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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Is there an over 50's weight loss chat?

195 replies

Oto · 12/08/2023 09:28

Hi - I've just got back from holiday where I felt fat and frumpy and I hate all the photos of me. I weighed myself and I'm the heaviest I've ever been and need to lose 3 stone.

I'm 50 years old now and it's not as easy as it used to be when I could just lose it with barely any effort. I'm also bad at sticking to diets and I'm overwhelmed with the amount I need to lose and the fact that if I do it properly (i.e without crash dieting) it will probably take me about 8 months to get to where I want to be.

I was looking for a thread on here for women trying to lose weight at a similar age but can't find one. Is there on and if not does anyone fancy joining me?

OP posts:
Puffypuffin · 14/08/2023 13:28

@dontletsaskforthemoon I lost by counting my calories on MFP. I hate counting calories but I kind of got into the habit of splitting my day into 3 for breakfast/lunch/dinner and gave myself an 'allowance' for each of those. If I went over for lunch I would try tweak my dinner allowance to account for that if that makes sense?

Original poster
Oto · 14/08/2023 17:28

I'm so glad there are a few of us on here!

I'm also short which makes it so hard! I'm starting Zoe today but I'm doing it more with a view to generally improved gut health rather than weight loss, so I will be using MFP to keep an eye on calories too.

I'm definitely peri-menopausal but can't take HRT for medical reasons (another reason why I'm doing Zoe) .

Slimpod looks interesting but I don't want to spend any more money on this at the moment.

I'm looking to lose 1lb a week on average. I think I'll have more chance of keeping it off if I do it gradually.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oto · 14/08/2023 17:30

I had a bacon & avocado salad today for lunch.

Snack - 30g of nuts

Dinner - sea bass, green beans and baby new potatoes.

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 14/08/2023 17:30

Not too bad today, had HM granola with nuts and seeds and 2 spoonfuls of yoghurt for breakfast. Lunch was leftover bits, about 50g of potato with veg and some ham.

Fortunately my drink of choice is black coffee without sugar, or water.

For dinner I’m doing salmon with vegetables.

useitorlose · 14/08/2023 18:13

I'll join. I'm 55, well out of menopause and have between 1.5 and 2st to lose. I'm doing Slimming World online and really enjoying it. So far, I've lost 6lbs in 4 weeks. I'm vegetarian so already ate lots of veg and fruit, but it's had a significant impact on my sugar intake, which is great as it was a habit I really disliked but couldn't seem to address. I find the app and website really helpful and top up that up with attending some of the live webinars and listening to the podcast. I feel like I could do it long term. We're going to Thailand at the end of November so would love to lose 1.5st by then, which means 5lbs a month. I hope I can do it!

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 14/08/2023 18:23

So far today I’ve had:-

Breakfast rude health honey puffed oats skimmed milk and blueberries
lunch: bachelors slim a soup golden vegetable with 2 Ryvita crsckerwheat and Hartleys 10cal raspberry yogurt
dinner: bean stew with avocado, Fage 0% fat yogurt, cathedral city lighter cheese and avocado (all weighed)
2 tangerines and 1 large plum as snacks
green and camomile tea and lots of water

My downfalls were buying:-

bsbybel light cheeses and laughing cow light cheese triangles, muller light chocolate pots, pop chips. Plus normal crisps, chocolate, Stilton etc…

Mumstheword2022 · 14/08/2023 21:23

Okay folks

day one done. Done 13k steps and a pretty hard kettlebell class. 😳

food wise? Not brilliant- it’s portion size! Tomorrow is another day. Will weigh myself Sunday. Was 12 st and a 1/4 of a pound last weekend so if I can get two or three pound off by then I’ll be happy.

Good luck everyone 🙂

Original poster
Oto · 14/08/2023 22:59

@Mumstheword2022 you're absolutely right about portion size. I read last week that the average dinner plate diameter has increased considerably over the last few decades so we naturally eat more to fill those larger plates.

I do actually have a smaller dinner plate but hate it. It looks so meagre! 😂 Also my brain tells me that the big dinner plates have more room for veggies but in reality it's more room for everything.

OP posts:
dontletsaskforthemoon · 15/08/2023 06:35

@Puffypuffin absolutely makes sense. And its clearly worked for you! I've used nutracheck app, you have to pay for it but I preferred it to mfp as it is UK based.

i just can't seem to stick to anything tho!
I've got so many books, read so much info, got all the exercise stuff at home, got loads of weightloss or exercise apps, listened to podcasts but can I stick to it???!!! Im driving myself nuts tbh. Fed up of being fat but fed up of constantly feeling like I'm trying to lose the fat!

drinkuptheezider · 15/08/2023 06:52

I'm in please! I'm 56, need to lose around 2 stone, I'm only 5ft 3 as well. I have an active job, with heavy lifting, and I play a sport twice up to twice a week as well as a martial arts class. Yet, I still can't shift the menopausal weight gain. I also have a large dog to walk. My fitbit shows 12000 plus steps every day, mostly 14k average.

I stopped regularly drinking at Christmas, with only an occasional drink since. Bah, getting older is shit!

