Has anyone turned their health around in middle age?

[circledoesntfititslittlesquare]

I had some high blood pressure readings and they have come down but now I’m thinking about how unhealthy I am. Probably a vicious circle as I’m sure it was entirety stress related.
I need to lose weight and eat better but I never seem to get around to it.
Also pre diabetic, slightly high cholesterol, lots of reasons to do something you’d think.

I don't know but would like to do the same. I tried doing the things I used to do regularly and enjoy like aerobics but just couldn't do it and hurt my knee's.

I try to swim every week

I’m approaching 50 and feel the fittest I’ve done since pre kids and can actually see muscle definition for the first time ever. I do four classes and a PT. I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts which talk about exercise (hiit and weights) having an impact on inflammatory conditions and leading to a long and active life, which are inspiring.

Yes! I was in a very similar position just over two years ago and, after a lot of soul searching about exactly what I was doing wrong and why I have made a huge change over the last year. You can definitely do it. When people ask me what I've done they're cynical but I'm living proof it works - Slimpod. I had tried everything else and this was like a lightbulb moment for me. I can tell you more if you're interested but you can try free for 10d. It has helped me lose all the weight but more than that I eat healthily now, eat if I'm hungry and for no other reason and...drum roll...I exercise! It has turned out to be about a lot more than the weightloss though of course I'm very pleased about that. I'm nothing to do with SP BTW but I want to tell anyone interested as it has helped me so much.

Passthecake30 - please could you say which podcasts? TIA.

I was also coming to ask @Passthecake30 for some names or links as also much in need of inspiration over here, please

Lucky you, I've been doing it since Christmas and a peek at the scales for the first time today shows I've put on a whole stone in that time, even though I'm listening, writing wins and watched all the videos. I'm so disheartened

I think I need to write an exercise plan and stick to it. Maybe starting as small as 20-30 minute walks.

i don’t think I could handle aerobics now @Turmerictolly either. But swimming might be nice.

@Passthecake30 that’s an impressive level of exercise. Did you build up to that from doing very little or have you always been active? I can’t imagine going from sedentary and overweight to hiit and weights. Would be amazing to be really fit.

Yeah but not the right way.

Some people need a proper fright before they act. You can wait for that if you want.

I'm more healthy nearly 50 than I ever have been. There just comes a point when your leaves you, your body starts to struggle on its own.

You can definitely do it but what will work depends on your motivation and character.

My friend threw herself into it when she turned 50, gym at 6an 6 days a week and perfect diet, she looks great and it's stayed off.

If I tried that I'd hate it and give up feeling a failure. For me it'd be gentle changes, one at a time. Short daily walks, good sleep habits, cutting down/out processed foods and alcohol, sticking to meal times.

Yes. At 51 I had very severe asthma, high blood pressure, painful joints, breathless, couldn't run, poor sleep. weight 220lb.

In 6 months I got down to 160lb and started to lift weights in my kitchen. I finally got down to 140lb 9 months after starting and could lift very heavy weights, run, slept well, asthma gone (incredible after all these years), no joint pain.
I cut out processed foods, upped protein intake and kept calories to 1400 a day. I used Myfitnesspal (the free version) and made loads of friends on there who were fantastic. When I posted my before and after pics I had people contact me out of the blue and ask me to mentor them. Wonderful experience. No gym for me - just weights in my kitchen.

Your body is capable of changing. You just have to show it what you want it to do, and it will mend.

In a bid to make myself instantly recognisable to everyone I know and work with ME!

I am 50 tomorrow and after following the Zoe diet (fully paid up member for 12 months) I have lost weight, no longer pre-diabetic, cholesterol lowered, blood pressure normal and I go to the gym regularly and can out plank nearly everyone. I feel awesome. Certainly better than I have in at least a decade.

It is totally do-able, I know this because I was a junk food eating, wine binging, fat, lazy, unfit middle aged woman and I managed to turn it around.

@SoEmbarrassed2024 I'm sorry to hear this, especially as I've found it so good. Please don't be disheartened. I have never posted this on the SP FB as I'd no doubt be shot down in flames, but I weigh every day and log it on my Fitbit and look at the trends but don't pay attention to the daily ups and downs. I've got a science background and my theory is that if I was doing anything to affect another biological system I'd be regularly monitoring it to check what I was doing was having the right effect and then taking steps to bring it back on track if it went too far out of kilter. That plus goal mapping and having eat less / move more / choose better as my phone screen lock has really helped me keep on track. Keep going with it!

Do you mind sharing what exercises/ weights you're doing, thanks?

@PalomaJaneintheDales you're inspirational - I'm coming up 50 and dead on 220lb.

I haven't made massive changes to my body, but I have made changes to my attitude over the years, and I'm pretty happy with the impact it's had on my body.

Things that keep me going:

• Zoë podcasts remind me of the importance of a low UPF diet, exercise, a good variety of fruit, veg, nuts, seeds and live yoghurt!

• seeing a PT regularly keeps me accountable in between - if I don't keep it up, I'm wasting both our time and my money and it makes it much harder

• exercising with friends helps keep us all turning up and I get to socialise while doing something good

• this one is a bit wanky, but actually was a bit of a lightbulb moment. I'm lucky that I am able to exercise, choose the foods I put into my body etc. Many others don't have these options.

• EVERYONE finds it hard - I drag myself to bootcamp and even the young fit ones are puffing away as much as me, and the older, less fit ones. It's a leveller, and you can go at your own pace.

• the more you do, the easier it all is.

You can do it girl! I won't post my before picture here as you might lose your dinner. My whole body was massive, lumpy fat from neck to ankles and I had a huge stomach. but here's my after:

@circledoesntfititslittlesquare I’ve always been fairly active but I think when the kids were little it was hard to fit it in. When wfh pretty much full time and menopause hit it made me feel more encouraged to exercise to keep sane and healthy. I have family with diabetes, blood pressure, etc and didn’t want to follow down that path. I’ve found that group sessions (like circuits and boot camp) encourage me more than working out alone if it helps.

you’re starting point is so similar to where I am - including the whole string of health issues that would definitely be improved if I was not overweight. It feels so out of reach. You look fantastic.

Sorry that was meant to be a result to @PalomaJaneintheDales

Thanks for the reply. Yes company has helped me stay on track in the past.

Podcasts I’ve listened to so far (it’s a recent habit of mine) just one thing, just one long thing and staying young by Michael Mosley, A thorough Examination by the Drs Chris & Xand. I listen as I have a walk before I log on for work. If anyone finds anything else let me know!

Just dumbbells. Free weights. Start with two 8lb ones so you don't hurt yourself. If you already have strong arms, start on two 11lb ones..

You can strengthen your whole body just with these. As you get stronger, you need heavier and heavier and you can do more and more for longer. I got up to curling with 35lb weights and a heavy kettlebell. I learned everything on myfitnesspal (free version). I have posted a pic above where you can see some of the weights I used in the background. The heavier the weights I lifted, the smaller and stronger I got. When you feel stronger, do some sit ups and press ups. If you can, walk in the fresh air every day. Even 15 minutes will help a lot.

Get a friendly person to check your form so you're doing it right. If you have a window you can do it in front of (or glass door), that's perfect.

Also you can use one big barbell to work your top half - Here's a pic of where i got to working with just 3 barbells on my top half over 5 months. Good Luck!