. I'm currently 11 stone which at my height isn't good at all. I eat the same as I ever have (actually probably a lot healthier and less alcohol than in my twenties and thirties).

Has anyone here had success in losing +2 stone in their later 40s or older? How did you do it? How long did it take?

[OceanPacific]

Bump

[Thesuzle]

Hormones, metabolism, age. The three horsemen of the Apocalypse !

[OceanPacific]

Hmmm. An Apocalypse. I was hoping a less extreme solution might exist. 😉

[GreyBudgie]

Hi OceanPacific. It's not impossible to lose weight over 40, you succeeded in keeping at or below 9 stone for decades, so you have the knowledge to do it again. What has changed in the last few years, if not your food intake? What has changed in your lifestyle, activity level etc?

[Lurkingforawhile]

From what I've read the answer is to try and increase muscle. We lose it every year, and if you have more muscle fat burning continues longer after exercise. Also good for protecting against injury, and keeping joint stable. Of course I haven't actually managed to do this yet!

[OceanPacific]

I take Tamoxifen which lowers my oestrogen (been doing that for the last nine years). I think this is the main problem but when I come off it I will be trying to keep my oestrogen naturally low with a high fibre diet

I don't eat processed food or ready meals. I do bake a lot and love cake and wine. I have a very sweet tooth. I try to keep these in check and only have them as treats. I try to do 80:20 though it's probably more realistically 70:30. I probably have more carbs than I should.

I do Pilates, run and do weight training. I do intermittent fasting (16:8).

But I'm still 2 stone over weight. I need to shift it. Help!!

[GreyBudgie]

@OceanPacific How would you feel about keeping a food/drink diary for a week? It would give you an idea of where the calories are coming from and what you could change to lose weight slowly.

You certainly have the exercise sorted!

[Colourmylife1]

Im sorry but i think the answer might be in your last post. I think 80:20 may be effective for maintaining but not enough to lose weight. I’m 57 and the same height as you. Last year I lost over a stone to reach 8st 11 but I had to be really strict to do that. Very little wine and no cake! I love these things too!

[ilovespinach]

I'm 43 and am having some success with 16/8. Typically I'm eating a lot of salad, omelettes and baked potatoes. Drinking water or black coffee.

I started in May and have lost 10kg so far ( I'm 162cm started at 84 kg and am now 74kg). Also trying to do 15k steps day...

[eurochick]

I was about to suggest 16:8 but i see you are already doing it. Have you tried calorie counting alongside?

I'm mid-40s and found myself putting on some lockdown pounds. I've mAnaged yo lose them and more by IF plus calorie counting.

[OceanPacific]

I do count calories (based on my own guesses rather than religiously logging them on MFP) and try not to go over 1,500 a day. Maybe I should be stricter with this. The thing is I'm very active. I do about 12k steps a day as well as all the other exercise. I don't think I can do much more.

[Dozer]

It’s probable that you’re consuming more calories than you think - would count v carefully for a few weeks and see, then if you are indeed at 1500 and not losing or gaining weight you may need fewer calories.

Weight loss is much more about diet than exercise.

[CorianderLord]

My mums just gone from a size 16 to a size 10 in about 6 months.

She put on weight after knee surgery but used slimming world and it's fallen off of her.

She's 56 and 5'1

[OceanPacific]

@CorianderLord oh wow!! That is an incredible achievement. Well done for your mum.

Slimming World / Weigh Watchers. I'm not sure I fancy their approach. I have looked into them but all the suns / points just put me off. I don't want to have to think too hard.

[GoldenBlue]

Up your veg (not peas though) to start least a third on your plate before adding any other food. Do half the plate if you can.

Keep carbs complex and low

Fruit is a treat too as it's high in sugar

I'm 49 and 5'5" and at 1500 Cals a day I maintain. I have to drop to 1200 or less to lose weight. Despite doing some cardio every day.

Your body needs fewer calories as you get older and I find carbs suit me less as I get older too

[Lurkingforawhile]

I would agree with @dozer. Everytime I actually weigh my food I discover I've been underestimating calories by a fair bit! Cheese is my nemesis

[LassoOfTruth]

Oh dear, cheese - I’m addicted. I’m 41 and 5’1”, prob about 11 stone. Had my 2nd (and last) baby 6 weeks ago and am eating so so much due to breastfeeding. That’s fine maybe, but I’m not eating well I think, just endless carbs shovelled in between toddler tantrums and nappy changes. I was probably at least 1 stone overweight before getting pregnant already, (our scales aren’t accurate) and would now like to lose c.2 stone. I need to stop being in denial about the amount of sweets and crisps and rubbish I eat though! Can’t get away with it like I always could in younger years. Exercise is almost impossible to find time and energy for right now but I suppose I can control my diet better 😩