Is it too late at 60 to get fit and lose the flab?

[Tequilasun]

I'm 60.....I'm fat and unfit. I really feel self conscious whenever I see myself in the mirror or in photos.
Especially with lockdown and xmas my weight has gone sky high. I use to be a 12/14 and it suited me but I'm now 18+. I live in leggings as nothing and I mean nothing fits. I'm 5 foot 5 and 15 stone 7lbs.
I don't want to join slimming world or other fat clubs as too embarrassed.

I'm trying to be good and monitoring my food and doing a bit of exercise. But I'm I too old to be able to change and should I accept I'm just fat and should have done something years ago
Help......

Your definitely not too old. My mum is 85 and over the last year has gone from a size 16 to a size 10 and improved her V02 max. She had a few health issues so started just by upping her step count using a rebounder trampoline. I was amazed by how quickly she managed to progress because I thought it would be really hard at her age.

I'm your age, and all I'd say is be careful with the exercise if you haven't done much recently - start off gently! And losing weight is always going to be more about diet than exercise anyway. Do come and look at the low-carb bootcamp thread - its a way of eating that is quite easy to maintain and allows you to eat some really nice food while you go. Good luck!

Silly question, where's the low carb bootcamp thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp

I am your age and I would also say build exercise slowly. I am trying to introduce some exercise by walking and also a short kettlebell routine (only 4kg). Lots of good ideas on youtube. All good so far.

The low carb boot camp on here is good. Or Nutracheck is also very good and all on line, so no groups, but there’s forums for chat and support (paying for just the app is cheaper than website price, and all you need).

For exercise, Mr Motivator does 12 min videos on you tube. They are easy to adapt up or down, and the Boomer ones are targeted at older people including chair based exercise for people who need to take extra care, so there really is something for a broad spread of ability.

@Tequilasun, I have just started Low Carb Bootcamp today. Feeling really motivated for the first time in ages. There are other health benefits to low carb as well, and it sounds as if people feel a lot better for doing it, weight loss aside. Worth a go maybe. Everyone there has been very welcoming to me as a newbie and it's an interesting and chatty thread. Really recommend!

Not too old at all, you can do it.

Thanks everyone, did a long walk this morning and had a sensible lunch, under 300 calories. I really want to do this

I'm mid 60's and I now do an exercise routine every day which is aimed at keeping everything supple, because I find stiffness in various places a real problem. I feel so much better and am moving a lot more freely (used to do 2 exercise classes a week before the current crap situation). I also walk my dog twice a day and will spend some time speed walking, which I can manage, as opposed to running, which, after 4 ops on my knees, I cannot. If I do this and eat around 1500 or fewer calories a day, I lose weight slowly. Unfortunately, it also goes back on quickly at my age - Christmas was a bugger. So yes, it is perfectly possible, but it is more difficult than when you are young.
One thing I would say, is have you had your blood pressure checked? My bmi is around 28, which is too high, and I am on medication for my high BP. If I was a couple of stone lighter I possibly wouldn't need it. My doctor is very keen for me to lose the excess.

I know quite a number of people over 70 who lost significant amounts of weight after advice from NHS dieticians. Given the issues with your blood pressure,I think you should ask your GP for help.

You definitely can do it. Last year I got to my target weight and also got my first Dan black belt in a martial art. I have never done any exercise before I took it up three years earlier. I'm over 70.

Hope not Tequilasun! I trying to do 10K+ steps a day, and 'watching' what I eat. Nothing is forbidden except chocolate (although I fail sometimes!), but I'm concentrating on avoiding carbs and not worrying about fat. So far I'm doing OK, but trying to understand that it's a change in mindset and lifestyle, as much as food and (lack of) exercise!

Good luck.