In 366 days I will be 50 and I want to be in the best shape of my life. Who's with me?

[FitBeforeFifty]

I am currently overweight, at 12st 5lb, and a BMI of 27. I am perimenopausal, addicted to sugar, and a bit of a coach potato. I WFH and snack A LOT.

Last week I went on holiday and wore swimwear for the first time in years. I felt like crying when I saw the reality of what I am doing to my body with too much sugar, booze and not enough exercise. I've been kidding myself that it's ok, but it isn't.

In 366 days I will be celebrating my 50th birthday. I feel as if this is my last chance to properly get a grip on things and reverse some of the damage I've done before it gets even harder.

These are my goals for the next 12 months:

• get to 10 stone and the middle of a healthy BMI


• stick to fasting / OMAD / no snacking (I know this works for me, I just fall off the wagon too easily due to WFH / boredom)


• stick to a lower-carb (not no-carb) WOE, again I know this works for me


• daily yoga / barre (I use DownDog app, but not often enough!)


• 10k steps per day

I don't want to be fat at fifty. I don't want to be a menopausal cliche with a big gut and a load of excuses as to why I've still not shifted the weight and am still on the sofa mainlining wine and biscuits every evening.

This feels doable - anyone want to join me and be fit and fabulous at fifty (and beyond)?!

HesdeadBen well done!

Hi, checking in - sounds like everyone making great progress. Well done on the spinning @HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow - I started going to a class at the gym and it is an absolute killer!

I've lost just over a stone since the 19th July - really feel so much better even though I've still got nearly a stone to go to be in a healthy BMI again. Exercise really helping me - as is no alcohol. Started weight training which I love, and makes me feel good mentally as well as physically. I think I'm at that point though now where it feels like a slog- I still have quite a way to go till the target I set myself and I know things will slow down now. Glad for this supportive thread, think we are all doing really well.

Well done @wonderfullife123 that's brilliant. Yes it is a bit slower now but worth it.

I've done this once before (got to target and stayed there nearly 4 years) last year of covid was when some of the weight snuck back on.

I felt that taking it off steadily meant it didn't come back on easily. I had already got used to eating this was and moving to maintenance was quite easy.

Also the last few pounds made lots more difference in size.

1st size took 16lb to achieve
2nd size took 14lb
3rd size took 11lb
4th size took 8lb

So 3 1/2 stone made 4 sizes difference for me in the same design and make of trousers

That's really interesting @HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow and well done on maintaining that so well. Ideally I'd like to lose 3 stone so that's very inspiring re the dress sizes.

I think the plateau was demotivating and I've had a few blips this week, also struggled with insomnia this week which is always unsettling to my diet, and I had stopped weighing as a result, which is always a sign of denial for me. So i made myself step on the scales. No harm has been done so I'm back on the wagon.

The dress sizes with weight loss posted (i'm on the wrong page and can't see who that was) is really interesting.

Hi duds dress sizes was me from when I started my journey. I lost 3 1/2 stone and went down from an 18 to a 10.

More recently I put on nearly 2 stone. I've lost 12 1/2lb so far and got back into 12's this morning 😀

Can I join pl? I’m 50 in aug 2023 and 2 stone overweight ( at least!)

Can I join please!
I've got two years to go but eat too much sugar and drink too much wine and don't really exercise.
Want to get to 10 stone also - I'm 12 now.

Hello Bumps and Elouise

welcome along.

I still haven't taken my measurements but after the first workout in the new programme I'm doing, I should, because it's that kind of workout...man, it was tough. Really enjoyed it though.

PS I'm 47 next year so treating this as lose 47lb by then!

I am 56 and following the thread for inspiration

Ah yes, I'm on my computer now so can see the whole thread again whilst posting @HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow, congratulations on getting back in to your 12s!!!!!!!

Hi @Eloisedublin123 ,@Bumpsadaisie and @JT12 !

Welcome @Eloisedublin123 @Bumpsadaisie @JT12 !

Congrats on the size 12s @HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow ! I'm finding it motivating to try on a few things that were way too tight and now not so much.

So glad I started doing this with you all o feel so much better even though still overweight. Will need to stay focused even when I start my new job, stress tends to be my downfall as leads to alcohol - no exercise and poor choices.

Going to spend a couple of hours organising my wardrobe and finding some clothes that look good.

