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)?!

We are all doing well. Hope your stress resolved minimalme.

I am not drinking (usually drink enough for three people each week), have eaten well and now need to start exercising beyond a bit of yoga.

Oh yay, people are back. This thread is so helpful.

I'm okay but need to step it up.

I have realised that in spite of losing a few pounds, my shape is changing - again. Is it peri? My arse and stomach seem bigger. So annoying, I feel I like silly, like a caricature of myself.

I am either just a bit pooped today or coming down with a cold, so I imagine I won't be eating much this weekend.

*look not like!

@EmmaH2022 i feel my shape is changing due to peri menopause & I definitely can’t get away with eating as much as 10 or even 5 years ago. But.. maybe it’ll be better when I’m in better habits & exercising more. Let’s see.

Im going to really try & post more in this thread, I need the accountability here as well as MFP

Minnie have you tried the Joe Wicks yet? I think he works out with no music though, I couldn't do that.

Re the shape, yes, it's like an odd redistribution of fat

I feel like such an old gimmer saying this
But these days, it seems mine is a shape that many 20 somethings would happily show off in tight leggings etc

I'm just pondering because my wanting to lose weight is for cosmetic reasons
And I really lack confidence due to it, hate being in photos etc

So I suppose people will always have differing views but perhaps I'm not seen as that fat by younger people.

In the end, it has to be me that's happy but perhaps I don't need to be so restricted in my clothing choices. I dunno.

Right another two pounds off. I am going to post each week what my weekend weigh in is to give me some motivation. Just off for a walk now. Have opened the drawer of clothes I need to lose a stone to fit in and have arranged them in size order. Incentive number one is a nice pair of work trousers that will be perfect - soon!

You're doing well Middle, yay!

Just been to the pub and had half a bag of crisps and a Diet Coke. Like a new woman!

Impressive
im at mum’s

she eats like a bird and does tiny portions for all. Or are my views skewed and that’s why I’m fat? Anyway, I haven’t done as well as I could as I ate some cake at a neighbour’s. but it was a small piece at least!

I have gained 2lb. Bugger.

Don’t worry
2lb can be water weight. It’s the trend not the week that matters .

Thanks Middle it's certainly put me off food today!

Couch to 5k started. Just going to take it easy and go steadily. Plod plod plod but better than no plodding

Middle that's great. I hope you enjoy it, I know a few people who got into running because of it.

Yeah I have been one of those people before! And again - hopefully!

Oh, great!

I had a very strange day today, then went to a social thing and realised my shoulders were hunched with stress, which is rare - normally I just grind my teeth!

anyway, I managed not to eat or drink anything off plan, which is good as I am a stress eater normally. Tomorrow night I'm out again but it's just Wagamama where I can calorie count and save calories in the day.

Well I’ve had a busy week at work and have not had time to do any exercise which has been disheartening. Food wise, I’m doing ok.
Im not weighing myself till Tuesday so will report back.

I’ve got a quiet weekend which is lovely. I’m planning a big walk tomorrow and sorting my Autumn clothes, with brutal judgements from DD16!

Minnie the food bit is most important.

i have been very slack on food and had two pasta dinners, not a fan of cooking though.

Oh god. Shuffling back shamefacedly onto my own thread after literally months AWOL is quite the kick to the head

Well done all of you who have kept going! I have no real excuse, except that this healthy lifestyle shit is harder than I thought. To be kind to myself though, I have really been struggling with peri-meno, plus I've had to go back to work full-time due to financial issues. My mental health has not been as good as it could be recently and then I get into a vicious circle with drinking too much, eating crap and lying on the sofa feeling sorry for myself when I could / should be doing literally anything else!

So. I need to remember that I'm doing this for myself, to feel better and move into my 50s and onwards healthy and happy. Caring for myself, not hating myself and my body. I've got an appt with the dr to adjust my HRT tomorrow, and I'm finally going to give in and join dh's gym, so we can go together.

Now all I need to do is kick the sugar and the booze...

Hi @FitBeforeFifty so lovely to see you back. Peri meno is so tough joining the gym sounds like a great move. It really does start with being nice to ourselves. We've got this - you started a lovely supportive thread here.

Thanks @wonderfullife123 - I'm glad it's been helpful for people

OP that all sounds very tough.

I think I have to switch from freelance to salaried and it will probably require a lot from me. Dreading it.

I ate hardly anything yesterday as I was busy and interested in what I was doing.

but today I’m like a flipping bottomless pit of hunger.

Great that you are back:)

Have spent the weekend eating and drinking and making too much merry as have been away. Scales can wait!

It is a tough gig fitbeforefifty. I moved to salaried from self employed / part time is a big issue but there have been some gains too. Hope you find the same.

Middle making merry is important.

the 2lb gain of last week has gone.

Thanks all - yes back to FT was a nasty shock but needs must and hopefully in a few years I can start dialling things back again. I'm not a fan of working for a living!

So...got my new, stronger HRT prescription and was in the swimming pool at 7.30 this morning, so I'm calling that a win.

Agree that making merry is important! It's dh's birthday this weekend, so we are out for dinner on Friday and will not hold back...but we've vowed to also spend a few hours in the gym/pool over the weekend - it's all about balance after all

Onwards and upwards, right?