Is there an over 50's weight loss chat?

[Oto]

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?

I'm fed up with paying for MFP so am starting to log my calories on the Fitbit app. I'm obviously doing something wrong though as it tells me that 650 calories is over budget. 😂

Oh my gosh @Doteycat
I'm also 53
I've lost 1 1/2 stones in the past year
2 - 2 1/2 to go
And I'm also menopausal.

I'm eating well, exercising regularly but not drinking enough water and (because I also work in schools, so currently on holiday) drinking too much alcohol

It's bloody hard isn't it.
I'm not even drinking that much so don't beat yourself up over that.

I'm so miserable today ☹️ When I'm unhappy I comfort eat and that's what I've been doing for the last few days. I'm stressed and tired due to circumstances at the moment. I can't even talk to my DP about it because he's in the middle of a very very busy shift and exhausted himself, just working and sleeping. None of my friends want to listen, they just come back with their own problems and I end up comforting them or offering solutions if possible instead 😔

@justlass sorry to hear that. Keep posting here for support. If you can't fix what's making you unhappy, can you distract yourself with something? Walk, craft, puzzles, a phone call?

Thanks. I try but it doesn't really work.

Can you welcome the feeling/craving?

Because every time you feel it but don't give in, that's you getting thinner

I used to be able to do that, but at the moment I can't for some reason.

I'm hopeful that when I get back to work in a couple of weeks it'll kick start things for me a bit. I'm still eating within my calories but nothing is shifting and I don't think I'm doing enough exercise. I walk around 10/15k steps on a normal day at work and didn't really think it made that much difference but I think it actually does. I'm on holiday just now and doing too much 'lounging'.

Have I found my people?

53 menopausal, ADHD and terribly disordered eating as a consequence, skinny and orthorexic pre-kids, steadily more overweight since Kid 3 aged 40, crept up over Covid-times....

Can't do any mad stressful diet culture bullshit or over-exercise or anything like that.

3 lb back on

for goodness sake!

Better day today but just about to have fish fingers and chips ; we have both had a very busy day!

How’s everyone ?

Can I join?
I am 54 and needed to lose about 2.5 stone six weeks ago. Now I need to lose half of that, I’ve lost about 1 1/4 stone eating a lot less carbs over the 6 weeks. So far so good.

Can I join? 50 next Spring and struggling with peri menopause, weight gain and general health. About 3 stone to lose, have zero willpower so I think a group might help me... Fingers crossed

I belong here. Please help me

50, frumpy and overweight. I showed a pic to my niece of when I was in my 20's and she was in utter shock that I ever looked that good.
Not that I expect to look that good again but at least not utterly shock someone.
My belly just seems to have expanded and I hate it.

It's low carb now along with daily 16hr fasts. Plus some exercise.

Where can I find the discipline to stick with this please...?

I’m 53 and lost 5.5 between the ages of 51/52. I don’t want to gate crash the thread with uncalled for advice, but there are some things I did and continue to do that have really helped me. I’m also menopausal and take HRT.

Let me know if you would like any details, I won’t be offended if not!

@Dentistlakes oh please do. I'm sure we'll find it inspiring.

For a bit of background, I was always slim before
children and maintained my weight around 9-9.5 stone fairly easily. Several rounds of IVF and 2 children later and my weight steadily increased. I was overweight and then borderline obese for around 13 years. For the first few months of covid I started to put on more and my children expressed concern it was making me more vulnerable to the virus, so that’s what made me start to change.

I managed to shift the first 4”ish stone calorie counting -!: logging everything on MFP. I also completed c24K. I really wanted to get down to my original 9”ish stone, but just couldn’t shift the last bit. The last 1.5 only came off when I started prioritising protein and lifting weights. This loss
only took a few months.

Things I wish I knew-
Knowing and logging everything you eat is very important.
Alcohol is very calorific and adds up very quickly. I have cut it out completely apart from special occasions and feel so much better.
Sleep- 7-8h quality sleep helps enormously.
Prioritise protein- 1g per pound of body weight or goal weight if you are very overweight.
Getting steps in- make this non negotiable.
Resistance training is key- you will build muscle (you lose it as you age). I now eat 2000+ calories just to maintain my weight).

Losing weight takes time. The scale will go up and down. It’s not all fat gain. Be consistent and if you fall
off the wagon don’t waste time beating yourself up, just get back on it. If it’s not triggering for you, weighing yourself every day is a useful exercise. You can take the average change over the week.!

Wow amazing! Well done @Dentistlakes
Some brilliant tips there.

I was always slim before dc as well. I was one of those annoying people who could eat loads and not get overweight.
Now I struggle with normal portions, let alone diet portions.

I have an aim now. Some motivation to spur me on. I've always wanted to do climbing. You know those places that have a climbing wall? I'm really keen to try that.
But...I feel too heavy and overweight at the moment. I'm aiming to lose a stone by end of October and book myself onto a session.

Excellent pointers here. Thank you and brilliant achievement. Any thoughts on getting protein into breakfasts?

Any thoughts on getting protein into breakfasts?
Eggs.

I agree with SunzizOut. Eggs are my go to for a high protein breakfast. If you are in a calorie deficit, liquid egg whites are your friend. I don’t like them on their own, but I mix 2 whole eggs with liquid egg white and make scrambled eggs or an omelette. I tend to try and split out my protein requirement across the day, so 40-50g at each meal.

40-50g at each meal
Could you share a typical day’s food please?

In general, my protein sources are eggs, chicken breast, fish and prawns. Also Fage 0% yogurt, in mix it with frozen fruit (defrosted in the microwave); low calorie and high protein. All animal protein which isn’t useful of your veg/vegan, but there are good non animal based sources too. Google would sort you out for those. I also use a protein powder (there are vegan ones) for times I can’t access my normal
diet (travel/work), although I don’t use them on a day to day basis.

Breakfast-
2 slices of wholemeal toast before training
2 whole eggs mixed with liquid egg white (150-200g)- scrambled (after training)
150-200g Fage 0% mixed with frozen fruit (defrosted)

Lunch-
Chicken breast (200-250g depending on size
200g new potatoes
200g broccoli

Dinner-
200-250g prawns or white fish. I have salmon a couple of times per week.
Stir fry veg
Noodles
Fage 0% with frozen fruit or a Ehrmann protein mousse wog protein (I get them from Morrisons)

Snacks-
Oats with chia seeds/milk- if short ok protein I sometimes mix in protein powder
Fulfil protein bars
Blueberries/strawberries

I also eat red meat once a week. I tend to stay away from sausages/bacon/processed meat.

In general I eat the same kinds of protein sources and vary my carbs. So I’ll have wraps instead of potatoes for example. Tinned tuna (in water) is also a good protein source in a pinch as are baked beans. Now I’m eating more calories I have more wiggle room than when I was cutting. I still weigh and track everything, more so to ensure I’m hitting the right macros and eating enough.