Hope everyone has a great Bank Holiday

wonderful when do you start?

bit worried about the new regime. So tired today after yesterday's workout. I had this with another regime about 20 years ago and it's just impractical to be that tired the day after. I am not a caffeine person. I really enjoyed it so hopefully the feeling will pass.

It's really important trying things on regular. First time around I missed out on wearing some lovely things as by the time I tried them on they were too big. I think your mind keeps thinking your the size you were a few months ago so you never consider trying on things that you're sure don't fit.

Gardening today, very tiring but all exercise 😊

I think you can feel really tired and off as your body gets used to cleaner eating and being fuelled by its own fat rather than carbs. It should become easier after a few weeks 😊 just make sure you have healthy nutrients like seeds, fish etc

HesDeadBen "First time around I missed out on wearing some lovely things as by the time I tried them on they were too big. I think your mind keeps thinking your the size you were a few months ago so you never consider trying on things that you're sure don't fit."

how exciting is that! I can't imagine it. But I have been fat for a looooong time.

Morning! I’m veggie - anyone else?

Hi Elouise

I used to be veggie when I was thin! How do you find it? It’s so hard to get the balance right for weight loss. I am finding it really helps not to plan meals but see what my body wants in the day.

big family birthday today! Not bothered by booze but do want a piece of birthday cake. But no lunch for me so hopefully that will cancel out dinner calories.

have now done 3 from the new workout programme. It’s weird. They are really enjoyable to do but the tiredness the day after is still annoying. Luckily they offer money back so if that’s still an issue after a month say, then I might consider money back. Maybe I just need to get used to them. I am sleeping longer but am very hyper for a few hours after doing the workout.

@EmmaH2022 I hope the cake lives up to expectations. Savour each mouthful so that it is a really satisfying treat.

If I do have something sweet I notice a negative impact on weight for at least 2 days, don't panic I think it just causes temporary water retention.

I'm in that position today after eating a choc ice on Monday 😬 it was a bit too sweet, not sure I'll do that very often 😬

Hi everyone, no news from me, just checking in. We had some big meals over the weekend so i fruit i needed a reset button and today has been my second ever fast day. It's been so much easier than the 1st time (2weeks ago?), lots of water and just two cups of miso. I hope to have the same effect as last time in that it helped me to make better for a few days. 🤞 I'm also going to do a dry September, i really want to see the scales shift.

Hi everyone; not checked in for over a month due to illness and then holiday. Got back yesterday and amazingly I’ve lost weight! Went to Florida and it was so hot and humid it really impacted on my appetite, we were also walking around 25000 steps a day! So although what I ate wasn’t the healthiest (I had lots of dole whips and doughnuts!) I wasn’t eating huge meals in one sitting. Current weight today, 68.5kg. I was very happy that my holiday shorts felt comfortable and didn’t feel self conscious in my swimsuit at the water parks 😊 Id still like to lose another stone between now and my 50th as well as continuing to improve my fitness. Slowly but surely seems to work for me so aiming for a 1lb a week, reach target by Christmas. Plan to continue walking to/from work to bank 10000 steps a day and continue running 2/3 times a week.

That's fabilous @newbeliever to have gone on holiday and ot gained but actually lost!

Just nosy, what is a "dole whip"?

Thanks @dudsville I’m pleased that I ate what I wanted/fancied but didn’t gain any weight. It was so humid, I was mainly thirsty and drank a lot of water and frozen ice drinks so maybe that suppressed the hunger too.

Dole whips are a dairy free, soft serve type ice cream. The original flavour was pineapple but it comes in other flavours too. I enjoyed a lot of pineapple ones!! We were in Florida at Disney/Universal 😊

Pineapple flavoured ice cream sounds amazing!!!

Re trying on things more frequently, I'm currently wearing trousers I haven't worn since early pandemic because my stomach had got too big for them by the end of 2020, and they are comfortable!!!! I only tried them on a whim, so glad I did. I am celebrating with a few after eights and a strong coffee. We have company this weekend and I am planning a healthy, vegetarian baked dish and a vegan pie that has a lovely healthy ingredients.

I've not been able to get back to my intention of weighing in daily, which has always been linked to denial for me.

We had pineapple ice cream when I was a kid.

I find weighing every day is confusing. Two days after the birthday, having eaten restaurant food and a big piece of cake, the scales said I'd lost a pound.

woke up today feeling massive, forgot to weigh myself but that pound loss is fake.