Original poster
Oto · 15/08/2023 07:13

@drinkuptheezider I feel your pain! I sometimes think that I doubt I could feasibly do much more than I do. It's one of the reasons I've shelled out for the Zoe thing to learn how my body processes fats and sugars so I can try to see how what I eat impacts on me.

I'm starting it today with some muffins they've sent me. They look rank TBH! 😂

OP posts:
FannythePinkFlamingo · 15/08/2023 08:04

Can I join. I'm 51, 5'3" and need to lose at least 3 stone. I'm in surgical menopause and can't take HRT. I could drop weight easily 20 years ago, but now it so hard.

I've got a sedentary office job so my daily activity is quite low as well. In the past I've been to SW and lost weight but I hate the happy clappy bit. I've also used Nutracheck with some moderate success, but it's a chore logging everything that passes your lips after a while.

I'm debating joining a gym, bit need to psych myself up a bit first.

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 15/08/2023 08:14

Me too. Another 59 yr old here. Always struggled with my weight a bit but about 7 years ago I started to wfh and met my now dh, since then I've put on nearly 5 stone. Everything aches now, it's awful.

I'm trying the slow and steady method. I've lost 7lbs in a few months but it's so difficult now, whereas before I could lose it easily. My Achilles heel is evening snacking, I'm slowly getting it under control, which is helping, but I have to be constantly aware if what I'm eating at all time, as any slip up results in putting on weight

Starlightstarbright2 · 15/08/2023 08:16

I’ll join . I need to lose at least 3 stone .
I now have arthritis in my knee - advised the best thing I can do is lose weight but struggling

HierarchyOfMugs · 15/08/2023 09:50

I'm going to try intermittent fasting and logging everything on mfp. I think my problem is that I stop menu planning after a week so I end up hungry and eating crap.

dontletsaskforthemoon · 15/08/2023 10:47

I always start with good intentions...but usually within hours/days I've given up but I seriously don't want to start to have to deal with the health consequences such as diabetes, heart disease, higher blood pressure/cholesterol so I really need to knuckle down and get some fat off. It's not so much what I look like anymore (was always 1st and foremost in my younger days!) but more as to what is going on 'inside'!

I looked at Zoe but gosh, it's expensive! Would love to hear stories from anyone who's done it and had success.

Majorityofthree23 · 15/08/2023 10:56

58 here with two stone to lose (maybe 2.5 but we'll see when I get the 2 off) I am ridiculously inconsistent and very all or nothing but working on it. Also quite short at 5'4. Have a year to do this so hoping to go steady (though obviously I'd like results by Friday!) I think for me it's the snacks (biscuits choc etc) that ruin it. If I could cut out those I'd be fine. Hopefully the company here will help!!

AdoraBell · 15/08/2023 11:33

You are taller than me Majorityofthree23 would a food diary or similar help you? Big ✅ on days you have zero biscuits, maybe.

Its also the biscuits and similar stuff here, oddly I can leave a packet of biscuits unopened in the cupboard, but if I open it that’s not a good move.

I think in kilos, but probably need to loose about a stone. I don’t weigh myself regularly due to childhood issues so I can’t say exactly what I’ve lost or gained. I use my clothes as a guide. My gym sessions help because the progress is showing in my shape and the PT is very supportive.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 15/08/2023 12:18

Starlightstarbright2 · 15/08/2023 08:16

I’ll join . I need to lose at least 3 stone .
I now have arthritis in my knee - advised the best thing I can do is lose weight but struggling

Doctors always trot this out, I have mobilty issues due to an injury and losing weight has made not one jot of difference, I want my money back ! 😂

HalloumiLuvver · 15/08/2023 13:26

I'm on this thread

Fellow Menopausal Fatties http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weightlosss_chat/4771057-fellow-menopausal-fatties

Mumstheword2022 · 15/08/2023 17:50

Hey @Oto

yeah, the main issue is I just LOVE food. Hubby is an amazing cook and I am spoiled to bits!

However, today I had brekkie out with a mate (bad) and a long walk (good) but no lunch and I’m now starving.

did the gym last night and I have never had a harder kettlebell session. It was brutal.

will have 20k steps in before bed so that’s something 😊

useitorlose · 15/08/2023 19:31

Welcome to new joiners - so many of us in the same boat!
@FannythePinkFlamingo would SW online help? That's what I'm doing as I can't get to a group.

Reasonable day food wise, although I did have a pain au raisin in M&S cafe. Almost 12k steps too. Going to keep active and keep making good choices so I can lose at least 1 more pound and get my first half stone award at my weigh in on Monday.

Original poster
Oto · 16/08/2023 13:20

Weighed myself today and am -2lbs which is an unexpected delight! 😀

OP posts:
useitorlose · 16/08/2023 14:34

Congrats @oto !!

Wishihadanalgorithm · 16/08/2023 14:38

I have found my tribe! I’m 50 and have about4 stone to lose. Had two big surgeries this year and I’ve become sluggish and blob like.
I am in full on peri and take HRT. Just want to eat for weight loss and to give me energy. Not necessarily easy to do I’ve found.

Would love to share ideas with you guys.