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)?!

Oh I bought a sale jacket that's too big for me, but that's brand variation, which makes things even more confusing. Tried on size 16 jeans yesterday - nope, still can't get on those.

Well I have kept the drinking right down, am not eating crisps all the time and have started on the yoga. Cardio due next. By Christmas I want to be a stone to a stone and a half lighter and able to run a 5k without thinking I might die.

Good stuff Middle!

hope this thread keeps going. This is really helping me.

still not sure what to do about the slightly too big jacket, they've sold out completely. Shall I just keep it and pretend I'm doing the oversize thing! Plus cam fit a thick jumper underneath if need be.

@EmmaH2022 think hard about the jacket if it isn't perfect in the over sized look as otherwise having clothes that are too big and don't flatter your new shape can be discouraging and may even encourage weight gain

I think getting rid of clothes as they no longer fit can be a good idea. Some slimming classes do swapping so that people can share things that are now too big for them but may be suitable for others that are earlier in their weight loss

If we're losing quite a bit there can be a few sizes that we go through quite quickly and it's a shame to waste things

Ben I'll try it again later
It cost £15 and will be nearly £4 to return. It's more of an athleisure jacket so not going to be worn anywhere important. But might not be worth keeping, I agree.

Have second day DOMS today on my legs...and I thought that workout was easy on my legs!! Yikes.

Sounds like lots of people are doing well! I’m doing well but more importantly for me, I can feel my mindset changing- that sounds so pretentious! In my last post, I wrote of worrying about nights out etc, I love a wine… or two!

So, what I’m noticing is that Im being very considered in when I go over my calorie allowance ( Im logging everything on MFP as I like this) I’ve also made better choices for food when I’m out so I’m chuffed with that.

I am a nightmare when I’ve had a crazy day at work and I’m hangry on my way home, I’d literally eat anything. Today I had to nip to get a few errands on my way home and I did not buy ANYTHING to stuff my face with! That is huge willpower for me. I waited till my dinner and just had a cup of tea when I arrived home. I can’t tell you how proud I am of myself!

Im going to the gym but I’ve done that for a while, I’m now trying to work harder there. I’ve also got Joe Wicks app free for a couple of months as Im a teacher so I’m going to try & use that wisely as well.

Minnie doesn't sound pretentious, I think we are all aiming for that mindset change. Well done on tackling the hangry - I am so bad at that!

I agree this mindset shift is so important and not at all pretentious! I still feel anxious after some work days about not having a wind down drink and I'm disappointed that I still think about it. But I'm doing a dry September to see if that can help retrain me!

duds I am not a big drinker (except in lockdown) but this reminded me a little of Aperol. It's very low in cals.

fever-tree.com/en_GB/products/italian-blood-orange-soda

I also find if you chuck a camomile teabag in a cold drink, it tastes okay and you get the benefit.

Thanks @EmmaH2022 . I don't like aperol, tried it in Italy once when someone at my table ordered it and it looked really nice. And poor chamomile has been ruined for me as it was linked to a very bizarre experience when a friend once had (does anyone have to? I don't recall the details) to have a colon cleanse and was anxious so I went with her and sat in the waiting room... they used chamomile tea, or I had a chamomile tea whilst waiting, I can't recall but the smell of it is forever associated with that experience.

I think moving away from wine will initself be a helpful thing. I also quite like whisky drinks but likewise I can enjoy them too much. I think a bloody mary might tick the boxes for me, can be with or without alcohol, and it's full of flavour with spicy, savoury, tomatoey goodness otherwise.

I buy a few no added sugar cans of things like ginger beer or shandy and use them as a 'treat' when I might have had something sweet or an alcoholic drink. Don't get me wrong I'll still have an occasional gin or rum but it's a conscious decision when I do

So I don't know what the right thing is to do at the mo.
This will sound crazy, but I have what I think is peri brain fog and I feel very low generally so I think I knew this would happen but didn't fully register it?

I am really enjoying my workout programme when I'm actually doing it...but....the DOMS has hit so hard, I actually wondered if there was something wrong with me this morning!

Also, I've been ravenous the last couple of days, which isn't great.

But also...on a practical level, it's a pain being that tired from a workout. Most of my work Friday & Saturday requires walking on site. Monday night I have an actual walking group walk and I want to make the most of these before they close for winter.

I'd actually prefer to go back to the lighter workouts I was doing for enjoyment. I never normally have any aches or pains, so perhaps they do nothing for me in terms of weight loss, but maybe they help me generally.

I think sometimes I compare myself to others too much, my sister can do a three hour dance class and not even notice the next day, but since we were kids she's always been much stronger physically.

I'm not sure what to do.

@EmmaH2022 , that sounds like a tough dilemma. You mention you might compare yourself yourself to others too much, how much is your drive to do these harder work outs driven by that do you think? What if rather than stopping them altogether you reduced the frequency, maybe to a friday after work or a saturday?

I also know the hunger that comes from a strenuous workout. It's satisfying to know that you've done a big thing, but so noying to have to manage the hunger that comes from it!

duds the only drive is I really enjoy them and wonder if I could build a lot more endurance doing this, and become the person who can do a lot more. Or are some people designed that way?

I wonder if there's more sense in losing weight and then trying it again, as lugging weight around is quite demanding itself.

I'm hungry at 4.30 and dinner is due at 7, so there is an issue here!

I think maybe schedule in a tough workout once a week is a good idea, thanks. Then I'll have it to look forward too as well.

The refund offer is 60 days so I think I will go back to my normal for the next week or so and see how I feel.

I recently got a Fitbit. It has a function for telling you your exercise readiness.if you worked hard one day it sometimes tells you to rest the next day or even 2 days. It's nice that it's not me wimping out but following the systems advice

Well, yesterday I ate a lot but yesterday was an oddity. Hopefully have a much less food filled weekend!

Emmah2022 listen to your body when it says it needs sleep or rest. Anything else just brings disaster - injuries, autoimmune issues or illnesses. Make your point of comparison someone who looks holistically at themselves. This is an ironic thing to type from someone who has lived on deep fried food and spirits but I have a lot of reasons to know I am right on this one.
Currently using the philosophy to justify my slow start ! Still started yoga and have lost 4lbs, still not drinking or eating crisps ( I ate a lot of crisps). Adding in biking this week then will start running when 20lbs lighter. Am menopausal so want to do some weight work too but have some physio to finish first.

Middle I always do listen to my body. That's why I have to ditch the harder workouts.

I got my refund on the programme today.

so it's back to normal exercise from tomorrow. It's a shame but can't be helped. Maybe when I retire I can do heavier workouts, lol!

Middle "Currently using the philosophy to justify my slow start ! Still started yoga and have lost 4lbs, still not drinking or eating crisps ( I ate a lot of crisps). Adding in biking this week then will start running when 20lbs lighter. Am menopausal so want to do some weight work too but have some physio to finish first."

seems a really good systematic approach. Have you lost 4lb in a week?

Yeah four pound in a week but that’s the first week so won’t carry on at that rate. I hope for two pounds a week but am happy with one too. Hopefully a mixture . I want to see 2023 in looking much fitter. Had a good walk yesterday and ate well - I need to balance work with life a bit better. It took over last year and wasn’t survivable!

Stayed the same this week but it's been a muddly week so that's okay.

one birthday meal out this Friday, no other awkward stuff to negotiate.

Anyone about? How are you doing?

Hi @EmmaH2022 sorry not checked in for ages. Hope all going well. Staying the same is fine one week- it goes in the right direction in the long run. I'm doing well -weight loss slowing down but so so happy and relieved have lost 1.5 stones so far about another stone to go and 7 pounds to be back in healthy BMI. Just need to keep going and accept will take longer from here on. I'm still not drinking mainly though had a couple at a friend birthday party. How is everyone getting on?

Hi, I’m doing ok and have lost 4cm from my waist in 3 weeks which I’m thrilled with! That is literally from willpower when I have the urge to stuff crisps or a biscuit in my gob when I’m tired or feel I need a treat. Also lost 6lb!

Had Chinese takeaway last night (DS choice before returning to Uni) & I feel horrible this morning, just ‘urgh.’ It would never have been my first choice anyway but I really didn’t enjoy it, I think Im developing less tolerance for crap food maybe?

The thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve still managed this week to stave off the 4-6pm crash when I would always want to eat. That feels so good which is very motivating.

I’m guessing like lots of you, I’m peri menopausal & I feel like some of my symptoms, especially sleep patterns, are improving with this. Probably all in my head though!

@MinnieLatte that's awesome! Once I stop overeating (the hard part ), my appetite reduces and it becomes much easier to stop once I'm full up.

I decided to weigh myself in Boots because of the amount I faff on with scales at home but my local ones are out of order so I am going to travel today to have an official weigh in.

I have been quite stressed which has helped me cut down the amount I eat.